The UK’s biggest restaurant is charging for babies to sit at the table.

Cosmo in Valley Park, Croydon, has introduced a £3 charge for babies, even if they are too young to eat any food.

Visitors to the oriemtal buffet restaurant, which has 800 seats, have been shocked to discover the fee.

Natasha Young, 34, went on November 13 with her six-week-old son Kaedon who is exclusively breast-fed.

The Thornton Heath mum had been there before in July and had not been charged and was livid when she was told she would have to pay for her son, who had not eaten a thing.

She said: “I was told the pushchair was taking up space. I have been before - the last time I went was in July and there was no mention of it then.

“This has only come about since last week.

“It was full but I had booked a table. When I got there they said I have to pay for the baby even though he does not eat.

“I was told he was taking up space.

“I offered to put the pushchair back in the car and they said we still had to pay for the space he was taking up.

“I was really upset and angry - I could not believe it. I have never come across something like this before.

“It’s disgraceful.”

Anna Sheridan, 28, was also told she would have to pay for her six-month-old child.

The accounts clerk from Wallington had booked a table for 17 people on Sunday, November 20.

She said: “I was astonished as we explained she was exclusively breastfed and would be sitting on our laps therefore not consuming any food or occupying an extra seat.

“They said it was their new policy. That was all.”

She said it would be the last time she visited the restaurant.

The mammoth 22,000 sq ft Cosmo which offers more than 300 dishes from across Asia and Europe became the UK's largest restaurant after dwarfing the gargantuan Gilgamesh in Camden.