Country pub slammed for sign banning children… but locals LOVE it and hit out at bad parents for 'bringing up their kids poorly'

A country pub that was slammed online for a sign banning children has been backed by locals who love the 'quiet' boozer as they hit out at parents for 'bringing up their kids poorly'. 

The Lower Red Lion in St Albans, Hertfordshire came under fire for their 'child-free' and 'dog friendly' policy after a social media user innocently posted a picture of himself with the sign, captioned 'found my new local'. 

Users on X, formerly Twitter, reacted with fury to the post- which was seen by more than 70 million people - with one person comparing the ban on children to 'pro-extinction [of the human race] culture'.

Another asked 'why it has become socially acceptable to hate children?' while others supported the boozer's stance and called for more child-free and dog friendly venues.  

Despite the vitriol the post sparked, locals told MailOnline they support the 'lovely' pub's strategy. 

And the boozer, where a traditional fish and chips costs £14.50, appears to be sticking by their policy - which has been illustrated by the sign for a long time. 

One resident, who lives only a few doors down from the pub and asked not to be named, said 'a pub is not a place for children'.

'I think it is a great sign. I don't see a problem with it. I can't think of another pub that is dog friendly and child-free,' he said.

'I don't have a problem with dogs in pubs. If dogs are being a problem, they can easily be brought under control. A pub is not a place for children.'

He added: 'It is an adult environment. It is because parents can't find childcare arrangements that they bring their kids to the pub usually.

'The kids don't want to be in pubs so they misbehave. And if they do misbehave, it is because they have been poorly brought up anyway, that is why their parents have brought them to a pub.

'There is absolutely no shortage of pubs in St Albans for people to go to with children. As far as I'm aware this is the only one which is dog friendly and child-free.'

Jacqui Hall, 60, who was visiting St Albans from Harpenden with her daughter Dani and her granddaughter, questioned if parents should be bringing their children to pubs.

She said: 'If it's a pub, should parents be bringing in children anyway?'

Dani said St Albans had a lot of young families and some cafes around the area struggle for space due to all the prams.

Jacqui said: 'Some people want a child-free period. There is a minority of people who want their time on holiday to be quiet time.'

Dani added she would consider bringing her child to a pub but only if it had a garden where they would be free to run around.

Students Samuel Mackinnon, 22, and brother Oliver, 19, both support the sign.

The pair grew up in St Albans with their parents but have now moved away for university.

Oliver said: 'There are enough places in St Albans where people can go for a drink.

'If that was the only place where people could go for a drink, I would definitely understand it.'

Samuel said: 'I think dogs are easier to control than kids. I think it is more acceptable for a dog causing a riot, barking and going crazy to be taken outside by the owner, rather than a child.'

Oliver added: 'I work in a pub and I can say dogs are much easier to clean up after than kids. Kids can leave a real mess everywhere once they leave.'

Tom Robertson, 74, and wife Kathy, 68, are regular visitors to the pub and are in favour of the pub's policy even though they love children'.

Kathy said: 'We like to go in for a quiet lunch or evening meal. It is a lovely pub and the food is gorgeous.

'We love kids, but when we go on holiday we make sure we book an adult-only hotel. We just came back from a holiday and it was great - so peaceful.

When asked if they thought dogs could sometimes misbehave as badly as children, Kathy replied: 'I have never seen dogs be a problem. Most dogs that people take to the pub behave themselves.' 

Retired civil servant David Roberts, 63, travelled to St Albans for a day out with his wife from Watford. 

He said: 'I think they should be allowed to do what they want. I think they also need to gauge with their customers to see what they want. 

'The pub we go to is dog-friendly and they allow children to go in as well. I thought pubs were much more family-friendly these days.'

Cyber security worker Jamie Constantinou, 46, who has lived in St Albans for 20 years, recognised the sign when it went viral online. 

The father-of-one said: 'I wonder why they did it - is it a joke? Or do their customers really like it? 

'I think if they are a pub they can do what they want. It doesn't particularly bother me.

'I didn't personally get offended by it but I can see why people did. It was just said a bit flippantly.'

He added: 'I think if they are going to have a no-child policy they have to explain the reason, like they can't accommodate highchairs or they can't cater to some allergies. 

'Are they actually enforcing it? I think they can do what they want but it will put a lot of people's backs up.'

TV producer Chrissie Bibby has lived in St Albans for 15 years and is quite familiar with the sign.

She is supportive of dogs in pubs and said: 'As long as the dogs are well behaved, I think they should be able to stay.

'I would sometimes pet a dog in a pub if it was cute. But if it was something scary like an XL Bully, I would go to a different pub - unless it was on a tight lead.'

However, retail workers James, 41, and Marisol, 36, said they think the policy could be discriminatory.

The parents said they disagreed with the policy and believed that people should have the choice of whether to bring their children into a pub.

James added: 'I think it could be discriminatory. You have got to keep kids under control.

'It is up to the parents to control them. If they are causing problems they have to be controlled.'

St Albans locals Peter, 84, and his wife Pauline, 75, were shocked that the sign is being displayed so blatantly.

Pauline said: 'I think it is atrocious. I have no idea how they get away with it. I would think they would want all those customers. 

'I don't know how they can get away with it, writing a sign like that in this day and age.'

The couple have two boys who are adults now but said they did take them to the pub when they where little.

Pauline said: 'If you live around here, you didn't t have anyone to leave them with.

'Whenever I walk past the sign, I always point to it and say, "look it's still there". I think it is discrimination against people with children.'

Peter added: 'I prefer to sit next to a child rather than a dog, purely on hygiene standards.

Simon Cooper, 43, who has lived in St Albans all his life, said he has no issue with the sign he has seen as long as he can remember.

The Sky Sports worker, who has both a dog and a nine-year-old daughter, said: 'It doesn't offend me at all.

'It is just a different option for someone. I don't walk past and think I can't go in there.'

Mr Cooper said he does occasionally take his three-year-old Cockapoo Hudson into the pub, but said he is quick to take the dog out of the pub if it misbehaves.

He said: 'I give it a couple of yelps but then I get him out. I find if he misbehaves I'm quicker to take Hudson out rather than my daughter when she was younger.

'I don't mind if a pub has no kids. I'm not fussed.'

Married couple Carole, 81, and Colin Troote, 84, who were visiting St Albans from Kent, said they disapproved of the sign.

Retired social worker Carole said: 'I am in favour of social eating with children. What I don't agree with is taking children to eat and not giving them any boundaries.

'Children are children but I have seen too many parents, and they are mostly middle class, who let their children run riot. 

'We were out having Sunday lunch recently and we got bothered, you see it all the time. Or the parents put them in front of their screens.'

Retired prison officer Colin added: 'I think dogs should be outside.'  

The Lower Red Lion declined to comment when approached by MailOnline.