New Forest pub bans under 12 year olds...

[Dresssos]

m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10159581700162769&id=185263007768

It's all kicking off in the comments.

Do you agree with the pub's decision?

YABU No
YANBU Yes

[IrmaFayLear]

FGS STOP IT WITH THE “IN THE UK”

I get high blood pressure every time I see someone peddle the codswallop that Europeans love children. NO THEY DO NOT.

If you are in their restaurant with a fistful of Euros they will grin at you and your badly-behaved kids. Believe me, there will be some very fruity language behind your back.

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

It's a shame for the families who are considerate to others, with well behaved children or who take them outsider if they are not behaving. The selfish few spoil it for everyone else. I love the sound of children chatting and laughing but am shocked at how often people think it's ok for children to scream, shout and run around non-stop. Fully support the pub although I'm sure the 'guilty' families will be very outspoken.

[NeverDropYourMoonCup]

@5zeds

I HATE the way children are treated in the UK. What on Earth is wrong with you that you can’t eat in the same room as someone a few years younger than you???

Well, from working in a pub for four months, some of the reasons I would give are that I can't eat where;

1. There is somebody having the shit wiped off their arse on the table next to me (when the baby changing room is six foot away) and the detritus from the change is dumped on the floor for the waitress to clean up.

1. Screaming, screaming, screaming. Not from being a newborn, not from having SEN, but because Mum and Dad and Auntie and Nan are all busy getting shitfaced whilst the precious offspring have had a game of hide and seek and the one under your table has stood up and banged their head.

1. Throwing tantrums because the beans are touching one chip and throwing said plate across the room. I don't always mean the children, either. Sometimes the kid was perfectly happy eating it and then Mum kicked off and demanded a new meal and a free ice cream.

1. It's so boring whilst Mum and Dad are busy getting pissed that it sounds enormous fun to hide under chairs and round corners to leap out to surprise the waitress carrying extremely hot food to another table.

1. Arguments with the actual Mum on the phone because she expected the children dropped off at 3pm and it's nearly 5.30pm and Dad thinks she's a stupid fucking whore who is telling him how to live his life.

1. That wet patch of beans, mashed up sausage and ice cream on the floor isn't from a dropped plate, it's already been through the child once but made a reappearance during the last game of Try to Get Permanently Scarred by Whatever the Waitress is trying to carry.

1. Having a nice meal with your mistress and kids isn't a great idea when this is the nearest family pub to where you and your wife live and she's just walked in with her Mum, thinking you're at your Mum's.

1. Oh, there's another used nappy under table 12.

1. Seriously, it's 'funny' to take photos of your toddler drinking beer and putting fags in its mouth? Really?

10. Incoming fork! Duck!

11. That argument in the playground two years ago where Alfie hit Jessica? Well Alfie's Mum and Jessica's Mum have been here with their respective spouses for two hours now and it's time to settle the score. Oh, and now Nana's tag teaming with Alfie's Auntie.

12. There's a suspicious smelling puddle and mound under table 8.

13. No, the waitress is not trying to pull your boyfriend because she made eye contact when doing a courtesy check. She's not a 'fat old slag' either, she's somebody who actually wanted to clean some of the giant ice cream that the kids have been using to fingerpaint over the table, chairs and wall off the table so your plate doesn't stick to the table.

14. The balls in the soft play area belong in the soft play area, not hurled at other diners. I really hope that's chocolate sauce smeared over that ball pit ball. But previous experience of having to help clean the children's area suggests otherwise.

15. The high chairs are for babies, not seven year olds trying to do their best King Kong impressions.

16. Well, I'd like to go to the bathroom/order a drink from the bar/order some food, but I can't actually get there because three grand's worth of Pavement Panzers are blocking every bloody route. Apparently it's discrimination for the waitress to ask for them to be folded up or worse, still, put into the massive vehicle they arrived in.

17. Oh Christ, now that one's spotted his ex having a peaceful drink outside with a man whilst the children are behaving perfectly.

18. You see those unattended infants? Wonder where the parents are? Yeah, they're both outside having a smoke.

19. Yes, those are used nappies dumped by the bin. Somebody's just emptied out their car and didn't have a carrier bag to put them in - or the ability to put them in the sodding bin, either.

20. No sir, the waiter is not 'looking at your bird'.

21. No, whilst we will happily provide you with free water for hydration, breastfeeding at the table does not entitle you to a free mega super duper chocca cino with ice cream and biscuits for the older ones.

22. I am sorry that your newborn has colic. I think the poor little thing would rather be cuddled by you than left to scream in a car seat on the floor, though. And your nine year old walking around the tables with said screaming infant is not a suitable alternative.

23. No, it's fine, a child vomiting over the table happens especially when they're off sick from school and you've brought them to the pub to run around and trip up the waitress when rolling around playing soldiers. But I do need to clean the table before the diners on the next table repeat the act. Oh, you've scraped most of it off onto the floor and you want the free ice cream now? Are you sure about that?

24. Hang on, Madam, before you sit down on that chair, I'll just swap it with one that doesn't have an ominously smelly wet patch on it.

25. I think dogs are part of the family, too. That doesn't mean they're allowed loose in the pub, especially when the kid on the next table is mortally terrified of dogs and is howling in terror, though.


There's a good reason why I only worked in a family pub for a short time and took the first non family pub job that came along to get out of working there. The presence of Families.

[khakiandcoral]

I HATE the way children are treated in the UK.

