An east London pub has barred children from 6pm after customers complained the boozer was starting to resemble a ‘creche’.
William The Fourth, in Leyton, announced the new rule on social media and said staff will also be toughening up on unruly behaviour in the daytime.
The decision comes after ‘feedback from customers regarding children’.
One Google review of the pub from earlier this year complained about ‘badly behaved kids [bouncing] off the walls’.
Another said William The Fourth had got ‘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’.
A third wrote: ‘Too many kids, it’s a pub not a creche.’
The pub, located on Leyton’s High Road, will become adults-only after 6pm.
The statement, posted on Instagram, read: ‘Over the past few months, we’ve received feedback from customers regarding children in the pub.
‘We want The William the Fourth to be welcoming to everyone but there have been occasions where the pub has resembled a creche.
‘Unsupervised children can pose risks not only to themselves but also to other customers and our team.
‘We remain committed to being a family-friendly pub during the day, but to ensure a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable environment for all our guests, we are introducing the following rules regarding children.
‘From 6:00 PM onwards, the pub will be an adults-only space, giving adults a child-free atmosphere in the evening while still offering families generous daytime hours.
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‘We will be opening from 3pm from next week so there are more daytime hours.
‘Leylow will remain an adults-only space (aside from baby change access).
‘Children must remain seated at a table with their parents or guardians and be supervised at all times – this has always been our policy.
‘No running, climbing, or playing anywhere inside the pub- again this has always been our policy.
‘Buggies and prams must be folded and stored safely out of walkways.’
It is understood that comments were turned off due to reaction to the ‘controversial’ decision.
The pub, which was taken over by Andy and Steph Solley in June this year, dates back to 1897.
Under their leadership, it has started to serve pizza and hosts evening events including life drawing and pottery workshops.
Previously, under-18s were allowed in until 8pm.
Metro has approached the pub for comment.
Elsewhere, the Alibi bar in Altrincham announced this week it has banned solo drinkers after 9pm.
Owner Carl Peters said the policy was for the sake of his staff, and how some people on their own start ‘mithering other groups’.
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