I've been taking my baby to our local pub since she was four days old. She would sleep peacefully for hours in the baby sling, lulled by the white noise of clanking glasses and chatter.

Now she's 8 months old and very well known around the place. We come in a few times a week and the other regulars take turns bouncing her and walking her around the pub to look at stuff. When my BIL came over to babysit, he took her to the pub and we got pictures of them hanging out with some regulars and playing with beer mats.

She and I were in last week and ended up chatting to a nice lady with a dog. After a few minutes the lady sheepishly admitted that although we hadn't met, she had already met my baby when my BIL took her in! It was nice of my baby to introduce me to some of her friends!

EDIT: I’m American so maybe I still don’t fully grok UK pub culture. This is a big London pub which is child friendly. No scuzzy weirdos and there are lots of options in the neighborhood for people who don’t want to be around kids. My kid doesn’t yell and when she does I take her home.

We have regulars from ages 22-86; the younger members took care of the older over COVID. Many of us are imports from elsewhere so we support each other. We’ve been to one another’s weddings and funerals. I guess some of you might prefer we all shuffle back and forth between work and the couch for our whole lives, but we like each other! I’m proud of my community.