A popular pub in Hackney, East London, has banned children entirely after the landlord accused 'entitled parents' of using the establishment as a creche. The Kenton Arms, which serves only drinks and no food, will now strictly admit only those aged 18 and over.
Landlord Egil Johansen introduced the policy following a spate of complaints from punters about 'unruly kids' and 'crying babies' disturbing their visits. An initial 5pm curfew on children failed to resolve the issue, prompting the outright ban.
In a statement, the pub's management said: '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.' They added: 'Ultimately, we're not able to take on responsibility of other people's children.'
The move has divided opinion among locals. Regular Ross Kerslake praised the policy, saying: 'Perfectly reasonable. Someone's unsupervised kids almost put me in hospital when I was carrying a tray of drinks.' Another customer, Martin Hughes, agreed: 'It's sad that others have to suffer because of lazy parenting.' However, Ross Stout expressed disappointment, saying she could no longer bring her 'very well-behaved four year old'.
This is not the first time Johansen has voiced frustration. A previous statement noted: 'Lately, a few have mistaken The Kenton for a creche. We've had kids running around unsupervised, a couple of accidents, and parents blaming the pub instead of keeping an eye on their little ones.' The Kenton Arms joins a growing number of UK pubs opting for an adult-only atmosphere.
