Children in pubs

[Tankertrashnav]

I spotted this article about the sign the frustrated landlady of a pub in Leighton Buzzard had put up. Must say I sympathised, as did most of the regulars and people who had commented online, apart from a few who had obviously had a sense of humour removal at some stage.

http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2014/10/08/is-this-funny-pub-sign-offers-to-nail-kids-to-the-table/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cuk-ws-bb%7Cdl6%7Csec1_lnk1%26pLid%3D298859#!slide=aol_2485673

So, children in pubs - what do you think? I'm not talking about the dining room/area (this pub doesnt do food anyway). I must say I'm in the "no kids in the bar" camp myself, and long for the old days when the little bleeders were left in the car with a bottle of pop and a packet of crisps. In any case, when did the law on banning under 14s (I think it was) from pubs change, or is it just one of those that is routinely ignored?

[racedo]

JB perhaps a better place ?

[Diesel_10]

What along with Ebola?:ugh:

[bcgallacher]

Pretty much depends on what kind of kids and what kind of pub. The way some young children behave these days I would not let them out of their cage never mind letting them in a pub.

[bugged on the right]

I had a couple of pals over for a weekend of aviation related activities and we retired to the local pub for refreshments. I hadn't been in there for years as the last visit was like walking in to a teenage disco. This time there was a children's party going on and the ankle biters were running through the bar. Not a word from the parents who were quietly getting pissed. Never again. Children should be barred. It isn't that pubs are the only source of food or shelter, it is the parents who want to be there.

[ShotOne]

This is a very British thing. Pretty much everywhere else in the world it's quite normal for kids to go for a meal/drink with their families and any suggestion of banning them would be greeted with incomprehension. Coincidentally or not, they don't seem to endure the same problem that we do of swarms of puking, fighting, urinating teenagers when they do come of age.

[Tashengurt]

I think if you go into a pub with a full on play area outside on any given weekend you'd be daft not to expect there to be kids there. The local of an evening should be a different matter.


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[BEagle]

They introduced a 'Family Happy Hour' at lunchtime on Sunday when I was at RAF Wattisham.

Apart from a couple of patch-brats who were rounded up and returned to their breeders by one of the people-formerly-known-as-WRAFs (rather a....errmm...'substantial' woman), who had collared the little buggers as they were trying various room doors, the main problem was the behaviour of the parents. One of whom had brought her latest offspring with her and subsequently proceeded to change its nappy in the bar....:mad:

Our continental cousins seem to have the right idea - and aren't averse to giving their little cherubs a smart cuff about the swede, should they misbehave. So that they soon learn The Code of Behaviour in Public! Whereas in the UK, anyone doing that would soon have some interfering busybody reporting them to some 'agency' or other....:(

[Wyler]

We really are a nation of miserable ba*****s.
Just returned from Greece where, like most European Countries, children are not treated like a virus.
Likewise, in the Middle east and Asia most social occasions are centred around the family.
Unfortunately, in this country, we adopt the 'seen and not heard' approach and so kids are sidelined. Not surprising then that a lot of them lack social skills and are indeed a a pain in the arse. Their parents were brought up the same way so it is a vicious circle. Add to that the fact that we treat alcohol like fuel and believe the quickest way to happinnesss is to have a full tank as soon as possible.
We reep what we sow.
HOWEVER.....Happy Hour is hallowed ground and no place for kids.

[ShotOne]

Partly agree, beagle. Surely personal example and visiting pubs as a family is a key part of learning that Code of Behaviour -rather than a total reliance on inflicting physical punishment. The fact is, in UK, kids are often either barred entirely or confined to a damp back room/car park/outside with the smokers. Perhaps this helps explain why this code isn't learned, and therefore the unpleasant results when they're a bit older.

[Roland Pulfrew]

what about changing the topic to "children in happy hour"?

When I joined the definite rule was: Mess members ONLY in "Happy Hour". No wives, no guests (unless serving personnel) and definitely no children! But those were the days when we lived under constant threat of nuclear war, most people lived on base and drinking and driving wasn't as frowned upon as it is now. :}

[BEagle]

Well yes, ShotOne, I didn't wish to imply that a clip round the ear should be the sole control option. Example and explanation is certainly preferable.

