Babies not allowed in bars/pubs?

[ChampagneLassie]

Out with newborn in pram this afternoon and tried to go for a drink at a bar with a big outdoor terrace. Was denied entry as, under 18s not allowed. The man was apologetic but adamant that this applied to sleeping babies in prams. It felt particularly ridicouks as this was bar was right on high street with tables basically lining pavement.
I can understand children not allowed but would that really extend to babies in prams? Are council licensing that officus?

I guess it depends on their license. If they have an 18+ only license (most pubs don’t in England) they can’t risk it even for a baby

If no under 18s is their policy it’s fair enough, no under 18s includes all of them. What age would they stop this if not? You sit down, next person comes along with a slightly older sleeping baby, they have to let them in because they’ve let you in, older baby wakes up and wants to start crawling around the place… easier to have a blanket rule and stick to it.

Probably way easier for them to apply a blanket rule!

If they allow a newborn in, well then why not allow a 6 month old in, and then well why not a toddler etc.

Of course an over 18s venue wouldn't allow someone under 18.

What age do you think it should apply from. 0-6 months and over 18s only?

Even if the terms of the licence allows children, the venue can still set age limits as they wish. Many people in bars don’t want to be around babies (and some will be paying a good amount of money to be away from their own).

It is licensing rules. Under 18 is under 18. Doesn't matter if it is a baby in a pram. A lot of pubs (think Wetherspoons) have an 18+ rule after a certain time.

Fair enough I guess. One of my first times out of house, nice sunny day and I was excited for a bit of normality to sip in sunshine have a drink. 😢

So find a pub that allows children and do that?

Sorry, no.

You chose to have a kid: that's it, game over.

Adult spaces are for adults. Crack on with soft play and coffee shops and whatever.

No one under 18 means no one under 18. They bend the rules for you, they have to bend them for everyone. FGS don't be one of those entitled parents who think they should get a pass. My children are now adults, and I go to adult pubs for a reason. I don't want to be around your baby when enjoying a couple of drinks, thank you.

Now you have a child, you need to research local child friendly options. Lots of pubs do allow children, there is bound to be one near you that does. It's actually much less stressful to go there because they also usually have facilities eg baby change etc, as opposed to non child friendly places that don't.

OP, I hear you, it does seem a bit daft when it's applied to babes in arms. But them's the rules. Hope you manage to find some other options and that you don't feel 100% completely patronised by some of the replies on here.

It's just how it is. I didn't realise and went to the pub with my newborn tucked away in a sling. The person serving didn't notice and I didn't realise it was an issue until we'd settled in the beer garden and the manager came storming out and told us to leave . It was really embarrassing getting turned out!

If that's the rules that's the rules regardless if it's their rules or law that's how it is. And as a patron who has kids (and obviously babies at some stage) we had no desire to take ours somewhere like that and equally don't want to hear other people's while enjoying time away from mine. I'd assume somewhere like that would be somewhere kids/babies weren't (but that's my preference some people don't mind other people's screaming near by - and before it's said I know at entry it was asleep in a pram doesn't mean it will remain so).
Plenty of restaurants and cafes around, some licensed, that would be appropriate to go.

Dh is coming up against this with dd, who is 13. He wants to take her occasionally to watch a match like he used to when she was younger. Post covid the areas in bars with the tv screen or the actual pubs all seem to be 18+. Idk what is going on, whether it’s licensing laws or because pubs are prioritising alcohol drinking for the profit margins.

Personally I wish more bars would have this rule. Out local bars are turning into nurseries with kids running around all over the place as their parents sup away on their 3rd Prosecco. I think it's an awful place to take kids. They should not be in bars!

Love this rule.

I suppose you'll just have to get used to checking which establishments allow children in for the best part of the next 2 decades? Obviously plenty do, but not this one.

You'll probably sympathise with a friend of mine, who works in a betting shop. On maternity leave she decided to pop into work to say hello to her colleagues and show off her new baby. Area manager was in at the time who told her that she wasn't allowed in the shop with the baby, because it's over 18s only. Colleagues could only wave at her and the baby through the window.

This is always trotted out on mumsnet. I reality you always see babies in beer gardens round here (Peak District, so not 'out out' city bars) and they cause no issues at all. Famiies buying meals are big business round here.

This would have surprised me too OP. With my baby in tow I've never checked if a place is "child friendly" especially for pub gardens! I do get over 18 for nightclubs etc but a pub I would expect to be allowed in with a small baby in a pram to be honest.

I was at a sports club the other day and the bar area is within the normal dining area and has a “no under 18s” sign but as it was 9am and the area has the best sofas I went there with my baby asleep in his pram. No one said anything and a few other mothers with prams seemed to follow suit. A very miserable lady came and spent a good few minutes glaring at the sign and then glaring at the buggies! I appreciate the rule when it’s past 12 and people are drinking but at 9am…come on 😃

I do agree thst parents with children in a pub are a nightmare though

I have children but I'm Not so entitled that I believe they should be allowed everywhere. Want to sit outside in the sunshine go to a cafe why does it need to be a bar?? I would imagine the policy is in place as since they are bar selling alcohol it stops parents lashing it up whilst with babies/kids in tow

Did the sign say "No under 18s after noon"? or did you just decide that the rule didn't apply to you?

Wasn’t there a cafe with outdoor tables you could have sat at instead? A bar really isn’t appropriate for a baby.