Should kids be allowed in pubs?

[chocolatesaltyballs22]

Currently having a heated debate with husband. Pub near us has just imposed a 'no kids' rule, which I'm happy about. We have teen kids but have never felt the need to take them into pubs unless going for a meal. Lots of the regulars in our local take their younger kids in while they have a sesh and leave them to run riot. The landlord won't stand up to them as they bring too much money in.

My view is that pubs are not a place for kids - they never were when I was younger. It's a place I go to escape from my own kids, so why do I have to put up with other people's? He thinks that kids won't learn how to behave in public unless they are allowed into places like pubs.

Opinions?

I take my baby to the pub all the time (sometimes for lunch or sometimes just a quick drink) but it really does depend on the pub. I'd obviously never take her to a classic old man pub but so many are child friendly - have high chairs, baby change, kids menus etc. Also we only ever take her in the afternoon, certainly not in the evening. I always take loads of toys / snacks to keep her happy and as quiet as possible. Never been an issue so far!

@PuppyMonkey the one which is banning kids is going for a blanket ban. Obviously going for the more adult market. My local allows kids in at all times. They have a kids menu etc. I like the idea of a ban say after 7pm. What pisses me off is people completely ignoring their kids while they annoy other people. Get a babysitter FFS.

I think there's a place for family friendly eatery type places.

And a place for drinking, setting the world to rights type places.

The two shouldn't be mixed, IMO.

@PuppyMonkey the one which is banning kids is going for a blanket ban

Sounds like my kind of place!

We took DS in with friends and their DS mid-afternoon on New Year’s Eve for a drink and a packet of crisps... it was lovely. I’m with your DH. If they’re supervised properly, it’s fine. Bad parenting would be an issue anywhere, not just in a pub.

Drinking pubs no, don’t want kids near rowdy drunks trying to normalise that kind of behaviour.
Restaurant pubs yes.

I think if it's a kid friendly pub like Brewers Fayre etc then it's fine.

But some of the local boozers close to me I don't think children should be allowed. Adults need a place to unwind and relax without having to watch their language etc.

I am happy with well behaved children being in pubs. I don't like uncontrolled brats running around screeching so I do get your annoyance with that.

Your husband is right though. The best way for children to learn how to behave properly in these situations is exposure to them, so being taken into the pubs etc. Not all the time of course, and it does depend on parents actually being prepared to do some parenting rather than just ignore them and leave them to it.

We have always gone to a local pub/hotel for our Christmas dinner. Ever since our children were babies and toddlers. They weren't allowed to run around in there. They had to stay next to us or within a very restricted area if we had a corner table. They weren't allowed to run about and shriek, and were taken out if needed. They are aged between 17 and 24 now and we still go.

I know of two pubs in my locality that don’t allow children. Neither is the type of place I’d go in

In the day time where they serve food I’d say it’s fine, past 7pm I think that’s adult time and it’s not appropriate.

Obviously pubs designated just for drinking then it’s not really appropriate any time.

I am happy with well behaved children being in pubs. I don't like uncontrolled brats running around screeching so I do get your annoyance with that.

Thing is though, 'well-behaved children' can turn into uncontrolled brats quite quickly, particularly in the eyes of strangers who don't find other people's children's bad behaviour to be cute and adorable. And there's no way to be certain how 'well-behaved' kids will be on any given day. Plus, even 'well-behaved' children are, well, children, and their very presence changes the atmosphere.

There are lots of places that are 'family friendly'. I don't see why pubs have to be.

I also agree with those saying that it absolutely depends on the type of pub.

Children/teens going to be the pub for a lunch with their family - fine.

Kids accompanying parents on a night out drinking - not fine.

I'd love to see more childfree pubs. Most pubs now have become restaurants to keep up with the times though so it's fair enough that those places are open to families.

The weird thing is we have 3 local pubs and it's the drinking only pub that everyone seems to take their kids into. I think the curfew is 8.30 but I've been past and seen children in their after that time. The landlady doesn't really care. We avoid that pub now

Pubs should have specific offers for different markets. Some pubs should be aimed at family dining, with an offer similar to branded chain restaurants. Other pubs should be aimed at adults, and should be child-free. The customer can then have a real choice.

Quite honestly this is going to be a commercial decision for the pub as to whether they are better off financially with families or child free. Most of the pubs and bars near me allow kids until maybe 7 or 8pm then adults only and tbh I think most of them need the early evening and weekend lunchtime trade families provide.

I often (perhaps 2-3 times a month) take my children into my local pubs but only for meals or a quick coffee/snack/short recharge. My children are absolutely not allowed to run around and if we are going to be there for a meal I bring tablets for them to watch or play on with headphones once they have finished whilst the adults eat up so they do not disturb others. But then we don’t go to the pub to booze for hours or watch sports where I’m not surprised kids get restless and disruptive.

Like pp, I think it depends on the pub.
I quite often go out for a meal in the evening with my dc, the latest we leave is around 9ish and the pubs we go to have a separate bar / restaurant so we wouldn’t be disturbing the drinkers.
We wouldn’t take dc into a drinkers pub at any point in the day.

Depends on the pub and time.
I take my daughter in local pubs occasionally.
Never after about 9pm and there is certain pubs I wouldn’t dream of doing it in.
On contrast, I saw much more children in ‘drinkers’ pubs 20 years ago than I do now.

Our local child friendly pub got taken over by new landlord.

He was a twat. No children after 8 unless eating . The previous landlord had children’s board games and loads of other stuff.

That pub is now struggling to stay ioen

What is the point in having a "heated discussion" about it. The landlord/owner is allowed to make the rules. What you or your husband think about it isn't that relevant.

@Oakmaiden because sometimes couples disagree, and I was just interested in others opinions? Isn't that what this forum is about?

I only take my toddler and baby to the kind of pub that has a children's play area, as they're too small to do sitting and waiting quietly, without disturbing other people. I deliberately choose places to eat that are not child friendly, on a rare date night though!

Depends on the pub. My old local had rules - No under 18s in the bar, no unaccompanied under 16s in the dining area, screaming babies will not be tolerated. I loved it.

During the day, I think its acceptable to bring children to most pubs for a meal, but certainly not in the evening. I don't want to be forking out for a meal and a decent bottle of something for the experience to be ruined by someone else's children. Even if they're well behaved, children being around really changes the dynamics of the place.

I will go to a Hungry Horse type places in the day with my 4yo ds. He can have a nice evening at home with my DM if I want to have dinner out in the evening.

I think a drinks limit if you have kids with you rather than a complete ban on kids.
So no more than 3 drinks/ however many units per adult if you have kids with you.

That and a ban after a certain time of night. I really cannot see any reason to have kids in a pub after 7/8pm.

The best way for children to learn how to behave properly in these situations is exposure to them, so being taken into the pubs etc.

This is such bullshit. Parents just need to actually parent their children. Children don't need to go to the pub to learn how to behave. Sounds like I'm the same generation as the OP as my parents never took me to the pub, the same with all my friends too. But amazingly we still know how to behave.

There are lots of family friendly eateries. I much prefer that pubs are for adults only. Are we not allowed any adult space?