Having looked at some of the recommendations on this Forum for a good Sunday lunch, we took a friend there last Sunday. The service was excellent and my friend's food plentiful and well-cooked. We ate the fish and it was pretty dried up when we got to it, due to its having sat at the carvery for 15 minutes before we could get to it.

Never mind, the vegetables were well cooked and we were enjoying our meals. Until the families arrived. We'd sat down at 12.15. By 12.45 we were surrounded by families with small children. At the table behind us a little boy spent the entire meal running round and round the room, kicking my chair and diving under the tables. His father did very little to stop him.

Opposite us a baby in a high chair screamed and screamed, so that we could hardly hear our own conversation.

We refused a pudding and said we'd move to the bar for coffee, just to get away. It was worse there. Children ran from the bar to the tables, throwing themselves on the floor and squealing. We moved again to a window embrasure and a party of 4 adults and 4 children arrived. The children shouted at the tops of their voices and, at that point, we admitted defeat and left.

This may be a wonderful venue for noisy families, but a complete nightmare for anyone wanting a Sunday lunch in pleasant surroundings.

its a shame u didnt enjoy your lunch with freinds, but it seems your assuming that all familys have noisey children, i myself have small children but mine do not and more importantly are not allowed to behave in such a manner when we go out to eat. and tbh there isnt really anything wrong with the pub really cos if you look on their website it is aimed at families aswell not just adults - see the bold bit,

Great British Cooking…

Tender cuts of freshly roasted meat, a healthy choice of fresh seasonal vegetables and a good old-fashioned British welcome every time…

In a Toby Carvery restaurant, we go out of our way to make sure every day feels like the best ever Sunday - so you and your family enjoy great carvery and pub food, have a drink and relish some relaxed, quality time.
http://www.toby-carvery.co.uk/

and they have a childrens menu and as you have stated and they also have high chairs.

maybe instead of blaming the pub and making generalizations about families on the whole, you should maybe change the venue next time and be honet and say its your own choice not to be around hyper active children instead of laying the blame on the pub or the families, and im afraid that unfortunately if its the kids you wanna get away from you may struggle as it seems a lot more places are aiming at the family market or maybe go out in the evening as i know i dont really take my children out to eat in the evening as i see that as adult time in resteraunts but i will take them if they have a play centre type things which is specifically aimed at children. or better still phone the actual place you want to go to and ask about their policy for allowing children in.

Devonshire Arms, Ecclesall Road, by shell. Rarely has children and we offer the main at 550 and 3 courses at 950 and it is cooked to order, not left under lights. Generally do 20 to 38 a week and are often sold out by 245 ish.

I don't think you actually read the OP's post properly at all Katy.its a shame u didnt enjoy your lunch with freinds, but it seems your assuming that all familys have noisey children, i myself have small children but mine do not and more importantly are not allowed to behave in such a manner when we go out to eat. and tbh there isnt really anything wrong with the pub really cos if you look on their website it is aimed at families aswell not just adults - see the bold bit,

Great British Cooking…

Tender cuts of freshly roasted meat, a healthy choice of fresh seasonal vegetables and a good old-fashioned British welcome every time…

In a Toby Carvery restaurant, we go out of our way to make sure every day feels like the best ever Sunday - so you and your family enjoy great carvery and pub food, have a drink and relish some relaxed, quality time.
http://www.toby-carvery.co.uk/

and they have a childrens menu and as you have stated and they also have high chairs.

maybe instead of blaming the pub and making generalizations about families on the whole, you should maybe change the venue next time and be honet and say its your own choice not to be around hyper active children instead of laying the blame on the pub or the families, and im afraid that unfortunately if its the kids you wanna get away from you may struggle as it seems a lot more places are aiming at the family market or maybe go out in the evening as i know i dont really take my children out to eat in the evening as i see that as adult time in resteraunts but i will take them if they have a play centre type things which is specifically aimed at children. or better still phone the actual place you want to go to and ask about their policy for allowing children in.The OP NEVER said that all families have noisy children - why are you twisting their words?!
If you have well behaved children, then the OP wasn't talking about your family, they were talking about the badly behaved ones which they had the misfortune to experience!

I feel sorry for the OP... I have been out to lunch a few times and some inconsiderate family has ruined the atmosphere by letting their kids run riot!

I have absolutely nothing against eating lunch in a place with nice, polite families, but it seems that nowadays more and more families think its fine to do whatever the hell they like and sod everyone else. When I was a kid I remember my parents being very strict with me and I would sit with my colouring-in book and not fidget if I was invited out in adult company.

And before anyone has a go saying "well my kids are well behaved..." then save your breath because I am therefore NOT talking about you then am I?!

