pubs...... the new weekend creche?

[Keef]

I love when SOME OF the parents can't see both sides of the arguement and just get really insulting to anyone who's not totally pro kids! As Tillie said, lets let this rest and promise that should another similar thread start up, we shall just direct the quarter to this or one of the many threads, and all go about our day.

[Brendan]

Personally the kids in the Plough only bother me if I want to get rip roaring drunk, swear and smoke and make merry. In which case there are other pubs. If I just want some lunch and a pint they normally don?t get to me. Except if people have crying babies or those screechy sort of children. That can be as unpleasant as (to go back to what ???? said) sitting next to a bunch of braying horsey girls (which I had the displeasure of doing on the train this morning).

[Cassius]

ah ha - it's the Ivanhoe!! Really good choice of beers - might give it a go.

Has anyone been - can they recommend it - and do the old regulars of the Ivanhoe still frequent it?

[mockney piers]

It's pretty quiet these days, but retains a good few of the locals. You're right the selection is always first class and the Landlord's a nice chap. Definitely worth a visit and quiz on thursday's I think.

I don't really go often enough as it's a bit out of the way for most of my friends but I do like popping in from time to time for a decent pint.

[Dulwich_ Park_ Fairy]

I love when SOME OF the parents can't see both sides of the arguement and just get really insulting to anyone who's not totally pro kids

Wasn't trying to be insulting, just trying to point out a couple of things really. There seems to be a lot of exaggeration from those who think all pubs should be geared up for people who want an odd "coffee" before 7pm, or to quietly read a newspaper over a slow pint. There also seems to be a lot of laziness from people unwilling to walk or get a bus to one of the many, many child-free establishments in the area. The "it takes 25 minutes to walk to the CPT" seemed to sum both of these up quite nicely.

[Domitianus]

Brendan Wrote:

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> Personally the kids in the Plough only bother me

> if I want to get rip roaring drunk, swear and

> smoke and make merry. In which case there are

> other pubs. If I just want some lunch and a pint

> they normally don?t get to me. Except if people

> have crying babies or those screechy sort of

> children. That can be as unpleasant as (to go back

> to what ???? said) sitting next to a bunch of

> braying horsey girls (which I had the displeasure

> of doing on the train this morning).

But Brendan, effectively what you are saying is that when there are kids in the pub you are unable to get drunk and make merry and have to go else where. This is the very point for chrissake! Pubs are places, first and foremost, where people go to drink and, frequently, get a bit shit-faced yet you are stating that you have to go elsewhere to do this when there are kids present. This is ridiculous! The primary purpose of a pub (a location to imbibe alcoholic beverages) is now being supplanted by those who see it as some sort of an adventure playground for their kids. It is as ridiculous and unacceptable as the notion of kids not being able to go on the swings or roundabouts in the park because there is a bunch of winos sitting on them drinking cider - the wrong people are calling the shots!

I mean, for the love of God, if people are intimidated out of going to the pub to get drunk because there are kids there, then the lunatics have well and truly taken over the asylum!

[mightyroar]

'The primary purpose of a pub (a location to imbibe alcoholic beverages)'

but......you can imbibe an alcoholic beverage pretty much anywhere. Why not on your own at home? Because what the pub does is give you a social context. IE places you in a universe inhabited by OTHER PEOPLE. in all their shapes and sizes and with their various (and sometimes very annoying) accessories....phones, braying laughter, children.........

Hell is other people eh?

[Domitianus]

mightyroar Wrote:

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> 'The primary purpose of a pub (a location to

> imbibe alcoholic beverages)'

>

> but......you can imbibe an alcoholic beverage

> pretty much anywhere. Why not on your own at home?

> Because what the pub does is give you a social

> context. IE places you in a universe inhabited by

> OTHER PEOPLE. in all their shapes and sizes and

> with their various (and sometimes very annoying)

> accessories....phones, braying laughter,

> children.........

>

> Hell is other people eh?

Pubs do indeed provide a social context for the imbibing of alcohol and the issue that I think is at the heart of discussion is whether the presence of large numbers of children is consistent with that context. If those who use a pub for its primary purpose (imbibing alcohol in the company of others) are actually intimidated or made to feel uncomfortable doing so due to the presence of said children then I would suggest that the primary function of a pub is being usurped.

[tinagwee]

jesus you would think I had said strangle them all at birth!

I cannot believe that someone is suggesting that people who want to get shitfaced should stay at home how about the reply that if you have kids try taking them to the park, or maybe play games with them at home.

as for "If you live close to the Plough but it takes you 25mins to walk to the CPT then perhaps you should spend less time in the pub and more in the gym (which incidentally is kid free)."

I do go to the gym, and have an active job and I am on my feet all day. The plough is a ten minute walk from me which makes it still local but that further walk to the cpt (which then does become 25mins) does not make it quite so local, and it is my right to define how local I want my local to be.

I did very well add that most of the time I do now make the extra effort to go further a field than the Plough. You are making a lot of assumptions there and wrongly. Also my boyfriend refuses to walk quickly so when I am with him it is at least a 30 min walk, and before you accuse him of laziness, he does capoeira as his choice of excercise, he just doesnt like walking fast. Anyway as I've said I will try to see if hoopers or clockwork are close and not so absolutely horrible that finding a tip to sit in would be preferable and will therefore try to avoid the plough during creche hours.

End of bloody story ok?

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Never thought I'd agree with Dom but I do, 100% (and I am a parent).

[Asset]

Are there really lots of kids in the plough beyond say 6 - 7pm? I think the whole thing is being blown out of proportion. Yes there are lots of kids there on a Friday as they hold a parents with kids afternoon then but the manager told me they are gone by 6pm and the two occasions I've been with my kids we've left by then too.

