Since becoming a mama, I have come to realise that parenting is mostly about reaching the happy medium for both parents and child, and doing whatever works to keep both parties happy. For example, finding a child-friendly pub with an outdoor play area, where you can get twirly on a lunchtime cider or guzzle vats of gin while your offspring admire cute animals or play on the swings. It also helps if the place in question has changing facilities, a great atmosphere and staff who don’t blink twice through all the boob feeds, discarded food on the floor, tantrums and sea of buggies and changing bags. So if you’re anything like me, you’ll appreciate this little list I’ve put together on the best pubs with outdoor play areas in Bristol.
The Eastfield Inn, Henleaze: A pub with soft play and an outdoor play area!
I can’t shout from the rooftops enough about this place, it’s no wonder it won an award for it’s child-friendly efforts. Inside is huge – there’s tons of seating where family groups can snuggle themselves away and toys are available in the kids area to entertain the young’uns. Baby and toddler groups run riot in the skittle alley/soft play room on weekdays and there’s a vast garden with great outdoor play area, including swings, slide and wooden climbing structure. To top it all off there are ducks and bunnies too! Parking onsite is a bonus and the food’s tasty too.
Another Scorcio #summer day pic.twitter.com/IBcuZqExNW
— The Eastfield Inn (@theeastfieldinn) June 25, 2018
The Royal Oak, Gloucester Road
What a treat it was to discover that our local pub serves delicious grub, a lovely range of meals for kids and has a great outdoor play area and pizza oven! There are toys and books should children get a bit antsy while you’re eating and the staff are forgiving (should your toddler try and join them behind the bar) and helpful too.
The Lazy Dog, Ashley Down
To find a drinking establishment in Bristol with this much outside space is excellent indeed. Inside it’s rustic industrial-chic, while outside is a large garden with artificial grass, tables and booths to sit and enjoy a beverage or two and little wooden wendy house for kids to play in. There’s also games corner for kids, who are welcome until 7pm. The owners also own The Windmill in Bedminster, which is equally family-friendly. Crack-a-lacking.
The Crafty Cow, Gloucester Road
This child-friendly pub belongs to the same family as the Eastfield Inn and ticks all the boxes when it comes to good ol’ family boozers. Inside is huge, so it’s particularly good if there’s a gathering of a few families with young kids and there’s a fenced-off indoor children’s area to keep little’uns entertained while you catch up over a swift half or two. They also have a big outdoor play area with lots of tables and chairs for kids to run wild in warmer weather.
The Gloucester Old Spot
This family-friendly Bristol pub has that gastro vibe going on, so it’s perfect for a special lunch or evening meal out when the kids are in bed. However, if you’re planning on taking them along with you, the pub caters perfectly for them. The extensive menu features lots of locally-sourced, award-winning food, plus imaginative dishes for kids. In summer it’s great for whiling away a sunny afternoon in their garden while the kids run amok in the wooden castle and tyres.
The White Hart, Littleton-on-Severn, Bristol
If it’s a good ol’ family-friendly country pub with an outdoor play area you’re after, about a 15-minute drive out of Bristol, you’ll find this characterful boozer. Once a 17th Century farmhouse, inside oozes old-world charm, while outside there’s a great big garden with picnic tables and lovely views. Borrow a blanket if there’s a nip in the air. It’s also dog-friendly if you’ve got a pooch in tow.
The Pony & Trap, Chew Magna
This Michelin-starred pub, run by Bristol’s celebrity chef Josh Eggleton, makes me want to up sticks and go and live the Chew Magna country lifestyle. Only 20 or so minutes from central Bristol, you’re in rural countryside here with rolling North Somerset hills, farms and fields to gaze out from the outdoor tables. While there’s no ‘play area’ as such here, there’s a ton of gorgeous outside space with orchard and veggie patch to explore if your kids won’t sit still at the table. The food, service, vibe and view here are all phenomenal.
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Totally agree about the Eastfield. One of the most child friendly pubs I’ve ever been in. Loads of space, and the large beer garden even hosts ducks!
And apparently there are rabbits coming soon Rich! Thanks for the comment x
Aah see I would totally class it as Bristol! But I will certainly accept your challenge and find another city pub – that’s why I put the Gloucester Old Spot on there, I’m yet to try it but I’ve heard very good family-friendly things. Thanks for reading.