Children in pubs - are they OK

We always took our boys into restaurants when they were little, they were always well behaved and I don't have an issue as long as they're not running around and/or yelling or as sometimes happens today, playing games on some console or other that's on full volume so everyone can hear.

We always took our children out to eat, whether that be in a pub, bistro or a Michelin Starred restaurant, in the U.K. and around the world.

Our now AC do the same with our GC.

This Friday we have one of our Aussie contingent staying with us, ten of us are going out to dinner - 2 three year olds, 1 six year old, 1 eight year old and 6 adults.

The children will be sat in between adults and included in conversation, no tablets or devices allowed until after desert, then it’s adults time to wind down with a coffee and chat.

Just to add both my parents were publicans at some stage in my childhood, one till I was in my forties . Consequently our children grew up in and around pubs/pub restaurants.

French children are taught to socialise and use table etiquette from being tiny. My daughters in laws are French, it was a bit fractious to begin when they were small but it has paid off in spades now. Meals are very social and everyone encouraged to chat and discuss their day.

We took our daughter as a baby in a pub 40 years . And then our son . We taught both of them good table manners and how to behave in a restaurant. They have past those lessons on to there children.

Babies cry so what . I would much rather hear a baby crying in a restaurant than a couple having an argument or a group of people having a meal together then fighting over who had want and the poor waiter having to deal with them.

The days of children should be seen and not heard thankfully is behind us.

If you don't like children in restaurants find a place that is adults only. Like they have adult only hotels.

At least children don't get drunk and act like yobs.

Whilst pregnant with no2 we went to Slaley Hall with our 3 year old daughter for lunch, my MIL and FIL wanted to treat us all.
On entering the dining room the Maître D snapped at my FIL he said if children come into this dining room we expect them to behave or we will ask you to leave.
I was feeling sick with pressure, dreading our normally immaculately behaved daughter would turn into a monster.
She didn’t
As we left he looked almost disappointed that he had had no cause to berate us, my FIL asked him if he had any words for our little girl!
He very reluctantly patted her on the head.
Thank goodness times have changed!

My children have been taken into restaurants and pub/restaurants since they were babes, I did take drawing bits for them as toddlers. Our grandchildren have been brought up the in the same way and are a pleasure to take out. I’ve never segregated the children away from the adults, that’s excluding them, so they won’t learn to interact.
We’ve lived in France, I’ve seen misbehaving French children, Italian and Dutch they’re not perfect.

Sago We encountered a restaurant like that in Spain, our children were impeccably behaved, unfortunately the diners on the next table were not so (they were Scandinavian)

Depends on who you’ve been mixing with Dinahmo as everyone we know at large garden gatherings for meals sit with their children in amongst the adults. Same in pubs and restaurants and the children are far from ignored, have table manners and join in conversations.

I don't mind children in pubs and restaurants, so long as they are well behaved, but I think it depends on the pub/restaurant, and its purpose.

I was reading on MN about Wetherspoons having a policy of not serving more than 3 drinks to an adult in charge of a child, and that sums up the problem, really. Children running about and annoying other customers while their parents get drunk are a menace, and pubs are not the place for barely supervised children. Old-fashioned pubs where there is swearing and drunkenness are not good either, although I don't think I've been in one of those since I was a student, so they might not exist any more!

Restaurants like Frankie and Benny's are designed for children, so it would be churlish to complain about them in there; but I wouldn't be happy to pay Ivy prices to sit next to a crying baby or whining children, and with the best will in the world, they can all have their off days.

We took ours to appropriate places, on the strict understanding that they had one warning and then would be taken out if they misbehaved, and I can't remember ever having to do that (although we would have done if we'd had to). Also, 'children' can be anything from three to 15 or so, and there is a huge difference - it can't be the same rule to cover such a range of ages and boredom thresholds.

Restaurants were thinner on the ground in my childhood, but I remember my mum taking us for a set lunch (called a 'Businessman's Lunch' ) in a city centre Chinese Restaurant every now and then as a real treat. It was always orange juice or sweetcorn soup as a starter and banana or (tinned) pineapple fritter for pudding, with a choice of main from about three options, one of which was always omelette, but I thought it was so sophisticated. I learned to use chopsticks there.

