We Unpack The Kenton Arms Debate: Should Children Be Allowed In The Pub?
A trendy East London pub has ruffled more than a few feathers this week after announcing a total ban on children, citing “unruly kids” and “entitled parents.” The news got the whole Handbook team debating whether children should or shouldn’t be allowed in the local, and let’s just say we had some strong feelings. Here, The Handbook’s Contributing Fashion & Lifestyle Editor (and mum to a five-year-old), Astrid Carter, wades in…
When the local grows up
The pub in question is Hackney’s Kenton Arms, a spot I used to frequent regularly in my pre-parenthood days when I lived just down the road. Back then, it was firmly on the hipster end of the spectrum – all smoky beer gardens and craft pints, and I’m sure that hasn’t changed all that much. It felt grown-up, but that was also a different era of my life, one with far fewer restrictions or responsibilities, and definitely more trips to the pub.
But guess what? Hipsters grow up. Sometimes have babies. And – shock horror – they might still want to go to the pub, just perhaps a little less often.
On one hand, I’m all for children in pubs, provided the vibe is family-friendly, and the kids are being looked after. On the other hand, I do feel for the landlord, Egil Johansen, who has faced quite a bit of hate on social media since announcing his strictly over-18s rule.
While most of it is lighthearted banter and actually quite funny, if we’re going to talk about “entitlement,” some of these punters might want to hold up a little mirror, alongside their pint of IPA.
Astrid, Contributing Fashion & Lifestyle Editor
Some of the commentary is clearly from those who are child-free, ranging from “Sick! I love this pub even more now” to “Same should apply to nice restaurants!” and my personal favourite: “Well done all concerned. Will be visiting soon *clapping hands emoji*.” While most of it is lighthearted banter and actually quite funny, if we’re going to talk about “entitlement,” some of these punters might want to hold up a little mirror, alongside their pint of IPA.
It’s all about context
Ultimately, it’s a read-the-room situation. I wouldn’t take a five-year-old to The Dev to split the G, or a 10 -year-old to the infamously raucous The Dolphin on a Sunday. But many pubs are family-friendly. More than that, they can be pillars of the community, gentle spaces centred around long tables, get-togethers and Sunday roasts, albeit at the right time of day. And let’s be honest: very few pubs allow children in after 8 pm anyway. By the time things get rowdy, those parents are already home doing bath and bedtime. Those same parents have likely been at soft play since 10 am and are facing an early start for a K-Pop Demon Hunters party the next morning. A glass of Pinot Noir and an easy dinner is the least they deserve. We’re not all out here exclusively parenting via the pub; sometimes, we just need a little sit-down and a glass of red.
There is nuance here, too. The Kenton previously welcomed children, but as Johansen told The Metro, rising energy costs forced them to close their kitchen four years ago. They stopped serving food, installed Sky Sports, and pivoted to a football-heavy space. It makes sense to align their policies with the evolution of the pub’s culture. Personally, I’m not sure I’d want to take a child to a pub that doesn’t serve food and has the match on 24/7 anyway. It feels a bit too on the boozy side of things.
The case for keeping pubs family-friendly
But in the right environment, a trip to the pub can be brilliant for kids. It introduces them to more adult social situations with context, obviously. I didn’t spend much time in pubs growing up, but on the rare occasions we did, it felt like a total treat. It was always for a birthday or a celebration. We got to play with new friends from outside of school – those rare beings you’d bond with for two hours and never see again – and a glass of Coca-Cola with ice and a lemon slice felt like the height of sophistication for seven-year-old me.
But when I’m back in London, I love the freedom of the family pub culture, especially at the weekends. My seven-year-old niece loves a pub lunch or a fancy restaurant; she’s developed the palate of a food critic and is great company, while still being a sweet, normal little seven-year-old.
One of my favourite memories of my son’s early years was his first birthday, which we rounded off with a Sunday roast at the pub. It was shortly after lockdown, and the first time I’d gathered a big group to celebrate him. We started the day at a very age-appropriate Raver Tots party, followed by a long, lazy lunch at one of my favourite Islington pubs, which was very family-friendly.
Children will be children, and if that means the old meltdown or urge to climb a chair, is that really the end of the world?
There were several babies and children there, all behaving beautifully (though, in my sleep-deprived state, my memory might have been a little skewed – they could have been feral under the tables). We brought a rainbow-sprinkled cake topped with a zebra holding a balloon, and the staff were wonderful, bringing it out to a chorus of “Happy Birthday” sung by the entire pub. It felt community-led and warm. No one had a problem with us celebrating 12 months of a tiny human, and I remember it fondly.
Different rules north of the border
I live in Scotland now, where the culture is arguably less positive of kids at the pub than in London. Unless it’s a local neighbourhood spot, the environment feels more adult-centric. Which is fine. Thankfully, my local welcomes children until a certain time, providing colouring pens and puzzles to keep them busy. Their mac and cheese is a winner with my little one, while the decent house red and excellent playlist keep me happy. We’re always home by 6.30 pm.
My one takeaway from all this? It’s a case-by-case situation. No single rule fits all, and parents are usually well-equipped to make that call. Children will be children, and if that means the odd meltdown or urge to climb a chair, is that really the end of the world? If you’re being responsible and the children are happy and looked after, there’s nothing wrong with a little pub visit to ease the mood of the whole family. And if nothing else, The Kenton has certainly got itself some excellent free PR out of all this.
It’s a case-by-case situation. No single rule fits all, and parents are usually well-equipped to make that call.