The most impressive discipline I witnessed being applied to some child was when I was driving slowly past a group of traditional gypsy caravans in deepest, darkest Lincolnshire in 1969. One of the gypsy children suddenly darted out across the road and I came to a sudden halt. A rather large, huge in fact, gypsy woman picked it up by the scruff and gave it an almighty wallop on the backside - which I could almost feel inside the car. "Sorry, mister", she called, as I set off again. But I bet he didn't run across any more roads for a while!

Are Happy Hours or 'Twofers' still in vogue these days? The rules you describe, Roly, are exactly those I recall.

[Buster Hyman]

The problem with kids in Pubs is that the little buggers never shout! :suspect:

[rolling20]

Friend of mine ran our local hostelry a few years back. The only kids he let in were offspring of regulars he knew. Reason being he knew his regulars could be relied upon to keep their off spring in check and they wouldn’t mind a quiet word in their ear if the devils got out of hand.
When staying at the RAF Club, we always take the kids to the Running Orse, where most people seem happy to see them. They tend these days to sip a lemonade and are happy playing with an electronic device ( turned off of course) and are hopefully no bother to other members. If they ever get too excited we would take our drinks to our room.

[Brian 48nav]

Oh to have been able to take our horrors to the local when they were young! They are now 45,43 and 41.


A story that typifies those unenlightened days - a ex-Herc mate of mine invited his Aussie in-laws over to Wiltshire for the christening of their baby son in 1977. Thinking it would be a good idea to take them to our local for a pub lunch (only chicken-in-the-basket in those days ), he rang up 'Happy Jim' the not so genial patron of The Old Inn in Minety and duly booked. He explained that he had the tame Aussies with him and would it be alright to bring cot and baby in. No children allowed in the pub was the answer. Alright says Ron, cancel my booking. I don't think he ever went there again - it was The Turnpike or Plough at Crudwell for our ex-Herc meetings from then on!


I am happy to see well-behaved brats in a pub but draw the line at them sitting at the bar, and if they hear industrial language ( we have a large farming community here! ) that's tough.

[Tankertrashnav]

racedo You are quite right! I appear to have posted this both on here and in JB. Blame it on (not so) early onset dementia!

Many apologies - perhaps some kind mod will merge the two?

[chopper2004]

Hell, even us CCF cadets at age 12-14-16 allowed to be in airmens NAAFI bar on camp at Church Fenton lol

Though cannot remember if any special times if families of personnel allowed in / on certain mess functions?

Cheers

[Pontius Navigator]

Roland, I remember when wives were not allowed in the mess to check the mail even.

At Lindholme one wife used to go to the Guardroom and telephone box to ring the mess and find out if her husband was there. Oddly he had always just left.

[Basil]

On Marlow High Street we have a pub which sports the notice:

'Under 25s Welcome if Dining'

Just one of the problems of being close to High Wycombe ;)

[nutnurse]

Ever been in a city-centre pub in Brum on a Saturday evening? :rolleyes: Excited, underdressed kids on Bacardi Breezers - but no parents. := I once had to navigate a friend to somewhere more salubrious by phone (The Joint Stock near St Philip's Cathedral, if ever anybody is in the same predicament). :)

Wells Cathedral School has an interesting idea. It hires a Bristol disco Saturday mid-day, soft drinks only, and runs a coach there and back. :D

[ShotOne]

If there's really a valid reason for barring kids, why should "Dining" (or not) change anything?

How would we feel about "No Servicemen Admitted"?

[Whenurhappy]

'Under 25s Welcome if Dining'

Just one of the problems of being close to High Wycombe

Well, you'd be lucky these days to see any RAF youngsters from RAF High Wycombe, apart from the occasional holding officer. Remember, there is a Multi-Activity Contract on site, so that sucks up almost all of the airmen and airwomen's jobs. I don't know how many airmen are still at Air Command (Strike Command in old money) these days; I doubt, very much doubt, that it reaches 3 figures.

