My stance on 'ankle biters' wins the day

Children in pubs is a hugely contentious issue, as recent publicity has highlighted. Personally, I have no objection to lactating mothers feeding their undoubtedly cute offspring in public, but I am not prepared to have them do it in my pub. The law clearly states that the licensee has overall discretion over whom he or she allows into the pub and, if that changes, the missus says we're off.

As a general rule, this means we do not allow children until they are at least five years old and they must sit at the table and eat something from our menu. However, last week, little Emily, just four, enjoyed a dainty ham sandwich and some chocolate ice cream while mum and dad enjoyed some chicken liver paté, tempura prawns, rump of lamb and a selection of fresh fish. Emily was a pleasure to serve and a pleasure to be with.

Also last week, Justin Tappit-Gently, the CEO of Bignexpensive Golf PLC, got the raving hump because I wouldn't let him and his family come into my carefully-manicured garden for a drink. Why? Because he had two children and they didn't want to eat.

Now, all this wouldn't matter much, except that Emily and her mum and dad didn't rush away from the Inn @ West End to their home computer, to write a review on trippinoffsomewhere.com, to tell everyone what a great place the Inn was for a good feed at lunchtime.

But Tappit-Gently, who didn't get to have a drink, let alone spend a few quid on lunch, goes straight off to his laptop and sends a biased and unpleasant rant about the Inn, which is there for all to see.

It got me thinking about children and the Inn. Had I got it right?

An email to our database brought very strong feedback from customers, including parents with young children, to the effect that they liked the place as an adult environment, and asked that we do not change a thing.

Those with children said they had plenty of places to go with the little blighters, but very few to go without them.

So, on reflection I'd like to thank Tappit-Gently as he has done us a huge favour by highlighting our credentials on the interweb, as an ankle biter-free zone. And experience tells me he'll be back with his wife when they have a babysitter! Cheers!

Gerry Price is licensee of the Inn @ West End, Surrey​