Jaxjacky

My children have been taken into restaurants and pub/restaurants since they were babes, I did take drawing bits for them as toddlers. Our grandchildren have been brought up the in the same way and are a pleasure to take out. I’ve never segregated the children away from the adults, that’s excluding them, so they won’t learn to interact.
We’ve lived in France, I’ve seen misbehaving French children, Italian and Dutch they’re not perfect.

👏🏻👏🏻I don’t know where this false sense of thinking only British kids kick off in pubs and restaurants comes from.There are badly behaved ones in any country and also parents who ignore their kids as well.

There are badly behaved ones in any country and also parents who ignore their kids as well.
That's the thing - young children get bored, and they don't have the self-control of adults. It's up to the parents to know when their tipping point is near, and do something about it, but too many don't. They pour themselves another glass of wine and ignore it.

I was out last week in a local restaurant (not a chain or a children's one) and a largish family were on the table next to ours. My heart did sink a bit, but they were lovely. The children looked about 6-8, and they loved choosing their food and drinks, and behaved themselves very well. There was one point when they were obviously getting bored, and I heard the mum say 'That's enough now', and they stopped squabbling immediately. It looked like a celebration, as there were grandparents there too, and it would have been a shame not to include the children.

Oreo

Depends on who you’ve been mixing with Dinahmo as everyone we know at large garden gatherings for meals sit with their children in amongst the adults. Same in pubs and restaurants and the children are far from ignored, have table manners and join in conversations.

At that time most of our friends were teachers. Perhaps that's why they ignored their children?

We used to take our girls quite regularly into pubs and restaurants for lunch. Even from under 1 year old they were well behaved and knew what to expect.
We were only refused entry twice during their childhoods, both local pubs which we never visited again.

It was Valentines night we expected a lovely romantic meal, fine until a couple at the next table sat down with a 3 yr old and a baby, both of whom did not want to be there. !

We always found baby sitters I guess that doesn't happen often now.

If we go out to a pub with the children, it's always one that has a play area for children... For their sake really, no point taking children somewhere they are bored

VioletSky

If we go out to a pub with the children, it's always one that has a play area for children... For their sake really, no point taking children somewhere they are bored

No reason for children to be bored when out with their family.

Engage with them, talk about what’s on the menu, where produce comes from, how it’s prepared. What they have done recently, what they are looking forward to.

The only GC that had a problem when younger is neurodivergent, they would put on their headphones as a teen and hey ho all was ok. When they were approximately 7 and under they were allowed to sit under the table with whatever toys they had brought from home.

Our DGC behave.
A family friendly pub will have a play area for young children and older ones want to join in on the conversations.

In fact, sometimes they've asked to go out or a family meal in a pub or restaurant for their birthdays (and an excursion with their friends on another day!)

Dinahmo

Oreo

Depends on who you’ve been mixing with Dinahmo as everyone we know at large garden gatherings for meals sit with their children in amongst the adults. Same in pubs and restaurants and the children are far from ignored, have table manners and join in conversations.

At that time most of our friends were teachers. Perhaps that's why they ignored their children?

😂
They'd had enough of other people's children!

Children need practise to become adults. As long as the adults they are with are setting a good example and showing them how to behave I really don't see the problem at lunch time or early evening.
As said by others upthread, parents need to be aware of the 'tipping point' and aware of other diners too.

Children need practise to become adults.
Brilliant!! 😀

I would say civilised but not all adults are that.

Y 11 year old GS and I went out for supper in our village pub this evening as a thank you from me for him making such an excellent job of painting my shed.
The Foxyhound went too, they both behaved impeccably.
Not so sure about Granny though!

Foxygloves

Y 11 year old GS and I went out for supper in our village pub this evening as a thank you from me for him making such an excellent job of painting my shed.
The Foxyhound went too, they both behaved impeccably.
Not so sure about Granny though!

😲
Did he have to help you home?

Foxygloves

Y 11 year old GS and I went out for supper in our village pub this evening as a thank you from me for him making such an excellent job of painting my shed.
The Foxyhound went too, they both behaved impeccably.
Not so sure about Granny though!

Good that the rain held off so he could work for his supper 🤣