[NutLoose]

The screaming child running around the pub isn't the problem, it is the piss poor parent letting it happen

[Basil]

If there's really a valid reason for barring kids, why should "Dining" (or not) change anything?
I would guess that they wish to exclude 'lads' who are out to get ratarsed asap.

you'd be lucky these days to see any RAF youngsters from RAF High Wycombe
Ah, didn't mean to impugn the RAF at all. I was referring to town ;)

[newt]

That IS the problem Nutloose! Parents these days seem to have little interest in controlling their kids and expect the rest of us to accept their behaviour!

The old saying that " children should be seen but not heard" said it all!

Maybe there is a case for family pubs and adult only boozers?:ok:

[Al R]

Ah.. New Labour social engineering. By now, weren't we all supposed to be embracing European cosmopolitan cafe cultured enlightenment, reading the Guardian, engaging in thoughtful and witty repartee, sipping latte until the small hours, picking at Spaghetti ("enjoy!"), commenting incisively on the latest exhibition at the latest people's art gallery and smiling self indulgently at our little mites reading up on their human rights? Dear god, how I long for a proper smoke filled pub.

And I have never smoked.

[PURPLE PITOT]

They are fine if you are starting them on real ales, but not that euro pi$$.

[Typhoon93]

I have nothing against children being allowed in pubs, so long as they aren't running around, being loud and obnoxious and annoying everybody else who is trying to have a quiet drink. However, I don't particularly agree with children being allowed at the bar. I also believe that children should be out of the pub at a certain time, because the 'bigger children' can't handle their drink and the little children don't need to see the aftermath of that.

[NRU74]

Approx ten years ago, India Knight, Sunday Times columnist, ranted about pubs and restaurants refusing to allow young children in certain pubs and bars for meals etc. She invited readers to write in so she could produce a blacklist to name and shame the landlords.
What she didn't bargain for was the number of people who wrote in asking for a copy of said blacklist so they could go and have a civilised Sunday lunchtime in a village pub/restaurant.

[Hangarshuffle]

Public bar is no place for a child at all. Strictly over 18's only. Sunday lunches, daytime dining yes I would be all for it in a respectable place and in a designated dining area. Bars are no places for children due to what they may witness or hear or be involved in, and what kind of parent or adult would want their child in such an environment anyway? UK bars are generally in a decline anyway, lets face it as the supermarkets have cleaned up in off sales, but many bars are still a place for high intake high -volume, vertical binge drinking, and therefore fighting, swearing, drunkenness, drug exchanging, stolen goods swopping, shootings and stabbings are generally to be expected and witnessed at some time or other. Least they are around my way in most of the rougher places - its no place for a child. Keep them out!!

[tonker]

We are the only country in Europe with this sort of archaic attitude, and hey presto we are the only country in Europe that has such poorly behaved youngsters around our city centres, pissed out their heads.

Well who took them out like Italian or French kids are, educating them on how to behave, eat and drink whilst in public. There is a time and a place when kids aren't really to be there, but I personally try and take my young boys into as many bars and pubs as I can.

"What polite and considerate boys you have" I proudly hear, yes and it's because I've spent time setting a good example to them, and much of it is in public bars etc.

[Tashengurt]

Funny to see someone born in '93 commenting on kids in pubs.
Typhoon93, you make me feel sooo old!


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[Whenurhappy]

Ah.. New Labour social engineering. By now, weren't we all supposed to be embracing European cosmopolitan cafe cultured enlightenment, reading the Guardian, engaging in thoughtful and witty repartee, sipping latte until the small hours, picking at Spaghetti ("enjoy!"), commenting incisively on the latest exhibition at the latest people's art gallery and smiling self indulgently at our little mites reading up on their human rights? Dear god, how I long for a proper smoke filled pub.

Perhaps posters here are allowing their Chiante/Raki/Sangria-filled holidays to cloud their memories of European kids. In Italy the parents dote on their offspring and discipline is generally absent - many is the time that I've seen kids running riot in restaurants, just as their Anglo-Saxon cousins do.

[big v]

c2000, after the unfortunate confluence of a 39 Sqn aircrew lunch which ran on into a "Families Happy Hour," a sign was introduced at the bar door for following "lunches." "Caution - elderly aircrew drinking!" This helped avoid any more problems with aspirational young wives and their darling offspring.

