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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that pubs are no place for kids

105 replies

swanandduck · 24/02/2010 15:24

Dropped into a pub at about 3am last Sat for a late lunch on way home from funeral. The place was full of children whose parents were drinking and watching telly while the kids ran around. Surely there are better things to do with children at the weekend than plonking them in a corner with a bottle of pop and a packet of crisps while you watch the sports on a big screen.

OP posts:
Original poster
swanandduck · 24/02/2010 15:25

I meant 3pm of course.

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VinegarTits · 24/02/2010 15:27

At 3am i would think they should be in bed

If you mean 3pm then yes YABU

GrimmaTheNome · 24/02/2010 15:29

YABU at 3pm (YANBU at 3am!)

While there are doubtless better ways than what you describe for passing a sunday afternoon, a nice pub lunch en famille can be very civilized.

mamsnet · 24/02/2010 15:31

Do you have kids? Was it a horrible day outside? Maybe they'd spent the morning hilllwalking/ at a museum/ playing football..
Was it smokey?
I think there are too many factors you don't know anything about to judge..
We make a conscious effort to do loads of outdoor activities , cultural activities, family get togethers etc with our kids.. but don't I deserve to have a pint now and again in the knowledge that my DCs and their friends are having fun in a family friendly establishment?

VinegarTits · 24/02/2010 15:31

Sorry x-posts

So how do you know thats all they have done all weekend? they might have popped into the pub after a day out to the Zoo/theme park

TweedyneeCole · 24/02/2010 15:32

Yes, YABU (assuming the adults weren't all rolling around drunk on Jack Daniels at 3pm?)

Why on earth shouldn't people take their kids for a Sunday lunch in a pub?

ShauntheSheep · 24/02/2010 15:32

Each to their own surely. I really cant see anything wrong with taking kids out to the pub at all.
Our local up the hill has a lovely garden and there are lots of kids there that all know each other and play together so us adults can relax. we often pop in their on a Sat or Sun on our way back from a walk/the park.

Better than the hell that is softplay ~shudder~

Original poster
swanandduck · 24/02/2010 15:32

Sorry, I wasn't talking about families out for pub lunches. Nothing wrong with that. I meant families who go to the pub for the entire afternoon to watch the big screen and have a few pints and leave the kids stuck in the corner with some coke and walkers or running around bored for hours.

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TweedyneeCole · 24/02/2010 15:34

I loved it when I was a kid. Fizzy orange and crisps and a chance to maraud with strange new kids.

Each to their own, I suppose, but I really couldn't get worked up about it, especially now nobody smokes in pubs.

VinegarTits · 24/02/2010 15:35

Well in that case yanbu, they should at least put a vodka in their childrens coke so they pass out and dont make a nusience of themselves

Are you new to MN? not seen you around before

5DollarShake · 24/02/2010 15:40

PMSL @ VT.

Watching sport all afternoon is not my idea of a good time, but I can't really get too worked up about this.

In fact, I'm finding it increasingly difficult to get wound up about stuff other people do with their kids which doesn't impact on me in the slightest...

Whoamireally · 24/02/2010 15:41

YABU
I loved going to the pub too as a child - it was 'grown up'. Perhaps they were all there as a special treat and for them, it was a nice day out?

I can understand where you're coming from a bit if the parents aren't supervising their kids and they're running around yelling - that's not on - but you switch between saying they're 'running about' and 'plonked in a corner' (i.e. sat quietly?) so not even sure what point you're trying to make?

Are you sure you weren't just feeling a bit funeral-ed out and not as tolerant as usual?

AllRoadsLeadBackHome · 24/02/2010 15:43

I take my DC to the pub for sports matches I want to see. As long as they behave and are not a nuisance for other patrons, I seriously don't see the problem?

BrahmsThirdRacket · 24/02/2010 15:44

I don't mind as long as they keep them under control. If the kids are running around shouting, then they should be taken out (I mean, taken home by their parents, not assassinated)

Alicetheinvisible · 24/02/2010 15:46

One pub in our town has just put in new kids play equipment in their garden, thinking a glass of wine would be better than coffee anyday

I do kind of see what you mean though, our weatherspoons always has the same bunch of people with their kids and babies outside. I think that is a bit sad tbh

MmmCoffee · 24/02/2010 15:47

Depends on the pub. If it's a 'drinkers' pub full of blokes watching football, then kids don't belong there. But if it's any kind of decent family pub, YABU. I loved going to the pub with my parents, sitting with my coke & crisps and feeling very grown up about it! These days people are more tolerant about kids being kids; they're not expected to sit quietly in a corner. As long as they're not screaming and driving people mad, I don't see the problem.

Original poster
swanandduck · 24/02/2010 15:51

Probably should clarify. We said something to someone who was with us about how noisy it was and he said 'that's why I wouldn't normally come here for lunch. There's some people who are here every Saturday with their kids tearing around the place. By the time the parents have had a few drinks they don't even notice what the kids are up to'. I've seen this before in pubs when I've been there sans children. Couple come in, put the kids at a table in the corner with fizzy drinks and crisps and proceed to drink away themselves for hours and ignore the kids. I have no objection to people popping in for a meal or a drink and also treating the children to a fizzy orange or whatever. It's parents who regularly sit around the pub all day as if they didn't have children and don't do anything else with their kids at the weekend that I find sad.

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Original poster
swanandduck · 24/02/2010 15:54

Oh and yes, it was a serious 'drinking' pub not a restaurant cum pub with nice gardens and play area and baby changing room etc.

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Stigaloid · 24/02/2010 16:01

YABU

VinegarTits · 24/02/2010 16:02

But how do you know they do nothing else with them all weekend? do you 'know' them, do you follow them all weekend to see what else they do? do you wear big pants that say 'i judge' on them

Whoamireally · 24/02/2010 16:07

Hmm well whoever you were with must be there every Saturday at lunchtime in order to know that there are other people there every Saturday, no?

If it was a serious drinking pub and not a restaurant pub why were you there for lunch, that sort of pub doesn't usually do all day food?

Sorry still think you're being judgey...

OrmRenewed · 24/02/2010 16:09

"Surely there are better things to do with children at the weekend than plonking them in a corner with a bottle of pop and a packet of crisps while you watch the sports on a big screen"

Oooh yes there are loads of better things to do, but for those parents maybe there is nothing quite so enjoyable. Does it hurt the DC? Nope, not once in a while especially when the pubs are smoke-free. Does it hurt the other punters? Not if the children aren't making a nuisance of themselves - couldn't give a toss what other DC get up to as long as they aren't mine to deal with. And i happen to like the atmosphere of a pub that welcomes everyone. Who wants some vile old boozer?

2old4thislark · 24/02/2010 16:12

Agree with MmmCoffee. If it's a drinkers pub then it's not the place for small kids. I used to like the pop and crisps aspect of when my parents took us to the pub as kids ( but then we were OUTSIDE and they were INSIDE!) but soon got bored.......

IF it's a quick drink, fine but not ALL afternoon!

Original poster
swanandduck · 24/02/2010 16:20

Okay, maybe was being judgey. I come from Ireland where the pub scene is less family/socially orientated and a lot more centred on drinking. Therefore, they're not really seen as places you would bring the children unless it is for lunch or a family celebration with a special area reserved.

-whoamireally- I was there, having a (grotty) sandwich because I was on the way home from a funeral and there was nowhere else around and we were starving.

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pranma · 24/02/2010 16:23

Well even I who hate seeing kids in pubs after 7pm wouldnt see anything wrong with pop and crisps in a pub with family on a Saturday afternoon occasionally.