There’s an interesting observation here from Frank Davis on how pubs are increasingly becoming like private homes, and private homes increasingly like pubs:
…the pubs which were once refuges from family life will have become no different from family homes, with toys strewn on the floor, children running round, nappies being changed, and old grannies being helped to the door on their walking frames. The pubs will have metamorphosed into family houses. And private houses will turn into pubs.
For the exiled smokers and drinkers have already started meeting up some place or other, often their own homes, bringing their own beer and whisky, sitting around makeshift tables smoking and drinking and belching and swearing. And telling blue jokes. And singing bawdy songs. No children will be allowed. Women will only be tolerated if they can drink a man under the table. If there are tables.
.jpg)
It's spelled "umop ap!sdn", actually.
ReplyDeleteCan't pubs have a No Kids rule if they want? Surely you don't need to ban kids from all pubs just because some people don't want them. If there is a market for kid free pubs then there will be kid free pubs.
ReplyDeleteCan't pubs have a No Smoking rule if they want? Surely you don't need to ban smoking from all pubs just because some people don't want it. If there is a market for smoke free pubs then there will be smoke free pubs.
ReplyDeleteThat was kind of my point.
ReplyDeleteSorry, sometimes it's hard to grasp to what extent people have their tongues in their cheek :|
ReplyDeletePerhaps it's because I mainly visit Good Beer Guide pubs, but I've never noticed the epidemic of children running round pubs that people write about.
ReplyDeleteI'd guess I notice children in roughly 20% of pubs I visit, and then generally in eating areas. I sometimes think it's the very presence of "kids" (baby goats) that upsts people, rather than their behaviour.
I defend the landlord's legal right to exclude children (and youing adults) - in fact, I really want to know beforehand when my own children are unwelcome before I enter a pub ! The Albion in Chester is the only pub I know to openly be "family-hostile".
I go out for a drink about 4 or 5 times a week, and not to the same pub, or even in the same town. I rarely see children.
ReplyDeleteI can't help thinking there's a huge amount of point-missing (whether deliberate or accidental) going on here :|
ReplyDeleteI go out for a drink about 4 or 5 times a week, and not to the same pub, or even in the same town. I rarely see children.
ReplyDeleteIf you go to town and city centre pubs after 8pm, you won't see many children. If you go to rural and suburban pubs (or town-centre Wetherspoons) lunchtimes and early evenings you'll encounter loads of them.