What makes a family friendly pub? Share and you could win £100 NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

As part of the Mumsnet Family Friendly Programme we'd love to know what you think makes a family friendly pub and to name any pubs in your local area which you believe have a great family friendly environment.

Here's what Carrie Longton, co-founder of Mumsnet says "we all know you can have a great family time in your local - but also that it can often be disappointing. We'd love to know what's good and not so good in your local pub - or even about one you discovered on holiday!"

So how do you think pubs could be more family friendly? Should they include a nutritious family friendly menu? Maybe there should be adequate baby changing facilities in the bathrooms? Perhaps slot machines should be replaced with a toy chest for younger children? How about older children - how would you like to see them catered for in pubs? What about customer service - how important is this? Would well-insulated outdoor areas do it for you? What do you NOT want to see?

We'd also love to hear what local pubs you think have a really good family friendly environment. Please state their name, and location (town or village) where they're situated.

Add your views (and pubs!) and you'll be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £100 Amazon voucher!

Click here to learn more about companies who are working to make the UK a more family friendly place

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

Standard Insight T&C apply

Clean high chairs and booster seats for toddlers.

A children's menu that takes into consideration the difference between a 3 yo and a 9 yo. Even if it's just a small plates (one sausage) and big plates (two sausages).

Small cutlery.

Some sort of entertainment- stickers, crayons, outdoor play area etc. NOT soft play!!

Big toilet cubicles.

Separate baby changing so either parent can take them.

Small cups. My DD likes having a drink brought over like everyone else but big glasses are tricky.

Not found somewhere that does everything yet!

A really good kids menu- not just fish finger or pizza, but smaller sized adult meals. I love it when I go to pubs and they don't have a kids menu but let you have smaller portions off the main menu.

Baby changing facilities with a chair to feed. I have never had a chair to sit and feed in a pub before so that would be a pub I'd visit a thousand times over.
Staff who are actually aware of what it's like to go out with children and babies. E.g. Have had a bit of 'training' to be conscious of helping families and knowing what to expect of children at different ages. I'm pretty tired of being asked to put my pram away and having to explain that no my 12 week old baby can't use a high chair; she's asleep and needs her carrycot so it stays with me!

For my family, a family friendly pub is one not full of screechy kids.

Are babies surgically attached to their prams?

We eat out every week. Things we love:
Not too much clutter on small tables (vases of flowers, candles in glass jars, and god knows what else) that have to be moved out of reach or immediately knocked over.
Children's menu with some healthy options, and a range of veg (not just chips).
Small and big kid portion sizes.
Children's food out first, or even better, small bowl of crudités &/or breadsticks and a yogurt dip to keep them occupied while waiting
Colouring and crayons very appreciated
Yogurt/fruit salad as pudding options. (Rather than just ice cream)
The Winking Prawn in Salcombe is our favourite family dining restaurant.

Highchairs and baby changing is great. A bonus is colouring and small cutlery, it always seems to be huuuuge!

My DCs are older but what I would like to see is smaller portions of an adult main course. Children's menus usually have the same old thing: Chicken nuggets, fish fingers, pasta etc and I think DCs today are a lot more adventurous with their food tastes. Also some flexibility with an item on the menu, so you can swap say chips for a jacket potato. And healthier desserts such as fruit slices or a banana.

Friendly staff who actually talk to the DCs instead of ignoring them is a plus. It makes them feel important and more involved. Colouring and a puzzle/activity sheet always keeps them occupied until the food arrives. A pot of about 10 pencil colours instead of only three which are half chewed up.

Also, space is important. I hate being crammed into a restaurant and so do the DCs.

Clean toilets is a must. It really puts me off seeing a dirty toilet. Makes me wonder what the hygiene is like.

A choice of non-fizzy drinks as well as the usuals is helpful.

plenty of space inbetween tables, smaller sized portions from the adult menu, for children. activity packs are a must as well. and friendly staff who have a bit of patience when children change their minds

Baby changing facilities, high chairs, not too dark and dingy and an indoor / outdoor play area.

