Family Friendly PubsIntroducing children early to a relaxed pub atmosphere can only be beneficial, says Adrian Tierney-Jones, editor of Pubs for families. If children grow up seeing adults drinking alcohol in a natural, responsible manner, then maybe they will grow up to do the same. And in an age where binge drinking is on the rise amongst the young, that can hardly be a bad thing. He also picks eight of the best pubs where you can take your kids and be guaranteed a stress-free time. When I was growing up in a small seaside town in North Wales, pubs were a constant source of mystery. Children simply were not allowed inside. The very idea of baby-changing facilities or a kids' menu was non-existent. Thirty years later, and with a child of my own, things thankfully have changed. Our son James, who is nearly six, has been a regular pub-goer since the tender age of three weeks. A pub, to him, is no different from a restaurant or cafe - in fact, it's often a lot more fun. Granted there are some pubs which you wouldn't take a nervous friend, never mind your child: dark, dingy, smoke-filled venues where the taproom talk is less than suitable for young, alert ears. On the other hand more and more licensees are making a genuine effort to attract and welcome families. Some go the whole hog and turn their pubs into virtual theme parks but frankly that wasn't what I was looking for when I edited the CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) guide Pubs For Families. I was looking for hostelries with a genuine pub atmosphere; places which sold real ale and decent food; pubs which gave a warm welcome to families and made them feel relaxed and at home. Some pubs in the book are very understated, not overtly touting for toddler custom but cheerful and friendly,unfazed by small grubby hands and dribbling chins. There are subtle touches which let you know the owners know about kids (and, most importantly, like them): a pizza arrives with peas for eyes and a cheeky carrot mouth. A toddler is gearing up for a tantrum when a lollipop appears as if by magic. Others make more of an obvious effort ‹ colouring books and a box of toys perhaps in the family room; an enticing playground in the garden. Your long-suffering parental heart lifts at the sight of a row of high chairs and a clean, hygienic changing mat on a decent changing shelf. Then again, there's the premiere league, where the landlord might dress up as a clown, put a bouncy castle in the snug and run a junior disco every Friday night (but personally I think that's all a bit unnecessary). We still want our pubs to be pubs ‹ we just don't want to feel like pariahs when we become parents. I love pubs and I think it's great that pubs have become relaxed about letting in families. I live in a rural area and the pub is at the centre of the community. Exclude children and you exclude a major part of our world. Sitting out in the pub garden during a Sunday lunchtime as James plays with a couple of classmates from his village school is as close to relaxation as a parent gets. Pubs are just more relaxed than restaurants where the stress of keeping young children entertained can be heart-stopping. The vast majority of pubs plays it safe and offers the ubiquitious chicken nuggests, sausages, fish fingers and chips, chips, chips. But some try to tempt young appetites with more unusual fare and those always get my vote. Now all it needs is the proposed smoking ban to make pubs even more palatable ‹ let's face it, smoke and babies/young children just don't mix. Flick through Pubs for Families and you'll find pubs up and down the country which are child-friendly though certain areas certainly seem more child-savvy. London is a difficult one. However most of the establishments owned by the pub chain Wetherspoons have special no-smoking areas for families to eat and drink and are always worth looking out for. However, it's also worth giving the smart gastropubs a go. They're often keen on introducing young customers to the delights of good food. Some, however, might baulk at a very young baby so it's always worth checking before setting out. When a landlord gets it right, the British pub is one of this country's greatest achievements. Most visitors have "visit a traditional pub" high on their wish-list. It'd be nice if visitors experienced the same laid-back welcoming family approach that is so common in bars and restaurants on the continent and in Ireland. Above all, I think introducing children early to a relaxed pub atmosphere can only be beneficial. If children grow up seeing adults drinking alcohol in a natural, responsible manner, then maybe they will grow up to do the same. And in an age where binge drinking is on the rise amongst the young, that can hardly be a bad thing. Where to next?
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