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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Family friendly pubs and restaurants

98 replies

crunchymint · 26/03/2018 10:36

AIBU to think all pubs that serve meals and restaurants are family friendly these days?

This is in answer to those saying if you don't want kids running about screaming, don't go to a family friendly pub. I literally can not think of one place where I live that serves food, that is not family friendly. These must be very rare. I enjoy going out for Sunday lunch, so this means going to a family friendly pub or restaurant.

OP posts:
LostInShoebiz · 26/03/2018 13:39

Hipsterish locations? They're the worst. All the little Sashas and Tillys are positively encouraged to be spirited.

I recently had a Sunday lunch where little Lucius treated every single person in the pub to a concert and anyone with the temerity to continue their own conversations was actively shushed by the heavily bearded father.

Socksey · 26/03/2018 13:43

Family friendly restaurants are great but that doesntbmean kids shpuldvrun riot through them.... I like the ones with the play areas as they can run around there without disturbing everyone.... my DS also likes them as it means he can get up from the table and there is something for him to do....

Socksey · 26/03/2018 13:45

Sorry.... my finger is pressing lots of letters .... post above 😔

Lethaldrizzle · 26/03/2018 14:03

Lost - it definitely sounds like you're hanging out in the wrong places! Or maybe it's just how you perceive the world

DairyisClosed · 26/03/2018 14:05

I can think of loads of up market pubs that aren't very family friendly. You are of course welcome to bring children but only if they behave like adults.

LostInShoebiz · 26/03/2018 14:22

Yes, I perceived the little concert and the shushing and I definitely perceived my annoyance about it. If anyone know anywhere in W9 that I can perceive anything less wanky, do let me know.

Original poster
crunchymint · 26/03/2018 14:26

Lost If I had been with you, we could have started our own sing song. Preferably something inappropriate for children.

OP posts:
upsideup · 26/03/2018 14:35

Most places are too afraid of being labelled as unfriendly to families via bad trip advisor reviews, that they will not ask a family to leave.

Are you seriously suggesting that where you eat out there are more parents with kids running riot eating there than people without kids running riot and who would be annoyed by that?
Of course they would risk one bad complaint about them not being family friendly instead of having 50 other people complaining about the noise.

Original poster
crunchymint · 26/03/2018 14:40

I am suggesting that trip advisor has a big impact beyond the particular time frame of a family eating there.

OP posts:
Lethaldrizzle · 26/03/2018 14:43

Lost - what you need is a good old fashioned working class pub with just a few old blokes propping up the bar trying to escape the missus back home. No trendy beards, no spoilt little brats running around - just a few good old fashioned alcoholics staring into their pints, I'm sure there must be some pubs left like that in your trendy part of town

Cheekyandfreaky · 26/03/2018 15:59

I think @Lethaldrizzle has nailed it and on the theme, might I suggest working men’s clubs. Defo not family friendly.

SpringNowPlease2018 · 26/03/2018 16:04

"just a few good old fashioned alcoholics staring into their pints,"

I have actually tried this Grin

but being a woman generates comments and as for not being white, ermagad. I can't recall if it's this thread but someone suggested Wetherspoons - I don't dare go in my local one, I have had racist abuse shouted at me just walking past.

SpringNowPlease2018 · 26/03/2018 16:05

actually next time someone plays Peppa Pig out loud, I should really have the flaps to play some gangsta rap with loads of swears shouldn't I?

Lizzie48 · 26/03/2018 16:23

The smoking ban changed a lot of things. Most pubs had to promote themselves as family friendly in order to survive. If you want childfree time (which I like to have myself sometimes) then you need to go out after 8:30pm. I never see kids in pubs later than that, except at holiday sites.

Bella912 · 26/03/2018 16:27

I have a little pub (service food also) in a tourist town. We can’t actually get a children’s license due to the layout of our bar there is nowhere to have a children’s seating area so we are strictly over 18’s. It is not always the business owners decision to allow children or not in our case it’s due to licensing law. The amount of nasty parents and grandparents when we attempt to explain this though!!!! However we do very nicely out of people who come due to the fact we don’t have children inside.

Bella912 · 26/03/2018 16:29

Oh and if the nasty cow who tried to bring her 8 year old into my pub at 10pm on hogamanay is on here - you are vile!!!!

Iloveacurry · 26/03/2018 16:33

Child friendly is somewhere with a kids menu. But still definitely would not want my kids or others to be running all around the place!

Whatshallidonowpeople · 26/03/2018 17:19

Family friendly or Not, make your kids behave

tentative3 · 26/03/2018 17:21

One of our local pubs is permanently child free. It's part of a small chain and most of the pubs are child friendly to some extent (although I've not been to them all) but this one has a blackboard outside saying they prefer to keep it an adult environment.

User14567891 · 26/03/2018 17:34

bit unfair that you have to head out for the 10pm - 2am slot to avoid kids

You are unlikely to find a lot of children in restaurants or pubs after 8pm.
It’s not unfair. Children have as much right to be eating out as you. If you want to avoid children that’s your problem. Either go out when they are likely to be asleep or quit whining.

LostInShoebiz · 26/03/2018 17:42

Lethal there are no working class blokes in my part of town. It's all very prestigious cul de sacs don't you know.

Anyone know what happened on the cul de sac thread?

Original poster
crunchymint · 26/03/2018 17:48

I am not trying to avoid children, simply avoid badly behaved children that are allowed to get on with it.

OP posts:
SpringNowPlease2018 · 26/03/2018 18:02

User "Either go out when they are likely to be asleep or quit whining"

I have as much right to whine as any other poster Grin

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