Is This A Case Of The Responsible Suffering For The Irresponsible?

[Bobbisox1]

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/wetherspoons-slaps-two-drink-rule-17622413

[New Judge]

//But I don't believe they can all be like the one I went in,...//

They are not, teacake. Like many things, it depends on the clientele and the clientele depends very much on the area.

Here are a couple I have first hand knowledge of. This one is immediately behind the Royal Courts of Justice just off Fleet Street:

https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all-pubs/england/london/the-knights-templar-near-fleet-street

A superb old banking hall, very well run and great for a meet up in Town.

This one, on the coast, is 'Spoons largest outlet:

https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all-pubs/england/kent/the-royal-victoria-pavilion-ramsgate

It was built as a seaside "Winter Gardens" and lay derelict for two periods. Firstly from its original closure in the 1970s to the late 1990s and then (after having a brief life as a night club) for about another ten years. JDW bought it from the council for £1 and then spent £4.5m renovating it. It is superb.

Finally this one in the Hampshire market town of Alton:

https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all-pubs/england/hampshire/the-ivy-house-alton

A very well restored pair of buildings with an excellent outside patio garden.

I could bore you all day with descriptions of Wetherspoons establishments but I won't. However, people dismiss the chain as cheap and nasty. They are certainly cheap but they are not all nasty. Again, it depends on the clientele. There are two in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. One at the rough end of the town is nasty. The other, just half a mile away but in a better part is most certainly not.

Wetherspoons attracts, in my view, unjustified criticism. There are almost 1,000 outlets and some are bound to be better than others. The company also takes over and sympathetically renovates many town centre buildings which might otherwise lay derelict and they should be applauded for that. If you want haute cuisine and fine wines you don't go to Wetherspoons. But if you pick your branch with care you'll be surprised.

[teacake44]

There's the irresponsible with kids that can't handle their drink, and there's the responsible with kids that can handle their kids, so putting a limit on both does affect the responsible.

[AuntPollyGrey]

This was a sign put up in one Pub by a frustrated manager. Weatherspoons has come back and said they've asked the manager to remove the sign as 'one off' signs are not allowed in their pub chains. So, in fact, its not Weathspoons new policy.

[naomi24]

//Parents were angered after a poster stating the policy was put up at a Wetherspoons pub after children were said to be running around "uncontrollably".//

Some parents don't need a drink to allow their children to run around uncontrollably.

[teacake44]

You just need one after they've gone to bed. :0)

[Zacs-Master]

'So, in fact, its not Weathspoons new policy.'

No, it's quite old.

[emmie]

i know some parents will take umbrage over this, what happens if grandparents take the kids out?

[woofgang]

I think its an irrelevant rule. If the issue is children being out of control then the parents could be drinking lemonade and there could still be a problem. If the children aren't being a problem then why shouldn't the parents peacefully enjoy more than 2 drinks?

[Bobbisox1]

I’d imagine the same rule applies emmie, there’s some old rock chicks out there y’know ;0)

[emmie]

i like wetherspoons as a chain, we have one or two nearby and both do record business..

[Bobbisox1]

Woof, I agree, it’s really about controlling the kids in there bars

[Bobbisox1]

The one where I live does too ,especially in the Summer when all tables outside are occupied but I’d much rather be in a ‘pub ‘ pub, the only two Spoons I’ve been in were on the IOW and my own village, didn’t like either and that was a good few years ago

[Bobbisox1]

Typo @ 13-52
Their not there

[emmie]

i have seen unruly kids in restaurants but rarely if ever in a pub, and certainly not with family in tow.

[New Judge]

//If the issue is children being out of control then the parents could be drinking lemonade and there could still be a problem.//

Indeed, woofy. The biggest problem that I've seen is the one which retro touched on - the "Mummies Creche Club" that seems to have sprung up during the day in some pubs. In Wethers this is a particular attraction because you buy one cup of coffee (£1.35 or thereabouts) and have endless free refills. I've been into my local branch and seen an area completely overtaken by about six Mummies accompanied by a dozen offspring. Prams and toys all over the place, kids running and crawling round whilst they ponce about showing photos and inane messages to each other on their phones. A nightmare which, I fear if left unchecked, will come back to bite the chain which relies heavily on all day trade to be profitable.

[emmie]

Luckily i stick to watering holes that don't allow children, some might say they don't do business yet one i know does a roaring trade.

[ABSpareEditor]

• Any instances of members referring to other members as anything but their preferred names will be removed. Repeated offences will result in suspensions.

I have amended the offending reference instead of removing the answer.

[fender62]

children should not be allowed in pubs full stop, even if the parents parent are responsible, other pub clientele may not be, pubs are for adults...it's not a day care center either creche, the ones who visit
are probably deadbeat single parents on benefits by choice.

[Bobbisox1]

^^^ glad it wasn’t me who said that :0)

[Zacs-Master]

It's a regrettable fact of life that thousands more pubs wouldn't exist if they hadn't 'moved with the times' and accepted women and now children.