pubs...... the new weekend creche?

[tinagwee]

Why are pubs in east dulwich so totally full of kids all the time, like morning noon and night. I tried to go into the plough at 3 different times recently and had to leave due to the noise and bedlam from many children.

I have issue with this for 2 reasons

b]Firstly[/b],Is it just me wondering if the pub is really the most suitable place to be bringing your kids? An example of what I mean is the occasion I was in the upland for a coffee some adults and kids came in and settled in for what appeared to be the day as the adults sat at one table and set the kids up with colouring books etc at another. Surely they should've been in the park running around, especially as it was a really bright sunny crisp day. On this lovely saturday they were being ignored, with no interaction with their parents. I can't say I would look back at my childhood with happiness if it had been spent bored in a pub.

Are we creating a future generation of alcoholics perchance because they don't know about other leisure activities? God, even in Ireland where people love their drink its not seen as a terribly suitable activity to do with your children.

There is nothing there for them to do and these kids will inevitably get bored and go stir crazy. I have seen kids in the gowlett using the a pub as an assault course regardless of other customers in the place.

Secondly. Simple manners and consideration. Surely the pub is meant to be the one and only place to go and read your paper with a pint on a sunday afternoon, possibly being of the hair of the dog variety, in peace from either your own or others progeny? I know this has come about because of the smoking ban but folks it's still a pub, not a creche!

I am not necessarily saying to ban kids from pubs completely but can we not have some kind of compromise? Say for example no children after 2pm, or only for a certain time limit? Large pubs like the Plough could have kids free zones? I'd go for that. It still doesnt address the issue of why they are in the pub in the first place but at least the manners and consideration to other patrons bit is covered.

[tinagwee]

ps I am not a child hater, I have nephews who I take to the park etc and do plan to have one of my own just before anyone accuses me of that. Also I am fine with them everywhere else (excepting the sex club of course hehe)

[Michael Palaeologus]

Move with the times dear boy, move with the times. Nowadays if you want a quiet pint and read of the paper on a Sunday afternoon - stay at home.

[citizenED]

O Tinagwee, Tinagwee - moaning about k-i-d-s in Pubs is so, er, last week! see here

....though for what it is worth, even though I take my two little ones to the Plough from time to time I kinda agree it's nice to have those kid free moments in the pub.

[falcao]

best place to read your paper in peace is the actual creche....cos they're all down the pub.

[tinagwee]

"Move with the times dear boy, move with the times. Nowadays if you want a quiet pint and read of the paper on a Sunday afternoon - stay at home."

Oh right so I only get to enjoy a pint in the pub if I have kids, I get it, makes lots of sense!

(also that sounds like the argument used by smokers recently that if you didnt want to inhale their smoke, stay at home)

Didnt realise this argument had been raised last week. I musnt be the only grumber then. We should form a group!

[mockney piers]

Tinga, I think it got raised about 3 or 4 times last week.

Curiously it all seems to be upper east-siders complaining about the plough.

You might want to try Hoopers. No dangers of being troubled by children there.

[peckhamboy]

Or the Castle maybe. I can't imagine too many kids in there either.

[ratty]

I am guessing that the reason there is so many children in pubs is that there are so many children in East Dulwich. It is well known as an area for young couples and young couples tend to have children. I am also guessing that the pubs in places like Camden Town are not full of children. I guess what I am saying is it comes with the territory. Perhpas you should have some children - then you would fit in and not feel so alienated!

[Dulwich_ Park_ Fairy]

Tinga, I think it got raised about 3 or 4 times last week.

Curiously it all seems to be upper east-siders complaining about the plough.

You might want to try Hoopers. No dangers of being troubled by children there.

Quite, why people who don't want to be surrounded by families would go to the Plough before 7:00 pm is beyond me, especially when there are so many pubs in East Dulwich that do not particularily welcome kids. For christs sake, go to the Clockhouse.

Also, there's a picture being painted that the pubs in East Dulwich are full of bored and depressed children who would rather be anywhere else than in the boozer. I've found that most children enjoy going to the pub although they do get bored after about an hour, this is the point where most parents I know decide to take them home.

[Brendan]

May I suggest that everyone on the upper east side (like myself) who would like a drink sans psycho-midgets on the weekend makes their way down Crystal Palace Road to the CPT.

Now it is not all nicely done out like the Plough but the crowd and the staff are good and if they start doing a better weekend trade they may even get some of that nice new furniture like in the Plough that makes it look like your nan?s front room.

[Azul]

I think she's in a bad mood this week, probably lack of sex.

I've been working abroad and I reckon the long willy plumber must be away this week too.

[Jah Lush]

Echoed Brendan....echoed.

[Keef]

Thirded Brendan.

Azul, what????

[Cassius]

Brendan Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> May I suggest that everyone on the upper east side

> (like myself) who would like a drink sans

> psycho-midgets on the weekend makes their way down

> Crystal Palace Road to the CPT.

