Child friendly pub?

[Mazzer]

Does anybody have any advice on a child-friendly pub in the area? One with a garden would be preferable.

I am shocked at the attitude at The Dolphin towards families. I understand there are times when children do put off valuable money-spending customers, but I was last in there on a Monday afternoon when the only people there were parents and their children, and still they put their laminated list of rules for children on every surface possible and told me off for letting my child sit on the floor playing with stones, and another parent for letting her child play with a ball. Surely if they had any business sense they would realise that during the day attracting stay-at-home mothers/fathers is actually a good idea?!!

Anyway, I'll get over it , just as soon as I find an alternative local pub.

Thanks!

Marie

[SE26bloke]

Try the Bridge House or virtually any pub in CP - they're like creches.

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[Annie]

[quote="Mazzernd still they put their laminated list of rules for children on every surface possible and told me off for letting my child sit on the floor playing with stones, and another parent for letting her child play with a ball. Surely if they had any business sense they would realise that during the day attracting stay-at-home mothers/fathers is actually a good idea?!!

Anyway, I'll get over it , just as soon as I find an alternative local pub.

Thanks!

Marie[/quote]

Marie,
I am not against Children,however,If I was in the pub having a quiet meal and drink, something I cannot afford too often,It would annoy the hell out of me if I could hear stones on the wooden floor, or see a ball bouncing round.

Sorry but thats how I would feel.

[Voyageur]

Hmmm... pubs aren't play areas and there may be glass etc. on the floor. I am not averse to kids being in pubs before 6pm as long as they behave well and aren't noisy, it does put me off a pub if it is full of bugaboos and noisy tots.

Maybe try a harvester pub, they seem geared for kids - and those of us who prefer the company of adults on occasion can avoid them.

[The Clown]

It's the one downside of the smoking ban (I am half-joking).

I'm not entirely adverse to children being brought into pubs in the daytime either, but it used to be the exception rather than the norm (don't want to miss someone's birthday / lovely day for overdue family gathering and can't get a babysitter).

Nowadays it seems like mother and toddler groups actually plan to meet in the pub.

I actually think the Dolphin are being entirely responsible in that they are reminding parents, that it is actually an establishment aimed at adults and not at children. Pubs are struggling to make ends meet with limited staffing and are not running a creche after all. Perhaps they were warning you, as they have had issues with broken glass / etc. before?

We seem to be so hyper-critical these days. I popped down to the pub for an impromptu lunch on the first day that the warm spell hit. There was an old timer and regular from The Golden Lion complaining loudly at the slow service. Whilst he was correct that the service was slow, what was his expectation? The sun shines and suddenly staff appear from the woodwork, ready and able to pull a pint? He was being unrealistic.

I think in this day and age, we are becoming too judgemental and setting our expectations too high.
Supporting your local business is about about taking your empites back to the bar.
Or in this case, not expecting plastic toys and wooden building blocks in a public House.

[Annie]

It's the one downside of the smoking ban (I am half-joking).

I'm not entirely adverse to children being brought into pubs in the daytime either, but it used to be the exception rather than the norm (don't want to miss someone's birthday / lovely day for overdue family gathering and can't get a babysitter).

Nowadays it seems like mother and toddler groups actually plan to meet in the pub.

I actually think the Dolphin are being entirely responsible in that they are reminding parents, that it is actually an establishment aimed at adults and not at children. Pubs are struggling to make ends meet with limited staffing and are not running a creche after all. Perhaps they were warning you, as they have had issues with broken glass / etc. before?

We seem to be so hyper-critical these days. I popped down to the pub for an impromptu lunch on the first day that the warm spell hit. There was an old timer and regular from The Golden Lion complaining loudly at the slow service. Whilst he was correct that the service was slow, what was his expectation? The sun shines and suddenly staff appear from the woodwork, ready and able to pull a pint? He was being unrealistic.

I think in this day and age, we are becoming too judgemental and setting our expectations too high.
Supporting your local business is about about taking your empites back to the bar.
Or in this case, not expecting plastic toys and wooden building blocks in a public House.

Hooray for common sense!

