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Hackney’s Kenton Arms Becomes Adults-Only After Safety Incidents and Complaints

Landlord Egil Johansen says repeated incidents and a failed curfew left the drinks-led venue without a safe way to manage children.

Overview

  • The pub announced it will admit only over-18s at all times, saying staff cannot take responsibility for other people’s children.
  • Management had reduced a long-standing child curfew from 7pm to 5pm and added prominent signage, but behavior did not improve.
  • Reported incidents included a child running into the cellar and falling on a manager, near-collisions with staff carrying drinks, and unsupervised kids approaching dogs.
  • Reaction has been mixed online, with some praising the change for safety and others lamenting the loss for well-behaved families.
  • The Kenton shifted to a drinks-led model after ending food service in 2022, and the owner says other pub operators have asked about adopting similar rules.