Lancashire pub bans children after complaints over unruly youngsters

The New Inn in Bacup, Lancashire, has banned children from the premises after a string of complaints about youngsters running around and leaving mess. The pub announced the move on Sunday evening, with the new rules taking effect yesterday.

Under the policy, no children under 16 will be allowed inside, while those under 18 must leave by 7:30 p.m. The restriction also applies to the landlord's own children. In a statement posted on the pub's Facebook page, management said: "This was a hard decision for us as we know there are some great families with kids that do behave. Please bear in mind that we have children of our own, and it will also affect them. This decision has not been made lightly."

The decision drew support from some patrons but reignited debate about whether children should be allowed in pubs at all. One commenter wrote: "Sorry if this offends anyone, but who takes kids to a pub late anyway? Yeah, I have taken my kids to a pub a few times when I wanted a drink to see friends, but I don't sit there for hours drinking - my kids would be so bored and do my head in more asking to go home." Another added: "As someone who works in a pub/restaurant, I 10,000% agree with this. I think parents forget they're liable for kids and just let them run around wherever!! It's dangerous for both kids and staff!"

A separate voice supported the move, saying pubs closed to under-18s can be more relaxing for some customers. The Wheel Inn in Westwell, near Ashford, Kent, last year introduced a similar ban after a major refurbishment. The owners, Mandy Keefe and John Forge, said: "We're getting older people saying, 'Brilliant, we don't want b****y kids running about.' The landlords are standing by their decision and say they have created a 'lovely environment'. We get people actually standing at the bar saying: 'This is great because we don't have to worry.' In a pub, you don't watch your language. You're drinking - you're taking a legal drug. You're then, at times, behaving inappropriately. Customers have said it's brilliant, because they don't have to watch exactly what they're saying."

In Bacup, management acknowledged the impact the policy would have on families and stressed that the move was taken after careful consideration of ongoing disturbances and cleanliness concerns. The pub described the policy as a "hard decision" but said it had been left with no alternative and would be reviewed only if circumstances changed.

The policy at The New Inn aligns with a broader, ongoing debate over whether pubs should be family-friendly spaces or adult-only venues, a discussion that has featured similar measures at other venues in the region and beyond. While some customers welcomed a quieter, more relaxed atmosphere without the bustle of unsupervised children, others lamented the loss of a family-friendly option in their community. The Bacup move highlights the balancing act that local pub owners face as they try to accommodate diverse patron bases while maintaining safety and cleanliness.