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

Lots of space between tables, a reasonable kids menu, a play area and staff who are child friendly!

Outdoor playground and variety of childrens menu,not just chicken nuggets and chips

No kids, sorry but some parents seem to come in to pubs and just let their children run wild (NOT ALL BUT SOME). A pub is not really the sort of place to be bringing children although I will admit it's OK in a pub garden during the summertime up until early evening.

For me it has to have a little play area because my 2 and 3 year old won't sit still, also healthy meals on the childrens menu not just chicken nuggets and chips and the food has to arrive fairly quickly because as above children won't sit still for long.

A family play area

Now my kids are past the toddler stage I look for

• a childrens menu with a range of choices or a willingness to make half size portions of meals from the normal menu (not all kids want chips and chicken nuggets)
• a salad bar or nibbles are great when you have hungry kids waiting
• a play area or colouring things are a bonus but we usually bring our own books and pencils anyway
• somewhere with proper seats - my kids can't manage a meal when sitting on bar stools, sofa's or very light chairs that tip over easily

cold childrens plates / and not boiling hot childrens food.

i love my food coming out hot, but hungry little ones with hot plates and even hotter food...do not want to wait for it to cool down.....i'm not saying i want cold food coming out, but maybe not leave it under the heat lamps until it is practically bubbling on the plate would be helpful.

good food options and an area away from other diners where they can play

A variety of healthy, freshly cooked food at reasonable prices. Play areas would be a bonus!

High chairs, crayons and a fun children's menu.

healthy food choices are a must and a bright area to eat in. A play area in the garden is nice in the summer as well. As long as the foods good, it's a reasonable price and the staff are friendly, then that's the main thing

I think a nice play area and a good childrens menu with healthy food and at a good price

I think what makes a family friendly pub is having kids meals, with veggie options for kids and adults, a play area outside is great too, also the management not letting drunk people stay longer in the pub than necessary!

Space is the big one for us . We usually take a heap of things with us and just for our sanity it great not to have to be overly conscious of bumping people next to us .
Also staff . There is one "family pub" near us where you can almost hear the squeak of eyebrows raising as a family actually walks in . If you want my family visiting welcome ALL of us .

Changing facilities, high chairs and a childrens play area! x

Pub is not a place for children I feel. You can't relax at all and the whole point of relaxed evening is gone!.. Sorry.. do you mean a restaurant where you can drink a little too!?

Pleasant atmosphere, not too noisy, where good food (including children menu) is being served.

DEDICATED PLAY AREA FOR KIDS.

The staff not frowning at your young children because they are not sitting statue straight and remaining at the table is a good start! Quite impossible for our three year old girl and I'm sure our daughter isn't the only one!!

Decent food for kids rather than just chicken nuggets or sausages. A nice pub garden to play in.

a play area

A kids menu, high chairs, water bowls for dogs (if they let the dogs in then I always see it as more of a family place!) :)

For me it's a decent kids menu with some kind of colouring or drawing activity for them at the table. It's nice to have play areas etc but that takes them away from the table, so prefer to avoid that if we've gone for a nice family meal.

I think the things that make a family friendly pub are:

1. Separate family sitting area - it means that regulars dont get all narky cos kids are running around and the area they are allowed in is safe and secure and you know its just for families
2. Low toilet and sink and baby changing station available in mens and ladies toilets OR a family toilet which can be accessed by either sex which has these facilities
3. Kids meals on the menu - kids size drinks and sugar free drink options such as milk / squash etc - microwave for warming baby food and highcchairs / booster seats available
4. Outdoor play area which is clean, safe and secure
5. Indoor play area with games / tv playing kids shows etc where kids can play safely
6. Clean station where you as a parent are able to access things like wet wipes, paper towels, longhandle brush and dustpan so you can choose to clean up after your children. (other people may not want this but I personally would prefer to clean up after my kids)

Friendly, understanding staff, a varied kids menu, a safe space for children to play and a relaxing area for the adults.