Children running round Wetherspoons

[AleFailTrail]

AIBU to think the Spoons isn’t a family pub in the vein of hungry horse etc. And that if your child sprints in to someone carrying a pint or two, causing them to fall and spill said pints, you should at the least apologise to the person and replace the drinks, rather than scoop up a beer soaked kid and walk off. Or when they pull a menu board down strand it back up and tell the child off, not reassure them it’s okay and the staff will sort it? There’s no play areas and the pub is very, very full right now.

-A very beer soaked RailAleFail who is mourning a pint of porter and her boyfriend’s cider

WhenTheRabbits What utter snobs . Oh and trust somebody to bring Brexit into it as well

I think you'll find it was Tim Martin who brought Brexit into Wetherpoons, spewing his bile all over the beer mats, using 'Wetherspoon News' as a propaganda sheet. Nothing to do with snobbery, but if it suits your prejudices to think that, knock yourself out.

Hey have gone now, ale. Escorted out no less! I joked before but genuinely would another pint maybe in a different corner of the pub help at all? Don’t let what must have been utterly awful behaviour ruin your safe space.

Parents are the problem here. Wetherspoons can fuck right off, though.

Yep, it was much better back in the day when the plebs couldn't afford to eat out!

I was/am a pleb. As kids we only ever ate out on very special occasions otherwise we did things like have picnics or walks with chips after.

Most normal families didn't just pop into spoons for lunch 'cos they couldn't be bothered to heat up a bowl of soup and make a sandwich.

@Catsandbootsandbootsandcats there was a lull at the bar so I went and told the duty manager that the kid who tripped me had been in my handbag. He went to them and I heard a shout of how dare you accuse dd of that, followed by she was just curious, Didn’t take anything, people should lighten up, she’s a child. Manager told her she was no longer welcome and had to leave. Took him saying a couple of times and when she stood up with a bloke (possibly dh?) and told the child the mean people said they had to go home. Manager followed them out to check they went out the door, came to me and dp and said he would refund our meals (I actually said wasn’t neceaaary as the pizzas were brilliant but he insisted) and told me to check with the manager on Wednesday (one of our regular nights) as the manager would sort us out then

Most normal families didn't just pop into spoons for lunch 'cos they couldn't be bothered to heat up a bowl of soup and make a sandwich.

Sometimes I can be bothered, sometimes I can't. Nothing wrong with that. We sometimes have lunch at spoons, doesn't mean we knock people's pints over.

@ MrsChollySawcutt where in Devon would that be?
Interested as have to travel to Devon regularly

good for the dm op glad someone took control-they do have kids in their obviously weekends mostly but it doesntmatter they shojldnt be running round whereever it is

Most normal families didn't just pop into spoons for lunch 'cos they couldn't be bothered to heat up a bowl of soup and make a sandwich.

That's exactly what DD and I are doing in a little while. I CBA to cook today, after being up most of the night waving DS off on a school trip. So we're going out to Wetherspoons after a bit of shopping.

It’s as much of a family pub as hungry horse

The one in my local town certainly isn't. No ball pits, crayons or kid's menus. It's geared towards adults.

It sounds like they value your custom and you’ll be looked after.

*I know this won't go down well, but part of the problem is that eating out has become too accessible and therefor is no longer valued.

Yep, it was much better back in the day when the plebs couldn't afford to eat out!

A pp mentioned the hotels...they're very nice, lovely rooms and very reasonable*

This isn’t snobbery, just reality, when I was a child going out for a meal was a big deal and I was reminded in advance how I should behave. The expectation on my behaviour was the same if we were in Pizza Hut, harvester or the ritz. My parents were both from working class families but good manners are not restricted to certain economic groups.

Yay well done op! I love to see feckless twats like that their comeuppance,and you sound lovely so I'm glad that you got compensated for your distress too. And by the way,you don't need to make excuses for the places you prefer to eat to the judgemental food snobs on here x

There are kids menus and crayons at this spoons but no play areas and a good 8 guest ales.
Manager just refused to take my money for pint 2. Well technically three since I’m still wearing one.