PS. Rosyrat - try the Cricket Inn in Totley - absolutely gorgeous pub with amazing food and generous portions... kids and dogs welcome, but I've only ever come across nice ones there! ;)

I don't think you actually read the OP's post properly at all Katy.The OP NEVER said that all families have noisy children - why are you twisting their words?!
If you have well behaved children, then the OP wasn't talking about your family, they were talking about the badly behaved ones which they had the misfortune to experience!

I feel sorry for the OP... I have been out to lunch a few times and some inconsiderate family has ruined the atmosphere by letting their kids run riot!

I have absolutely nothing against eating lunch in a place with nice, polite families, but it seems that nowadays more and more families think its fine to do whatever the hell they like and sod everyone else. When I was a kid I remember my parents being very strict with me and I would sit with my colouring-in book and not fidget if I was invited out in adult company.

And before anyone has a go saying "well my kids are well behaved..." then save your breath because I am therefore NOT talking about you then am I?!

changed my mind!

wow! that came across as incredibley defensive!Yeah sorry, I had a right old rant didn't I?! :blush:
You hit a nerve cos I've been in the OP's position before and I thought the particular families in question were totally out of order.
I understand that young kids are difficult to keep quiet... but the OP described kids running around & under their table, and the parents not batting an eyelid! I think thats totally wrong.

Haha must me something to do with Katie's born in 1981... we both get indignant and defensive one minute then do a complete 180 & see things from the other person's point of view a minute later! :hihi:

Thanks James and KatieB for the suggestions. It's so difficult to get the choices right when you don't know the venues. We went to the Toby Carvery because it had been recommended on here. I love to go out for meals and this was a special occasion for our friend, so wanted to get it right.

The noise in the restaurant was unbelievable, with babies crying and little ones shouting and screaming. I knew that family-friendly meant children welcome, but I honestly didn't envisage the bedlam we found. The end result is that only families with children will use the Toby Carvery and that's fine. Now I know just what "family friendly" means and will avoid any restaurants with that message on their website.

The Devonshire sounds interesting - thanks for the mention. We'll call in over the Christmas/New Year holidays and try it out.

I love to go out for meals and this was a special occasion for our friend, so wanted to get it right.

Personally wouldn't think of "carvery" and special occassion in the same sentence.

If a meal is for a special occassion on a Sunday I think you have to go to non pub chain, pubs such as Cricket Inn, or Coach and Horses at Dronfield other than that I think anywhere that does the 2 for 1 type meals will always attract families and are to be avoided at all cost (and yes I have children, who if they had EVER behaved as the ones described above did, would have been told off and privelidges stopped).

The only pub chain type that have a no kids rule I think is Ember Inns and I've only been to the Robin Hood at millhouses and I must say it was very nice.

I love small children in carveries.....{all together now}....but I can never manage a whole one.

ho ho ho merry christmas

They, and their useless parents should be kicked out.

If an adult was to behave in such a manner they'd be shown the door. My kids never, ever run around in pubs; I simply wouldn't let them.

There was a family in a pub up Lodge Moor last night whose behaviour was impeccable. You would hardly have known there were four or five kids - aged about ten, I'd guess - and they were a credit to their parents.

I was about to tell the parents but they left before I had chance.

There are well behaved kids out there and frankly, if kids were running riot whilst I was eating out I'd let the management know about it.

Toby carvery is terrible full stop.

Kids in pubs equals avoid, end of.

which toby are we tlking about

Ive always been against kids being allowed in pubs full stop .

it seems its the latest fashion to sell food in pubs ,therefor turning pubs into restaurants . pubs are licensed premises ,and should only be for adults .

this was always the way it was in the old days. you have to look far and wide now to find a pub that dos`nt sell food and isnt over run with kids to have a quiet pint in . this is wrong .

if parents want to take their kids out for a meal ,they should go to a proper restaurant ,not a pub .

What amazes me ,is that you cant buy alcohol under the age of 18 ,so therefor anyone under the age of 18 should not be allowed in a licenced premises.

Ive always been against kids being allowed in pubs full stop .

Why? I used to go with my Mum to the pub as a kid on occasion (I considered it a treat). At the time, we played on the swings etc, while our parents chilled. Seemed ok to me.

it seems its the latest fashion to sell food in pubs ,therefor turning pubs into restaurants . pubs are licensed premises ,and should only be for adults .

Can't there be a mix of the three? Pubs for adults, and pubs for both food and drink, and family pubs?

You seem a lot more diverse in your posts about smoking pubs. (which I agree with)

this was always the way it was in the old days. you have to look far and wide now to find a pub that dos`nt sell food and isnt over run with kids to have a quiet pint in . this is wrong .

Women didn't used to be readily accepted in pubs either.

if parents want to take their kids out for a meal ,they should go to a proper restaurant ,not a pub .

Restaurants can be expensive. But more importantly, not particularly social establishments, like pubs that sell food can be.

If you went to a restaurant with your missus for a quiet romantic meal, and kids were running about, how would you feel?.


