Can kids go to breweries (during the day)?
Posted by salem913@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 55 comments
In the US, it’s really common for families to bring kids to breweries during the day / early evening - especially ones that are bigger and/or have outdoor space. Some are especially kid friendly and have games, kids food menus, etc.
Is this common in the UK? Or is this an American thing?
josh5676543@reddit
Look up family pubs some will have a play area in the beer garden
lace_roses@reddit
Okay so lots of people saying breweries aren’t a thing you go to in the UK, but there are some (I’m only familiar with a few in the north west but I don’t drink much beer and I imagine there’s more all over the place), and yes, they are generally like pubs in that you can take kids during the day. Not all offer food at all, many have food trucks so you can have whatever those serve (not necessarily kid specific but what kid doesn’t like fries or pizza). Some aren’t that kid friendly - just like pubs, check out the vibe before you go online.
Serious_Escape_5438@reddit
I didn't mean they don't exist at all but it's not the first place people think of to socialise, you're most likely to go if you particularly like beer. The most common choice would just be a pub.
Criticada@reddit
A lot of these taprooms offer other drinks like spirits, wines, non-alcoholic drinks, etc. And some will have a kitchen or some food vendors or let you order food from places nearby.
Serious_Escape_5438@reddit
Of course they offer other drinks, but I feel it would be odd to go to one if none of the people going were going to drink beer at all. Anyway the ordering food from nearby isn't really the same as what OP's talking about, that's letting you eat so you stay and drink longer, not really catering to children.
Criticada@reddit
Nah, I’ve done it my kids. Just order food and they come and deliver it. The establishments know each other as neighbours so they work well together. And I just mentioned food as part of my experience being in taprooms in the U.K. The taprooms I’ve been in the US serve food as well.
Serious_Escape_5438@reddit
I didn't say you couldn't, but OP asked if there were places with kids menus.
Criticada@reddit
Of course some do. Not all. Same as pubs and restaurants.
Serious_Escape_5438@reddit
I don't think breweries are common places to go and socialise in general. But in recent years lots of pubs have become family friendly and often have the things you mention.
Criticada@reddit
Brewery taprooms are quite common nowadays to go and socialise, and lots of them if not all are family-friendly. Even have games and stuff for customers to use.
Serious_Escape_5438@reddit
Of course they exist, but I just looked it up out of interest, there are less than 2000 breweries in the UK and only about a third have taprooms. I'd hardly call that very common in the UK,. There are around 45000 pubs in comparison. Apparently they're concentrated in certain areas, including Yorkshire as the other commenter mentioned, which I suppose is why some people think they're very normal and others have never heard of the concept.
Lopsided_Snower@reddit
Here are the top ten in Yorkshire alone:
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g186407-Activities-c36-t133-West_Yorkshire_England.html
Serious_Escape_5438@reddit
I didn't say they don't exist, but the normal first place people go just to socialise is a pub. You mostly only go to a brewery if you particularly like beer, it's an active choice. I understand that because the US doesn't have family friendly pubs they are more likely to go to breweries for a similar social gathering.
Lopsided_Snower@reddit
its fine to just not know about something
Serious_Escape_5438@reddit
Well if I didn't know they existed (although I do) they clearly wouldn't be an extremely common place to go. I was just trying to convey to OP that in my opinion a pub generally fulfills the kind of function they're talking about. But obviously it depends on your social circles and where exactly you live, if you have a good one nearby that will be your first choice. They're still much less common than normal pubs, so pubs are more often the first choice.
Lopsided_Snower@reddit
OP asked for a specific thing, you said nah and said go to a pub, when the thing OP is asking about is on the rise and become much more common place, while the thing you're recommending, is in decline
Serious_Escape_5438@reddit
OP asked if it was very common to find breweries with facilities for children. In my opinion breweries still aren't very common places to socialise, even if they're becoming more common. There are still many more pubs than breweries, which often do cater to families. I wasn't recommending them go anywhere, was just giving my observations. A marketing article and list of breweries not even mentioning children doesn't seem like conclusive evidence to me, but it's not that important to me, was just giving my opinion. If yours is different that's fine.
Criticada@reddit
It’s more common in the U.K. to bring kids to bars, pubs or taprooms. I’ve seen too many videos of American parents being looked down or turned away for having kids in such establishments in the US.
j_boy_russ-L@reddit
I went for a tour round a distillery in Scotland and they wouldn't let me in with a 6 month old baby. Not because of health and safety concerns, but because he was under 18.
DameKumquat@reddit
Shepherd Neame Brewery (Kent) do tours and tastings, but you have to be 18 too.
j_boy_russ-L@reddit
I know, that's my local! Small world!
DameKumquat@reddit
Had a work trip there. I don't like beer so I was very popular!
