![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/coverimages55715020-cc09.jpg\")
\n\t\tMandy Keefe and John Forge, owners of The Wheel Inn, have already banned children under the age of 14 from entering the pub and other landlords are now considering similar action (Picture: Cover Media)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tMandy Keefe and John Forge, owners of The Wheel Inn, have already banned children under the age of 14 from entering the pub and other landlords are now considering similar action (Picture: Cover Media)<\/p>\n
Pub<\/a> landlords are threatening to ban children<\/a> after fed-up drinkers complained about \u2018feral\u2019 youngsters running amok in beer gardens.\u00a0<\/p>\n Bosses at The Market Inn, in Faversham, Kent<\/a>, said it may become a strictly over-12s venue after kids were accused of tearing up plants, throwing stones and barging into customers while parents looked the other way.<\/p>\n In a blunt Facebook<\/a> post landlord Tim Stowell said he was breaking at point.\u00a0\u2018Sorry to moan, however, it is becoming more and more frequent that parents are not watching or looking after their children while in the pub,\u2019 he wrote<\/p>\n He describes a variety of poor behaviours, adding: \u2018If parents are not willing to look after their children, we will make it a 12-and-over pub at all times. It\u2019s not down to our team to supervise your children.\u2019<\/p>\n A similar appeal for better parental control came from the hosts of The Anchor pub, also in Faversham. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSign up for all of the latest stories\t\t\t<\/p>\n Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates<\/a> newsletter or get Breaking News<\/a> alerts the moment it happens. <\/p>\n \t\t Although not threatening a ban on children, landlord Mark Revell said he is sad to have to draw attention to the issue.<\/p>\n \u2018We can\u2019t believe we\u2019re having to write this so early in the year,\u2019 he posted on the pub\u2019s Facebook page. \u2018Unfortunately, we\u2019ve had a few incidents where children have been allowed to pick, snap, and pull out plants in our garden.\u2019<\/p>\n Mr Revell said this includes leaves being pulled from their Japanese acer, which was planted in memory of his partner Paige\u2019s dad.<\/p>\n \u2018As you can imagine, this is very upsetting,\u2019 he said. \u2018We kindly ask all parents and guardians to please supervise children at all times and respect our garden space.\u2019<\/p>\n Drew Cassell, manager of The Anchor, said that he backed the owners\u2019 message.<\/p>\n \u2018They have raised concerns because it\u2019s just not acceptable for parents to allow their children to run around, out of control, causing damage,\u2019 he added.<\/p>\n \u2018We spend a lot of time and money on the garden to make it nice for customers and all we are asking is for a little bit of respect.\u2019<\/p>\n The Market Inn, owned by Shepherd Neame, is run by Tim and Lacey Stowell, who also have the Bear Inn in the town.<\/p>\n \t\t Both social media<\/a> posts have sparked dozens of comments, with most people lamenting the deterioration in children\u2019s behaviour and parenting<\/a> and supporting a ban.<\/p>\n The Stowells have declined to comment further but received overwhelming support from those responding on their post, as have the hosts of The Anchor.<\/p>\n \u2018Parenting has deteriorated greatly over the past few years,\u2019 wrote John Walker. \u2018Quite often glued to their mobiles while their kids run riot. Most people do not want unruly, unsupervised brats running around while enjoying a social drink<\/a> with family and friends.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018Nothing worse than kids running around and being feral when you\u2019re trying to have a nice drink,\u2019 said Ally Andrews.<\/p>\n Caz Carey commented: \u2018If you choose to have a child, the least you can do is to teach it basic manners and consideration for others. If you cannot do that, I don\u2019t want to drink where you do.\u2019<\/p>\n Replying to The Market Inn\u2019s post, Jacqui Clark said: \u2018Such a shame you have to write this, as you have created a lovely, welcoming pub for the community to enjoy, always with a smile on your face.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t But Stacey Ferguson was less supportive of a ban.<\/p>\n \u2018I understand the concerns about children needing supervision, but I also have to say the post feels quite unwelcoming,\u2019 she says\/ \u2018From the picture, it doesn\u2019t look like there\u2019s anything particularly child-focused to attract kids anyway, just grass and fencing. It\u2019s made me reconsider visiting.\u2019<\/p>\n In 2024, the then-new hosts of the Wheel Inn pub at Westwell near Ashford introduced a ban on under-14s.<\/p>\n At the time Mandy Keefe and John Forge said they wanted to create an adult-only environment where customers \u201cdon\u2019t want kids running about\u201d.<\/p>\n In February this year, former BBC<\/a> newsreader Jan Leeming sparked debate when she complained on X<\/a> about a screaming child ruining her birthday lunch at The Pig at Bridge.<\/p>\n She criticised the parents, who she claims did little to intervene to stop \u2018the little menace\u2019, and suggested that if they could afford the prices at the upmarket restaurant, they could also afford a babysitter.<\/p>\n Ms Leeming said that when she paid, she remonstrated with the staff, but said: \u2018I was treated as though I were the one at fault.\u2019<\/p>\n Her post prompted many comments of support about the bad behavior of children in public venues and the lack of parental control.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/coverimages55715018-e557.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe pub garden of the Market Inn in Faversham, where parents have allowed their children to run amok (Picture: Cover Media)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/coverimages55715010-0452.jpg\")
\n\t\tTim and Lacey Stowell, who run the Market Inn in Faversham, have asked parents to respect the garden at the pub (Picture: Cover Media)
\nWhat has the reaction been?<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/coverimages55715023-5496.jpg\")
\n\t\tFormer BBC newsreader Jan Leeming sparked debate when she complained about a screaming child while having lunch (Picture: Cover Media)<\/p>\n
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