Clock House pub closed down? (Update: 19/08/24: reopening next month)

[Dulwich dweller]

2 hours ago, phas0ruk said:

Was told my 8 year old wasn’t welcome at 7:20pm. Why did they move to ED if they hate families?

I'd imagine it to be pretty common for pubs have a no kids policy in the evening. It might be a pain for you but at the same time not good for business or favourable with punters. I think a ' hate families hour ' sign should be clearly visible too as it saves you the ignominy of it all.

[Sue]

Despite our best intentions, we used to go here every Christmas Day (when we were in London)  after The Ivy House closed (well, we had to pass it on the way home, and our willpower failed us)  so this year we thought we would book Christmas lunch there.

Sadly they are not opening at all on either Christmas Day or Boxing Day, let alone doing food 😥

 

[malumbu]

To put the boot on the other foot it amused me in the 90s into the 00s when the Dulwich Woodhouse very much welcomed families in the day, particularly at weekends, when the garden was open, but not when the garden was shut.  Happy to take the money when the sun shined.  I remember one cold but sunny day being told that kids were unwelcome, but then made them open the door to the garden.  Still a much better pub in those days, as was the Clock and all of the Young's estate, irrespective of the old couple who managed it for years.

I met them in the Morpeth near the Tate when they had moved to there's about 15 years ago, and they complained about running the Woodhouse 

There is a sensible balance in letting families in it can go wrong in both ways.

[Cyclemonkey]

I think it is common for pubs not to be allowed to have children there after a certain time.  I susoect it is a licence condition rather than specific children hate.  We went to the Clockhouse on last month on a Sunday afternoon and there were plenty of children there. 

[Sue]

2 hours ago, Cyclemonkey said:

I think it is common for pubs not to be allowed to have children there after a certain time.  I susoect it is a licence condition rather than specific children hate.  We went to the Clockhouse on last month on a Sunday afternoon and there were plenty of children there. 

I think it's probably both.

Most people would not want to go to a pub in late evening and find it full of children. The pub would soon lose customers!

[Cyclemonkey]

Well there is that too.  I support family friendly venues but in the evening/night pubs are adult spaces. 

[OutOfFocus]

17 hours ago, Spartacus said:

They let well behaved dogs in 

∅

[Azalea]

19 hours ago, phas0ruk said:

Went to try this place out in good faith as I’m a local. Was told my 8 year old wasn’t welcome at 7:20pm. Why did they move to ED if they hate families? Go back to Peckham. 
 

Will be boycotting along with my friends with families. 

Did you ask at what times children are allowed in there?  

[Happyme5]

It is upsetting when you can't go out as much with young children. If you went out earlier they might have given you until a set time of 8 pm for children to leave.  Maybe you could ask them what their policy is on families and children.  I am sure you are a responsible parent but many people just let their children run around etc.  And pubs may not be the best place for little ones.   There are loads of places that encourage families. But not all.   I remember being asked to leave myself when mine were younger.   As for the dog comment ahhh leave the little paws alone.   

[mima08]

We were in there one Saturday with our 13yo - they told us kids up to 7.30 but can stay a bit longer while eating. Fair enough I'd say

[NewWave]

We went there late afternoon the other sunday and tbh we left after one drink because It was noisy like a childrens party..like really really loud and a few little ones running about and getting in the way of waiting staff.

We decided to go back in the evening next time because the staff told us it was much quieter then.

We are not child haters but frankly when we go to a pub I dont expect lots of screaming children.

Or if there are little ones I would expect them to be told to calm down a bit by their parents and not left to run around and make tons of noise

[Spartacus]

But NewWave, don't you know that pubs, cafes and resturants are the new kindergartens where staff are only there to deal with the fallout of parents letting go of the reins! 

Get with the program please 😅

 

[Brian up the hill]

Recently flew with British Airways and the cabin crew had to put a brave face on having to serve meals and drinks whilst a baby crawled up the aisle whilst the parents looked on with unalloyed pride. Later the father paraded up and down with the baby in a sling, again getting in the way of the cabin crew. Hey ho. 

[Guest Dulwichway]

On 20/10/2024 at 18:28, Brian up the hill said:

Recently flew with British Airways and the cabin crew had to put a brave face on having to serve meals and drinks whilst a baby crawled up the aisle whilst the parents looked on with unalloyed pride. Later the father paraded up and down with the baby in a sling, again getting in the way of the cabin crew. Hey ho. 

Bloody nightmare mate!

[malumbu]

Don't really understand why you, or other passengers, did not press the crew button and ask them to ask the parent/s to look after the child.  It was dangerous.  Including to the child. Confused.

[Azalea]

On 19/10/2024 at 21:29, NewWave said:

We went there late afternoon the other sunday and tbh we left after one drink because It was noisy like a childrens party..like really really loud and a few little ones running about and getting in the way of waiting staff.

We decided to go back in the evening next time because the staff told us it was much quieter then.

We are not child haters but frankly when we go to a pub I dont expect lots of screaming children.

Or if there are little ones I would expect them to be told to calm down a bit by their parents and not left to run around and make tons of noise

I don’t understand why parents think it’s OK to let their children run around in pubs and restaurants, treat them like a crèche and get in the way of the staff trying to do their jobs.   It’s so selfish of them to allow this and it’s dangerous and unpleasant for the staff and other customers while they are carrying hot food and drink.  I once encountered a rampaging child in a busy ED dog friendly cafe who, on his travels around the cafe, decided to poke, prod and hurt my dog who was minding her own business under the table. I kept telling him to stop, explained that’s not how to treat an animal but he took no notice. I had to stand up in order to shout over to his father who had his back to the room/everyone while staring out of a window. Thankfully he removed himself and the child pdq but no apology was offered.  
 

i also remember that Rose, who had Grace and Favour in Northcross Rd, telling me one of the reasons she stopped serving food there was because of the number of customers using it as a crèche.

[Pugwash]

When our girls were young we took them to restaurants to inform them that there were certain establishments where children were permitted but they had to be on their best behaviour. It worked,  Now with their own children (when they were under 11 years) similar expectations re behaviour but colouring books. pencils, comic to ward off boredom. Have been to pubs with our 8 and 10 year old grandchildren but for meals during the afternoons. Would not dream of taking them in the evening.

[malumbu]

The Horniman museum feels like a creche at times, parents chatting or looking at their phones allowing the kids to run around.

I went to the Eden Project a few years ago and there were signs not to bother the species of birds that inhabit the ground in tropical areas, they are probably flightless.

I saw a three or four your old chasing them, and foolishly told him to stop rather than tell the parents.  I got a how dare you tell our child what to do.  How dare you let your child run amok when there are signs telling you not to do this.  etc etc

Oh dear I have turned into my father.

[Happyme5]

So true.  I purposely avoid places full of little ones that run about.  Whilst parents seem hear and see what suits them.   I do care about children and I want them to be safe and have a great experience but not every establishment is the correct environment for children.   

[JohnL]

On 18/10/2024 at 23:15, Sue said:

Despite our best intentions, we used to go here every Christmas Day (when we were in London)  after The Ivy House closed (well, we had to pass it on the way home, and our willpower failed us)  so this year we thought we would book Christmas lunch there.

Sadly they are not opening at all on either Christmas Day or Boxing Day, let alone doing food 😥

 

Christmas Eve is the same if you're unlucky enough to be around and not left London for the season - almost every pub closed by 8PM

Last Christmas The Bishop was open though ... and jam packed.