The Kenton Arms pub in Hackney, East London, has officially banned all children under 18 from entering at any time. The ban was implemented due to complaints about unsupervised children causing disturbances, accidents, and confrontations. The pub's landlord is Egil Johansen, who has run it for 17 years.
The pub only serves drinks and no food, and regularly shows football. Previously, the pub had a 5pm curfew for children before imposing the full ban. The pub's management stated, 'After careful consideration, we've made the decision that The Kenton will now be an over-18s pub at all times.
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. 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.
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. ' Egil Johansen, who is a parent himself, sympathizes with affected families but says the pub is no longer suitable for children. ' Reaction to the ban has been mostly positive, with some regulars praising the policy.
Regular Ross Kerslake said, 'Perfect reasonable. ' However, some parents are disappointed by the ban, including those with well-behaved children. The exact number of incidents that led to the ban is not known, and it is unclear how the ban will be enforced.
Perfect reasonable. Someone's unsupervised kids almost put me in hospital when I was carrying a tray of drinks.