The Ferry Boat Inn, Felixstowe

The pub building is full of character, and it's position and surroundings are very pleasant. However, the pub's policies on children are archaic and customer care is appalling - definitely not a family friendly pub. One presumes that this pub is relying on being positioned in such a place that it does not have to try too hard to attract and impress customers.

In my experience, on a Sunday afternoon outing with my young and extremely well behaved family, the attitude of senior barwoman was well below what you would expect in this industry, particularly in the current economic climate when many pubs, restaurants and hotels are struggling. I entered the pub with my 8 year old daughter, leaving my wife outside in the wind and cold (even though it was June!) with our 14 month old son to continue to read an A4 notice containing a list of pub policies (which change depending which day of the week it is!) in small print fixed outside of the entrance door. I was greeted with a stern bark from the woman behind the bar. I asked whether it was acceptable to have children in the pub and I was told, "No, not unless you are having a meal."

I was unsure whether my wife wanted to stay for a meal, so I just ordered some drinks. Whilst waiting for the drinks, my wife agreed to stay and we brought our son in the pub in his pushchair. We were then served with the drinks and told that we cannot have a meal with a child under five years old in the pub. It was if the barwoman took some delight from informing us of this. I was amazed at the insistence of this policy, bearing in mind that although there were a few ramblers having a drink outside THERE WERE NO OTHER CUSTOMERS ACTUALLY IN THE PUB! I therefore can't comment on the food, but the take away packet of crisps was nice.

Oh, and another policy was 'No puchchairs allowed in the pub due to Health & Safety reasons' which must surely be referring to the safety of young child in order to protect them from exposure to the certain scary staff members.

This pub certainly knows how to discourage families, and discourage the adults from ever returning on their own. Speaking to other people and reviewing other comments made, my experience doesn't seem to be isolated case.

With a few minor changes to policies and improved customer care which would cost nothing, this pub could be so much better. Maybe whoever owns/manages this pub is happy to leave things as they are and take what revenue they get, but they are certainly missing out on the pub's potential. If you don't like kids, this is the place for you.

21 Jun 2010 14:24