To pick a pub with a log burner for a family meal?

[hippohippohippo]

It's my DH's birthday and I've booked a table at a pub for us and SIL and family. We have a 6 month old and they have a 5 month old. SIL says they are free but not coming, as the pub has a logburner and it's winter and might be on. It hadn't occurred to me that this was a problem and am fine taking my DS (and have regularly been to pubs with a logburner). She insists we look for somewhere that doesn't have a fire if we want them there. Is she being unreasonable or am I?

Why on earth would it be a problem?

What's the issue re log burner? Is she meaning risk of injury like getting burnt/environmentally against it?

She’s being a bit crazy. Also good luck trying to find a pub without a fire.

PFB Your SIL I mean.

Wtf? What’s the problem with a log burner?

What? I'm interested in why...

@Bunnycat101

She’s being a bit crazy. Also good luck trying to find a pub without a fire.

Wetherspoons!

I used to worry about things like this when I had a new born. My first child obvs. It’s not a thing I would even consider now

I could maybe understand her point of view if the 5 & 6 month olds were 5 & 6 years old and boisterous. But babies? She's bonkers.

Wow.. she needs to unclench

Does her baby have breathing difficulties of any sort?

This is the bonkers MN stuff I live for

Log burners are bloody horrible things - worse for air quality than Diesel engines.

Doubt it'll be long until they're banned.

www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/18/wood-burners-triple-harmful-indoor-air-pollution-study-finds

What is their reason? The environment, or do they think it will harm their child somehow?

Yanbu either way as they should want to see your DH not lay down rules and restrictions.

Presumably pollution. I don't think it would be an issue for 2 hours in the pub, especially if you weren't right by it. But at the end of the day, she had made her (ott) view clear, so it's up to you how you respond.

She's worried about the emissions from the log burner and her young baby. Perfectly reasonable.

I think it only matters if you are placed directly next to the open fire. This has happened to me before and it's just TOO hot to be comfortable. Looks nice, sounds nice but not great.
My parents in their 80s prefer places without open fires as they once found one 'too smoky' but that's them.

Log burners are really bad for lungs, the fine particles they produce get deep within lungs and cause respiratory disease and lung cancer. They are bad for babies in the same way someone smoking at the table would be bad for a baby.
They are cosy and comforting, I love radiant heat from fires, but they are a very big issue in terms of what they do to lungs.

@Sparklingbrook

I think it only matters if you are placed directly next to the open fire. This has happened to me before and it's just TOO hot to be comfortable. Looks nice, sounds nice but not great. My parents in their 80s prefer places without open fires as they once found one 'too smoky' but that's them.

And no, this isn’t true. The particulates get everywhere in the room, every time someone opens the door of the burner to toss on another log. It isn’t only a risk very close to the stove or fire.

Wow. I thought she was bonkers until I read that Guardian article. Totally unaware of this!

She has a point but sitting away from it, in a well ventilated area, should mitigate the effects. It should be easier to find an alternative venue though.

Sorry @SirVixofVixHall for it not being 'true'. That was merely my opinion about open fires in pubs being too hot if you are too close, I wasn't talking about 'particles' due to closeness or anything.

Depends why
I probably couldn’t take DD unless it was very well ventilated and we were nowhere near it because it sets off her asthma

Perhaps your sister has a friend like me - I have lung disease ( life long non smoker ) and it makes me short of breath just walking past a house with a log burner alight .

I mean, I know they're horrific polluters and wouldn't have one for that reason, but is there really a risk of you're sitting in a large, well ventilated building with one for 2-3 hours at most?