On the plus side it was chocolate porter and I smell of chocolate for now.

If it has a kids menu expect it to be child friendly. Thems the rules and I think Wetherspoons does doesn't it?!

Sadly not all parents can behave in the exact way with the exact words of everyone else's wishes in the pub, so if nothing disastrous happened I'd suck it up

Rasberry That's not the point I was making. I am trying to say that, for some people, there is no respect or treat element to eating out so they don't feel the need to moderate their behaviour. It's not a class thing, but when it was more expensive to eat out most people did it less often and therefore took care to make it an enjoyable experience. When it's cheap to eat out some elements feel it's just an extension of their livingroom. The vast majority of people can seem to behave properly.

I'm not feeling the love for making dinner tonight to be fair so might suggest eating out (not in our wetherspoons as it's not a good one). DS are teenagers though so no running about. :)

@Notasunnybunny where I’m staying right now I’m not welcome to eat with the family (long story) so spoons is a mainstay since I’m also quite skint. It’s one of those suburb Wetherspoons so staff know all the regulars, the food is good, ale selection is varied and atmosphere is usually pleasant.
Plus me and my dp can talk because no loud music.
Don’t give a stuff about politics other than he pays his taxes and is staying in the UK unlike Dyson.

With any luck they’ll never come back

OK I worded the OP badly. What I meant by not family friendly in the vein of HH is there are no TV screen booths, play areas, the kids menu is quite dull compared to others, there is more of a focus on the booze, no family deals etc.

To the PP who said suck it up. I hope if your kid deliberately trips someone you’ll have the decency to at least apologise!

The gratuitous use of the word 'snob' tells us all we need to know about the user! In reality they, the 'snobs' are those blessed with standards. A woman of a certain type once called me a snob to which I replied 'Thank you, you're very kind', totally puzzled her!

Spoons comped is food today and have said to talk to the duty manager when we are in on Wednesday too

It sounds like they've handled it pretty well, but when you speak on Wednesday don't forget to heap praise on today's staff for escorting these horrors out - you could even add that you'll be bringing more friends in, now you know they'll deal with things properly

It's only by normal folk backing them on this that the practice will grow, leaving the rest of us in some sort of peace

YABU for going in a Wetherspoons rather than frequenting a local independent/microbrewery pub. Support small businesses rather than lining the pockets of Tim Martin (or the other big chains for that matter). Pubs are closing all the time and desperately need support.

I love my local independent pub so very much. Not only do they have a wonderful selection of real ale, real cider, porter, perry, craft lager, craft gin, fruit wine, and bar food they also restrict the areas children can go in. Whilst allowing muddy boots and dogs throughout 💗💗

Find a local like this, it isn't our nearest but it is worth walking that bit further for.

Bloody love the place!

Do they still have Guiness? Or is Ireland not counted as EU in Wetherspoons' eyes?

I love my local spoons. I've taken my and other peoples kids there loads over the years. They are decent kids though and don't run around cos I've parented them.
Yes over the years had other peoples kids come over and annoy us, I tell them to go back to their parents.
Seen the ones that run around, screaming, shouting and kicking. I was kicked at the bar. Told the kid off, the kid starts crying about the mean lady. Bar staff asked why they were still there if they didn't leave now police would be called.
But it's not just spoons that attract ineffective parents. Have been in different pubs, cafes, restaurants etc and been annoyed by other kids.

snob (snŏb)
n.

1. One who despises, ignores, or is patronizing to those he or she considers inferior.
2. One who is convinced of his or her superiority in matters of taste or intellect.

I can't imagine being proud to be described in such a way,but it takes all sorts I suppose.

Of course they should have apologised and bought new drinks

I get what you mean as in they don't have a play area but it's definitely a pub you'd go to a meal with kids though it's where we go at a pinch with children

It's not a Charlie chalk mad house fun pub type affair though no.