Pubs are brilliant spots – equally suited for joyful, raucous nights out as quiet Sunday afternoons with a book or a board game, a good pub is a true pillar of the local community. And they’re true equalisers, with families sat at tables next to university students, next to retirees who have been visiting for decades. But what happens when parents become a little too relaxed and permit their children to run amok? That’s the question faced by beloved East London boozer, the Kenton, which recently decided to ban children entirely.
The Homerton pub has opted to go adults-only following ongoing concerns about children’s behaviour inside the venue. Prior to the ban, the pub had introduced a rule that children were not permitted after 5pm. This policy was extended to a full ban after behaviour did not improve. Explaning his decision, the pub landlord cited incidents of children running around the space, climbing on furniture, and nearly colliding with staff.
The Kenton bans children
In a statement on their Instagram page, The Kenton’s pub landlord made the following statement:
“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. Ultimately, we’re not able to take on responsibility of other people’s children. Despite clear signage and reminders from staff, the problem has persisted.
“As a small, drinks-led pub, our focus is on serving good pints and maintaining a relaxed atmosphere for everyone.
“This wasn’t a decision we took lightly, but it’s the most practical way for us to run the pub safely and support our staff.”
The Kenton is far from the first pub to minimise the presence of children in the venue. In fact, many pubs have rules about how late under-18s can be in the venue. After all, a pub is still ultimately a venue that serves alcoholic drinks, and isn’t always entirely suitable for children.
Naturally, the Kenton is far from the only pub in Hackney. So it’s not as if the parents will struggle to find somewhere else to take their children. (Hopefully, they know better than to let them run amok by now.) But perhaps the restriction could be a sign of things to come.
Will other pubs in Hackney, East London, or the wider city follow suit? Or will the ‘entitled parents’ learn from the closure that they should keep a closer eye on their children?
📍 38 Kenton Road, London, E9 7AB. The nearest station is Homerton.
