Our family will be visiting England in March. Just wondering since we will be having our kids ( aged 13 and 17) with us this time, will they be allowed to go with us into the pubs?
We actually don't drink but like to get our meals in pubs and we just don't know what the rules are concerning kids under age 18. Also, I know that there is some type of rule about tipping or not tipping? Any advice would be helpful!!

Thanks- Heather

It kind of depends if it's a pub or a restaurant,where it is and what time you get there.

When eating, the kids will usually be fine, some pubs don't like children to be inside after 9pm.

There are several family orientated pub chains that specialise in family dining.

We always popped in and asked the staff if we were in any doubt, but to be honest they don't like turning away custom so will usually try to accomodate.

As for tipping, it's not required.

We were in England last year and saw children dining with their parents in pubs. but like Mucky said i think many do not like children there after 9pm.

Have fun!

As for tipping, it's not required>

I've never felt that it was in the zillions of pubs i've been in, but on Coronation Street, in the Rovers Return, most folks do say keep the change it seems or even will give some coin.

kids of this age will merit barely a glance.

from 14, kids can drink beer or wine with a meal in a restaurant.

from 16, they can have a shandy at the bar.

from 18, they can drink themselves senseless.

<<< some pubs don't like children to be inside after 9pm. >>>

In Scotland pubs have to be licensed to allow children in.

Teenage children dining with parents in English pubs have a far different experience to the US. I took my 16yr old son to DisneyWorld and he was not allowed out of my sight for a minute if there was alcohol in sight.
When he turned 21 we treated him to a 21st birthday in Las Vegas. The hotel put a band around his wrist, similar to newborn babies, so that he was able to go to the bar and order a drink on his own.
I am not advocating that this practise is the USA is by any means not warranted, but merely to point out British Pubs have a more relaxed approach.

There is no law or custom in the US that people must have bands around their wrists in bars. I'm sure he didn't have to do that, but I guess they thought it would be useful so he wouldn't have to be carded all the time. That is really a resort/hotel custom, not a US thing and not really similar to the situation in a small British pub. They do that in a lot of resorts in the Caribbean, for example, so they don't have to keep asking for age ID, saves a lot of time. They do it in huge resorts/hotels where there are a lot of young people who like to drink a lot (or people in general). They certainly don't do that in regular bars in just a regular city in the US.

Got it Christina. It was at the Mandalay Bay Hotel where they put the wrist bands on.

If you eat in the pub and receive service at your table, a tip will not go amiss. If you collect your food at the bar, then no.

It's a good question for a first time traveller. First time we landed in US of Disney, we received a rare old roasting from the people at Cracker Barrel. "I've got jeg lag, give me a beer". "I'm sorry sorry sir but this is a FAMILY restaurant".

Most pubs main lifeline in Britain is food and families eating food. The "boozing" only places are dying quickly. I think that it is a case of being sensible with your choices. Friday night in a city clearly is not going to be a good idea. Most pubs in the countryside will welcome families with open arms.

I agree with Lifeman!

I clicked on your enquiry keen to see what 'rules' there could possibly be concerning English pubs. As a person who frequents pubs and I am also English I'd say that each pub has different standards about what age children/teenagers are allowed in. For example we were turned away from a central London Pub. this summer because we had a 16 year old with us (four adults). Best advice- get an adult to pop inside and ask one of the bar staff. Tipping -never have!

I totally disagree with lifeman

We had a canadian visitor for a week and the last evening he took us the pub for a meal and paid by card, and was a bit shocked that they didn't put a tip on the bill, there was a very good humoured argument between him and the barstaff about whether he should tip and how much, he tried to give £10, and they refused and said if he insisted he could give £5 but would really prefer it if he gave nothing.

Remember that in pubs you have to walk up to the bar to order both food and drinks. Food will usually be brought to your table, drinks won't.

Some pubs like the kids to be gone by 9pm, and if your lkids are ina pub later than that be aware they may be exposed to languages and/or behaviour not appropriate for an adult - before anyone slams me I said 'may' not will. Pubs that have rules will normally have a sign on the door, one of my locals has this rule, kids of the premesis by 9 and last orders for kids food 8pm so they have time to finish eating.

Some pubs also have different areas where children are and are not allowed - usually they are allowed in the eating part but might not be welcome in the whole place.

If in doubt ask.

Oh and as non drinkers, cider in the UK is alcoholic, in some cases very alcoholic.

When I lived in the UK I never tipped in a bar. If I was friendly with the bar person then I would buy them a drink. But if you are vacationer you would never get to know someone that well.
So no tipping.

You'd be amazed at how fast and how WELL some people can get to know somebody when they've been drinking!

Dukey1 LOL
Shame some on this forum don¡t havea drink when psoting here.

Cheers Old Chap!
<img src=http://smilies-gifs.com/beber/25beber.gif/>

Sorry sashh, you found the one pub where tips were refused! They preferred it if he gave nothing--what largesse and well paid pub staff. Most staff in pubs are paid along the same lines as staff in restaurants--not much!

If you're too tight to tip, then don't tip but if I get good service then I'll acknowledge it.

I'm happy to be corrected, but I'm not sure that anyone under 18 is allowed alcohol of any description (including that of a shandy - usually made up of half bitter / half lemonade).

lemonade being sprite, not lemonade as north americans would expect it...