Vernon

[nutnurse]

Not ejector seat but DANGER - DANGER - DANGER - MOBILITY SCOOTER.

[CoffmanStarter]

Mind you ... far greater irritants can be found in pubs these days :E

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/multimedia/archive/00410/127253244_Farage_410432c.jpg

Image Credit : The Times

[nutnurse]

Farage pulls his thumb out. :eek:

[Party Animal]

BEagle,


Are Happy Hours or 'Twofers' still in vogue these days?


Certainly on the flying station that I'm currently detached to. £2.10 for 3 pints of Yorkshires finest (half price), as I arrived at the bar at 17:00:01.

Seven of us in the bar total, of which 5 of us were visitors. Neither of the 2 residents being aircrew! Average age of the 7 of us must have been around 48 years old. I understand nowadays that the married guys go straight home post flying and the younger element retire to their Mess rooms to play death/murder/kill computer games, against each other on their I-thingies. :rolleyes:

[fergineer]

Here in NZ the little burgers are everywhere and a complete nuisance. me I would ban them all. I would also love to find a child free holiday place so I can have my holiday in peace and quiet. Never had kids of my own so don't see why I should have to put up with others brats.

[OverRun]

I saw the mythical notice about unattended children in real life the other day, and I laughed out loud. Funny thing - it seemed to work at that establishment.

Unattended children will be given a double espresso and a free puppy.

[Wander00]

Interesting thread, but WTF has it to do with "Military Aviation"? OK, rant over, back to the Ovaltine, mmm, grumble, grumble,

[cuefaye]

'Tis there as well WOO?!

[teeteringhead]

Dear god, how I long for a proper smoke filled pub. Me too! An unintended consequence of the smoking ban is that one realises that the average pub REALLY smells of p!ss, farts and stale beer.......:yuk:

[Courtney Mil]

As has been illuded to, here in France parents bring their kids everywhere with them. The difference is that French parents teach their kids to behave properly and bring them up in a 'cafe society.' Most French kids are a real pleasure to behold. They are part of the group and there is a clear, mutual respect between youngers and elders. It works well.

Yer average Brit kid in a Brit pub is, more often than not, just a pain in the arse. It seems that everyone else is just expected to put up with other people's brats. More, in fact. The British public is expected to make all kinds of extra allowances and bend over backwards to accommodate spods, with no sense of social responsibility whatever from the parents.

Drown them at birth! The UK is over-populated anyway.

[Tankertrashnav]

Interesting thread, but WTF has it to do with "Military Aviation"?

Nothing at all, wander 00, I posted it on here by accident - then transferred it to Jet Blast but failed to delete this one until it had several responses. I did suggest a mod might merge them, but that hasn''t happened, and in any case people have introduced their happy hour experiences to bring a little closer to the usual aviation content.

Anyway mea culpa, sorry about that!

[ShotOne]

I did try to bring it back to a military theme by enquiring how people felt about a "No Servicemen" policy. Sadly no one bit.

I agree with the OP on one point that it would be nice to have a consistent rule. As a parent one never knows whether one is likely to be made welcome, summarily ejected, or allowed to stay but treated like toxic waste. Even coloured people in apartheid South Africa at least knew where they stood.

[octavian]

http://i.imgur.com/EEqZ0ih.jpg

Hope I haven't exceeded the photo posting limit, but this is in Warbird Adventures at Kissimmee in Florida. Always good for some T-6 action!

[Al R]

These days, we suffer from extended adolescence, more adults engage with Dr Who, Minecraft, Game of Thrones etc than they do ISIL because we have so much crass and shallow news coverage delivered in width and not depth - even R4 Today is more suitable for prissy sixth formers. We feel the need to keep around us things which remind us of childhood. We are terrified of adulthood so embracing anything trendy and youthful marks us out as dynamic. Kids want to be adults, we want to be kids and we have smokers reduced to huddling together as social pariahs on rainswept pavements. Such is enlightened, civilised society.

Beam me up.

[barnstormer1968]

Tanker trash.
The law on under 14s you refer to in post #1 hasn't changed as far as I know, but refers to the bar area not the whole pub.

