Kids should not be in pubs after 6pm?

[ChamonixMountainBum]

Just that really. Evening time in the pub is for adult relaxation and socialising, not somewhere for meeting the needs of young children. I just want to chill out and enjoy a glass of wine without an infant screaming from a buggy, kids on screens or toddlers running about. Yes, I am having a bit of a moan but the last few times I have been in pubs in my area there have been kids still knocking about well past 8pm with parents barely keeping them in check. Can we have pubs in the evening as adult only spaces please.

Yep.

I'm honestly surprised by the number of people who think they're entitled to have their preferences catered to by private businesses. The hospitality sector is on its knees. They have no choice but to prioritise the most attractive customers.

YABU, 6pm is still dinner time. We don’t tend to eat til later than that. By 8.30 you have a point.

Fine to go for a meal or one drink in the beer garden but pubs are adult spaces and not suitable for kids in my experience. Certainly not in the evenings.

Well - there are some businesses which cater to what they want, which are bars. Most town centre will have several - fancy and otherwise.

But they don’t want to go to one of those, they want the pub round the corner to facilitate that.

All our local Wetherspoons have very strict policies about dc - party must be ordering meals and leave within reasonable time afterwards, must be out by 8. Last time I was in I had a drink order refused at just after 7.40 as they deemed we would not have them finished in time to be out for 8. Definitely no children in there at 11.

Yes, which is very entitled.

It might be up to the pub/landlord but again, some parents dont ever seem to consider if perhaps it is not a very good idea to take their bored/excitable kids into a otherwise relaxed venue that is full of adults in the evening. Quite literally 'read the room'.

6pm isn’t late though. After 8pm I think you have a point. If you don’t like it then leave and go somewhere else, the pub will change its rules if they lose too much business.

6 is very early and I wouldn't have an issue with children at that time. After around 8pm I'd rather it be adults only though. If I'm out on an evening without my small children I'd rather not have to consider other people's children either.

No, honestly. Downstairs, Bankers Draft, Sheffield. I was only in there with friends as the pub we were originally meeting in had a problem with their beer lines and closed early. Crunched across broken glass to get in. It's grim.

I rarely go to a pub these days, but if I’m meeting friends there then I am definitely not going to filter my language or topics of conversation (more likely to be bitching about Wes Streeting than our lack of sex lives to be honest). We will sit somewhere quiet and away from kids so if any kid hears us then they will soon learn some interesting words 😂

Yabu. Most pubs I can think of have a cut off time of 8pm latest. 8 onwards gives you plenty of time for a couple of childfree drinks. 6 is very early. If the pub doesn’t want kids they can make it adults only. I’m not going to restrict going to the pub because you don’t want me there. But I do think parents should keep kids’ behaviour in check so everyone can enjoy their evening. I don’t love kids plonked with iPads for hours but I don’t see why this bothers you as this will definitely keep them quiet.

I think it also depends on the venue, if it’s a family friendly place with a play area and soft play expect to see children.

I would be very uncomfortable taking my child somewhere completely adult centred and expensive.

Also there’s large parties etc to take into consideration. Had a nightmare lunch with the in laws for a family member’s birthday at a very nice restaurant which unfortunately was small loud and busy. My child is autistic and we actually had to leave. I had wrongly assumed the venue would be suitable but the in laws just didn’t understand. It can be tricky if you are blindsided by a situation. Sometimes the parents would literally rather be anywhere else than disturbing someone’s peace.

YABU for assuming people are limiting these kinds of conversations to the pub.

My children are exposed to all kinds of inappropriate conversation, swearing etc., just on public transport. Some people don’t seem to temper their conversations due to the presence of others, no matter where you are.

Depends on the pub.

There’s nothing wrong with children sitting in a pub garden in the summer till 8 or so in my view.

Your issue is really to do with the inconsiderate behaviour of the parents rather than the kids being present. What kind of idiot allows their kid to play in a thoroughfare like that?! Even if it was a child friendly venue that would be stupid. Similarly, if babies cry for any length of time in a place like that you obviously take it in turns to walk them around so they stop or cut your trip out short.
I've seen plenty of appalling behaviour from adults in pubs over the years too. Age isn't the issue, people being idiots is.

I live in central London. Next door must have had visitors as I heard some children playing outside their house. It dawned on me that I hadn't heard young children's voices around our house for so long. When my children were young there were several young families in the street, but now there are none Schools are closing or merging and my children's nursery closed a few years ago. It feels a bit sad really. Be careful what you wish for.

Most pubs that ban children do it because of the bad behaviour of adults, not the bad behaviour of children. They are usually a lot rowdier and noisy.

What a ridiculous comment, You sound like the type of person that would say children should be seen and not heard . Most pub are family pubs now , we regularly go after work/ school for a meal and a nice talk about are day . Maybe you should go and drink in a dark room by yourself

While we’re at it, let’s ban dogs from pubs too.

@Dgll the birth rate in London was 20% lower in 2023 than in 2012.

Its just not affordable to raise children in London any more, its an amazing statistic that has received relatively little attention really.

spain etc has such a better view when it comes to family . If you’re going out take your kids with you they are apart of the family . I don’t no what this underhand hate towards kids is. Most pubs , kids leave at 21:00 and no I don’t see drunk parents out with kids . They normally have 1 .

You're going to the wrong pubs!

If pubs were to ban children they would lose most of their business around here.

In our area some pubs are the venue of choice for local families particularly on Friday evenings. The kids all play together in the garden or tend to sit at tables playing games. They aren't getting in anyone's way. Usually most families will leave some time between 7 and 8.

Other pubs are more like restaurants and again kids will be eating with their parents. No problem with that, even in very nice restaurants, so long as they are not disturbing others.

IMO the issue isn't children per se, it is what they are doing. If they are playing with bricks in the middle of the floor that is a tripping hazard and unsafe for them and others. If they are tired and grizzling their parents should be taking them home as clearly they need their bed. But kids generally should be able to sit and eat a nice meal or quietly play a game of cards without causing a problem to others. Adults are usually the far bigger problem!

I grew up in the 60s/70s. My parents just never took us to pubs unless on holiday to have a basket meal. Seeing the inside of a pub was a rare treat!

Pubs that serve food 6pm is a bit early. I'd be left with my kids by 9pm.
Normal drinks only pubs - I couldn't think of anything worse than taking my kids to sit at a table for drinks. Kids get bored even those that like drawing/colouring/screens. Not remotely relaxing so I wouldn't do it.