“So, if you fancy a good pint, a tasty curry or meal out with the family, we hope that you enjoy the Wetherspoon experience.” [company web site]

Not any more, it seems — not unless you’re prepared to eat and drink up fairly quickly, anyway.

JD Wetherspoon, whose pubs are known as family-friendly places to visit for reasonably priced food and drink, has announced that adults with children will be limited to two alcoholic drinks, and may be refused soft drinks and coffee in order to shorten their stay.

Apparently, children are causing the cut-price pub chain discomfort because of a lack of play facilities.

Bizarrely, the pub chain are trying to comply with “child cruelty legislation”. Rather funny, given that, in the case study quoted by the BBC News website, one bar manager said that the parents could stay only if the child left. Huh? So who would look after the child then?

Given that the pub is trying to find new ways of attracting customers, with early morning opening to attract the coffee-supping crowd, and free Wi-Fi, you’d have thought that it would be happy for families to be in the premises during the day time. Evidently not.

Rather bizarre. Thanks JD — at such a point as I have children, I’ll be sure to avoid your establishments and go somewhere that gives a damn about the family.

(Via BBC News)