East London Pub Responds to Customer Feedback with Evening Child Ban
An east London pub has made the controversial decision to ban children during evening hours following numerous complaints from customers. The William The Fourth, located on Leyton's High Road, announced its new adults-only policy from 6pm onwards in a recent Instagram post.
The Reason Behind the Decision
The pub management stated they had received significant feedback over recent months regarding the presence of children in the establishment. In their official statement, they explained: "We want The William the Fourth to be welcoming to everyone, but there have been occasions where the pub has resembled a creche."
The management further justified their decision by highlighting safety concerns, noting that "unsupervised children can pose risks not only to themselves but also to other customers and our team."
New Rules and Daytime Family Access
Despite the evening restrictions, the pub remains committed to being family-friendly during daytime hours. To accommodate families, they announced extended opening times from 3pm starting next week.
The establishment has reinforced several existing policies that remain in effect:
- Children must remain seated at a table with parents or guardians
- No running, climbing, or playing inside the pub
- Buggies and prams must be folded and stored safely away from walkways
The adjacent Leylow space will maintain its adults-only status, with the exception of baby change facility access.
Customer Reactions and Historical Context
The pub, which dates back to 1897, was taken over by Andy and Steph Solley in June this year. Under their leadership, the venue has expanded its offerings to include pizza and evening events such as life drawing and pottery workshops.
Previous Google reviews highlighted growing customer dissatisfaction with the family atmosphere. One reviewer complained about "badly behaved kids [bouncing] off the walls," while another noted that the pub had "gotten rid of the pool table for a place to park prams," adding that "it no longer feels like a pub, it's now just a kids' club."
Anticipating controversy, the pub disabled comments on their Instagram announcement. The decision marks a significant change from the previous policy that allowed under-18s until 8pm.
