Mr Gandy, who was in the company of some friends who included a two year old child, got angry because the Wetherspoons pub in Wallasey refused to let him have more than two alcoholic drinks.
The reason was that Wetherspoons have a national policy that children can only come into their pubs if they are having a meal with an adult. They have city centre pubs that do not have space for child recreation facilities. They are happy for families to eat there, but they do not want adults to be accompanied by children for long stays or while the adults are drinking and socialising.
This company have the absolute right to decide the policy that suits their business model. From the reports, Mr Gandy was told politely of the pub policy. He left and chose to eat elsewhere. I am afraid Mr. Gandy has no cause for complaint. The company knows whether it is able to, or wants to,cater for children and it is entitled to decide whether it wants its pubs to have a family ambience or a place primarily for adult drinking and socialising.
The alternative to individual licensed premises and pub chains making decisions of this kind is that government will continue to pass more and more restrictive laws that limit the freedom of all of us. It seems to me to be a very good thing that children should be aware from the earliest possible stage that a great many adults like to drink alcohol and it ought to be a natural part of life. We know that some people misuse alcohol or do not have sufficient self control to drink sensibly and I most certainly want children to be shielded from unpleasantness, misbehaviour and worse by drunks. Those licensed premises who provide child recreation areas and choose to market themselves to families with children should do that and have their own policies to deal with situations that they consider to be unsuitable. Wetherspoons have not chosen that route and that is their entitlement.
I do not smoke and I am happy to have restaurants, etc. to go to that are smoke free, but It seems to me to be absolutely wrong that those people who do smoke are now not allowed to enjoy their habit in their own businesses and cannot choose to provide indoor facilities for smokers if that is their wish. Before it became illegal to smoke in public places there were non smoking pubs and restaurants and non smoking areas in many, many more establishments. Now it is not even possible for a membership only smokers club to have a place where they can meet and socialise together while they enjoy their common interest. Smoking is harmful to health, and so is excessive alcohol drinking, but adults should be able to decide on their own health and enjoyment. It is not for the government to think that it knows what is best for us and prevent us from doing as we wish.
Well done Wetherspoons. You were right and Mr Gandy is wrong. Take note government. There is no need to tell every pub, club restaurant or whatever else, whether they can or cannot have children in them and what time of day it can happen or how many drinks the responsible adult can have. If establishments are not properly managed or if individuals fails in their responsibilities, they should be dealt with for their own actions. The great majority of responsible people should be allowed to make their own choices.
Repeal the oppressive smoking laws. Wetherspoons decided that their pubs would be non smoking before the law made them.
Well done I say to Wetherspoon’s. Children are a damned nuisance in pubs running around, screaming and throwing food making a sticky mess everywhere. If their parents are having a party by drinking alcohol then the little blighters can become more indisciplined than normal and the pub becomes a riot.
Yes I think Wetherspoons are right. It is a matter of choice isn’t it? It should be possible for people to go to places to eat and drink where there are no children at all. Similarly, there ought to be places where families can go with an enjoyable environment for the kids and the possibility for the adults to drink responsibly. We need variety to meet the different needs of a diverse population.
I don’t agree with it to be honest it’s discriminating. We are parents, we should have the right to choose where we take our children. I was asked to leave the weatherspoons yesterday because i had my 2 year old with me. How dare they inform us that our children may be bored whilst we drink and have a meal. Shouldn’t we have the right as parents to be able to decide that ourselves. Wetherspoons has alientated a large chunk of their customers with this rude move. My daughter is never bored we sit in the corner she has a large space behind her to play i always ensure she has plenty to keep her occupied and plenty to eat and drink. Surely i should as the parent decide when i have had enough to drink. Soon we will be told what nappies, clothes our children have to wear. It’s disgusting.
Wetherspoon’s is a business and they are entitled to decide how to manage their own premises. It really doesn’t make sense to talk about a ‘right’ to take your child wherever you want.
If Wetherspoon’s have alienated customers by their decision they will lose money by it. Presumably they have considered that and still think that they are taking the right approach for them. There are lots of pubs, cafés, restaurants and other licensed premises which make a point of being family friendly. That is very good, but it is a matter for them to decide. You do not have a right to tell people how they must run their business.