With only four words, a British pub made millions of enemies, attracted new customers, and started a conversation on (un)acceptable family outings.

On April 14, X user @ItsThatEm posed next to a sign that caught his eye while walking in Fishpool Street, St Albans, Hertfordshire, East of England.

Located outside of Lower Red Lion pub, the chalkboard read “Dog-friendly—Child-free.”

“Found my new local,” @ItsThatEm wrote in approval of the pub’s child-free policy.

In the following hours, the post reached millions of users’ screens. As of today (April 22), the picture of the controversial sign was seen by 75 million people.

A four-word sign placed outside a British pub managed to stir controversy online

Image credits: Lower Red Lion/Google Maps

“I was surprised it went quite as far as it did,” admitted landlord David Worcester, who runs the Lower Red Lion pub.

“I have no objection to children in any other pub, ever; I just don’t want them in mine.

“I enjoy a game of pool but I don’t want a pool table in here, either.”

As he told presenter Jonathan Vernon-Smith, the pub’s policy has existed for “about 11 years,” as per the BBC. 

Worcester decided to place that sign outside following complaints from parents who stated they were only informed about the rule after entering the establishment with their little ones.

For Worcester, the presence of children disrupts the stress-free atmosphere he wants to create for customers in the pub.

“I just want to create an environment where my customers can sit and relax; it only takes one child to kick off, and that spoils it for absolutely everybody.

“We’ve got upwards of 40 pubs in St Albans, all of which are child friendly, and most are dog friendly. I believe I’m the only one in the area that isn’t.”

The sign reminded customers that their furry friends were more than welcome inside, but children would have to wait a few years before they could enter the pub

Image credits: ItsThatEM

Despite this, the sign sparked outrage among many social media users, who argued that no bar should enforce child-free policies.

As some people pointed out, parents don’t want to give up the activities they enjoyed before having children, and sometimes, they cannot hire a babysitter or nanny.

“It’s getting harder and harder to go on a holiday these days as more accommodation places are banning kids. I don’t think it should be allowed, but at the end of the day, if they don’t want or need our business, then that’s fine. I will spend my money where it’s appreciated,” a critic penned.

“Dog people are making me hate dogs,” somebody else wrote, while another sarcastically added, “But dogs barking and sniffing all up on people and peeing in the middle of a place with food is perfectly acceptable.”

“I have no objection to children in any other pub, ever; I just don’t want them in mine,” said pub landlord David Worcester

Image credits: LowerRed

On the other hand, some showed full support for the pub’s policy, citing children’s unpredictable and sometimes uncontrollable behavior as justifications for barring them from entering the establishment.

“I’m all for this! Nothing worse than trying to have a quiet drink or a meal even at a restaurant with friends and some child/children kicking off, running around, etc, and the parents doing nothing about it,” a separate person said.

Another parent expressed their approval of the idea, writing, “I have kids and I get it…. People deserve to go out without kids screaming their heads off.”

Others maintained that pubs aren’t suitable environments for children, therefore making the ban necessary. “As someone who spent way too many hours in pubs when I was a child watching drunken brawls, people cheating with other patrons’ wives, this is only a good thing…” an X user shared.

As a picture of the sign went viral, people quickly jumped to the comments to voice their opinions regarding the pub’s child-free policy

Image credits: RDNE Stock project

Image credits: loweredlion

Meanwhile, many drew parallels between this case and other child-free private spaces, such as adults-only hotels. 

“It’s a choice. There are child-free hotels, too. If the landlord can make a living this way, he should be able to make this an option for his business. Seems there are a lot of other pubs nearby as child-friendly alternatives, which is an important point.”

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This isn’t the first time that a restaurant or pub has tried to avoid meltdowns from their youngest customers. In March, a restaurant in New York took a different approach by rewarding parents of “well-behaved” kids with a discount.

Additionally, some cruise lines, like Virgin Voyages, offer adults-only experiences for those who don’t wish to sail the seven seas with children.

“I’m looking for a child-friendly, dog-people-free place,” a social media user wrote

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