I have 4 kids in the UK. I haven't witnessed any negative way against them

[5zeds]

@motogogo The problem is that some parents don't supervise and entertain their children, yes a bit like some people can’t regulate their own behaviour and drink till they are obnoxious. We don’t ban anyone who looks like them, is the same age as them or any other “grouping”.

@IrmaFayLear i wasn’t referring to Europe particularly but the handful of times I have holidayed/worked in Europe I HAVE found them more like the rest of the world where children generally eat out without issue.

[5zeds]

@khakiandcoral I have a larger family too and find it much much more unusual to eat out with children here, unless at a pizza place or somewhere.

[khakiandcoral]

People make children have their evening meal surprisingly early in this country, but apart from that... I have taken mine pretty much everywhere without issues, and I can't see anything wrong with a few "adult only" places.

[Blossomtoes]

Thank you @NeverDropYourMoonCup. I enjoyed that immensely. 🤣

[Arbadacarba]

NeverDropYourMoonCup Those were hilarious (though I suspect horrendous at the time). At least your short stint at the family pub has given you a fund of amusing anecdotes.

[IceCreamAndCandyfloss]

I think it’s up to them.

Never took ours to pubs as young children as not really a place they need to go and see then as more for adults given the alcohol.

[VestaTilley]

I agree. If they have families that spoil it for others that’s a real shame, but having worked as a waitress I can totally understand!

Some awful parents let their children run amok; it’s not appropriate or safe. I think pubs for meals are ok for young children if they have big gardens, but not otherwise.

I have a two year old DS. Eating out is important for socialisation, but I don’t blame the pub for doing this.

[Againstmachine]

Pubs are Adult spaces children are allowed, not everything needs to be child friendly, not everyone has kids. Surely some adult space is allowed.

I have no problem If they behave but running about in a environment when people are carrying stuff about is a nono.

[Brunandcroissant]

Good for them!
You should see the number of kids having to slowly witness their parents getting shit faced in our "upmarket" Georgian market town, more specifically the London priced blinged up pubs. It's the done thing now, apparently.... Sunday lunch, Saturday early evening drinks - doesn't matter! Kids run amok and drown out the pleasant atmosphere. No one will dare challenge it.

[5zeds]

Pubs are Adult spaces children are allowed, not everything needs to be child friendly, not everyone has kids. Surely some adult space is allowed.. Are pubs adult spaces? It sounds more like they are places like restaurants, cinemas, theatres etc where you are expected to behave in a certain way so others can enjoy themselves.

I have no problem If they behave but running about in a environment when people are carrying stuff about is a nono. yes so stop people behaving inappropriately don’t ban people who’s only crime is they are the same age as someone else who fails to behave appropriately.

[Againstmachine]

Are pubs adult spaces? It sounds more like they are places like restaurants, cinemas, theatres etc where you are expected to behave in a certain way so others can enjoy themselves.

Yes they are the main purpose of a pub is to serve alcohol which isn't available to people are aren't adults.

And why can't people have adult spaces.

[Againstmachine]

yes so stop people behaving inappropriately don’t ban people who’s only crime is they are the same age as someone else who fails to behave appropriately.

But you can't tell that until they are inside, and people who let their kids do that are often confrontational, it's easier for staff with a blanket ban

[Sillyduckseverywhere]

If they were local to me, I'd book in as soon as I could.
I'd love the chance to enjoy a nice Sunday lunch in a pub without screaming and running around. (Yes, even during covid)

[5zeds]

it's easier for staff with a blanket ban
Yes undoubtedly, it hardly makes it right though does it? To me it’s no different to banning Travelers or any other group. If ALL children uniformly couldn’t sit and eat a meal without behaving massively in appropriately then I’d support the idea but tons of people have posted saying their children aren’t like that.

[Bythemillpond]

I think the age of pubs being solely for adults and relying on wet trade is something from history
Almost all pubs now have to serve food to be a viable business and usually that includes children as again the age of getting a baby sitter for a couple of quid to look after your children whilst parents go out for the night is something that has been consigned to the history books.
Dd charged before lockdown anything from £50-£75+ depending on number of children and times and was never short of work on a Friday or Saturday night. But usually that was for parents who were going out to the theatre or a particular place that wasn’t suitable for young children.
I don’t think parents would pay that amount to just sit in a pub all night on their own when they can bring the children and save the money on baby sitting

[PotassiumChloride]

I’m not sure what’s difficult here.

Their business, their rules. If you don’t like it, don’t use their business. I’m sure there are plenty of places that will welcome you with open arms.

It’s not a matter of “right” or “wrong”. You don’t have a right to take your children to the pub.

[Blossomtoes]

Presumably you live in a pretty affluent area @Bythemillpond. Nobody round here would pay a babysitter that sort of money on top of the cost of an evening out. Most parents seem to babysit for their friends.

[FaceyRomford]

Good on the landlord. Wish more pubs took this line.

[SchrodingersImmigrant]

@NeverDropYourMoonCup amazing😂
And eerily familiar and I haven't even worked in a family pub😂

[Dresssos]

@NeverDropYourMoonCup Amazing. Number 7 though.... Did it actually happen???? What happened afterwards?

[Bythemillpond]

NeverDropYourMoonCup

I think the issue is with the parents not knowing how to behave in a restaurant and therefore not being able to teach their children how to behave.
Funnily enough a lot of your list was about adults bad behaviour not just the children.