What amazes me ,is that you cant buy alcohol under the age of 18 ,so therefor anyone under the age of 18 should not be allowed in a licenced premises.

There are kids in Tesco/ my local offy etc. I don't find it annoying that I want to buy 4 cans of Carling in their presence.

Where is the Toby Carvery...My toddler screams & screams etc.....Sounds like somewhere i won't be too embarrased to take him!

Where is the Toby Carvery...My toddler screams & screams etc.....Sounds like somewhere i won't be too embarrased to take him!

risky, just wait for the highhorses to read this post and make ridiculous assumptions that you are a bad parent because your toddler screams :huh:

Where is the Toby Carvery...My toddler screams & screams etc.....Sounds like somewhere i won't be too embarrased to take him!

:hihi::hihi:

Personally wouldn't think of "carvery" and special occassion in the same sentence.


Exactly! Going to a Toby Carvery for a 'special occassion' is one up from going to McDonalds!

Its not meant to be a place to go for a posh meal out - its cheap food and ideal for people who fancy a roast dinner for a fiver without the washing up.

If the same thing happened on an evening in a 'proper' restaurant then the OP would have every right to moan, but going to a chain FAMILY pub which churns out food at the cheapest possible price and them complaining is pathetic.

"This may be a wonderful venue for noisy families, but a complete nightmare for anyone wanting a Sunday lunch in pleasant surroundings." - I think the phrase is 'No **** Sherlock!'

...but going to a chain FAMILY pub which churns out food at the cheapest possible price and them complaining is pathetic.
Not really. That the venue is a 'family pub' doesn't mean that folk should expect unruly behaviour from others' children and parents failing to control that behaviour. Many children behave extremely well in public places, and many parents deal appropriately with their children at the times when they don't behave as they would usually.

Of course you shouldn't expect a sedate atmosphere in a family pub, but this:
...At the table behind us a little boy spent the entire meal running round and round the room, kicking my chair and diving under the tables. His father did very little to stop him...
and this:
...Children ran from the bar to the tables, throwing themselves on the floor and squealing. ...
is unacceptable, and spoils a meal out for both the childless and those families whose children are well-behaved.

risky, just wait for the highhorses to read this post and make ridiculous assumptions that you are a bad parent because your toddler screams :huh:

I don't mind if they think i'm a bad parent...after all, as long as he is busy kicking their chair and hiding under their table he won't be doing it to mine :hihi:

Toddlers scream, no matter how good/bad a parent you are :(

Of course you shouldn't expect a sedate atmosphere in a family pub, but this:

and this:

is unacceptable, and spoils a meal out for both the childless and those families whose children are well-behaved.

Of course the behaviours is bad but if you choose to go to a Toby Carvery for a special ocassion then this is what you are going to get...

It might not be ideal but that's how it is! No point going there expecting otherwise.

Same as if you go to the cinema on Orange Wednesdays - you know its going to be full of idiots who will talk and throw stuff. No point pretending it won't happen and going along for a romantic date.

Of course the behaviours is bad but if you choose to go to a Toby Carvery for a special ocassion then this is what you are going to get.

It might not be ideal but that's how it is! No point going there expecting otherwise. ...
Oh well, that's alright then... Let's excuse atrocious behaviour by the minority which spoils the experience for the majority because apparently it's expected at certain venues and that's just the way it is.

You say the Toby Carvery is 'ideal for people who fancy a roast dinner for a fiver without the washing up'. Presumably that category of people include those whose children don't behave like Satan's spawn, or who are willing to deal with such behaviour from their children when it does occur.

Fancying an inexpensive Sunday dinner, or being on a restricted budget and wanting a meal out, shouldn't mean that you have to put up with crappy behaviour, or put up with being told that you're 'pathetic' for complaining about such behaviour.

Ive always been against kids being allowed in pubs full stop .


There's another argument to say that it's discrimination to prevent families from going to pubs. After all, most people have children at some stage and why should they be prevented from having a nice time in a family pubs? You used to see signs up saying "no gypsies or blacks" and now it's "no children".

Having said that, a happy medium could be found and I appreciate that not everyone wants to be around kids (I certainly didn't before having my own) and so a choice of child friendly and child free pubs is needed.

There is a problem with parents not supervising their children adequately, but what is reasonable to expect from a parent/child? With the best will in the world, it is difficult to get a two year old to sit still for a three course meal and I try to get mine to sit still for most of the meal but sometimes it's easier to let him have a little wander. I wouldn't let him crawl under tables or on furniture, but when he's bored with sitting, the alternative to letting him have a little walkabout within our line of vision would be that he would make a big fuss at our table and probably cause more of a disturbance. Children can't be expected to behave just like adults, but the adults can ensure that they don't cause an unreasonable disturbance to others.

