Your experience of U16/U18 and admission to ticketed events?

[MrsSteptoe]

Is it quite normal for most ticketed events at established venues (comedy/music) to request an adult to accompany either U16s or U18s?

We just booked two tickets for an event that simply said 14+, but didn't say anything about an adult companion. Only now have we discovered that the venue doesn't admit U18s without an adult, claiming licensing laws, meaning we've got to buy a third ticket (or attempt to get a refund on the basis that the website didn't specify, but venues are notoriously unwilling to refund tickets IME).

Any of you lovely parents of older teens who've encountered this got any helpful general comments here? I just wondered if it's something I've got to bear in mind till he's 18. To be clear, DS is 15, and he looks younger - he's often asked to show a photograph of his passport even to get into films.

TIA. If it makes any difference, I'm in London.

It’s pretty usual and has been since I was going to gigs at 13/14 (about 33 million years ago)...

That's exactly what I wanted to know, lastqueen - I didn't know if I was just constantly booking things at particularly fussy venues, or if it's normal! If it's normal, then I'll just bear it in mind till he's over 18 - and I will tell him he's got to be very careful about booking tickets as well, to make sure he knows if he's got to get a third chaperone ticket.

Thanks so much!