A beer garden with swings/play area for little ones

The maltings in Perth is really nice, whenever we travel down the A9 we tend to stop there.

It has
A seperate area for family dining
Booths with TVs in if you want one
A playroom inside the dining area
Outdoor play area and seating
Nice kids food
Loads of toilets which are really clean

However I wish they'd get rid of the sweet machine and toy machines - the type you pay two pounds for and get teeny plastic crap

The food is ok too; main selling point tho is when you are travelling and want the kids to be able to stretch their legs it's perfect

A playground/enclosed garden area that is smoke free.
Good food options for children (not fish fingers and burgers).
Good drink options for children (not fruit shoots).
Friendly staff.

A good choice of fresh food on a childrens menu not just frozen fish fingers and chips or hot dog in a stale roll makes a good family friendly place for me and I wish all places would serve children their food first. I'd also like to have outside play areas clearly visible from inside as often you can't get a table outside so if the parents can relax whilst children are having fun then it's win win.

I think a pub doesn't need to cater to young children. A pub should be a pub. By all means provide high chairs and a suitable baby change area if children are allowed, but anything else is an extra.

A friendly environment and space for a buggy is great too! Always a nice touch if they interact with the children too when taking any orders too (asking for their choices rather than just asking mum and dad is something my 8 and 6 year old appreciate). Oh and of course, a kids activity pack or something similar is always welcome!

A clean play area inside & out is great. Activity packs/colouring as well.
Do sandwiches all the time - DD struggles with food but will eat a ham/cheese/jam sandwich. Smaller portions of the adult food - DS is bored of the usual kids stuff, but an adult portion is far to big for him.
It would be great if you were asked if you want the children's food out with the adult starters. Fruit salad available instead of veg with meals too (again DD would love that).
Child sized toilets or the double seat with the smaller bit.
My two are past it now, but nice baby changing and feeding areas. Clean microwaves & bottle warming facilities. Clean & usable (ie with straps) high chairs.

Staff that speak to the children rather than just the adults is always a winner for me. Yes high chairs, changing facilities, play areas, activity packs are lovely but I think lots of places seem to forget that children are people too. My eldest is 10 and nothing infuriates me more than staff ignoring her. From an early age she's been more than capable of choosing what she wants off a menu and asking for it politely so please listen to her rather than look at me rant over!

Outdoor play areas are always good.
Inside, ideally there would be a toy chest, and some board or card games for the older children.
Good choice of non-alcoholic drinks at a reasonable price.
My dc are veggie so a menu with more than one option of child veggie food is always a plus (though they always like baked potatoes and egg and chips).

An indoor play area so the children can play before the meal arrives. If they have to wait too long at the table their manners suffer somewhat!

We love going to our local hungry horse. It has a good selection on the children's menu but they are also happy to swap things around if necessary. They have 2 different size children's menus depending on age and appetite of child, they also have a great choice of drinks for the children-not just fruit shoots. Childs size cutlery is also available. It has an indoor play area and balloons, colouring sheets and crayons, booths with tv's in also a great outside play area with slide, climbing frame etc, grass to run around on and on dry days they put up a big bouncy castle for the children to play on, which is a huge hit!
They have a massive selection to choose from on the adults menu, which can also be varied in size depending on your appetite.
The tables are nicely spaced out too so there's plenty of room for high chairs or prams, it's always nice and clean and tidy and the staff are very friendly and welcoming and always talk to the children not just the parents

Play equipment in the garden, good kids menu, doggy friendly! :)

Unisex baby changing, or changing facilities in both toilets.

Appropriate high chairs that have actually been wiped down.

some sort of play area maybe soft or at least some thing for small kids and something for bigger ones.

I've always thought pubs should have a 'child friendliness' rating, bit like the hygiene ratings you see. I know my local pubs, which ones are child friendly and which are less so. However, when we're in unfamiliar places, it can be a bit of a project trying to find a pub to eat in with the kids. I've had experience of walking into a pub with the kids and the bar staff just pointing at the door without saying a word!

I'd like to see a sign in the window with ratings from 0 (just sod off with the kids) to 5 (Clowns! Crayons!) so I know whether to bother or not.