[Wander00]

OK, sorry, tongue removed from cheek

[NutLoose]

These days, we suffer from extended adolescence, more adults engage with Dr Who, Minecraft, Game of Thrones etc than they do ISIL because we have so much crass and shallow news coverage delivered in width and not depth - even R4 Today is more suitable for prissy sixth formers. We feel the need to keep around us things which remind us of childhood. We are terrified of adulthood so embracing anything trendy and youthful marks us out as dynamic. Kids want to be adults, we want to be kids and we have smokers reduced to huddling together as social pariahs on rainswept pavements. Such is enlightened, civilised society.

Beam me up.

Have you watched Game Of Thrones? I would say that is purely aimed at adults, It's also superb.
As an ex smoker I am 100% for making them pariahs, I started when I joined up and quit when I left...

Xbox one, xbox 360 owner..

[NRU74]

About ten years ago, India Knight, the Sunday Times columnist complained about not being admitted to her local pub with her young children.She wrote a long rant and invited readers who had been similarly refused entry to their locals to write in so she could publish a 'Name and Shame' list.
She was somewhat surprised at the large number of people who wrote in asking for a copy of the list so that they themselves could head off and patronise these child free pubs.

[racedo]

I agree with the OP on one point that it would be nice to have a consistent rule.

Yup that would be good.

Met up with friends all have littlies like us and all reasonably well behaved. One weekday during holidays think it was half term we all met up for a walk and stuff somewhere and cafe closed at the park so someone suggested a pub close by.

First there and as we walked to pub the Landlord came to door and growled no kids here, asked why not he just said they annoying and as 5 other cars came into car park he just said WTF do I need them when others come here.

Just walked back as people getting out and said no kids, as everybody got into cars I just waved goodbye at the fool, something that was quickly taken up by everyone else. My share of bill in other pub was £60 something so it was a £400 lunch for 25 people.

[racedo]

These days, we suffer from extended adolescence, more adults engage with Dr Who, Minecraft, Game of Thrones etc than they do ISIL because we have so much crass and shallow news coverage delivered in width and not depth - even R4 Today is more suitable for prissy sixth formers. We feel the need to keep around us things which remind us of childhood. We are terrified of adulthood so embracing anything trendy and youthful marks us out as dynamic. Kids want to be adults, we want to be kids and we have smokers reduced to huddling together as social pariahs on rainswept pavements. Such is enlightened, civilised society.

Personally don't give a stuff about age as I can do zero about it and really not interested in doing it if I could.
There is nothing sadder (or funnier) than seeing someone in their 40's having stuffed themselves into a dress designed for an 18 year old.

Its attitude to life that is more important.

[Tankertrashnav]

Come on - give us a break - once we've voted UKIP and read The Daily Mail we've got sod all else to do with our time!

;)

[jindabyne]

long for the old days when the little bleeders were left in the car with a bottle of pop and a packet of crisps

Tanker, would that've been near Bawtry or Marham?

[BEagle]

racedo wrote: First there and as we walked to pub the Landlord came to door and growled no kids here, asked why not he just said they annoying and as 5 other cars came into car park he just said WTF do I need them when others come here.

The name of this undoubtedly fine, 'littlies'-free establishment, please?

[ShyTorque]

Here in NZ the little burgers are everywhere and a complete nuisance. me I would ban them all. I would also love to find a child free holiday place so I can have my holiday in peace and quiet. Never had kids of my own so don't see why I should have to put up with others brats.

Strewth...so at what age were you born...twenty one?

[racedo]

The name of this undoubtedly fine, 'littlies'-free establishment, please?

The recession took care of them. Last time drove by the metal shutters were still up.

[Al R]

Have you watched Game Of Thrones?

Are you mad, and miss Balamory? :hmm:

[olympus]

Remember once seeing a pub sign which announced 'No children. Not even nice ones'!

[Courtney Mil]

It would be a whole lot easier if folk could make it clear who they are quoting. You know you can add =NAME to the quote function. Or just say who it is.

[racedo]

It would be a whole lot easier if folk could make it clear who they are quoting. You know you can add =NAME to the quote function. Or just say who it is.

