Pub landlords in Kent are threatening to ban children after fed-up drinkers complained about 'feral' youngsters running amok in beer gardens. The Market Inn in Faversham may become a strictly over-12s venue following incidents where kids tore up plants, threw stones, and barged into customers while parents looked the other way.
Landlord's Frustration
In a blunt Facebook post, landlord Tim Stowell expressed his frustration, stating that parents are not watching their children while at the pub. 'If parents are not willing to look after their children, we will make it a 12-and-over pub at all times. It’s not down to our team to supervise your children,' he wrote.
Similar Issues at Another Pub
The Anchor pub, also in Faversham, faced similar problems. Landlord Mark Revell posted on Facebook about children picking, snapping, and pulling out plants in their garden, including leaves from a Japanese acer planted in memory of his partner's father. 'We kindly ask all parents and guardians to please supervise children at all times and respect our garden space,' he said.
Public Reaction
The social media posts sparked dozens of comments, with most people lamenting the deterioration in children's behaviour and parenting. John Walker commented, 'Parenting has deteriorated greatly over the past few years. Quite often glued to their mobiles while their kids run riot.' However, Stacey Ferguson was less supportive, saying the post felt 'quite unwelcoming' and made her reconsider visiting.
Previous Bans
In 2024, the Wheel Inn pub at Westwell near Ashford introduced a ban on under-14s to create an adult-only environment. In February, former BBC newsreader Jan Leeming sparked debate after complaining on X about a screaming child ruining her birthday lunch, criticizing the parents for not intervening.
The Market Inn, owned by Shepherd Neame, is run by Tim and Lacey Stowell, who also run the Bear Inn in the town. They have declined to comment further but received overwhelming support from respondents.
