Absolutely fair enough. Pubs have had to struggle through the last year and need to calculate the cost to them of having to manage other disgruntled customers who cut their lunch short and end up spending less because their leisurely Sunday lunch is ruined and who don’t come back because of a negative experience. Then there’s the cost of a labour intensive table, clearing up, running around serving a table with lots of demands, placating other diners, having valuable covers taken up by children who eat a child’s meal for a small amount of money when an adult diner would represent a much better profit. It’s a business decision. Then there is safety; if the children are running round in an unsuitable space and fall who gets the blame?
Like a lot of us I’ve been the adult wanting a child-free meal, the parent with generally well-behaved children (but children all the same who can’t always be relied upon of course) and I’ve been bar staff and a waitress too. Observing some families I’ve always found it quite shocking how some parents seemed to think they have some kind of moral high ground as parents and others must accept behaviour, which means that they look on indulgently while their children behave badly. Or they ignore their children as the children become increasingly bored. But I feel for the parent who has a child that’s lost the plot and they’re embarrassed and well aware they’re spoiling others’ enjoyment, but those parents are the ones who cut things short and exit as soon as they can.
I understand the need and wish to go out as a family but one has to accept there are certain stages of childhood where it just doesn’t work and you’ve just got to go to child-friendly places for a a while where every family member will have a more relaxed time. That stage is over very quickly. It’s either hell for everyone else or a complete nightmare for the parent with the disruptive child who does care about other diners.
Completely understandable decision.