Someone made the point that given a choice between a couple of people nursing a beer in the afternoon and lots of people with kids I know which I would choose as a pub manager.

As for taking them to the park, it is quite nice to round off a few hours scampering in a chilly park with a couple of drinks at the pub.

I think there is too much hysteria going on here about what is not acceptable. As I have pointed out before on this thread some people think children are being badly behaved if they can be heard, which given kids is fairly likely to be the case.

I am not condoning letting them run riot in pubs but in my experience that is extremely rare and some people on here are making it sound like it is the norm all day every day in all the pubs.

chill out and spare a thought for parents who don't get to go out to pubs at all very often. If and when the people without kids on this thread do decide to reproduce, they may be glad of a pub or two that lets children in.

[Azul]

SeanMacGabhann Wrote:

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

> >

> With the possible exception of Grolsch I'd have to

> object to the other lagers being on ANYONES's

> list

>

> (ooh before I go any further, I'm a fan of the CPT

> too)

>

> and Strongbow is possibly the worst cider in

> existence (with some strong competition from

> Woodpecker)

>

> For good lagers, the child-friendly Plough wins

> hands down. But Inside 72 serves Lowenbrau so is

> the winner

>

> Sorry - had to get that off my chest.

inside 72 is all about dark Chimay

[Azul]

Dulwich_ Park_ Fairy Wrote:

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

> In my defense can I say that the plough is my

> > local and it is nice and so why shouldnt I

> expect

> > to be able go to my local pub. The Castle is

> not

> > nice nor is particularly local to me. I do go

> to

> > the CPT (again not as comfortable) or to 72 to

> > avoid the mayhem but they are a 25 min walk

> which

> > is fine most of the time but sometimes I just

> want

> > a magners close to home to chill out, or

> sometimes

> > I just want a coffee somehere nice before 7pm,

> > didnt think that was too much. Silly me.

>

> If you live close to the Plough but it takes you

> 25mins to walk to the CPT then perhaps you should

> spend less time in the pub and more in the gym

> (which incidentally is kid free).

ARE YOU CALLING HER FAT???

[Azul]

Dulwich_ Park_ Fairy Wrote:

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

> I love when SOME OF the parents can't see both

> sides of the arguement and just get really

> insulting to anyone who's not totally pro kids

>

> Wasn't trying to be insulting, just trying to

> point out a couple of things really. There seems

> to be a lot of exaggeration from those who think

> all pubs should be geared up for people who want

> an odd "coffee" before 7pm, or to quietly read a

> newspaper over a slow pint. There also seems to be

> a lot of laziness from people unwilling to walk or

> get a bus to one of the many, many child-free

> establishments in the area. The "it takes 25

> minutes to walk to the CPT" seemed to some both of

> these up quite nicely.

ARE YOU CALLING HER LAZY NOW TOO?

[tinagwee]

heheheh

[tinagwee]

hi hon

procrastinating, hate filling in application forms. kitties are going mental

[mightyroar]

well said Asset.

Who are the kitties Tinagwee? are they allowed in pubs?

[Nero]

Kids in parks - good. Kids in cafes in parks - goodish. Kids in pubs - bad. Pubs are places for adults, not for kiddies, nor for family outings. Restaurants, parks, the countryside, art galleries, theatres, cinemas, shopping arcades, fast food outlets, other folks' houses, and gardens are the places for families to go out and gel. Parents - if you support the idea of pubs for kids, wait till your little ones have flown the nest and you want a nice, adult time together. Bet you, if the things continue the way they are, you might find the pub as we know it no longer in existence, with a hybrid cafe-cum-creche-cum-bar in its place. Nero

[Asset]

But it's not a new phenomenon, kids have been allowed in pubs for years, I used to go the pub with my family when I was a kid and that was eons ago.

Granted pubs are not for kids in the evening but during the day shouldn't be a problem and there are plenty of pubs that don't have kids in the evenings.

If people are really pissed off with it, why not lobby councillors to get the laws changed instead of moaning on here? Until it is illegal to go to a pub with your kids then it will continue.

[Asset]

But it's not a new phenomenon, kids have been allowed in pubs for years, I used to go the pub with my family when I was a kid and that was eons ago.

Granted pubs are not for kids in the evening but during the day shouldn't be a problem and there are plenty of pubs that don't have kids in.

If people are really pissed off with it, why not lobby councillors to get the laws changed instead of moaning on here? Until it is illegal to go to a pub with your kids then it will continue.

[Cassius]

Asset Wrote:

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

> But it's not a new phenomenon, kids have been

> allowed in pubs for years, I used to go the pub

> with my family when I was a kid and that was eons

> ago.

> Granted pubs are not for kids in the evening but

> during the day shouldn't be a problem and there

> are plenty of pubs that don't have kids in.

> If people are really pissed off with it, why not

> lobby councillors to get the laws changed instead

> of moaning on here? Until it is illegal to go to

> a pub with your kids then it will continue.

Very few pubs used to allow under 14's in - it was at the discretion of the landlord. I was allowed in a couple of places but under sufferance. Certainly if I'd run around shouting, crawled around under tables or basically done anything other that sit down quietly I would not have been allowed back in. My parents expected high standards of behaviour from me.

[Asset]

there's a little dig at the end of that paragraph isn't there Cassius?

Nero, sadly you negate the validity of your post by putting "Kids in cafes in parks - goodish."

'Pubs' are a very British phenomenon and perhaps it would be no bad thing if they do cease to exist as we know them and we can have a more relaxed and tolerant society. Wishful thinking I know.

I don't find it difficult to find somwhere that is free of children on the very few opportunities I get to go out in the evening.