Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Would you rather live next to a pub or a primary school?

123 replies

TustedFormula · 20/04/2021 13:36

I realise there are many who wouldn't consider either but humour me.

My boss is trying to sell her house, which is next to a large pub with a big beer garden. To me, whilst anything will sell at the right price, it's obvious that the pub will be contributing to the fact it's not selling.

This turned into a bit of lighthearted one upmanship because I live next to a school "which must be much worse".

It is true the school can be a nuisance, but it's never affected us much. When DC were small I was taking them to the school by foot, so traffic wasn't a problem and if you're working FT you're not there when the school is a problem. Yes, I'd expect the school to be a factor in any sale, it's one reason we could afford it when we bought, but on a daily basis it's not a problem for us. However, I would be very reluctant to live close to an urban pub and associated night time noise.

Which would you go for if you had to compromise in one or the other? Or both equally bad and we're both just used to what we know?

OP posts:
BikeRunSki · 20/04/2021 15:01

I live between a pub and three schools virtually next to each other.

School parking has blocked me in at times. We hit residents’ parking but it’s not policed.

Pub is noisy late and on weekends and holidays.

Both are occasionally a bit annoying, but I can live with them. If the pub let school parents us their car park, that would be ideal. 😎

Picklypickles · 20/04/2021 15:01

I'm in a little village so near the school and the pub! I like hearing when the children are outside playing at break and lunchtime or doing PE etc, at most they are only outside making noise for an hour or 2 5 days a week and its during the day. The pub is only a little country pub so not hugely busy most of the time but it is annoying when they have a band playing or a beer festival going on etc as you can hear the loud music and laughter and shouting well into the night all over the village!

dottiedodah · 20/04/2021 15:02

Probably neither TBH! School sounds better though .Pub noise late at night will be unacceptable for most people I would think

Abouttimemum · 20/04/2021 15:03

I live next to a primary school which is fine. However I also live next to a shop and that’s dreadful.
I would hate to live next to a pub.

BigPyjamas · 20/04/2021 15:04

Having lived near both I would pick school.

Pub was so noisy and disruptive, sometimes woke to vomit on doorstep, broken glass, occasional fights, drunken singing, and then noisy deliveries. We used to hope for rain on the weekend so it would be quieter.

Primary school was a bit of extra traffic, lovely sounds of playing children at lunchtime. Most parents walked their kids in, so minimal disruption.

Bambam2019 · 20/04/2021 15:07

Primary school- though I bet parking is a nightmare. BUT if it’s a good school you’re winning as you’re most likely to get in if you have children!
Tho would’ve for sure picked the pub in my student/early 20s years!

tuttifuckinfruity · 20/04/2021 15:08

Primary school, without a doubt.
Your boss is trying to style out her insecurity about having bought a house next to a pub and now being unable to sell.

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 20/04/2021 15:11

School hands down.

sorryforswearing · 20/04/2021 15:11

I wouldn’t want to live near a pub under any circumstances. Noise from a primary is limited and only at certain times of the day and not at the weekends. I’d be more worried about possible parking issues with a primary school nearby so I’d judge that on its merits.

Zancah · 20/04/2021 15:11

I've lived next to both.
Primary school by far the worst problem. Lots of entitled arseholes can't possibly walk little Jimmy 20 yards from the specified car park and they will block your access. Or sit outside with engine running for up to an hour before pick up (really never understood that one, but more than a couple of people did it!)
Rarely had problem with pub goers.

YessicaHaircut · 20/04/2021 15:11

Primary school is so much better for sure! I used to live next to one and actually liked hearing the kids having fun at playtime. Plus the noise is only ever during the day and in term time. Can’t think of many worse things than having to listen to drunk people’s conversations late at night, and smell their smoke.

milveycrohn · 20/04/2021 15:13

Primary school clearly better.
Not there during school holidays, evenings, and weekends

notalwaysalondoner · 20/04/2021 15:14

Pub is worse unless you already know it and are sure it’s the kind of place that doesn’t have crowds of people outside late at night. School noise annoys me a lot but most people are out of the house at school time, plus you know there’s a set end time, and they won’t pee in your drive or smash bottles.

Zancah · 20/04/2021 15:16

Can't believe the amount of people saying they'd rather live near a primary school Grin believe me, it's no picnic. The lull in the day does not make up for people sitting outside with engines running for agesssss, kids climbing on your wall, running through your garden, tramping on your flowers, drawing in the dirt on your car, hitting your car with scooters and bike handles, using your driveway to turn around and general shittyness. I've even had people knock on to ask to use the loo.

gooseygoosey12345 · 20/04/2021 15:16

Primary school wouldn't bother me at all. It's only going to be noisy at drop off and pick up times and break. Parking could be annoying but if you're at work all day it wouldn't affect you, and again, it's for 20 minutes twice a day only in term time.
I couldn't deal with pub noise at 11pm/midnight plus those who wouldn't be considerate when leaving!

Hotcuppatea · 20/04/2021 15:17

It depends. My BIL lives next to a lovely pub with a big beer garden. It's very nice to live nearby and has lots of markets and community events. It feels like a proper local and they feel part of a community because of it. If it wasn't a nice pub, the situation would be very different.

Primary schools and parking is a real nightmare. Some parents are so bloody rude, parking over drives, parking ON drives. The don't seem to care. However, if it was a school that I wanted my children to attend, living next door would be a massive bonus.

FleshLiabilities · 20/04/2021 15:20

I'd choose the pub for sure, less trouble at kicking out time than at the school. Grin

Grognonne · 20/04/2021 15:21

I’d pay extra to live next to a pub!

osbertthesyrianhamster · 20/04/2021 15:33

Thing about pubs is they can change hands and become something different entirely. We also lived above one that was very local in flavour, get flat in a great location. Then it changed hands and went all live music and karoke. This attracted a different clientele and we got wee and vomit and poo on occasion at the bottom of the steps, way more noise, people banging on our door asking if they could stay with us, if they could use our phone, if we could let them in to charge their phone enough to ring a taxi, if we could ring a taxi for them, etc etc. We moved as soon as the tenancy was up.

RuthW · 20/04/2021 15:39

Pub is better than a primary school.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 20/04/2021 15:42

School every time.
A dd’s small garden backs on to a primary school playground - it’s fine. The kids aren’t there in the evenings or at weekends, nor for 6 weeks during the summer, plus all the other holidays and half terms.

But if it were a pub garden instead...

ZenNudist · 20/04/2021 15:42

Primary school much worse than a pub. Twice a day in term time. Pubs generally have to follow licensing laws to not allow people to be lairy in the street.

overwork · 20/04/2021 15:45

I dislike kids but I've surprised myself how much I like living near to a primary school. I enjoy hearing them play out. We don't have issues with traffic though, we're in London which possibly makes a difference. So I'm school over pub any day!

ILoveShula · 20/04/2021 15:45

Pub noise is late at night and weekends. Smoking outside.

School pickup is during office hours.

School less likely to be sold and be redeveloped as flats.

daisyjgrey · 20/04/2021 15:47

My parents (and me when I was little) live two doors down from the village pub. It's caused maybe one problem, about 15 years ago when someone blocked the driveway and got snappy. I'd take a village pub over a primary school with mental parents parking all over the place.

Although I'm on the fence when it comes to town/city pubs. I'd probably go school.

Location, location, location!