I've only just started to be the one with a child in a pub in the last year. I already had thought that the 'no smoking' policy would change the culture of pub life. I agree that sometimes it can be annoying to have a screaming child/small toddler running round whilst you are trying to have a quiet drink in the pub. (I was once a singleton too.... muttering 'will someone shut that child up' under my breath) But I'm from Oz and kids running around the pub was normal when I was growing up. They usually had an outdoors bit with some kids play equipment, we always sat at the table to eat our food and usually we were quite well behaved. (Still when I was 18,19,20 they annoyed me) I think my acceptance came with my age and the great ability to block out certain noises. I don't know of the pub you are talking about but I found the best way to deal with small children annoying my evening when I was younger was to move to a different part of the pub. I think you'll find that people taking their kids out is increasing all over the country - not just the East Dulwich breeding experiment - (or I seem to see a lot more families out) now that you can't smoke inside. I'm not saying I'd take my 10 month old to the pub to watch a rugby match but I don't think it is all that bad to take her out to dinner once in a while.