It must be hard for pub and restaurant owners to police badly behaved families (I use that term, rather than blaming the kids - it's that adults who are responsible). Are they afraid of making a scene and spoiling it for their other customers, worried that they'll appear heavy handed or are they concerned about the loss of revenue?

Oh well, that's alright then... Let's excuse atrocious behaviour by the minority which spoils the experience for the majority because apparently it's expected at certain venues and that's just the way it is.

You say the Toby Carvery is 'ideal for people who fancy a roast dinner for a fiver without the washing up'. Presumably that category of people include those whose children don't behave like Satan's spawn, or who are willing to deal with such behaviour from their children when it does occur.

Fancying an inexpensive Sunday dinner, or being on a restricted budget and wanting a meal out, shouldn't mean that you have to put up with crappy behaviour, or put up with being told that you're 'pathetic' for complaining about such behaviour.


I'm not saying its right - but I can't believe anyone would go there expecting anything else? Like I said - if you want cheap and cheerful (and probably noisy) then go to Toby Carvery - if you want a relaxing meal, go to a proper restaurant.

I apologise for the 'pathetic' remark. Point I am making is that itsn't a valid complaint because surely you go there EXPECTING that kind of behaviour - I know I do. If it happened somewhere it wasn't expected then fair enough.

To me its like going to Walkabout at 10 oclock on a Saturday night and expecting to have a nice quiet pint. Not going to happen.

I'm not saying its right - but I can't believe anyone would go there expecting anything else? Like I said - if you want cheap and cheerful (and probably noisy) then go to Toby Carvery...
A 'cheap and cheerful' family pub might very well be noisy; as I said, no one goes to a family pub expecting a sedate atmosphere. But cheap doesn't have to mean unruly, and certainly not all those who go to a cheap and cheerful pub have badly behaved children, or are parents who fail to deal with their children when they are badly behaved.

To say 'of course the behaviour [in these cheap and cheerful places] is bad', and that if your budget only allows for cheap and cheerful you should not only expect it but tolerate it is rather disparaging of sensible parents and their generally well-behaved children who choose to eat in inexpensive places.

It's entirely reasonable to expect parents to deal with their children if those children spend the entire meal kicking other diners' chairs, or running about screaming. Although most people don't expect children to be silent and still whether they're in a Toby Carvery or at more expensive place, it's not unreasonable to expect persistent bad behaviour to be corrected, and if it isn't corrected, to be able to make a complaint about it.
...if you want a relaxing meal, go to a proper restaurant. ...
And for those sensible parents with ordinarily well behaved children who fancy a relaxing meal but whose budget can't stretch to a 'proper restaurant'? They have to put up and shut up, presumably?

We went for a pub meal recently - it displayed signs stating that unruly children would be thrown out.

Yeah when I went it was mobbed, not relaxing, definatley one to avoid

It sounds like the usual Toby experience....thats why we stopped going.

I don't mind if they think i'm a bad parent...after all, as long as he is busy kicking their chair and hiding under their table he won't be doing it to mine :hihi:

Toddlers scream, no matter how good/bad a parent you are :(

Yes but the parents who are considerate, and have a few manners usually take their child out of the room until they calm down, otherwise how do kids ever learn how to be polite and have manners, it is unacceptable to behave in a public place like that. If a chav was leaping onto his table in the same room and cacking on the table, people would be horrified (and quite rightly) children learn from their parents, and if parents let their kids behave like that, then so be it, they should be removed from the place and charged for a full meal.

If you want to see kids (and parents) in need of a good slap, try the bar area in Virgin Active...

I agree with Rosyrat - there are too many parents who have kids and cant take the responsibility of disciplining them - just because its far easier to let them do what the hell they please. Anything for a quiet life!
Parents - sort your kids out in public so the rest of us dont suffer

I agree with Rosyrat - there are too many parents who have kids and cant take the responsibility of disciplining them - just because its far easier to let them do what the hell they please. Anything for a quiet life!
Parents - sort your kids out in public so the rest of us dont suffer

I totally agree. We went for a quiet afternoon drink at a local pub a week or so ago and sat out in the beer garden. There were about 6 children in the garden, which is only a small one, running about, playing football jumping on tables and such.

Their behaviour wasn't too bad in itself, although we did have to dodge a ball on a couple of occasions. What irked me was that their dads, and it was all dads no mums, stayed inside the pub downing pints of cider.

It was as if the dads had been given care of the children for the afternoon and thought it would be a good idea to let their kids loose in a beer garden unsupervised whilst they got pished.

toby carvery@parkhead should be renamed toby creche

PS. Rosyrat - try the Cricket Inn in Totley - absolutely gorgeous pub with amazing food and generous portions... kids and dogs welcome, but I've only ever come across nice ones there! ;)

I think the Cricket Inn is very expensive for what it is, I bet the Toby is half the price!