Country pub slammed for sign banning children… but locals LOVE it and hit out ... trends now
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.
After the sign attracted a huge amount of hate online on Sunday, it was still outside the pub on Tuesday
The Lower Red Lion in St Albans, Hertfordshire came under fire for their 'child-free' and 'dog friendly' policy
Simon Cooper, 43, who has lived in St Albans all his life, said the policy 'doesn't bother' him
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.'
The sign has been outside the pub for a long time and went viral after a user on X, formerly Twitter, innocently posted a picture of it online
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
