Kids in Pubs Legal Position
Discussion
Bit of an odd one. In the pub yesterday lunchtime, 2 women come in with 3 boys between them, all aged 10/11 ish. The women go up to the bar to order, kids seated at a table. Mums return to the table with 3 cokes, nothing for themselves . Soon after, 3 meals arrive. All good so far. Then the mums leave, and the 3 boys are left in the pub with their drinks and lunch.
Now the mums were gone for about 90 mins. The kids were no problem, well behaved, ate their food, had their drinks, and sat talking, and playing on their phones. Mums came back and they all left.
It was just a bit odd, 3 boys having a pub lunch alone, with no adults. Is that even legal?
Now the mums were gone for about 90 mins. The kids were no problem, well behaved, ate their food, had their drinks, and sat talking, and playing on their phones. Mums came back and they all left.
It was just a bit odd, 3 boys having a pub lunch alone, with no adults. Is that even legal?
KAgantua said:
Mind your own business?
Yes, Twiggy, butt out. It's always better to remain in ignorance, and surely no harm of any kind could possibly ever come to unaccompanied minors in a pub.Kids on their own never attract unwanted attention, and they are particularly safe surrounded by Pissed/coked up strangers.The Licencing Act 2003 liberalised the law on children in licenced premesis considerably. Children now need be accompanied by an adult only if the premesis is "exclusively or primarily used for the supply of alcohol". So unaccompanied children are a no no in old fashioned boozers, but fine in restaurants, cafes etc that happen to serve alcohol as well as food. Gastropubs and "food-led" pubs seem like a potential grey area - was it the sort of place where you primarily go for a meal, or for a drink?
https://www.lawble.co.uk/children-in-pubs/
https://www.lawble.co.uk/children-in-pubs/
Don't suppose it's possible the kids were known to the publican? My friends own a pub, no children allowed apart from their own plus nieces/nephews. It's not uncommon for them to be looking after their niece while his sister goes out, which would look a lot like what OP described.
ETA in their case the pub counts as their residence, hence why it's legal.
ETA in their case the pub counts as their residence, hence why it's legal.
Aretnap said:
The Licencing Act 2003 liberalised the law on children in licenced premesis considerably. Children now need be accompanied by an adult only if the premesis is "exclusively or primarily used for the supply of alcohol". So unaccompanied children are a no no in old fashioned boozers, but fine in restaurants, cafes etc that happen to serve alcohol as well as food. Gastropubs and "food-led" pubs seem like a potential grey area - was it the sort of place where you primarily go for a meal, or for a drink?
https://www.lawble.co.uk/children-in-pubs/
Great answer, thanks. Yes, this was a Weatherspoons. I'd say that was a pub that sold food, not an eatery that sold alcohol. https://www.lawble.co.uk/children-in-pubs/
KAgantua said:
Mind your own business?
Wanting to satisfy my own curiosity about the law IS MY BUSINESS.I had no problem with the boys eating in the pub, they were well behaved, kept themselves to themselves, and we no bother to anyone. Hence I never complained or passed comment at the time.
Skellum said:
Yes, Twiggy, butt out. It's always better to remain in ignorance, and surely no harm of any kind could possibly ever come to unaccompanied minors in a pub.Kids on their own never attract unwanted attention, and they are particularly safe surrounded by Pissed/coked up strangers.
Yes, personally, I wouldn't have left my boys at that age alone in a pub, legal or not. As with any pub, the regular lonely old men are there, reading the Racing Post and sipping their beer. But i guess there were 3 of them, safety in numbers. Anyway, thanks all.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
donkmeister said:
Don't suppose it's possible the kids were known to the publican?
Entirely possible. No idea really. Skellum said:
Yes, Twiggy, butt out. It's always better to remain in ignorance, and surely no harm of any kind could possibly ever come to unaccompanied minors in a pub.Kids on their own never attract unwanted attention, and they are particularly safe surrounded by Pissed/coked up strangers.
… and safer than with people they know.KAgantua said:
Mind your own business?
What an idiotic thing to say.Aretnap said:
The Licencing Act 2003 liberalised the law on children in licenced premesis considerably. Children now need be accompanied by an adult only if the premesis is "exclusively or primarily used for the supply of alcohol". So unaccompanied children are a no no in old fashioned boozers, but fine in restaurants, cafes etc that happen to serve alcohol as well as food. Gastropubs and "food-led" pubs seem like a potential grey area - was it the sort of place where you primarily go for a meal, or for a drink?
https://www.lawble.co.uk/children-in-pubs/
This is consistent with my understanding - quite fine to have kids in any pub but accompanied by their folks. As a point on parenting; why would you leave your pre-teen kids alone like that? Bad things do happen and you wouldn't want that for your own kids.https://www.lawble.co.uk/children-in-pubs/
TwigtheWonderkid said:
KAgantua said:
Mind your own business?
Wanting to satisfy my own curiosity about the law IS MY BUSINESS.Roger Irrelevant said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
KAgantua said:
Mind your own business?
Wanting to satisfy my own curiosity about the law IS MY BUSINESS.
If the pub was run and owned by the Landlord then the "it's my home" card could be played. My kids used to hang around all the time and eat their tea/dinner in the bar whilst we ran it.
My Guess would be that Witherspoons would take a very dim view of a 'Manager' using it as his/her home for kids and letting kids sit unattended. The licensing team would probably not be impressed either with it being used as a creche.
It doesn't set a very good impression when I would imagine 'spoons need's to be squeaky clean on the Law when it comes to kids purely from the kids welfare point of view let alone the publicity aspect.
My Guess would be that Witherspoons would take a very dim view of a 'Manager' using it as his/her home for kids and letting kids sit unattended. The licensing team would probably not be impressed either with it being used as a creche.
It doesn't set a very good impression when I would imagine 'spoons need's to be squeaky clean on the Law when it comes to kids purely from the kids welfare point of view let alone the publicity aspect.
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