Cassius

It's like people that key nice cars because they can't have one themselves! You don't get in on the continent, just here - it's the 'life owes me' mentality! You're not admired for working hard to get nice things, you are resented.

Domitianus Wrote: or expects me to > automatically step off the pavement to let a bunch > of pram-pushers walk three abreast down a street > etc etc, all without the slightest gesture of > appreciation or apology to the frustration and > inconvenience that I am caused - they are > effectively saying to me "I have absolutely no > consideration for your welfare, rights or comfort > and expect my whim and convenience to be > considered more valuable than yours". The other day I was walking down Lordship Lane and two mothers with buggies and small kids had stopped for a chat between the post office and the bus stop. Of course I fully understand that if you are at home with kids and go out shopping it is nice to stop and chat with another adult, who will very likely be another mother. However, between that really busy bus stop and the post office! They were there for ages to as I walked down to Scumerfield for a few items and they were still there when I walked back. No-one could get by them without being given daggers so people (including the old and other people with children) were having to walk on the outside of the bus stop to get by - which could be dangerous. Bascially they were treating everyone else as 2nd class citizens.

Well this is why I brought this up - when last in Devon we visited a bar/restaurant where you can have Sunday lunch in both areas but the bar area is CF whilst the restaurant is Child Friendly. Same food, same staff, just a different ambience. Surely not too much to ask. Incidentally the bar area has 10 covers whilst the restuarant has 40 - so it's not as if parents were getting the bad deal!

Well funnily enough I asked the question before I got the answers - I find that usually happens. Now I have the answers I will look out the pubs that have been recommended. Incidentally I have no problems with well behaved children ...............

I didn't say children shouldn't be out, I said it would be nice if SOME pubs provided an AREA where there are no kids. I am fed up with trying to eat a Sunday lunch with the fear that the small boy who thinks he is an aeroplane colliding into me and the open bottle of red wine on the table. Incidentally does anyone know when the licensing laws changed, I am sure you used to have to be at least 14 to go into a pub in the old days and that was only if eating a meal.... or have the mists of time impared my memory

Er pk; a) it's not exactly illegal (although obviously in some people's eyes immoral) to not wish to spend one's leisure time surrounded by other peoples children and b) I was not suggesting no children ever but until recently one could go somewhere during the day for some adult conversation. I am not objecting to children being out with their parents, but the pendulum has swung so far that it is hard to find anywhere without them. c) thank you to everyone who made suggestions of places that are more cf - I will try them out in due course.

Hi - I am new to the Forum and have found it very interesting. Now that pubs/bars/restaurants are all smoke free, do you think it would be a good idea for some places to put aside an area to be child free so that it would be possible to have a beer/chat/meal without little Jessica climbing under the table, or falling over toys by the bar (The Herne). I'm not suggesting going back to the days when children didn't go out with their parents or even the return of the dreaded children/family room, but just that some places such as the ex non-smoking areas, i.e the back room of the Palmeston, the back area of the Black Cherry, etc are child free. Surely mothers would appreciate that too, they'd know which areas to avoid! and if they fancy going out sans enfants they would know where to go. Incidentally if there are any totally CF bars/restaurants in the area that anyone knows of I'd love to be told.