3rd Birthday party in a pub, yay or nay?

[MusointheHuso]

My daughter is turning 3 soon and I automatically assumed we'd have it in the pub we run. I discussed the topic with my partner and best friend and both said parents probably wouldn't want their children in a pub and might not come and/or would feel a bit uncomfortable. This hadn't even crossed my mind. We have a small outside area, but no function room. Any opinions and advice welcome. We would obviously do the usual party games and food, just in a more adult setting! Has anyone had this experience? Would you have reservations if your child was invited to a party in a pub?

I've been to a few parties in pubs with my two but pretty much always in a function room. It doesn't bother me, in fact I prefer it in some ways to the hell that is soft play. Will you be closed or are there likely to be other customers there?

It makes me think of Jude law And sadie frosts dd picking an e tablet from a nightclub floor during a kids party tbh

I think most children have been for a pub meal by that age. If you are in an area where lots of the parents might have reservations for religious reasons that might be different. Hopefully you don't have any drugs in the pub anyway, I guess if the pub has a local reputation for roudiness it might be less appealing. I think that there is a place for lots of different type of pubs, but maybe not for a child's party iykwim.

I would want it to be exclusive to the party, if it is where you live then say on invite 'please come to my party at my home, The Bells, my town. This is a private party, but there will be some refreshments for parents!' I think you might want to keep the bar shut, but have a parents' drinks table. You might find a few more dads coming along too!

I guess you'll have shut down the pub for the party, as pass the parcel tends to put off paying customers. So why not? I wouldn't hesitate to go. Do hoover beforehand to pick up any stray e's on the floor.

Soft play is a far better idea. If there is nothing to do but organised games in the pub, you will have a disaster. Organising party games for three year olds is like herding cats. Some of them can't understand why they haven't won a game or why they have to take turns. Some of them won't be able to understand the directions for party games. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

With soft play otoh, they get to roam and climb and play to their hearts' content, get themselves all worn out, eat cake and go home. You can spend time chatting with the parents and doing a bit of supervising. You don't have anything to clean up afterwards or bruised, fragile egos to tend to, and you won't be exhausted.

Either that or you will need to hire someone (or a team) to come to the pub to organise the children and keep them occupied, with crafts (can be horrible for young children, messy, and difficult to anticipate interest), or some sort of games that young children would be interested in. If the day turns out to be rainy they can't stay outside and you would be stuck indoors in a pub with no function room. What then?

I must disagree that you can't organise 3yr olds. Yes you will need some planning, some acceptance that it might not go to plan and some down time, i.e. Not the back to back party games you might have at a 5yr old party. Each week I do party games with 2+3yr olds and they love it, as long as you have a few parents with them who are willing to join in. Keep it simple, so things like what's the time mr wolf, a bit of musical statues - without the knockout rounds, pretending to be something - maybe theme related. Just remember that at that age everyone is a winner.

Soft play is so corporate, and half the time when they are 3 the parents have to end up crawling through the place themselves, nightmare when pregnant too (having been there twice myself). Fair enough if you like it, but it doesn't mean that you can't do it yourself at home/in a hall. An entertainer isn't necessarily any better than an enthusiastic parent who has put some thought into it. I am still finding excuses not to run parties for my friends children because they would rather pay me than a pro.

I wouldn't fancy it much

3 year olds en masse in a boozer?

Have birthday tea at home for age of birthday plus one. Piece of the proverbial.

Ok thanks, I think it is probably down to opinion, but it definitely confirms some parents might be put off. We have lots of children in the pub on Sundays and they're absolutely fine. The best occupation for children this age appears to be other children! Yes, the pub would be closed and 3duracellbunnies, I agree, I am prepared to put the effort in to keep the children occupied and happy. I was thinking face paints, music, pass the parcel and some music and singing (I'm a music teacher, so I thought I'd stick with what I know!) And no, no drugs as far as I'm aware and yes, it will be thoroughly cleaned beforehand. She only has a few friends, about 7-10, so not too many to keep track of. She also gets soft play free with a class she goes to, so it wouldn't be that different from normal.

As long as the parents know that it's your pub and it will be shut (maybe spell it out on the invite like 3duracellbunnies suggests), it should be fine :-)