[Maria]

I actually think the Dolphin are being entirely responsible in that they are reminding parents, that it is actually an establishment aimed at adults and not at children. Pubs are struggling to make ends meet with limited staffing and are not running a creche after all

Then, if so, they should not have agreed to host this weekly meeting for mums/carers AND their children. Please see in our forum, under "Meet a Mum" on the 11 February:

There is also a new Net Mums group that has just started in Sydenham. They are meeting every other Monday at 12pm at the Dolphin pub. [/i] http://www.netmums.com/coffeehouse/grou ... enham.html

[Annie]

Then, if so, they should not have agreed to host this weekly meeting for mums/carers AND their children. Please see in our forum, under "Meet a Mum" on the 11 February:

There is also a new Net Mums group that has just started in Sydenham. They are meeting every other Monday at 12pm at the Dolphin pub. [/i] http://www.netmums.com/coffeehouse/grou ... enham.html[/quote]


No, they shouldn't have, if they cannot provide a suitable seating/ safe playing area, that does not disturb anyone else than they have no right to complain really. I have though

[Maria]

Yes, of course you have; and I hope you do, and lots of other people do too.

[benchef]

I mean the whole idea of seeing bouncing balls in pubs is beyond concievable, this is obviously why football is so rarely shown in public houses. The Dolphin is not exactly an "older mans" boozer, especially at 11.30am on a weekday morning and I expect anyone who complains about boucing balls at that time of the morning in a pub has a lot to complain about in general. This is a post on a kids forum and the vitriolic response is quite laughable. The fact is the food sucks and the service sucks regardless of kids being alive inside this hallowed establishment. Bring back the two halves! HUZZAH!

[Annie]

Yeah yeah wotever!

[Eagle]

Children should be welcome in Pubs if they sit with parents and behave. Too often they are left to run wild which is dangerous apart from being very annoying .
Us Brits could certainly learn something from our mainland cousins in this respect.

[benchef]

Children should be welcome in Pubs if they sit with parents and behave. Too often they are left to run wild which is dangerous apart from being very annoying .
Us Brits could certainly learn something from our mainland cousins in this respect.

Mixed message here. As someone who grew up on the Continent and continues to spend a lot of time on the Continent with my two young children, I'm always impressed how children are accepted in bars and restaurants and they are far from expected to sit quietly next to there parents. On the continent bars are places families meet to socialise together. It seems to me that it's a problem with the British drinking/socialising culture that bars, pubs and restaurants are expected to be places where familys are excluded. Until I get offered outside for a fight by a giddy 3 year old my opinion will remain the same.

[SE26bloke]

Maybe I should sink my savings into opening a creche with an alcohol licence.

[Annie]

Maybe I should sink my savings into opening a creche with an alcohol licence.

Well, it would save the rest of us from bouncing balls and rocks!

[Bazman76]

I think this should fit the bill perfectly?

http://www.dulwichwoodhouse.com/

It's pretty much like a creche in there on weekends.

Don't have any kids myself but I certainly don't object to having them around.

They also have a fabulous beergarden out the back.

Only problem is depending where in Sydenham you are you may have to drive it.

[Eagle]

Woodhouse not the good old Youngs Pub it used to be in the 70's .

Last time I went I could not believe the prices

[Annie]

I think this should fit the bill perfectly?

http://www.dulwichwoodhouse.com/

It's pretty much like a creche in there on weekends.

Don't have any kids myself but I certainly don't object to having them around.

They also have a fabulous beergarden out the back.

Only problem is depending where in Sydenham you are you may have to drive it.

MMMmm maybe not,
I have been in there,and its all a bit, erm whats the word? posh? not sure their locals would like to have kids playing ball and rocks on the floor.
The Garden would be fine though---------on a sunny day of course.

[Bazman76]

Well they are definitely child friendly, on a Sunday lunch time I would say a least 75% of customers are there with their kids.

I suppose it is a little posh but I have always found the staff halpful and polite whatever I rolled up wearing?

[Annie]

Well they are definitely child friendly, on a Sunday lunch time I would say a least 75% of customers are there with their kids.

I suppose it is a little posh but I have always found the staff halpful and polite whatever I rolled up wearing?

Oh yes, I am not complaining about the staff,but just that its more a place I would go on a special occasion.