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

I like the pubs with child-sized cutlery and their own menu. I don't like self-closing doors in the toilets, our small fingers found out the hard way :(

Having all the facilities in place that are easily accessible and clean. Staff that make you feel welcome and that having your children with you is a pleasure and not a chore!

Somewhere that there's a sensible kids menu (all the classics but some healthy options too). When our DD was very young one particular pub would give her food for free as she'd only eat a few mouthfuls.

Big safe pub garden with somewhere for children to play.

Plenty of highchairs and quick service!

The Windmill in Peterborough is fantastic. They have a beer garden that's split into 2, an area with a play park clearly for the families and a second one for people who don't want to be surrounded by kids.
I like going places with my kids, but on those nights off from kids I don't want to listen to other peoples kids screaming!

I do think there should be clear rules on when children are welcome. I really dislike being out at 10pm and seeing children in the bar, restaurant areas are different.

We went to an amazing gastro pub near us (The Livesey arms), the sort with just 6 things on the menu and which very few children would eat. As soon as we started looking at the menu the waitress said 'let me know what the children will eat and we can cook that separately' it was fab, my son had a smaller portion of what everyone else did and my daughter pasta. The other thing they did I really liked was my son asked about muscles, I told him not to order as he'd never had them (did not want to waste his meal on something he wouldn't eat!!) yet within 5 minutes the waitress had bought 6 out in a small bowl, one for everyone on the table to try.
It was small touches like this that means despite the high (and justified prices, the food is amazing) I keep taking family when they come to stay. The thing I love most is the Livesey Arms haven't spent money on catering for children, they simply spend their time on amazing customer service

Somewhere that has entertainment on for the kids - my local regularly has minions, frozen or superheros at the sunday carvery :-)

A dedicated play area would help keep children and drinking adults apart.

Clean highchairs, changing facilities, colouring books and proper crayons (not just a few unusable stumps) & a interesting menu a bit more than just nuggets or fish shapes with chips maybe some smaller portions of the adult menu

Things to do for the children like a play area, a nice food area were u could enjoy a family meal

Agree with the varied kids menu that isn't all in (it's the drinks that bug me. We're paying for one but she doesn't drink any juice, usually water which is free).

Also, if bugs me when children's menus try to dictate your choices with suggested ages (yes, my DD is 13 months but she wants real food, not some sloppy 12months+ baby meal).

We've found Our local Toby Carvery is good. The staff always have a smile for DD, we don't pay for her meal (you can't ask for meat on a baby/toddler plate but I always give her some of mine) and the high chairs aren't those wooden contraptions.

Open spaces, a back garden where kids can play without getting harmed. Maybe a swing...But open spaces is primordial.

Our local is brilliant. We have a separate area for those with smaller children meaning that we do not have to worry about disturbing 'couples'and it also means that we can have a meal in peace when child free.

A big ask would be child size toilets/sinks in the bathroom.

Indoor and outdoor play areas. Friendly activity packs, none spill disposable cups, bibs to be provided.

It should also be pointed out to parents that the children are their responsibility and should they be extremely misbehaved/loud they should be asked to leave.

Things are a lot better now with the no-smoking policy. A family-friendly pub should have good food with interesting options for children (not just chicken nuggets and burgers!). And indoor and outdoor play areas ... perhaps for the parents too!

A good family friendly pub is one that doesn't make you feel secluded if you have kids with you. It should have a nice atmosphere and have lots of facilities for families.

A play area for the children and a family friendly selection of food :)

A good child's menu and a mini playground in the beer garden or fun toy/game/activity pack available with their meal

Children's portions of adult foods, my children love things like salmon, steak and quiche and are sick of bloody chicken nuggets /sausages. And veg please. Not everyone wants baked beans.

Space between the tables-helps with buggies and also feels less obvious when breastfeeding etc.

A good mixed menu so kids can eat healthily or have a treat

Some sort of play provision-does t have to be much, just a toy chest is appreciated.

Crayons and the usual activity sheets are good, but plain paper is always useful too!

The things for me would be:

1. Clean highchairs.
2. A decent children's menu with a variety of options on.
3. Some colouring pencils etc whilst waiting for food can really help keep kids entertained whilst we wait.
4. Children's cutlery.
5. A microwave / bottle warmer available to warm up food for infants.
6. Baby jars available to purchase if required.
7. Spacious car parking areas for loading children and bags into.
8. Bringing children's meals out once it's cooled down slightly rather than scalding hot and having to deal with tantrums for 5-10 minutes whilst it cools.
9. The option to have children's meals brought over first to avoid having to distract hungry, ratty children for ages.
10. A couple of different sizes of children's meals (e.g, under 5's sizes and under 10's sizes). DD is only 19 months and some children's meals are enormous for her and clearly aimed at more like 7-8 year olds, and we end up paying for a meal which she's only going to eat less than half of. I'd rather pay a couple of pounds less for a smaller version.
11. Clean baby changing facilities either in a unisex area or a baby change facility in both the male and female loos so it's not always me that has to do the nappy changes (also sometimes DH may take DD out without me if I'm working etc, and it's a pain for him if there's only baby changing facilities in the ladies loos).
12. Child friendly staff.
13. A bit of open space for kids to run around is always appreciated, although obviously not possible everywhere.

Somewhere that is reasonably noisy (not rowdy!) so that you can feel comfortable with your kids being there and they do not have to be on "best behaviour" all the time and everyone can feel relaxed. Also - accommodating the menu to kids if they want to vary a dish at all.

A family friendly pub should have a good children's menu, a play area inside & outside for kids & maybe a separate room for families to dine so as not to disturb other diners

Space and something to keep the kids entertained, if there are some kind of play facilities then the adults can enjoy the experience a bit more!

Colouring sheets and crayons

We're lucky enough to have a few lovely family friendly pubs around here... The Three Cottages, The Elm Tree, Elm Tree Farm (2 different pubs, very similar names). The things that make them good are:

• Great choice on Childrens Menus
• Small play areas... not a big soft play but an area with a few toys.
• Pencils and activities provided
• The Elm Tree has amazing waiters that really interact with the children.
• Good changing area
• Space for pushchairs for those who have babies

An outdoor play area for the children and allowing them into the restaurant

Baby changing facilities separate to the male or female toilets so DH isn't going into the ladies. Larger toilet cubicles so an adult and toddler can fit in. Healthy food options for children that include more than fish fingers and chips. Staff acknowledging children makes a huge difference. The activity sheets are a great novelty.