Children in pubs

That sounds like a good idea Crystaltips keeps everyone happy.
On a similar theme, if ever I have to live in a residential care home please don't bring young children to improve my quality of life - it won't ?

Ellan Clear boundaries are essential for children to learn how to behave positively. It is how adults set the boundaries that make a difference. If it is by fear or bullying I believe that is damaging and unhelpful. There is a middle ground in life.

It's absolutely not a place for kids. On rare occasions we went to pub in my childhood, it was to sit in garden with a packet of crisps!
As parents (and now grandparents) we have to balance what WE want to do with how annoying the child is going to be for others. So I avoid adult venues with the g/d; would love to take her on a coach trip but NOT YET as she might grizzle. Cafes in daytime- sure. Pubs at night- not till she's about 12!

I do not have a problem with children who know how to behave when out in company and that comes from the parents who guide them in acceptable behaviour.
I took ours to restaurants from being tiny and GC have been brought up the same way. The only stipulation now is that they don't sit next to each other for obvious reasons.

In our area all children have to leave most pubs by 9pm which has worked quite well. I really do think that pubs should have an adult only bar, alongside a family friendly room, for those like us that enjoy adult company at the pub.

Surely it's not the fact that the children are in the pub that's the problem - if it was done in the same way as Europeans do it, ie keep their children as part of the family group, include them in their conversations, and not let them run riot annoying other customers while the parents/carers simply ignore them, then there would be no problem?

We were in a very nice pub at lunchtime but we happened to look in the wrong way at a couple of children who were dashing round the room banging into tables and annoying other customers.
The woman I took to be the mother shouted across"I suppose your kids are perfect .
You are just a couple of ..............."

I'd rather have children than dogs! I don't like dogs, they scare me. Hubby and I went to a gastro pub in Yorkshire. There were dogs under the tables while we ate. On leaving, the exit was blocked by a crowd of people and their dogs which were stretched out on the floor. None of the owners thought to move the dogs while we stepped over them.

I hate ASK and Pizza Express for the very same reasons. Echoey and far far too noisy. Don't even mention TGI Fridays.

My grandchildren have been taken to pubs/restaurants since they were tiny but they have never been allowed to run around. The boys are now 10 and 11 and for the past few years as soon as they have chosen their meal it's 'Nanny can we have your pen and paper please' and they will play hangman, noughts and crosses or the joining dots to make squares game, either with each other or with the adults. I think the most difficult is the nearly 2 yr old as she doesn't understand why she has to stay in the highchair, especially if there is a long wait between courses, so peppa pig on someones phone does come into play (very quietly or with ear phones)

I don't mind families with young children sitting near to me at lunch times or when having a pub meal at any time but when I go out to a very expensive restaurant for a meal at 8 or 9 O'clock I am not so keen on being seated next to children. I don't mind children if well behaved and sitting nicely at table eating their meal unfortunately some parents allow their children to run around and bumping into the tables, to make rude comments or be very loud.

I feel it’s parents who do not teach their kids any boundaries that cause the issues. They are truly oblivious to others trying to enjoy a quiet evening meal, I love kids but ...kids should be taught consideration to others.

We are a huge blended family when we meet up in a restaurant with many grandchildren, one who is autistic, non verbal but makes a noise. Don't get me wrong, I adore them all but sometimes I am astonished at how some of the children are allowed to get down from the table and leap about. Unfortunately, the worst offender is allowed to do as she pleases and when I say, "no running" I get the evil eye from DIL who doesn't really do boundaries.
Recently we tried to make arrangements where our children were the only ones invited to my DH's Birthday Supper because he hates the indiscipline but it caused such upset from some of the in-laws, it really wasn't worth it. Now we just frequent the chain pubs where all the clientele seem somewhat loud when we are altogether. We frequent the more sedate places when we are alone or with well-behaved children.

We lived in the Netherlands for a number of years and there families go out together but the children are always well-behaved, as in my experience, were French children. I was shocked when we came back to the UK and went to a restaurant where the children were running around and making noise. I found it very annoying and also dangerous as waiters were carrying around hot food. The parents seemed to ignore the children.

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

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

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!

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!

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.

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!

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

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!

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 .?

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.

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