English Pub Rules

This link should provide some clarity: http://www.beerandpub.com/industryArticle.aspx?articleId=80 Hopefully, our British posters can add some insight as well. Last spring I noticed that in pubs that served lunch there were parents with children and babies. I did not see either in pubs that served only alcohol.

Well actually I hope you do more then retreat back to hotel when hubby goes drinking, actually thats odd, why wouldn't he just find a pub where you all could go, it wouldn't be difficult,, at very least go sightseeing with out drinking hubby. Hey, I know its none of my business, but if I was on vacation with my hubbby and child I would not think it was ok for him to go drinking while I sit in a hotel room.

I have never done it (due to not having had a small child for some time!) and do not know the rules but I have seen plenty of babies and small children in pubs in the UK, especially now smoking is banned. Before that I would have hesitated on that basis alone, for the sake of the baby. I vaguely recall seeing a notice about children needing to be accompanied by adults, which makes sense but is hardly an issue with one so young.

The link answered my question perfectly, thank you!

'I noticed that in pubs that served lunch there were parents with children and babies.' At lunch, supper, and everything else I've had push my way through kids and dogs to get up to the bar to order. 'I did not see either in pubs that served only alcohol' Having been in at least three gazillion pubs over half that many years, I can picture only one that may have served only alcohol - - it was somewhere along the creek in the Docklands and has a sign that said 'smart clothes only' so I figured the likes of me would not be welcome. If my kids had not eaten in pubs they would have skinnied theirselfs to death.

You should have no difficulty in finding a pub which will be happy for you to take a 9 month old child into the bar. However, the pub owner may decide to restrict admission to certain age groups, so you have no right to insist. You just have to go somewhere else. I have certainly seen pubs which restrict admission to over-25s for some reason. My feeling is that you are more likely to find restrictions in city centre pubs than in rural ones. The rural pubs now make most of their income from serving food, and families are important customers.

Thanks everyone!!

As others have posted...the pub owner may say no...but when our daughters were young we were never told that they wasn't allowed in to any pub. We ate in lots of pubs in lots of areas in the UK.

As far as i know it is entirely up to license holder (you can usually tell by the look of the pub). Rule on alcohol is different - 18 years. Clubs sometimes 21. Also, eviction / refusal to serve at discretion of license-holder (usually drunken behaviour, rudeness, underage ...)
S

I've been to many a pub with little tikes at the tables. Even if you're husband (or you, for that matter) just Want a beer, the other can hang at the bar with your daughter.

Just to add a couple notes on the subject. London may be an exception to the general allowance of children in pubs. While many do allow children, I did see at least two (out of 30 or so) that either did not, or had very restrictive hours that children could be there. Asking someone near the door will work well. Besides that, nearly all pubs it seemed, in central London get very busy, packed even, with the after work crowd, almost more than a dedicated ale drinker like I could stand. That however is easy to gage on entering.