Who said that..............

Ok Courtney will exit stage left :(

[Courtney Mil]

Damn! Should told you who I... Hang on!

[Bob Viking]

So let me get this straight. The older members of this forum and those without children believe that kids should not be allowed into pubs (or even out of the house in some cases). Funny that. I wonder what the parents of younger children think about the matter?
I have three young kids and we eat out a lot. They behave well because we look after them, we don't ignore them and we always bring a colouring book!
We would not take them to the bar because it's not a place for young kids. I wouldn't want other peoples kids there if I was drinking.
In this day and age businesses can't be too picky with their clientele. Families are going to spend money and you'd be foolish to turn them away. They're probably going to spend more than the old gimmer with his pint of best as well.
As an aside it's not just Britain than keeps kids out of bars. In Canada (Alberta) many establishments aren't licensed for kids. This does limit your choices somewhat in smaller towns!
I do agree that there are some crap parents out there though.
BV

[Exascot]

My mother always said that, 'children should be seen but not heard'. I belive that they should be neither 'seen or heard' in pubs. Maybe apart from 16 yr old girls with big 'personalitites :E

[racedo]

In this day and age businesses can't be too picky with their clientele. Families are going to spend money and you'd be foolish to turn them away. They're probably going to spend more than the old gimmer with his pint of best as well.

Businesses forget that when they says "no kids" they pretty much are giving a very negative message that comes back to bite them.
When a business does that I deliberately avoid going there anytime, especially when we are meeting up with friends for an everning out.

Parents who happy to bring their kids to a pub for a meal tend to have a little bit more money to spend, after all why bother doing it when McDs (other burger/chicken/pizza establishment) is pretty much within 20 minutes.

[nutnurse]

I'm sorry to say my son is having a 'children not invited' wedding. Bizarre. He has had the benefit of my opinion. Harrumph.

[jindabyne]

Me to son-in-law: Please, can you get the grandkids to stop running everywhere and irritating the other diners?

Him: What's the problem?

DOH!!

[nutnurse]

Managers do things right, leaders do the right things, sons-in-law do SFA. (Cf. OCTU thread.)

[thing]

I think that it depends what sort of pub it is. A lot of 'pubs' these days are just chain restaurants with a sort of pubby look. I have no problems with children in these, in fact I take my (well behaved) nine year old grandson to one of our local ones which he regards as a great treat.

However I wouldn't for a second think of taking him into a real pub such as the Victoria in Lincoln, nor would I want to see other children in there. What is wrong with adults wanting their own space anyhow? There are stacks of pubs that are appropriate for children, please leave the few proper pubs for the sole occupation of grown ups.

[4Greens]

Having had some subjects removed from PPRUNE without explanation, why is this one still here. Most kids in pubs dont fly aeroplanes.

[thing]

You haven't been to many Lincoln pubs then...

[ShyTorque]

I'm sorry to say my son is having a 'children not invited' wedding. Bizarre. He has had the benefit of my opinion. Harrumph.

Aah, shame. I really think he should let you have an invite.

[nutnurse]

@4Greens

Would you be happier if we discussed children in aeroplanes? Or maybe aeroplanes in pubs? (Bit of an undershoot there, Hoskins.)

[nutnurse]

@ ShyTorque

He has, that's the problem! It's at some designer concept pseudo-Zen joint in Glos. And I've pitched in a fair old amount. Taxation without representation I call it.

I dare say there'll be aircraft flogging around to keep 4Greens happy. We haven't booked the Reds, though.

[newt]

So let me get this straight. The older members of this forum and those without children believe that kids should not be allowed into pubs (or even out of the house in some cases). Funny that. I wonder what the parents of younger children think about the matter?

Ageism Bob!:E:E:E:E

I'm sure there are many with kids who would not take them into certain pubs! They know the score.

I have never liked kids in pubs, it is not an appropriate venue. I also like hotels where the little people have their own pool and facilities whilst I have child free environment and a nice pool bar! Why should I be criticised?:ugh:

[Wensleydale]

Back in the day, a school friend of mine reached his 18th Birthday. His father (who did not frequent pubs very much) decided that this was a special occasion, bought my friend a tankard and took him to the nearby inn to christen it. He was taken aback however when the landlord turned to my friend and asked him "Usual, Dave?"

