THE landlord of a popular pub has completely banned children from the premises after blasting “entitled parents” with rowdy kids.
Egil Johansen, who has run The Kenton in Hackney, London, for 17 years, says things have got so bad he and his team can no longer manage the risks posed by youngsters in the pub.
The pub previously had an open door policy to those of all ages.
But the popular boozer has now ruled out entry for youngsters, stating that the issue is not down to children themselves.
The popular spot – which only serves drinks and regularly shows football – is completely child-free after previously restricting kids’ visiting hours to before 5pm.
In November, the pub had posted an update on Instagram telling customers that “lately, a few have mistaken The Kenton for a creche”.
But in a symbolic move, the boozer has now even ditched its “supervise your children” signs – chucking them in the bin as the ban came into force.
Mr Johansen said the issue isn’t the children themselves, but parents failing to keep them in check.
He said that there is now a “lack of understanding that when you are in a public space, like in a pub, you need to look after your children”.
A statement read: “After careful consideration, we’ve made the decision that The Kenton will now be an over-18s pub at all times.
“We want to be clear that this isn’t about children themselves, it’s about the level of supervision needed in what can be a very crowded, busy space.
“Ultimately, we’re not able to take on responsibility of other people’s children. Despite clear signage and reminders from staff, the problem has persisted.
“As a small, drinks-led pub, our focus is on serving good pints and maintaining a relaxed atmosphere for everyone.
“This wasn’t a decision we took lightly, but it’s the most practical way for us to run the pub safely and support our staff.
The boozer has recently been hit with a spate of complaints by punters online who have claimed that “unruly kids” and “crying babies” have disturbed their visit.
Despite the tough stance, Mr Johansen says the response has been overwhelmingly positive, with around 98 per cent backing the move.
Some punters shared their support online, with one saying: “Perfectly reasonable. Someone’s unsupervised kids almost put me in hospital when I was carrying a tray of drinks.”
Another added: “Totally agree… it’s sad that others have to suffer because of lazy parenting.”
But not everyone is happy and opinions were divided.
One regular wrote: “That is a shame. We used to come often… we love your pub and have a very well-behaved four-year-old.”
Another said it was a “massive shame” that the “actions (or inactions?) of a few parents” had ruined it for others.
Mr Johansen says he sympathises as a parent himself but insists the pub is no longer suitable for children.
He told Sky News: “It’s a big shame for people who do respect the rules… but sadly the majority has ruined it for everyone.
“There are loads of other fantastic pubs in the area that are much more child-friendly.”
Mr Johansen says that when he takes his own seven-year-old son to the pub, he comes prepared – with board games, pens and crayons – and keeps visits short because “we know our limits”.
Children are generally allowed in pubs, provided they are with an adult, typically until around 7 pm to 9 pm.
However, this is at the discretion of the management and licensing conditions.