Spottyjamie@reddit
Scotland for licencing is far stricter than England mind
Spottyjamie@reddit
It depends
Some more rural ones here on a sunday for example are family friendly. Ie more af/low on tap, kids activities.
But some like a city centre one esp on a saturday would be very much wet led adults only
Do you know which ones you want to go to?
Sea-Still5427@reddit
Craft/micro breweries that are essentially hospitality places, it should be fine. My local proper brewery won't allow under 16s to do the tour or go in the cafe.
Rich6-0-6@reddit
Go on a Saturday to a craft brewery/tap room on an industrial estate with some wooden picnic tables, a menu written on pallets, fairy lights everywhere, a food truck outside and bar staff in mustard-coloured beanies and Lucy & Yak dungarees.
The place will be swarming with 30-somethings couples with their kids and their adorable corgi X something-or-other/Frenchie/Pug
(M40s, no kids or dog but wife with lots of Lucy & Yak dungarees)
Strong_Roll5639@reddit
Basically described most breweries in Bristol 😂
Rich6-0-6@reddit
See you at Lost & Grounded yeah?
Strong_Roll5639@reddit
Dog day! My dog is on 2 of their cans 😅
Shadysunhat@reddit
Beak?
reader270@reddit
Sounds like Gipsy Hill brewery
Lopsided_Snower@reddit
absolutely nailed it
Beartato4772@reddit
It depends on the establishment. It's legal for them to let you but you'd have to check.
Ynoxz@reddit
A lot of the comments here are assuming a brewery is a large industrial type.
If we’re talking tap rooms for smaller breweries then in general yes. I’ve been in numerous breweries with kids running around during the day. It’s worth checking ahead however.
Tuarangi@reddit
Our local brewery with tap room is like this, kids allowed to 6pm, it's more a question of what to do there as it's just tables and chairs and drinks, not like they have a play area or food
LittleRebelbunny@reddit
Depending on the Brewery then yes, I've taken my little one to many taprooms and have seen a lot of other Millennial parents there, plus my little one loves people watching. One brewery near me got a lot of flack for posting on Social Media about reminding parents that it is a pub firstly and that if your child is crying then take them outside or in the toilets.
rybnickifull@reddit
Breweries in the UK are generally industrial facilities. You can no more go to one than you could take them to a lightbulb manufacturer.
Ok-Blackberry-3534@reddit
Every craft brewery has a tap room these days. I've got about 7 within walking distance of my house.
jaymatthewbee@reddit
They’re not asking about big industrial Molson Coors/Heineken type places but craft brewery tap rooms, which are everywhere in the US and fairly common here as well.
Harrry-Otter@reddit
I’ve got a few microbreweries around me, kids there all times of day. It’s never too early to teach the little uns about lambic fermentation.
Colleen987@reddit
No one really goes to breweries unless you work there? I guess some have tours and I can’t seen why you couldn’t bring kids.
Given your mention of food etc do you mean pubs? In which case yes - you can bring children.
Tumeni1959@reddit
Licencing laws vary within the UK, particularly between Scotland and England.
Generally, breweries tend to brew the beer, then deliver it to pubs and other licenced premises.
Remote-Pool7787@reddit
Breweries that have a tap room or similar, yes children are often allowed. Breweries that do tours are usually 18+ only
v00g@reddit
They're more than welcome at the cider mill. Yes, sir.
OkIncrease6030@reddit
It’s not unusual to find parents with kids at the Nottingham tap rooms for Neon Raptor, Liquid Light, etc.
BillyJoeDubuluw@reddit
Breweries: Yes, but it might be variable by venue. The last time I visited a brewery it was for a Hallowe’en party and they were raising money for charity. Children were there until about 7 or 8o’clock.
Pubs: Yes and no, it can depend on the specific venue. Some pubs are very family friendly and centred around accommodating children and some pubs are very much adult only.
Immorals1@reddit
Yes, take my kid all the time. Very social spaces and the beer is aplus
jaymatthewbee@reddit
Yes, I went to the Runaway Brewery taproom in Stockport recently and pretty much every table either was a family with children or with a dog.
Taprooms are sometimes more family friendly than pubs because usually they’re more spacious for pushchairs and such.
Ecstatic_Effective42@reddit
Nah, we just let 'em drink at home.
Some smaller breweries do have tours like https://www.blacksheepbrewery.com/products/black-sheep-brewery-tour or the National Brewery (old Bass Museum) https://nationalbrewerycentre.co.uk/visit-ticket/
BaBaFiCo@reddit
Brewery taprooms? Yeah super common. Some don't allow kids, but the ones that do are usually popular with millennial parents.
Ollagee@reddit
There are quite a few breweries near where we are in east London who are very welcoming to kids! I think it’s rare for there to be games or kids food on offer though (at least in my neck of the woods)
mellifluous-genie@reddit
If you mean pubs, then yes.
dpwtr@reddit
I hope not.
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