One enjoys a lot traveling with children, and apart from sightseeing we also discover and reflect on what we find in our destination. We have recently been to London, and of course, we have entered the traditional pubs where children are welcome… until 6 pm.
English pubs are establishments where you can eat, they have varied menus of the typical local food and even children's menus for lunchtime, which is there from approximately 12 to 14 hours. But for dinner, families have it more complicated.
Luckily, not all pubs have that early child-free time, some extend it until 20 hours (dinner time in the UK is also earlier than we are used to in Spain). So one afternoon we entered a pub at 7 pm we could have dinner.
But the next day, already about 20 hours, and after having ruled out a pub that clearly indicated on the door the deadline at which children are welcome, in a couple of them they told us that we could no longer have dinner by going with my daughters.
Nor is it that these premises were transformed at that time. We find the same thing: people having dinner at tables or having a drink at the bar. But without children. I would understand the question if from the "deadline" there were concerts, the music was uploaded or the customers dedicated themselves only to drinking (as in the pubs to which we are accustomed here), but it was not the case.
Luckily it is also possible to find other places where you can dine with your family. Italian, Greek, Indian, Spanish, Chinese restaurants ... or of any other origin that abound in London and that do not establish limitations (at least most).
So well, it wasn't bad to change places, we discovered a great Greek restaurant and the girls tried specialties that were unknown to them.
But the point is that, without knowing very well why, children and therefore families with small children are not welcome from a certain time in English pubs where you can dine. It is a different tradition, widely accepted for what it seems, but it never ceases to amaze me.
I have to say that in Dublin, also with a tradition of pubs, we had no problem getting in for lunch or dinner at any place. I hope it stays that way for a long time!
Why It does not stop making me feel discriminated against this limitation of schedules in which children are not welcome and having to go looking door to door where they let us in.
