Former BBC newsreader Jan Leeming has ignited a fierce debate about children in upmarket dining venues after a birthday celebration was disrupted by a screaming child at a premium pub chain.
A Birthday Dinner Disrupted
The 84-year-old television personality, who finished sixth on I'm A Celebrity in 2006, took to social media platform X to recount her experience at THE PIG at Bridge Place, located in the village of Bridge near Canterbury in Kent. She had treated a friend to a birthday lunch at the establishment, where three-course meals cost just under £30 and wine bottles range from £35 to £600.
Ms Leeming described the ambiance as 'lovely' but said it was 'slightly spoiled by a screaming child at lunch'. She expressed frustration that parents appeared 'oblivious' to the disturbance and did little to intervene. 'When I paid and remonstrated, was treated as though I were the one at fault,' she posted.
Parental Responsibility Questioned
The veteran broadcaster argued that families who can afford to dine at such venues should factor babysitting costs into their outing expenses. 'Don't think a traditional pub is the place for children,' she stated in a follow-up post. 'Also in the evening surely young children should be in bed. Cost of baby sitting should be factored into cost of the outing.'
She specifically noted there were three parents present with the child and asserted: 'If you can afford to eat there, get a babysitter!' Ms Leeming also claimed that when she complained to staff at the reception, she was treated as though she was 'out of order'.
Social Media Reaction
The former newsreader's comments sparked hours of fevered debate across social media, with many users expressing sympathy for her position. One respondent told her: 'I'm with you 100% Jan...parents these days just DON'T discipline their children and don't think there is anything wrong with that.'
Another commenter suggested banning children under 12 from 'ale houses and restaurants', to which Ms Leeming replied pragmatically: 'Don't think they can legally ban children. Also it would adversely affect trade. So we just have to like it, lump it or not go again.'
Venue's Response
A spokesperson for THE PIG responded to the controversy by stating: 'Everyone is welcome at THE PIG- at Bridge Place and we go to great lengths to ensure that all of our guests (young and old) are looked after by our wonderful team.'
The pub and hotel chain currently operates ten venues across England, including locations in the Cotswolds, the New Forest, Hampshire and Cornwall, with two additional sites planned for South Warwickshire and the Kent-East Sussex border.
Background and Context
Jan Leeming, who has been married five times and has one son, enjoyed a prominent broadcasting career between 1969 and 1987. She served as a BBC newsreader from 1980 and hosted various programmes including Pebble Mill At One, BBC Radio 4's Women's House, and the 1982 Eurovision Song Contest.
In April last year, she revealed on the Suddenly Single podcast that she had joined a dating site and hadn't ruled out a sixth marriage. Her latest comments about dining etiquette continue her pattern of forthright public statements.
About THE PIG
THE PIG at Bridge Place offers set menus with two courses priced at £24.50 and three courses at £29.50. Their afternoon menu includes dishes like smoked trout with pickled cucumber for £14 and a mushroom house salad for £12. Sides range from a 'flowerpot of chips' at £6.50 to tobacco onions at £6.25.
The company emphasises its wine selection, stating on its website: 'Wine is woven into life at THE PIG. Each house has a cellar stocked with bottles from small growers, English vineyards and trusted old-world favourites.' They describe their venues as 'a bunch of laid-back hotels where the restaurant is at the heart of the house' located in 'stunning corners of the British countryside and coast'.
The first PIG hotel opened in Brockenhurst, Hampshire in 2011 as what the company calls 'a family affair', with founder Robin Hutson's wife Judy handling furnishings and their son Ollie working in kitchen gardens. In 2024, the Hutsons announced their retirement after forming a partnership with private equity firm KSL Capital Partners two years earlier.
This incident highlights ongoing tensions between different customer expectations in hospitality venues, particularly regarding children's behaviour in upmarket dining environments where patrons pay premium prices for what they anticipate will be a tranquil experience.
