Seems odd. So right now my kid can sit at the bar at Red Robin with me, but he won't be able to at pubs? And when I bring him, I'm restricted to a table but he can roam around? I agree though it's alot about the size and business of a place. Cabarets that just open for evening liquor service will not be allowed kids.
Few pubs are open all day and until late, but some are. Particularly, pubs attached to hotels can usually stay open 14 hours daily, so 12noon until 2am. Sopranos is a bar you likely would not want to take your kid to day or night, but it's in the same category as Smith's Pub or the Swiftsure Lounge, or the Sticky Wicket.