Children 'ruining' visits to pubs

The Good Pub Guide says there is no easy way to ban unruly children from pubs

An increasing number of "baby lager louts" are spoiling the experience of pub-goers, according to a pub guide.

The Good Pub Guide 2009 said it had received record complaints from readers about visits to their local being spoilt by badly behaved children.

Joint editor Alisdair Aird said this was a "peculiarly British problem" not commonly seen in continental restaurants and cafes.

The guide provides information on more than 55,000 pubs across the country.

Mr Aird said: "This year more readers than ever before have complained to us about pub visits being spoilt for them by badly-behaved children running around unchecked.

"In continental restaurants and cafes it's normal to see families with children, not normal to see kids spoil things for grown-ups."

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Mr Aird said there was no easy solution to the issue.

"It's easy to say that we could start treating parents who let their children run riot with the disdain normally reserved for lager louts.

"But would that have any impact on people who think they are entitled to a thoroughly relaxed family day out?

"And you can imagine the retort when a publican asks a badly behaved family to quieten their children - 'We've just spent over 50 quid here, do you want us to leave without paying?"'

The guide chose The Golden Heart, near Brimpsfield in Gloucestershire, as the winner of the Pub Of The Year 2009 award, for its "affordable food, good beers, welcoming atmosphere and bags of character".