Children in pubs

I find the US/ English attitude to children as part of a family quite sad at times. We all need time without one another I know that. But some people view kids as an alien species.

My view is that children should be in a separate area WITH their parents. Some people seem to think that there’s nothing wrong with family’s being out for the evening. I don’t have a problem with that as long as the children are well behaved and sat in the family eating area. I think it’s quite selfish for some to say what about them being able to have a good time. The “don’t care about anyone else” parents really bug me.
Don’t say you can’t afford a babysitter, as that would be the cheapest option, sure the cost would be covered with having no kids to feed!

We took my cousin (93 and fairly deaf) to a local restaurant for lunch. It was quite full, and the couple at the next table who had two children allowed them to run about shouting the whole time we were there, scraping chairs across the stone floor until everyone within earshot - the entire restaurant I should think - had teeth on edge. We gave up after one course and left - my cousin couldn't cope with the noise. I can't think it was beyond them to at least try to get the children to sit down; we always took colouring books etc. and did our best not to wreck everyone else's meal. It's a really good thing to take children out to eat but not at the expense of others who might be having a special treat wrecked.

I think the problem is lazy, inconsiderate parents. If they take their kids to the pub for a meal and a few drinks fine but make sure you include them, watch them and don’t allow them to run riot and disturb other people. Your kids, your responsibility.

I imagine it is all about the horrors of Prince Doo-dah kissing SB without a signed letter of consent. Talk about first world problems. I think even small children know that fairy tales are not real.

On the subject of children not being shown things for which their parents have not given permission for them to view, my grown up children laugh helplessly at the following story:-

When I was teaching and they were at a lovely childminders they were allowed to watch a film every so often and took it in turns to pick one. I was very strict about what they could see at home and fought many battles over, for instance, films like 'Jurassic Park' which I forbade but which all their peers had seen.

At the time they gave me 'edited' versions of what they viewed. All wholesome, of course.

Years later they told me that my DS chose 'Jurassic Park', Terminator' and the like (he was nine, she was seven) and she chose 'Cinderella'. Every single time.

I don't know who was more traumatised. My poor girlie hiding behind the sofa at the scary bits or my DS having to see 'Cinderella' fifty times.

I nearly died when they told me years later but they both seem to have survived and they think it is simply hilarious.

I imagine a child might just survive watching Disney's 'Sleeping Beauty'. Maybe they could have a trigger warning and a counselling session afterwards.

I have been disturbed by noisy groups of young women shrieking and swearing more often than I have been disturbed by children in pubs.

Totally agree with GoldenAge
The same applies in restaurants and the public areas in Gyms.

We have a different approach here. Any establishment that calls it's self a pub or bar, children are not allowed. If you are a pub/bar style restaurant children are allowed. So this gives adults the break from kids if they want to hit a pub.
I can appreciate both sides. It is nice to get out and not have children running wild, but on the flip side, it is nice to be able to bring your children along for a family outing.
I feel we should be putting pressure on parents to "control" their children, after all it is a respect thing out in public if you ask me.

The problem I think isn't having children around but the lack of courtesy on the side of their parents. We took my two children out in the evenings once a month for pizza - they were expected to sit at the table, not run around shouting or disturbing anyone else. I have noticed that, quite often, the parents ignore the noise their children are making and it is that that so annoys. I have been out for evening meals in France and Belgium where children have been at the table with their parents and families - never have I seen the children running riot, shouting or making a disturbance. It is not unreasonable to want to have your meal in peace - we are all paying the same price for our food after all. Children can be taught to behave when out, it is just a question of their parents taking the time to bother to do it - not the fault of the children themselves.

You just have to find a pub that isn't full of squawking kids. My husband can't cope with noise - it sets his leg off - but we're lucky that our local has a quiet bar away from the restaurant. Three-year-old granddaughter knows how to behave herself.

A pub is a pub - it's a place where alcohol is served and irrespective of whether families deserve time together to relax, if they choose to do it in a pub then the children should be properly supervised because a pub can be a dangerous place, especially if drinks are being carried to a table by a waiter or another customer. Pubs that declare themselves as 'child-friendly' have play areas and responsible parents would position themselves near such places so as not to inflict their children on others. Personally, I love kids but if I were disturbed by the sound of a loudly-bleeping tablet on the next table regardless of who was using it, I would ask them to turn the sound down, wear headphones or move.

That's sadly very true *Daddima. We were fortunate that Mr. S. never worked far from home so we could sit down every evening for a family meal.

When we took them out for meals they were generally well behaved and we wouldn't have allowed them to disturb other diners by running around and making a nuisance of themselves.

It's the parents who are at fault. If they don't want to engage with their children, why take them with them.

I’ve always taken the children and now grandchildren out to eat in cafes, restaurants and pubs. We (the family) think it’s important they learn all the skills associated with eating in company and taking others into account.
However, you do have to fit the experience with the ages of the children, take things to occupy them and be prepared to take them elsewhere or leave if behaviour deteriorates due to tiredness and boredom. It is a good way for children to try new foods but be prepared for them to be rather overwhelmed and eat very little or lots of chips, for example.
I believe that children are generally badly behaved because of insufficient supervision and parents who allow their child ren to run about unsupervised are a pain in the .......
It’s all a matter of balance.

I suspect European children may be far more used to sitting at a table with the rest of the family to eat and being included in the conversation, as a mealtime is more of a family occasion. Sadly, there’s a lot of eating in front of the television now.

My local has a notice explaining no under-18s after 9pm. There are family pubs, and other sorts.

We always took our children into restaurants from an early age, but we insisted they were well behaved. There were a few occasions when they were ‘acting up’, but I would take them away from the area and give them a good telling off, I never used physical punishments, this always caused them to sulk for the rest of the night but by the time they were 5-6 they were always very well mannered in public places.

Merlogran unless your pint goes flying which I saw take place by a persons 'darlings' running around non stop in our local. Children welcome says the sign .?

So many places serving food encourage dog owners. Water bowls & bscuits for their dogs.
I never allow my dog to drink from a communal dog bowl. Can you imagine the plethora of germs....urgh!

Do pubs have no control over their clientle?
Why don't the landlords or managers have higher standards?

Some years ago I did a lot of travelling in France and eating out. If you saw children running about in the restaurant, I am afraid they were Brits. The French children sat and ate quietly. I used to wish I knew how the parents did it!

And Lancslass1 there’s an example right there of boorish parents. Awful and embarrassing. If the children heard that mum call across to you then that’s what they grow up with ..... thinking it is acceptable behaviour.

I suppose all this comes down to how the children have been brought up. I don’t like to see bored children running about getting in everyone’s way. But more than that, these days it’s definitely a case of ‘love me, love my dog’. So many places serving food encourage dog owners. Water bowls & bscuits for their dogs. I mostly hate it when the owners pick up their tiny dogs and let them sit on the sofas or cushions. Ugh! If dogs are to be allowed in I think their bottoms should remain on the floor!

If children are allowed in Pubs one should be prepared for some noise, however when the running round stage and shouting starts then it is time for Parents to step in and maybe then its home time!

When I was a child pubs didn’t serve meals and we had to stand outside with a glass of lemonade and crisps.

Besides anything else it's not fair to expect children to behave for any length of time while the parents eat and guzzle.