Who do I complaint to about a pub?

[EmmaDalton]

I have just visited a pub and a drunken group of customers shouted to my 2 year old son "will you shut up you little b*****d". I was completely horrified, I tackled the abusive behaviour and one of the group got up and held my arms to tell me that my son needed to leave. My son was not causing any disturbance and was simply playing with his toys. The waitress was related to the group and the manager simply allowed them to continue with their meal despite my concerns and other guests. The group then proceeded to stick their fingers up at me, it was only then the manager came over. I am completely horrified by the behaviour of the group and the lack of action taken by the pub. I want to complain to a regulatory type body but not sure where to go, any ideas?

[Smowball]

That sounds awful - but why were they telling your son to shut up?? what was he doing?

[FrillyPancake]

I have seen myself in the same situation, having to bite my lip with a noisy kid when trying to have a quiet drink or a meal with my husband in an adult environment ie pub etc, this doesn't make the behaviour of these yobs alright, i think it was tackled in the wrong way, all I am saying is its very frustrating when you are trying to have an adult conversation and you can't hear yourself think over a kid screaming or kicking off...........

[mikey4444]

Emma. You seem to have had a dreadful experience and my sympathy is with you. But the responses from some of the people on this site are deplorable. I fear that ignorant people appear on the 'net, just as easily as they appear in Pubs.

Your experience seems to be typical of the loss of courtesy in Britain these days. I'm afraid that those people in the Pub have been brought up to be ill mannered and the contagion will spread to their off-spring as well, perpetuating the problem. I am willing to bet that they had tattoos !
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Hopefully you will have happier times eating out in the future. Give your little lad a cuddle and try to forget about it.

[ELVIS68]

"I am willing to bet they had tattoos"

What a ridiculous thing to say!

[Answerprancer]

You could also blacklist them or recount the story to this website:
http://www.beerintheevening.com/
I did once and afaik, my message is still there.

[masma]

Try Googling the name of the pub, that should give you the owner. Write a strong letter of complaint no-one has the right to swear at your child or to put their hands on you.

[Tilly2]

Emma seems to have stopped responding to all the questions and suggestions.

[Anngel123]

Emma, although I sympathise that you have had an upsetting time. I agree with some of the others that a pub is not a suitable place for a small child. As a mother with older (in their twenties) children, it drives me nuts to have paid for a meal only to sit and listen to some whining small person. And don't even get me going on Starbucks and Costa (I think they should have quiet areas!!) Most parents are thoughtful and try to quiet their children down. Some think it is perfectly acceptable to have ultrasonic squealing. I don't know which of these you are, but please consider this. That said, the behaviour of these louts was disgraceful. A letter to the owner of the pub would be my starting point. If you know the name of the waitress who stood by mention that. Make you letter advising rather than condemning. And say how disappointed you are, and if you have been before mention this. good luck!

[RATTER15]

Mikey >>I am willing to bet that they had tattoos ! << what a pathetic comment, grow up!!

[cathfromsaron]

was this a family friendly pub chain? or independently licensed place?

[trionam]

Im not surprised emma hasnt responded given some of the comments she clearly said it was a family restaurant/pub if a pub promotes its self as family friendly why wouldnt she go there with her child as for the comment take the child to mcdondalds seriously,dont let this go Emmadalton start with a strongly worded letter of complaint and go from there.

[Tilly2]

I think she hasn't responded because it was not true.