No children in pub after 5pm

[SweetSouls]

My local banned children after 7pm a few years ago.

This seemed unnecessary to me, but I suppose that's after 'bed time' so I could sort of see the logic. Adult time etc.

On Saturday I went to stop there for a drink in the afternoon, and they have now banned children after 5pm.

This seems very odd to me given it's an area that people move to with their families. It's not some town centre boozer, it's surrounded by housing.

Is this just not terrible business? I do not get it at all.

It was almost empty, incidentally, at 5.15 on a Saturday afternoon.

We went out to dinner in a pub recently and 2 families were sitting beside us - their kids were horrendous, the noise, the jumping around and screaming whinging and crying, it was bloody awful. We haven't been back since it just brings back pretty awful memories - I think you shouldn't expect other people to put up with that kind of behaviour in a pub or anywhere else - take them to the playground or soft play until they can learn to behave in a way that doesn't give everyone close to them a splitting headache. I understand why a pub would like to ban kids from 5pm - the badly behaved families with their kids and dogs ruin it for everyone else.

But you literally are trying to dictate what other people do. You’re trying to tell pub owners who don’t want to allow kids, to allow them!

What is this mumsnet thing of saying ‘their choice’ when people make terrible decisions? ‘Their wedding, their choice.
‘Their business, their choice’

Obviously it’s ‘their choice’, but you can still question it… especially on an anonymous forum!

Your child might love it, but the bar staff are trying get on with their work and the patrons are trying to talk to their friends; neither are likely to appreciate being chatted at by a random child.

Having seen the mess created by some children (including my own grandchildren!) it could be because they can't get enough staff to include the clean up time before other customers arrive. Also, if these customers are just there for drinks and no food it can be off-putting for those wanting an early meal out so it might be less profitable for the pub. Btw I always try to clear up any mess after the chidren but their parents don't always!!

Wish I knew where this was…bloody miss a Spoons breakfast 😂

Having child free time isn't as simple as saying 'Let's just leave them at home, the pub is childfree'!
As parents usually the choice is to go somewhere with the kids or not go at all, even if it would be nicer without them!

Because often the only person who can answer questions about their decisions are the people directly involved. We don't know why the pub has changed to no kids from 5pm. We can speculate, but yeah, it is their choice. They will have information we do not have.

Surely if you genuinely want answers, you ask the establishment/people involved.

Yes can't take my 17 year old ASD child in to my nearest pub for food any more, they refused to serve us 50 minutes before their cut off time as he might not have finished eating (service has never taken more than 5 minutes previously). The cut off time was introduced by a new landlord
He is 6ft 3 & a social mute who wears headphones & isn't going to disturb anyone.
This is a large pub next to housing in the middle of the large village - it is now always empty & running pop up shops to try & get people in the door

It may come as a surprise to you but someone's 2yo and dog are not most people's idea of good company in a pub.

Our local has recently banned dogs as well as having a no kids after (I think) 6pm rule. The dog ban was a very bold move since so many people seem incapable of going anywhere without their lockdown dog, but it's usually packed out in there these days. Presumably many people are sick of tripping over whining toddlers and smelly dogs in the other local country pubs.

As one of the people who said that, it's because OP subsequently went on to talk about fairness. She broadened her argument beyond the suggestion that it was bad commercial sense. Pointing out that it's a choice they have every right to make is an explicit rejection of the idea that anyone is entitled to anything (beyond what the law specifies) when it comes to pubs. It applies just as well to people who think they're entitled to an adult free pub as well.

Good. I much prefer a pub without kids in in the evening.

No I’m trying to tell you that it’s not normal
in most places to feel children are so unwanted and that so a cultural thing . I’m not dictating anything I’m simple giving a opinion like you are

I don't have a 2-year-old but my dog is very popular in my local - loads of people come over for a chat with him.

In my opinion, it's quite normal for people not to want to spend time with other people's kids. You might not think it's nice but it's pretty usual.

At the end of the day pubs are businesses. If a rule like that costs them too much money then they’ll change it. If it makes them money they’ll keep it.

I suspect the one here that has banned kids and dogs will do a roaring trade. Whilst not every child or dog is badly behaved there are enough of them now that going to one of the other places is a gamble what kind of behaviour you’re going to see. Often the mix of kids running around and poorly trained lockdown dogs feels like a disaster waiting to happen.

I just hope the landlord stays as strict as they currently are on people getting ridiculously drunk and not behaving appropriately as I can’t stand seeing that either.

Again it’s a cultural thing

I agree with you. The last thing I would want when I'm trying to have a quiet drink is to have someone else's child coming up and chatting to me or sitting at my table, or having a dog sniffing round me.

I think so is children misbehaving in pubs though.

When I lived in Spain you never saw kids running round pubs or getting in the way of staff.

I thought it was a typo, that's why I didn't Google it! 😂

I see we're at that stage in the discussion where all 'Mediterranean' children are impeccably behaved, never get fat or obnoxious, and everyone 'on the continent' just loves being surrounded by children at all hours of the day or night.

I've seen and heard plenty of bratty, bored 'Mediterranean' kids. In any case, we are not in Spain or Italy. Some people like adult only spaces. Mind you, I bet many do 'on the continent' too.

A dog? And a two year old? No ta.

I'm obviously aware that they can't just be left at home. My friends looked after their two older grandchildren last week when their daughter went out for a birthday meal with her husband. I believe they took the baby with them though.

Some pubs are family friendly and some aren't. Both are valid options! I seek out kid free places as much as I can. If a cafe has a lot of kinds in I turn around and find somewhere else.

Isn't it enough for the pub to allow kids in the daytime? I remember in the 1970s going to the pub on a w'end with my dad, having a packet of crisps, a pickled egg and a bottle of lemonade. There was a garden out the back and some geese (who chased me). It was fantastic as an occasional trip, but who wants to sit in a dark pub at night with their parents, unless they're having dinner?