I'm confused--and new here from the U.S. Can you take kids into pubs or is this totally off limits? Even during the mid-day if it is a pub that serves food? Is there such a thing as a kid-friendly pub? My kids are 1 and 4.

Thanks for the help.

Genevieve

Hi Genevieve and welcome. I think you will find that almost all pubs who serve food welcome kids. Just walk in and ask or find one you like the look of and give them a ring. I hope this helps.
owdlad.

Most pubs are kid-friendly. If they weren't how would all the young chav girls find new partners?

The most horrifying pub experience I have had was walking into one near Gleadless at around 10.30pm and seeing made-up 17 yr old girls trying to pick up scrawny "tough" guys while their toddlers ran around the floor to the sound of bad music and a cheap disco light.

why does every post on this board have to have "chav" in it but yet a few months ago it was hardly heard. Not everyone under 18 is classed as a chav, what about the people who go to private school and have 8 A+ at gcse?

they wouldn't have a kid and be in a bar.

Not all pubs are child friendly, most chain pubs are though (i think), children are normally restricted to the eating area though and may have to leave by a fixed time.

I don't think kids should be in the pub at all after 7.00pm.
If you want to go out for a drink - get a babysitter. Smokey rooms full of drunks swearing are no where for kids to be!
(Although in some cases I do accept that this is probably a better environment than at home)

Lunchtimes are ok or early evening if you are going for a meal. With kids aged 1 and 4 I'd head for the Brewsters type place with the play area. I've been there with kids before and its clean, good food and they are all geared up with high chairs etc.

you do realise that out of the city centre not all pubs are like that right? You get the family pub that serves food until late and has a large beer garden with kids play area kind-of pub...

When I studied for my National Licensee's certificate I learned that there are many varying rules about having children in pubs. You need a children's certificate, for one. This allows their presence. I think many pubs turn a blind eye and as it's at the landlord's discretion as long as the children are quiet and in a corner and not throwing balloons around. Technically though, if the licensing authorities were doing a clampdown, the licensee could be fined for allowing children in without this certificate.

Then there's the rule of the resteraunt. A child from the age of 5 is allowed to drink wine with their meal if an adult is with them.

A child at the age of 14 (*might need to check their age here, it's a while since I sat the course*) can go into a restaurant alone, order a meal and a glass of wine. It's legal.

Loads of the chain pubs are kid friendly around the city centre and ecclesall road. Unfortunately, the food in these places is very average and poor value for money.

Try somewhere like Uncle Sams or the steakhouse nearby (sorry, can't remember the name) on ecclesall road. Slightly more expensive for food and drink, but you get loads and tastes much better, and they serve pints and most other stuff at the bar.

Slightly off subject, but whilst the experts are here, can anyone tell me what the rules are on selling shandy to an adult for consumption by a child?

Whenever I go for a walk with any of my kids I like to round it off with a pint in a beer garden. Every pub I've been to has either mixed a 'bitter' shandy or served me with a bottle of Shandy Bass for the kid.

All except one near Froggat Edge. The barmaid there refused on account of "It's illegal to serve ANYTHING with alcohol in it to anyone under 18."

When I told her that this was the only pub ever to refuse, she replied, "All the other pubs are breaking the law!"

I told her she'd lost a customer and walked to a pub in Curber and got a PINT of shandy for him there. I asked the Landlord at this pub what the legallities were and he said that it was ok as long as it was a weak mix.

I always tell the bar staff it's for a child and state their age on ordering.

So, who's right and who's wrong? :(

I'm afraid that it's still alchohol and it's still illegal and a licensee could still lose his license.

Alcohol free is 0.01% alcohol. Low alcohol is 0.1%.

Kaliber and similar low alcohol drinks are usually just under the 1% mark, but it's still alcohol.

Under 18s can only have soft drinks. You can buy some bottled shandys but again, if they have any alcohol then they are unsuitable for the under 18s.

There's no law about how much beer can go in a shandy though. Traditionally it can be half and half, but if the customer wants more lemonade then that's OK. It needn't be measured.

parents are allowed to give their children a drink if they wish. Not sure how that works when your in a licensed house though.

I went in the Rising Sun on Abbey Lane, it was lunchtime and the wife and I wanted something to eat. We generally use Ember Inns as they have a policy of 'no children under 14'. As the Rising Sun is an Ember Inn, we thought we'd give it a try ... kids running around the bar area, when I asked about the no kids policy, the woman behind the bar just shrugged and walked off. They shouldn't advertise this fact if they are not going to enforce the policy.

Well there you go - they're 'inns', which traditionally means they are the equivalent of 'bars' - so I'd lay money on her licence not allowing kids under 14 on the premises

Take it up with the brewery or licencing authority if you feel strongly enough about it :)