pub bans children after 7pm

Great idea!

First, define children, who legally are apparently anyone up to the age of 18.
Children to me suggests under the age of 13, in which case they should be banned, particularly during week/school nights.
I hate seeing small children, over-excited, over-tired, hanging about pubs while their parents drink and ignore them. And I am aware that this is the alternative for some who are being left alone at home.

Depends what sort of pub it is.

Is it wet led, is it more of a foodie/gastro pub?

I agree with eazybeein that the age of children needs to be defined.

I haven’t got a problem with well behaved children in pubs and restaurants. If they start misbehaving then it needs a strong manager/team leader to have a quiet word with the parents.

Under 13 yes I m all for it they shouldn’t be in a pub atmosphere

I agree with GG13. Obviously, I don’t think little ones should be taken into noisy pubs on a daily basis to allow their parents to get hammered! However, DD1 and family often do long walks at weekends and call at a country pub with DGS1 who is 8 for a drink and food afterwards. Similarly a visit to Newcastle’s Sunday market also ends like that - outdoors in Summer. In fact, pubs are usually easier to find open in the countryside than cafes.
Years ago, a nearby pub allowed children in the bar until 7pm, when they had to be taken into the lounge. DGS2 who is 4 visits a Toby Inn quite often - there’s alcohol around, but his family go to eat.

We often visit a hidden gem for Sunday lunch - I think it would close down, if children were banned.

Definitely, young children. Good idea. I hate seeing young children left to wonder or run around a pub whilst parents drink. Most of them wouldn't know if they were inside or out.

………….”I haven’t got a problem with well behaved children in pubs and restaurants. If they start misbehaving then it needs a strong manager/team leader to have a quiet word with the parents.”……………..
And I can see that becoming quite unpleasant rather quickly.

We have had debates about misbehaving children in restaurants and cafes before where parents take offence when asked to control their children.

I don't have a problem with that - I suppose it depends on the age of the children. You always get people on here complaining about dogs in pubs or restaurants, but I'd far rather sit beside a dog than some of the screaming brats who are allowed to run riot and do whatever they want, causing a nuisance and even danger to other customers and staff.

I live in Canada, but some pub restaurants here have a similar rule - children are only permitted until a certain time, often 8 p.m. Most bars/pubs don't allow minors* at all.

*The age of majority is provincially determined. In my province it's 18. In others it's 19.

Our local is a wet pub, a previous landlord barred anyone under 18 after 8pm. Currently there is no specific ban, but it’s extremely rare to see, particularly young children, in there after about 8pm and that’s in the summer outside. In the winter children are generally only in on a Sunday for meat draw at 5, gone by 7, school and work the next day. Some parents meet in there after school for coffee.
I don’t have a problem with the subject ban.

If the pub is a drinking venue, rather than aiming to have a restaurant or pub food at tables, I’d agree no primary school age children after 7pm

Surely is a really bad idea for children to be in pubs after 7pm anyway, surprised this hasn’t resulted in a ban before now. Is different during the day in family friendly pubs but in my experience most pubs after 7pm revert to being a place for drinkers unless they are gastro pubs. Of course am sure that in Europe there are countries where children stay up late and go in bars with their parents but the culture here is still about hard drinking rather than family fun after a certain time of night.

This is nothing new - I worked in our Council's Licensing Section and lots of licensed premises have a condition on their licences stating that children should leave the premises by a certain time.

We of a certain age weren't allowed into pubs when we were children. Just goes to show that people back then weren't all daft.

I agree totally with the ban.

I think most families take children into pubs for lunch.Trouble starts when they seat them on a separate table and ignore them: 'Oh darling, don't be such a bore......... as waiters carrying hot food dodge to avoid them.
'
The ban refers to after 7pm.

I see this from the other side of the bar my parents were both publicans, I was raised above a pub, my children were in their Grandfather’s pubs from an early age.

My mother and step-father were in mainland Europe were it is normal to see children out with parents in bars and restaurants.

There is a vast difference between a drinking, wet led pub and a food led one.

I have no problem with children in the latter (food led/gastro)

I find the British attitude to children rather old fashioned, they should be included socially, why have them and not make them part of your life?

As for the dog argument for someone like me who is severely allergic to dogs it’s socially limiting.

I agree with the ban. I dislike children in pubs.
When it comes to dogs although I totally dislike them they have always been allowed in pubs and, where there is no food, I don’t mind seeing them. However I do admire Wetherspoons for not allowing them in. Wetherspoons are not real pubs in the traditional sense though.

It’s not a TOTAL ban, it’s after 7pm! And, it’s not new, they have discouraged children for sometime now, especially on match days. It’s near Orient’s ground.

I, for one, am fed up of going out to eat in the evening and having to put up with children treating the place like a playground. Last weekend there was a boy of about 12 and his younger sister doing cartwheels next to our table whilst we were trying to eat. Their parents just looked on.

I remember children not being allowed in pubs until they were 14 and accompanied by parents. A few times Dad would nip into the pub for a drink and bring me out a glass of lemonade and a packet of crisps leaving me sat in the car whilst he chatted with his mates. It was usually only for a short time.

Quite right.

JackyB

We of a certain age weren't allowed into pubs when we were children. Just goes to show that people back then weren't all daft.

Pretty bad parents though back then, children, even young toddlers would be left OUTSIDE the pub in which their parents were drinking with a packet of crisps. Just sat on steps outside pub. no cars, no-where to hide from the weather.
It was a step forward when pubs were permitted to have children on their premises, and started to serve non-alcoholic drinks, and food.
Primary school aged children should be at home, either getting ready for or actually in bed by 7 pm.

TBH I’d rather see badly behaved children banned, than dogs. To me it’s not a proper pub without a dog or two.
I know plenty on here will disagree!

The lovely pub where I’m meeting two ex colleagues for lunch today has a delightful resident pooch. 🐶

No children after 9pm in Wetherspoons. I don't want to see dogs in pubs. Despite the rule in Wetherspoons, I have twice seen people being dogs into our local one even though there's a large sign on the door. They weren't assistance dogs. One was a puppy with a bug, burly man who sat with it on his lap. The young bar staff were obviously too scared to tell him to take it out. There's always someone who has to push it.