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

baby changing,high chairs, space and staffs attitudes towards children

Friendly & patient staff are what makes a family pub for me there's nothing worse than rude staff when the kids are playing up, if they are patient and at least try to put themselves in a nackered parents position then that really makes life easier. A kids play area outside is also a massive bonus, as it gives the adults a few minutes to relax!

Our local is great, it has an outdoor play area, plenty of space inside, so you are not sat on the people at the next table. Alcohol is reasonably priced, food also.
Good selection of food for grown ups and kids (different menu, but some 'proper food' too - not just chips).
It's by the canal, so really well located to go for a nice walk after filling up on food.
They have baby changing in both toilets, high chairs (plenty of them).
Families tend to sit on the tables closest to the outdoor area to keep an eye on the kids, leaving the bar free for drinkers and another eating area where people without kids tend to sit (meaning done peace and quiet if they want it!) it's not segregated, but tends to end up like that.
There really is something for everyone.
And best of all its only a 10 minute walk from home!

User friendly highchairs, food options that aren't either burger, pizza or tomato pasta, and most importantly some outside, smoke-free space for the children to run about in.

I like pubs that have decent changing facilities for a start, maybe a play area of some sort, friendly staff and a decent menu. I'm not impressed by pubs that always serves chips, chicken nuggets and sausages and no decent sides like peas or any vegetables.

A nice selection of healthy alternatives for kids instead of just chicken and chips or pizza would be good and maybe a kids play area. There is a pub near me in Liverpool called the Netherton which is great. Nice selection of kids meals and a little play area out back with a slide and climbing frame.

Quite corner where I can breastfeed my baby,
good choice of healthy food for both adults and children or the possibility to order half portions,
safe colourful plastic cups for children,
chaging facility and high chairs,
outside playing area or the inside soft play area (ideally in the middle of the room) so the child does not want to run behind the bar, to the kitchen or outside...
There is one restaurant in Gdansk, Poland, where the owners organise some attractions each Sunday, such as magic shows, puppet shows or even the jazz for the youngest. Children just love the live music and we could eat our meals in peace.

A good playpark outside, a varied children's menu which is not just the usual chicken dippers/fish fingers/sausages and chips. Crayons/pencils on the table. Space for the kids to run about on grass outside.

For me the key is getting the balance right so adults don't feel that they are eating/drinking in a soft play centre but at the same time children are not bored, can find food they like and practical issues (like nappy changing etc are made easier). For me some ways to do this would be:

1. A few indoor toys/activities for children (without having everywhere covered in bright yellow plastic)- eg. colouring sheets/crayons, books, a box of small toys.
2. If space permits, an outdoor play area- but not next to/in the middle of the smoking area. This should be fenced off so children can't easily run in to the car park/road.
3. If there is an outdoor play area, there should be tables nearby where families can eat on warm days (or maybe just have a drink on a warm evening). Again, these should not be the smokers tables.
4. No smoking by the entrance- I hate having to fight my way through a fug of smoke with children in tow. This is the one thing that puts me off certain places more than anything.
5. Nappy changing facilities in male and female toilets, or a separate changing area.
6. One cafe near me brings a pack of wipes to the table if you have small children- which is just a small touch but makes all the difference if you are dealing with sticky fingers and have run out! This sort of small gesture also makes families feel welcomed (and not just tolerated).
7. Decent food for adults and children. For most people (whatever age) eating out is a bit of a treat so I'm fine with the less healthy foods being offered but not all children want to eat something on breadcrumbs and chips every time they go out. Also, a couple of sizes of child portions would be good- a seven year old will eat far more than a three year old. Both these issues could be sorted by offering adult menu meals in three sizes. For me personally it would be good if these were labelled as small, medium and large rather by age as so we could also get a medium portion for the MIL who gets upset if she feels over-faced by a large meal.

A good varied children's menu at a sensible price, and the flexibility to let you order something different. I sometimes order my children one adult meal between the two of them and ask for a spare plate; I've been particularly impressed when waiting staff have even offered to split the meal between 2 plates for me in the kitchen.

My children like it when their menu is also a colouring/activity sheet, and when they are provided with pencils or crayons. It's really nice when someone has taken the trouble to make sure that the pencils are all sharpened and there are a range of different colours in the pot.