[ShyTorque]

I think that was a TV advert from a few years ago....

[Tankertrashnav]

Having had some subjects removed from PPRuNe without explanation, why is this one still here. Most kids in pubs dont fly aeroplanes.

4Greens Fair point, but I have in fact apologised twice for accidentally posting this thread on here by accident. It was meant for Jet Blast and I subsequently put a duplicate on there and invited mods to close this one and merge it if they wanted.

In fact this one has been more popular than the one on JB - maybe military aircrew are just very interested in pubs!

[teeteringhead]

I'm sorry to say my son is having a 'children not invited' wedding. Bizarre. Not that Bizarre nutnurse IMHO.

Both Teeterettes invoked the same rule at their nuptials. And - despite "contributing" - I wouldn't dream of contesting it, even if I disagreed (which I didn't).

Their reasons seemed quite valid.

1. Numbers of "bums on seats" - which the small people still need. Therefore reducing the numbers of big people who can be invited.

2. It moves the invitation list to what they called "another layer of the onion skin" in which the "if we ask their kids, we have to ask theirs and theirs etc etc" conversation ensues. And they have many fertile mates! So numbers rocket.

3. The sensible young parents said: "Great! Dump rugrats on granny and have a (very rare) night away without them!" :ok:

4. And they have to be fed (and maybe "minded"). It might only be the equivalent of a MacD "Happy Meal" - but you'll still probably pay £20 a head for it!

Oh! And I was wearing uniform to give the most recent one away - does that qualify for MilAv? (I had my wings on........)

[Exascot]

Nutnurse

Our wedding invitations some 20 years ago stated: 'This occasion is not appropriate for children' I have been to so many where they just run around. Mrs Exascot's sister's brats would have done. OK, I could have beheaded them with my sword but then I would have had to pay for the carpet to be cleaned.

Regarding children on aircraft. In days gone by when asked at check in, 'Smoking or no smoking" I just said, 'I don't care just no children please'.

On one occasion in economy I had a brat sitting on it's grandmother's knee behind me swinging it's legs kicking the back of my seat. I 'gave the look' back between the gap a few times. I even asked politely if she would stop this. It continued. In the end I stood up and leaned on the back of my seat stared straight at the woman and said loudly, 'Please stop that child kicking the back of my seat. She said, 'but he is only three'. I responded, 'At this rate he will not make four'. It ceased, I sat back down to hear mutterings of, 'nasty man'.

[fergineer]

So my Views on kids in pubs and holidays areas is not taken too well by some on here so be it, I also don't agree on paying people to have kids either but someone asked my view on kids in pubs and I stand by my reply keep them at home I go to the pub to speak to people not have to dodge kids running about the place.

[nutnurse]

@ Exascot

The Missus has suggested a Ryanair-style Extra Charge For Children On Board Aircraft. I suppose it could also apply to weddings, funerals, family lunches in pubs and what have you. The only thing is, it might bring about difficulties at baptisms.

Now then, what about dogs in pubs? And the landlady's cat? I suppose I ought to make a Mrs Slocombe joke now but I'll leave it to the Usual Suspects. :p

[Pontius Navigator]

Aye, PN' s#2 was plus brats (not her' s I hasten to add). Brats had their own dining room, Norland Nanny and entertainers and probably no memory of the event.

[Brian W May]

Parents generally choose to have kids and good luck to them.

I don't need to hear and see them when I'm socialising. In my book, I should be able to do this in certain sections of the pub - sans kids.

This landlady gets my vote, tongue in cheek or not.

[nutnurse]

@fergineer

For a small consideration, I might be prepared to keep the little s$ds out of your way in a separate room. My services as a reader of 'Winnie the Pooh' and 'The House at Pooh Corner' (only the full text with the Shephard illustrations, of course, none of yer Walt Disney rubbish) have been much called upon by distraught parents over the years. I believe my disconsolate Eeyore and panicked Piglet to be the definitive examples of the genre. Aussies might, I suppose, wish to criticise my Kanga and Roo but I think they're pretty good. :)

To keep 4Greens happy, in the first story of the first book, Pooh goes flying (under a balloon to steal honey) but is shot down by Christopher Robin. And in the second book, Tigger is an obvious WIWOL. ;)

[Pontius Navigator]

Fergineer, we were taken for tea at the Ritz by our daughters. The 2 year old grandson came too.

