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.

Must be some odd libraries where you live.

But seriously, are you really not able to conceive of a fun environment unless smoking and kids are in the mix?? 🤔

@Eejitmum101 that just annoys me. You think it is fine for people to take children everywhere no matter what, except high end restaurants when you want to have child free time. High end restaurants that most of us can not afford.
I stopped going to a local restaurant that suddenly became popular with middle class parents taking their children for tea. It was obvious they saw it just as a cheap friendly place where they could let their kids be noisy and run about. The last time I ever went it was as noisy as being in a soft play. These mums would never accept this level of noise when they were going out to their own expensive restaurants.
I come from a culture where whole families go out with very young children. But the children do not behave like some middle class families children.

There's no quiet places left in UK society.

I agree. It feels like everything is catered towards the loudest common denominator.

Maybe because the U.K. and other selected countries are the only ones that go give less rights to children to do things ? It’s cultural . The U.K. is not child friendly at all , it’s fine as you accept that , I just don’t get why people get so offended

@YourFogLightsAreOnTheresNoFog with the greatest of respect it is considered socially unacceptable among a lot of people already (most of the people I work with and friends) so it isn't exactly out there to predict an increase in the next ten years.

I can live in hope of a more enjoyable retirement,😉

@Anonymous2025 What “rights” does the UK not offer children that most countries do?

This post shows you one , if you go to most Mediterranean countries, children will be having dinner with the parents later on without anyone batting an eye . Not the only one , as an example some countries also have family supermarket tills , children get seats on public transports etc. Basically they are seen as the most vulnerable and the most important to protect in society . While in the U.K. they are seen as a nuisance by anyone else that is not a parent to them .
Once more it’s not being offensive it’s just a cultural thing .

In my local there a couple of parents hat visit after school with their kids, have a few wines, sit in the garden at the back of the pub. Meantime 2 of the kids running through the pub and filling water pistols - in an out every 10mins or so. Parents do nothing about it. The kids ran into a older woman who was a little unsteady (not drink related!) and kids were not happy when I asked them to take more care and not run around in the pub... little darlings!

OK. So you’re not saying that kids have no right to eat in restaurants in the UK, no right to sit down on public transport and that their parents have no right to use a supermarket till? Because that’s quite clearly bonkers - parents do every one of these things in the UK every single day.

The difference between here and the endlessly cited “Mediterranean countries” is that kids are taught to behave from a young age and parents accept that other people can discipline them. In the UK, kids’ behaviour is much poorer and their parents will tell you to fuck off if you try to say a word about it.

So yeah, I agree with you about “cultural differences” - in parenting.

I don’t agree with that . Nobody would discipline your children . It’s not my opinion it’s the truth . The U.K. has come up as one of the less child friendly countries in the world several time including by unicef

The difference between here and the endlessly cited “Mediterranean countries” is that kids are taught to behave from a young age and parents accept that other people can discipline them. In the UK, kids’ behaviour is much poorer and their parents will tell you to fuck off if you try to say a word about it

Exactly, and it's not even necessary for a word to be said ... you only have to see the threads on here full of outrage because someone "looked at them" in a way that wasn't appreciated

I think it’s pretty disingenuous to bring up Unicef’s concerns about child poverty in a conversation about people in the UK not wanting to share public spaces with noisy, unruly children.

I’m Google it , it’s but the hungry report I’m mentioning . It’s actually a whole set of things as breastfeeding , childcare , opportunity etc .
The U.K. is not centred on children , somei how I don’t think it ever was , while others make children the most important in society . It’s very cultural too , as an example , other countries don’t have a pub culture so obviously there was never the pub issues , they centre around a cafe culture and meals . Even when drinking most will drink while eating .

@Anonymous2025 The UNICEF stuff about breastfeeding as part of this initiative is about maternity leave and work policies.
The UNICEF initiative is about government policies, child poverty, and the most marginalised children. Of course the UK does terrible on this. We have too many children living in poverty, homeless, living in damp and overcrowded accommodation, and a lack of initiatives like Sure Start.
The UK in general cares about middle class children, but the most marginalised children are badly treated and ignored.
If you really cared about these issues you would be up in arms about asylum seeking children places alone in hostels, and the use of inadequate private childrens homes, alongside the increasing imprisonment of children.

But Mediterranean countries aren't 'centred on children' either. You might consider them more inclusive of children. but as pps have pointed out, they're often better behaved.

Genuine question, what would a society 'centred on children' look like to you, if you don't think the UK (where, be honest, kids are welcomed in most places/at most times) is it?

Less post like this one to start with , and above all the attitude that children are a nuisance . You say children are better behaved but have you wondered why ? They are included from day one , if you go to restaurants from the time you are born you will know how to behave , if you are allowed to be out with your parents at 11 pm on occasion you know how to behave , if you are given a seat in a bus or train as you are more vulnerable you will grow up to do the same and you expect the same tolerance from others .

Less post like this one to start with , and above all the attitude that children are a nuisance . You say children are better behaved but have you wondered why ? They are included from day one , if you go to restaurants from the time you are born you will know how to behave , if you are allowed to be out with your parents at 11 pm on occasion you know how to behave , if you are given a seat in a bus or train as you are more vulnerable you will grow up to do the same and you expect the same tolerance from others .

So you are proposing a society where children come first in absolutely everything and the needs/wishes of adults are subjugated to those of the child. Have I summed it up correctly?

That's because the kids are now turning into adults. Kids menus and "fun pubs" were a big thing twenty years ago but they've grown up and are now the parents.

Were they a big thing 20 years ago? I used to go to pubs regularly then and rarely saw any children, other than in the occasional pub garden in the summer. Now pretty much every time I go there are children inside. Generally not causing issues tbf, but it does change the atmosphere.

Less post like this one to start with , and above all the attitude that children are a nuisance . You say children are better behaved but have you wondered why ?
They are included from day one , if you go to restaurants from the time you are born you will know how to behave , if you are allowed to be out with your parents at 11 pm on occasion you know how to behave , if you are given a seat in a bus or train as you are more vulnerable you will grow up to do the same and you expect the same tolerance from others .

It's not the taking children to pubs and restaurants that teaches them how to behave.

It's parents actually parenting and taking the time and effort to raise their children to have manners, show consideration to others, behave in appropriate ways for different contexts.

There's no way the people who sit on Mumsnet defending their 'spirited' offspring sitting on tablets with the volume up, shrieking, running around and generally getting on everyone's nerves are going to suddenly become amazing parents who teach consideration if only they could take their children to more pubs from a younger age.

These children are not going to magically learn to behave if only the adults and families with standards, manners and consideration for others budged up more for them and centred them more.

It’s an odd decision if they serve food as losing out on family meal trade.
Is it popular with teens and they are clamping down on underage drinking due to licence issues? A pub in town (no food trade) ID’s on door and again at bar, so kids can’t get in premises even if don’t want to drink it’s the cheap go to teen pub though.

This post shows you one , if you go to most Mediterranean countries, children will be having dinner with the parents later on without anyone batting an eye .

There are plenty of restaurants in Britain where children are welcome at all times.

Pubs, however, are not restaurants. Serving alcohol is their main line of business, even if some also serve food. Children would not be welcome in similar establishments even in those wonderful 'Mediterranean countries'.

So much this! How I miss the library.

Does the name of the village location begin with C?