Herne Tavern play area to be demolished

[cazzyr]

Have just spent a lovely couple of hours in the sunny beer garden with family and friends

but have learned that the pub has changed owners today and many

changes are afoot including the demolition of tbe children's play area.

The Herne attracts so many families and is the best family pub for miles.Not sure

why they have decided to get rid of play area...anyone have

any more info?

[bizzylizzy]

We were there today as well. It is a shame that they are getting rid of the play area. Seems a bit stupid as like you say it is so popular with families and has a bit of a unique selling point with the play area. I can't think of an other pub in the area with such a big garden and great (safe) play area for the kids. I wonder how many families will be put off going there if there is no play area for the kids. It was so lovely to be able to sit in the sun with a beer while the kids were happy and entertained. There are plenty of other pubs with nice gardens that are more adult friendly if you don't want kids playing around.

[silverfox]

Simple

Children don't buy drinks.

Parents see child areas as a cheap form of baby-sitting.

Times are tough for pubs and child areas make no economic sense.

[Loz]

True, Silverfox, but the parents round here are a right bunch of lushes...

[Earl Aelfheah]

... Plus, parents do buy food which is more profitable than selling beer.

[LondonMix]

Yes, but if the they think they can double custom by making the outside area a beer garden, parents would need to be spending at twice the rate of the average punter to make up the lost revenue. They would have to assume that they would be very busy though so it might all be a folly anyhow!

[UncleBen]

Great news! A decent beer garden at last hopefully. About time as well - there are acres of park across the road for kids, plus a playground and adventure playground. I will definately be going to the Herne once the changes are made. Well done the new owners.

[stacey-lyn]

Seems odd given how much of their promotion is kids focussed esp. the play area.

Click Here for HTMLHerne

Usually, the wet/dry split is anything from 60-80% (wet) so drinks account for a greater share of profits.

[*Bob*]

UncleBen Wrote:

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

I will definately be going to the Herne once the changes are made. Well done the new owners.

Okaaay, so let me just keep a note this.

So far, that's +1 punters

.. and -300 punters

[StraferJack]

Or we could just rewind 10 years to before the pub was taken over and count how many punters were kicking about in there/out in the garden

spoiler alert: not enough to keep the pub in business. I think it got taken over

[JohnL]

Smoking allowed times then.

Different rules as no parent would allow children into pubs with

hazy blue smoke everywhere.

I assume the smokers are not in the children's play area - haven't

ventured out of the bar when I visit..

StraferJack Wrote:

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

> Or we could just rewind 10 years to before the pub

> was taken over and count how many punters were

> kicking about in there/out in the garden

>

> spoiler alert: not enough to keep the pub in

> business. I think it got taken over

[StraferJack]

yep different rules back then - less family friendly, as you say, so one could expect the type of customer who is happy with the recent news to be more plentiful 10 years ago, no?

[LondonMix]

Based on Stacey-lyn's link it appears they still want to attract families but just want to increase how many people they can serve in the pub. Losing the entire garden to a playground must decrease total potential turnover. I guess they hope parents won't abandon the pub in droves just because it does not have a playground anymore. Let's see.

[sheilarose]

LondonMix Wrote:

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

> Based on Stacey-lyn's link it appears they still

> want to attract families but just want to increase

> how many people they can serve in the pub. Losing

> the entire garden to a playground must decrease

> total potential turnover. I guess they hope

> parents won't abandon the pub in droves just

> because it does not have a playground anymore.

> Let's see.

The entire garden isn't lost to the playground. It occupies only a small part of it -- perhaps enough space for five or six extra tables. Getting rid of the playground seems mad to me.

[*Bob*]

It's a big old place. The playground bit takes-up a good portion of potential table space outside, but it can't account for much more than 25%, tops. Taking into account the inside, that's not a massive amount of overall capacity.

Lots of people with kids go not just because there's a mini-playground, but because the prescence of the mini-playground is like a big flashing light which says 'it's ok'.

The playground is the only real USP of that place.

To anyone with kids of a certain age, the playground overcomes all other failings (of which there are many) in one fell swoop.

[stacey-lyn]

sheilarose Wrote:

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

> LondonMix Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Based on Stacey-lyn's link it appears they

> still

> > want to attract families but just want to

> increase

> > how many people they can serve in the pub.

My guess is that the new owners will be updating the website pronto.

[*Bob*]

If they do ditch the play area and even if ("if") it manages to hang onto its key clientele, the place will be even more fruitbat crazy kidz than it was before. There'll be nowhere to contain the little blighters and they'll just run around the tables screeching like banshees - as their limp parents make half-hearted efforts to chide them.

So anyone hoping for a quiet drink in the sunshine, post-change can think again.

If the new owners thoughts are 'hey, this pub's doing ok - let's take that playground bit out and make even more cash!' someone should tell them that the place used to be one giant morgue before it scooped the family crowd.

[Sarah.safra]

That is a bad news that play area was fantastic

I am very sad to heard that

Sarah

[Girl82]

+2 customers - as if the pub does become more 'adult-oriented', I would certainly go there a lot more often! As someone without kids, I much prefer to have a quiet drink without children running around screaming, and as a result tend to avoid The Herne at all costs. However, I can see from parents' point of view it must have been good to have the play area to keep the children occupied, and to have such a family friendly local pub. I guess you just can't please everybody!

*Bob* Wrote:

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

> UncleBen Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> I will definately be going to the Herne once the

> changes are made. Well done the new owners.

>

>

> Okaaay, so let me just keep a note this.

>

> So far, that's +1 punters

> .. and -300 punters

[alice]

what is it with memories? there always was a play area - 15/ 20 years ago - the whole place was packed on sunny days

[*Bob*]

Girl82 Wrote:

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

> +2 customers - as if the pub does become more

> 'adult-oriented', I would certainly go there a lot

> more often! As someone without kids, I much prefer

> to have a quiet drink without children running

> around screaming, and as a result tend to avoid

> The Herne at all costs.

I can't see this pub ever working as 'adult oriented' though. It'll never be adult-oriented enough to satisfy those who'd prefer not to mix with littluns. As it is it at least satisfies one group - and it's easy to avoid for anyone who wants to.

[LondonMix]

I have friends without kids and they don't mind kids in pubs if the balance is right. The Great Exhibition seems to have found that balance. The Herne though is impossible for people without children. It doesn't even feel like a pub. It feels like a childcare centre that serves booze.

Redressing the balance though is risky. They might not appeal to either demographic anymore which is a real gamble.

[Earl Aelfheah]

Anyone know why it's been sold? Was it not doing well?

[the-e-dealer]

Hurrah ! They are doing a veggy Nut Roast again ! - Pity there's nowhere for my son to play anymore. Ah well off to Nunhead Again.

[Jeremy]

People have previously said that it's so they can raise the cash for another restaurant, possibly another Begging Bowl branch.