How naughty and noisy children are ruining our pubs

THE scene is familiar to many pubgoers. You’ve just sat down at your favourite table when suddenly all hope of enjoying a quiet pint and a chat with friends is banished.

Your relaxing visit is turned into a teeth-grinding trial as naughty, screaming children run riot.

Now The Good Pub Guide has taken aim at unruly youngsters and their parents for ruining things for other customers.

Fiona Stapley, editor of the guide, said problems with noisy children generate more complaints from its reviewers than any other issue.

One reviewer in The Good Pub Guide 2016 complained: ‘My peaceful lunch by the fire with a pint was totally ruined by a child running around whooping and tripping up staff – and when asked to quieten down by the landlord, the poor man faced abuse from over-protective parents, ridiculous!’

Another asked: ‘Why are there undisciplined children allowed to run around unchecked, or screaming babies who aren’t taken outside to calm down?’

Most pubs have been transformed in the last 20 years from the traditional refuge of the working man into ‘family friendly’ bars, reliant on food sales.

Playgrounds have been added, there are boxes of toys, colouring books at the tables, children’s menus, high chairs and nappy changing facilities. The changes have undoubtedly been good for the bottom line of these establishments, but many long- standing customers feel they have lost out. Miss Stapley said: ‘The era of children being seen but not heard, has been consigned to history – and quite right, too.

‘But now that almost all pubs warmly welcome children at all times, the few problem families, whose children run riot, stick out like the proverbial sore thumb. We get more complaints from readers about unruly children than anything else.’

She added: ‘One publican suggested that if you treat children maturely and not as “special cases” by encouraging them to have small helpings of adult food rather than having a children’s menu thrust at them, and providing free wi-fi so they can sit quietly and chat on social media or play games – then they will respond in kind.’

The winner of the guide’s 2016 pub of the year is the Horse & Groom at Bourton- on- the- Hill, in the Cotswolds, which has won accolades for its food and the variety of ales.

The owners, brothers Tom and Will Greenstock, have taken the decision not to have a specific children’s menu or high chairs, although its chefs will amend dishes to suit young tastes.

Tom Greenstock said they do make some concessions to children by offering drawing paper and crayons. He added: ‘The worst thing for me is when there is a very small child screaming and bawling. However, most parents will take them outside.’