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.

Yes, interesting angle.

The idea you should forgo all adult activities (pubs, galleries etc) when with your children is a bit limiting.

I think at the end of the day the pub will have made a decision based on their preferences and what is profitable. They will change it back if they find it was the wrong decision, hopefully you have another pub nearby that will have children later if you want. We live near a football stadium and "home" fans and children are banned from a number of local pubs on match day (so every other weekend in season!)... it's annoying, but such is life, and quite frankly I wouldn't want my DS to be around that atmosphere anyway. I just go somewhere else on those days.
5pm does seem early for those lovely summer evenings when a pub has a nice garden, but when we gather as a group with kids in tow I always look forward to the time when kids have to go home (I am a mother and DH and I take turns on who's doing childcare duty). Similar with weddings... I just went to my first with my DS and I will never do that again. I think it is only fair that adult-only areas are protected to some extent.

I've already spoke about the 70s packet of crisps and don't say a word about us driving home drunk 😀

Tbf the establishments you describe sound grim beyond belief. Poking vomit with a stick? The people getting hammered are unlikely to be providing healthy child care anywhere beit at home or at the pub.

I’ve never understood it either. Pubs are for adults and drinking. If you’ve got kids with you go elsewhere. Pubs aren’t proper pubs anymore. I rarely bother now because the tables are taken with kiddies colouring in and having to step over dogs.

Oh here we go. What has the poster said that suggests she hates children?

I'm that generation too. Hour after boring hour sitting in the car with a bag of crisps and bottle of cola. No Breathalyzer back then either, so uncle would drive us all home off his tits.

Children in pubs generally don't bring in money!

They tend to come with families who sit with pints all day and treat the pub like their living room. The children aren't bought much, take up space and often run around poorly supervised.

pubs want the people who spend a lot. Childfree drinkers, and couples buying a meal.

No, what I mean is look at the poster who said her dog and toddler love the pub, and like chatting to patrons. They are completely oblivious to the fact the most people do not find their toddler charming and don’t want to have to chat to it on a night out. They will be exactly the type of people I am referring to when I say they think their kids know how to behave- whereas in actual fact they are causing a nuisance.

i have no issue with kids that sit with their families and enjoy a family time. But there are a lot of people who will say that it’s “other people’s kids” that are the issue, that might actually want to have a little think about whether their kids impose themselves on other punters and do they genuinely believe it is what adults want of a night out

It is interesting to hear that so many think ‘pubs are for adults and drinking, why would a child be there’ - as I find really they’re just social spaces that people can publicly meet in.

I don’t really ever see any drunk people in my local pubs, certainly not during the hours I might be in them anyway (ie day / early evening).

Is there an age element to this?

They can decide how they want to position themselves as a business. Most only make money as a dining pub though and are competing with mid range restaurants which do allow children.

I can't even think of a time I've ever been bothered by a child being in a pub.

Adult males, on the other hand are regularly a total pain in the arse, especially when they've had a few to drink.

I think that's a perfectly fair observation.

Pubs aren’t for kids.

The idea you should forgo all adult activities (pubs, galleries etc) when with your children is a bit limiting.

You don't forgo them, but you change a bit, you don't assume everyone wants your children brought along just because it suits you to bring them.You get a babysitter if you want a night out. Mum goes to the gallery with friends while dad takes the kids to the park, or vice versa. You take the children to the pub for sunday lunch, rather than imposing them on everyone into the evening.

Children in pubs in the evenings is a pain, it killa conversations. There are things i want to chatter about with adult friends that aren't for children's ears.

Local lovely pub near us has banned children completely. So many children just running about. One kid ran into a waitress and she dropped hot gravy on him. It was carnage with the parents blaming the waitress.

All children were asked to leave immediately and they've never been let back

There's pubs that have a family friendly business model and those which don't. Either is fine - it's what works best for the business and the demographic they are focusing on.

Family friendly will typically allow kids until 7/8. No kids after 5pm suggests it's not a particularly family friendly venue although you could, say, go for lunch there with kids. If it was entirely non family friendly they could say no kids at all.

I have occasionally taken my kids into a pub but unless we are having a meal it's a quick half hour pit stop. It's not a place for bored/restless children. Mine liked the novelty for half an hour but then they'd want to be active so off we went!

Can I ask why not?

Most pubs I have ever been in seem to serve a purpose as ‘local communal space people can meet in’.

They aren’t full of people drinking heavily, more people catching up with a friend or having a family meal.

*I find really they’re just social spaces that people can publicly meet in.

A classic case of failing to recognise what other people want/expect from a pub. Just because you want it to be a social space, it isn't.

I think you are viewing your local pubs through the biased lens of what you use them for.

Pub landlords aren't stupid. They have restricted children after 5pm for a reason. The majority of their most valuable profits generating customers do not want them there then.

How are children supposed to learn how to behave if they aren’t taken anywhere?

Parents should parent their children, obviously kids shouldn’t be running riot, but it seems a shame to not take your child to eg a gallery.

Some people want adult space and there should be places that provide it.

Great idea. Children don't need to go to the pub.

@SweetSouls Because people want a break from kids. Pubs used to be for drinking and smoking. I never went in pubs as a kid. They were adult places. Kids get bored in pubs and not everyone wants them running about.

I think that's an odd blanket statement.

Some pubs are very much geared towards meals (certainly during the day) and aim to come across as family friendly with their environment, menu, and maybe their outdoor area. Many other pubs aren't. Both are fine.

So your bar for acceptable behaviour is “as long as they’re not running riot” 🤣 hmmmm think we can see why your local pub doesn’t want your kids in in the evening