Under-Age Eating?

[Tarser]

Can a 14 year old boy and a 16 year old girl go into a 'Weatherspoons' pub/restaurant on their own to have a meal (no alcohol). I've googled it many times and I'm amazed at how such a simple question doesn't have a clear answer.

My lad and his girlfriend want to go out for a meal (without adults spoiling their fun) but we don't know if they will be breaking the law. It's a licensed premises, so is this a pub or a restaurant? Surely eating is never a problem with the law....

[EDDIE51]

I am a personal licence holder as well , for a community center.

[Sycamore3House]

And I expect you get under age customers wanting a meal in your community centre. So therefore as you are not primarily not serving alchohol you would serve them a meal.

[EDDIE51]

Under age customers can get food but not in the bar which is a separate area. In the bar they have to be supervised by an adult and can not order anything themselves not even a soft drink!

[EDDIE51]

We even run a Youth club for 13 to 17 year old's. They can buy Pizza and burgers and soft drinks but in a separate area to the bar.
I, as premises supervisor, am personally liable for any breach of the licence act on my premises even if I am not on duty at the time. That must apply to you too!

[Sycamore3House]

Yes it does apply to me also. A restaurant has a seperate area for eating and another area for a bar. So when underage customers come into,the restaurant they are served. So my previous comment is correct.

[EDDIE51]

Yes but in your restaurant alcohol is served both in the bar and in the eating area ( at tables) so you should not serve them. You may be getting away with it but you are breaking the law. We do not permit any alcohol even if you bring it in yourself outside the bar area.

[EDDIE51]

If you do not allow alcohol apart from in the bar then your situation is the same as mine and I apologize, but I assume you allow alcohol to be consumed at the tables with food ?

[joko]

why keep googling it? just ring the pub and ask!