Later, a couple at the next table came over. They said that their hearts sank when we came in but they then said they had never seen such a little well behaved boy.

Mind you he made up for it later. I have carried him, kicking and screaming, aged 5 out of a restaurant in Cyprus. At 9 he is now near normal. Give it 5-6 years :)

[newt]

5 to 6 years and he will be glued to a phone, smoking, shagging girls and grunting at adults! Oh joy!




Just joking Pontius:ok:

[modtinbasher]

It was the opening of the 700 year old Ilkeston Charter Fair yesterday. Went to see it and then stopped by one of the local pubs. Counted 13 kids buggies and 3 motorised ones for larger disabled people.


It was like an F1 for kids but you couldn't hear the engines for noise!:mad:

[jindabyne]

Just joking Pontius

But likely true :)

[nutnurse]

You've forgotten the glued-on baseball cap, Newt.

The next stage from that is fun - asking why embarrassing parents i) give Hallowe'en treats to people he knows, ii) don't wipe the outside window sills every morning like the people over the road, iii) don't vacuum the drive on Saturdays ditto.

I did give extra for initiative (see OCTU thread) to the lad doing 'penny for the Guy' outside a pub in Oxford years ago who had dressed up and made up his little brother as Guy Fawkes and had him sitting in a buggy.

[BEagle]

Hallowe'en treats...

Oh Lord, it's almost that time of year again for that commercialised American nonsense :* .

The only thing worse than kids banging on the door demanding money with menaces and that's their creepy breeders lurking in the nearby hedges making sure that their brats aren't invited in by some Jimmy Savile / Rolf Harris character....:hmm:

[racedo]

The only thing worse than kids banging on the door demanding money with menaces and that's their creepy breeders lurking in the nearby hedges making sure that their brats aren't invited in by some Jimmy Savile / Rolf Harris character....:hmm:

We must really live in a different world......

Round here some people put up a No Halloween Callers please and SWMBO said last year that when she was walking with the kids nobody went near these houses respecting residents wishes.

One house with older teenagers had decorated the living daylights out of their house (Christmas is something else) and happy to welcome everybody.

[Exascot]

TT Glad you put this here 'by mistake'. I haven't counted but I think the concensus of opinion is NO. Perhaps you should write to 'call me Dave' and ask him to pass a new law. Oh no of course he is the one who not only takes his kids to the pub but leaves them there. :eek:

[Bob Viking]

As I previously pointed out, the general consensus may be no, but take a look at the average age of the posters. It is not exactly a balanced view you're getting.

Wasn't it Harry Enfield that did the old gits sketch? For some reason that just popped into my head.

BV:E

[newt]

BV it's taken years to develop our balanced view so get some time in and less of the ageism stuff!:ok:

[nutnurse]

Harry Enfield also did the Kevin the teenager :* sketch with Kathy Burke as his mate Perry. As I recall, Kevin turned into a mature, responsible young adult after finally getting his end away. :ok:

[Pontius Navigator]

Go to the door with a chain saw

[ACW418]

Bob,

Some of us are of the same age as the grumpy ones but have the same view as yourself. Perhaps its why I didn't get Lightnings just Vulcans.

ACW

[nutnurse]

There isn't a door with a chain saw... :confused:

[Stanwell]

Halloween?
Just yet more Murican commercial cultural imperialism.
Give us a break, will ya? - The stores haven't even finished putting their Christmas decorations up yet.

(But it's all for the kiddies, not the entrepreneurs, don't you understand?).


Bah! Humbug!

[Stanwell]

.
And, besides...
I don't want to go on record as having been seen handing out sweets to neighourhood children.
My missus gives me a hard enough time as it is, - because she's five years younger than me, I take advantage of her.


Hmm..