The owners of a pub who received a complaint about school children entering without being asked for ID have branded claims 'upsetting yet laughable' as those spotted in uniform are their own children.

Katie Francis who runs The Coach House in Maidstone with husband Steve said she was taken aback by an email from her licensing officer.

It said concerns have been raised about children from Valley Park School coming in without the proper checks and not following social distancing rules.

The couple, both 40, who have five daughters, aged between 16 and four say their two eldest attend the school in Huntsman Lane, and if any children were spotted in that uniform, it would have been them.

Mr Francis added: "It's a time to be pulling together and being one. It's very sad that somebody has mistaken our own children coming home from school with us letting pupils in without asking for ID.

"Why you would ask anybody who's in a school uniform for ID anyway, I have no idea because quite clearly they would be under 18 so we wouldn't serve them alcohol."

The couple, who have owned the business in Queen Anne Road for more than a year, explained children are welcome into their family run pub which follows the strict over 25 policy.

Mr Francis said: "We have been inspected three times by the licensing officer and we have passed every single one because we don't tolerate anybody not abiding by our rules and social distancing is important to us and our children and to be accused of this is quite upsetting but somewhat laughable as well.

"We have got five girls so we know how important it is to look after others, especially young people.

"If people have issues we would rather they came to us about it first before overreacting because times are hard enough as it is. We don't need unnecessary agro."

Mr and Mrs Francis have also just taken on the The First and Last public house in Bower Place.

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