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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that a pub on a friday night isnt the right place for a 2 year old.

179 replies

geordieminx · 11/09/2009 19:47

Not sure about this.

Mum goes to a nice country pub most friday nights - not a child-orientated pub, quiet local type pub.

Their friends have a wee girl who is nearly 2, every week they bring her to the pub and allow her to climb over people, give them all kisses on the lips and generally make a nusiance of herself. Totally not her fault, nothing for her to do, tired, no other kids, my ds who is 2 would be exactly the which is why I wouldnt do it.

Now, I know that a 1 off isnt too bad or whatever but both sets of grandparents live close so its not like they dont have babysitters - its making for an awkward atmosphere at the pub - people who go on a Friday night to relax after a week at work having a toddler climbing about, wanting attention. Parents just laugh it off.

MN jury - acceptable or not?

OP posts:
Lilyloo · 11/09/2009 19:49

Does the pub serve food ?

Is the little girl there/leave at a reasonable time ?

Ineedmorechocolatenow · 11/09/2009 19:50

What sort of time in the evening are you talking about?

Original poster
geordieminx · 11/09/2009 19:51

No food.

Usually there 6.30, leave 8.30?

OP posts:
Rubyrubyruby · 11/09/2009 19:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

meemarsgotabrandnewbump · 11/09/2009 19:56

If her behaviour is directly annoying other people (e.g climbing on them) then the parents need to sort it out.

But I don't think the idea of a 2 year old in a pub for an evening is innapropriate in general.

Rubyrubyruby · 11/09/2009 19:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cupofteaplease · 11/09/2009 19:58

I don't think it's that inappropriate...

Lilyloo · 11/09/2009 19:59

Is the no children policy usually 9pm in pubs ?
If it's a local pub guess it may be the only one for the parents to go to in their area ?

SolidGoldBrass · 11/09/2009 20:03

I have often taken DS to pubs, sometimes in the evening (though depending on the pub and its policies obviously) and I don't think there's anything wrong with it. However, I wouldn't let him annoy other people, and would either have something with me for him to do (colouring book, toy, snack) or keep him in the pub garden where he could run around. When he was little enough still to have a buggy, there would come a point where it would be, back in the buggy and sleep; now he's older he goes home when he's tired.

brimfull · 11/09/2009 20:06

just got back from the pub actually

loads of kids there but they weren't annoying anyone

kids in pubs fine unitl about 9ish and def not being annoying

travellingwilbury · 11/09/2009 20:08

I don't mind children being in the pub as long as they don't annoy others . But I do get annoyed when I have paid for a baby sitter and go on a very rare night out and end up with someone elses child coming over all the time .

Then I do get grumpy , with the parents though not the child .

curiositykilled · 11/09/2009 20:09

If the pub allow it it is really none of your business. Why don't you just go to a different pub?

HigherThanAWombat · 11/09/2009 20:10

They certainly shouldn't be allowing her to annoy other people.

Lilyloo · 11/09/2009 20:13

Also saying the grandparents can babysit , maybe they look after the lo all week so don't want to babysit at weekend.
Tbh it is more the culture of how children aren't welcome at anything more civilised than wacky warehouse by a lot of people.

However if the parents are letting her annoy everyone then they should be told to keep her under control.

curiositykilled · 11/09/2009 20:17

lilyloo - yes, I hate that culture too. I feel so sorry for children being excluded from everything all the time. I hate how people think they'll ruin a night out or a wedding just by being alive, imagine knowing people thought something like that about you, no wonder the UNICEF report said our kids are miserable.

curiositykilled · 11/09/2009 20:19

Especially if the child is there legally, between 6.30 and 8.30. Yes, OP definitely think YABU.

SolidGoldBrass · 11/09/2009 20:24

I think the OP is objecting more to the fact that the parents let their DD run about and bother other people, not the fact that she's there.

curiositykilled · 11/09/2009 20:28

solidgold - the post is titled 'to think that a pub on a friday night is not an appropriate place for a 2 year old' not 'to think that parents should keep their 2 year old under control in a pub' She's saying that the 2 year old is just behaving like a 2 year old and she is asking if she's unreasonable to think she just shouldn't be there in the first place.

thesecondcoming · 11/09/2009 20:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lilyloo · 11/09/2009 20:46

surely thesecond that can all be done after 9 or 8.30 when the kids have to leave the pub ?
Absolutely agree it can't be an enjoyable night for a two year old but the mum and dad also deserve to have a couple of hours out too.

'the parents are lazy fuckers' why ?

thesecondcoming · 11/09/2009 20:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

curiositykilled · 11/09/2009 20:57

why should a child be unreasonably excluded from a family pub so an adult can swear and drink too much beer? We are talking about a child that is there from 6.30 till 8.30 after all. Presumably the pub has a license for kids because they want business from families.

I think if someone wants an exclusively adult environment they should go to a pub without a licence for kids. The child has as much right to be there as anyone else. I once caught an old lady moaning about how men were allowed into the public swimming baths and she didn't like them looking at her in her costume so she thought they shouldn't be allowed.

Bearing in mind this was a council run facility that already ran a women only session that she didn't go to because it clashed with something else she did. I think this is the same thing. You could have argued, as she was an old lady, that she might have had to be separated from the opposite sex to swim as a child and so she had a 'right' to a female only environment and since the option that was available was unsuitable she should be allowed to swim in an environment that was comfortable to her.

If I had a problem with anyone's behaviour in a pub I'd either suck it up or take my chances and see if the landlord agreed with me. Either way it is unreasonable to say the child 'shouldn't' be there.

pooexplosions · 11/09/2009 21:04

I bring my 2 into the pub on the odd occasion to meet friends, at the times stated. The difference is they aren't allowed run around and climb on other people. They enjoy it, we enjoy it, our friends enjoy it, and if they were annoying anyone or bored/unhappy we would leave. Its a small local pub and the staff are happy enough too. I don't have any sitters available to me, and I do like to leave the house occasionally.....
How exactly does that make me a lazy fucker? They aren't spoiling adults enjoyment of a private space purely by breathing the same air as them in the early evening, and there are plenty of pubs and venues you can go to if you are so anti-child.

PDR · 11/09/2009 21:04

Unacceptable IMO.

I believe little ones should be in bed by 7pm unless it's a one-off special occasion.

Kids of 6 up maybe but not little ones. 2 is very young.

Sorry if that's a bit harsh!

cjones2979 · 11/09/2009 21:05

I totally agree with thesecondcoming. I have 2 kids, one who's 5.10 and the other is just 1. I wouldn't dream of taking them to a pub at night, especially a Friday or Saturday night !! They would (and should) be at home in bed.