I prefer it when you don't pay an all-in-one price for a starter, main and dessert for children. I want to pay for each bit separately, and decide which bits we want.

Attitude of the staff is important - our local pub is very friendly, and the staff make the children feel included.

It's nice when the layout of the pub is such that you can sit a bit "tucked away" and not worry about disturbing other diners.

High chairs, room for high chairs at the tables, toddler and child sized portions of adult meals with a proportionate price (rather than 75% of the price for a 50% portion). And staff who acknowledge the existence of the children. One pub we loved pre-children we had to request cutlery for our daughter for both the main course and the desert and when the waitress came to check if everything was okay she said, "Is everything okay for you both?" And when we asked for glasses of water with our meal she only brought two.

one that allows well behaved children in and has free soft drinks for them

Space - indoors and outdoors for little ones, including prams. Some activities to keep them occupied, and most importantly a friendly attitude from owners and staff to create a nice atmosphere for everyone!

The attitude of the staff makes a huge difference. I've been to places where they don't accommodate buggies, high chairs etc and I don't have the time of day for that. We normally go to the pub with other families so tend to have a few buggies. I always mention this when I book and some places go out of their way to give us space... More often than not, we've ordered loads of food and drink and the bill is quite a lot.

A pub with a children's menu, clean high chairs with space to fit them around the table and an outdoor play area or space :-)

1. Kids play area
2. Kids menu
3. Readily available high seats

If a Pub has all these then they are kid friendly

we clearly all have different ideas of what we would like (or would have liked to see when our kids were young)

Our favourite places had no childrens menu - just allowed us to order small portions or starters. I vastly prerfer this personally.

No indoor play areas, they may be toddler friendly, but they aren't family friendly.

Yes to somewhere outdoors to play - but mostly for older children who don't need adult supervision.

free wi fi (it is anti social, but useful in an emergency teen situation when adults are talking forever and ever)

A decent range of soft drinks - visible, so that kids dont have to stand on tip toe to see behind the bar or ask the bar staff what they have - especially important for teens this.

Sanitary stuff available in the loo and a choice of dryer or paper towel. Decent clean space to change a child.

chairs not benches so that you can sit at the distance you want from the table - especially useful if breastfeeding or with wriggly toddler. Enough space behind your chair so you don't crash into the person behind you.

Dont make the lighting too dim or music too loud. Acoustics are really important, especially for older people. In a family pub Granny/Grandad need to feel just as welcome as everyone else.

Space for wheelchairs without everyone having to rush around making a fuss of moving things. Decent accessibility.

Good food and friendly service .

• Outdoor play area that's enclosed so you can safely send the DC out to play
• Healthy kids' menu that has the usual safe choices plus smaller versions of the adults' meals. With flexibility to pick and choose sides etc.
• Good allergy information - if it can be checked on the website that's extra helpful
• Kid-sized drinks rather than having to pay £2 for an adult-sized lemonade
• Activity sheet/drawing paper/pens at the table a must!
• Non-smoking outdoor tables
• No to indoor play areas though - too much noise!
• But above all else, a friendly and welcoming environment

If it is dry and sunny a garden stocked with some activities for children is a huge bonus. Indoors baby changing facilities, high chairs, colouring sheets & crayons and a good, varied childrens' menu is really helpful :)

A spacious environment (room the pushchairs), a good supply of highchairs and acitivites for the children (colouring pens, pads, toys... a nice family area), a good quality childrens menu that caters for different dietary requirements. Clean and large changing rooms. I don't want to see dirty tables, changing rooms that are filthy.

One with kid's menus, one that doesn't stink of beer!, one that has a lovely outdoor garden area for the summer - that's always pleasant. Highchairs available for children, too.

A good family friendly pub has outside space, play ground a bonus, happy tolerant staff (and customers) and a menu with simple food (plus veggie children's options) that they're happy to change to accommodate extra fussiness!!

small versions of adult meals, not just the usual chicken nuggets etc, childrens cutlery, plenty of clean high chairs and space for them and somewhere safe and clean for the children to run around that is smoke and dog free

We have a local that has a specific area for families that has a toy corner full of dressing up outfits, books and small toys. This is a great way to keep the kids entertained whilst the adults are trying to finish their meal. There's also a small garden area thats sealed off and can only be accessed through the rear of the pub - making it safe and secure too. More pubs should have this.