So, how would one tell whether a pub allows/welcomes families?

Sometimes they promote it, or just ask them.

The number of screaming ankle-biters running 'round the pub garden is also a good indicator...

A lot would depend on what you consider a "family". By that I mean, what age are the kids? Also, what time of day? A three-year-old at 10:00 p.m. is a lot different than a 16-year-old at noon. From what I've gathered, older kids/earlier in the day = OK, younger kids and later in the evening = problem.

the single immediate turn off for a pub or a bar is the sight of kids.

Pretty much the same way you predict the weather. By a gazillion subtle signs only we understand, and rarely get right even then.

A. If planning a day in advance: google the pub's name.

B. If walking round a denseish area:
First Q: "would you want your kids there?" (Strip pubs and "all you can drink for £9" places don't promote themselves to under 18s)
Second Q:"Any signs?" (children's menus, children)
Third Q: Is there a garden (in places like central London and Oxford, far more common than you'd imagine and most of the time a sign kids are OK)

But in towns and English-style suburbs, the default assumption is: no children. Usually, pubs that welcome children in city centres advertise the fact somehow, though often subtly.

C. If driving outside towns: default assumption is generally that kids are OK, at least till 9 pm, AND that all pubs with gardens accept kids in the garden. But, unless you see a whopping great bouncy castle in the garden, always ask

D. Two general rules.
1: Never plan a day on the assumption kids can eat in a specific pub without checking
2: Always remember kids can ruin some pubs' atmospheres - and absence of families ordering meals can ruin other pubs' financial viability.

Thanks for the tips.

There is a chain which has pubs everywhere - JD Wetherspoons:

http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/home/pubs

All of which allow kids in until either 7 or 9pm depending on local laws. However they must be with adults and I believe must eat there (I may well be wrong about this bit).

They're not exactly ye olde pubbes but the food's OK and the beer's good and cheap.

Many of the pubs in tourist areas will allow kids in at least at lunchtime. Look at the boards outside.

But please don't come to any pub with me in it or I may give you a hard stare. Like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1Y73sPHKxw

Often they will have a garden playground, or if the pub serves food they may allow children in until 9pm.

Always ask.
Check menus,
Also, kids = revenue, it is quite common for kids to be allowed in for part of the day.

Note: smoking is no longer allowed in pubs, smokers are all sat in the garden, therefore the gardens (sometimes small)are now full of smelly, dirty smoking areas.

Muck

One thing to be aware of is once you've left the big cities/towns behind that many pubs (while they may be open all day) don't serve food all day.

Expect them to close food service for a couple of hours in the afternoon, usually 2-2:30 until 5pm.

You might also check www.fancyapint.com

Lee Ann

Get a copy of the Good Pub Guide or go to their website www.goodpubguide.co.uk My family has traveled in the UK with children of all ages and this book is great. The FancyAPint site is also good.

Having lived there and visited, we found most of the kid friendly pubs were so-called "country pubs" in rural areas, or near rivers, and they often have kid play areas. Yes, we have taken our "ankle-biters" as Jay so tactfully puts it to many a pub over the years.

I asked the same question last year:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...iendly-pub.cfm

and in the course of looking at this found:
http://www.childfriendly.co.uk/family-pubs/london/
http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/pubsandb...ondon-125.html

Sorry, I intended to append that last response to the "Pubs and Children" thread. Oh, well, I've topped this one for the other OP.

Thank you DancingBearMD, this was exactly the kind of information that I was looking for.