>

> Now it is not all nicely done out like the Plough

> but the crowd and the staff are good and if they

> start doing a better weekend trade they may even

> get some of that nice new furniture like in the

> Plough that makes it look like your nan?s front

> room.

My bf and I went for a drink at the CPT before Christmas - as we entered it was just like the scene from 'An American Werewolf in London' AND I have to say I wasn't very impressed with the choice of draft beers.

I don't mind 'spit and sawdust' pubs some of the time, but other times it would be nice to be both comfortable and childfree. I guess there's always the Clockhouse, although I feel that it is without atmosphere. Hey ho....

[KalamityKel]

DPF u make it sound like the children take their parents in to the pub rather than parents escaping the usual routine... lol sorry I'll stop there the image I've conjured in me head of kids, tankards and fat cigars (bugsy stylee) is too amusing!

[Brendan]

Cassius Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> as we entered it was just like the

> scene from 'An American Werewolf in London' AND I

> have to say I wasn't very impressed with the

> choice of draft beers.

Cassius: I know what you mean. It can feel a bit like that sometimes especially in the weekday afternoons when there are some close-knit groups of locals in. I think it is because it is quite a small pub and someone can?t really walk in without the whole pub noticing. The good thing is that there are 2 bars and you can just go sit in the other if you don?t like the vibe in the one. That?s what I do.

Most evenings, and Saturdays and Sundays are pretty normal and chilled though.

On the draught beer they only do Old Speckled Hen and Adnams Broadside. Neither of which are very creative but they are good drinkable beers.

[Keef]

Cassius Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> My bf and I went for a drink at the CPT before Christmas - as we entered it was just like the scene from 'An American Werewolf in London' AND I have to say I wasn't very impressed with the choice of draft beers.

> I don't mind 'spit and sawdust' pubs some of the time, but other times it would be nice to be both comfortable and childfree. I guess there's always the Clockhouse, although I feel that it is without atmosphere. Hey ho....

Each to their own, but I have to say, Grolsch, Stella, Carlsberg, Carling, Adnams, Broadside, Speckled Hen, Strongbow, Guinness (and extra cold) is about as good a selection as you'll get anywhere else.

Also, whilst it's not the most flashy by any stratch, "spit & sawdust" is definitely not fair.

A couple of people have said things about walking in and feeling like the piano player has stopped playing in a western saloon... I am a local, so don't experience that, and sorry if people do feel that way. The staff are absolutely lovely though, and all the regulars are nice enough, even if a couple are a bit rough around the edges.

[Dulwich_ Park_ Fairy]

DPF u make it sound like the children take their parents in to the pub rather than parents escaping the usual routine... lol sorry I'll stop there the image I've conjured in me head of kids, tankards and fat cigars (bugsy stylee) is too amusing!

Can't see how you came to that conclusion, I just know lots of kids who consider going to the pub a bit of a treat. I think its more to do with fizzy drinks than cigars.

[KalamityKel]

I have a warped imagination sowwy :-$

[snorky]

Why not ask the landlord why he tolerates kids ?

In many cases, faced with a Sunday afternoon with 15 miserable scowling old bastards grimly working their way through a pint an hour or the opportunity to get a few families in who will spend ?30+ on lunch and a couple of drinks - what would you sooner have ?

ask where landliords make their profits ? Fizzy drinks at a quid a go make better sense than pint of surly old git

Sorry, but its about survival- things have changed - it harder for pubs to survive, so this is what happens

the familes will gravitate to the pubs that cater for them. the po faced old wankers will scurry for their wretched middens ans reminince about the Heydays of the Forresters.

everybody wins

[SeanMacGabhann]

With the possible exception of Grolsch I'd have to object to the other lagers being on ANYONES's list

(ooh before I go any further, I'm a fan of the CPT too)

and Strongbow is possibly the worst cider in existence (with some strong competition from Woodpecker)

For good lagers, the child-friendly Plough wins hands down. But Inside 72 serves Lowenbrau so is the winner

Sorry - had to get that off my chest.

[mockney piers]

true da', aiit.

[snorky]

Never had any of the snorklets in 72 - do they welcome them ?

[Keef]

Agree about the other lagers Sean, but I do have to say that whilst Carling is horrendous, Carlsberg is as good as any of the other lagers of that ilk/strength, and they both beat Fosters hands down, as that is the mosy gassy pissy crap ever to have been served under the name "lager"!

They seem to sell plenty of all of them though, but I stick with Grolsch.

Agreed The Plough has a better selection, but they are also catering for a different crowd. It's like the wine in the CPT, people have complained, and they might get more people coming in if it was known for having good wine. However, I don't think it would really make a huge difference to their trade, so they don't worry too much. The girls have tried to get some better stuff in though.