Parent? Then you’ll be in need of a child-friendly boozer! Finding pubs with play areas in Bristol is like coming across liquid gold. Discovering somewhere the adults can get twirly on a cheeky gin and tuck into tasty grub, while the offspring wear themselves out tearing around the playground – priceless. A place where you can talk in uninterrupted sentences with other grown-ups, because the kiddos are busy racing around the garden – show me the way!
It also helps if the pub with garden for kids in question has baby-changing facilities, a great atmosphere, staff who don’t blink twice through all the boob feeds, discarded food on the floor, tantrums and sea of buggies, plus great food and locally-sourced beverages.
Consider this blog a public service announcement: I bestow unto you the best pubs in Bristol with play area. Cheers!
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Best pubs with play area Bristol
The Eastfield Pub Bristol, Henleaze
Small independent Zazu’s Pub Co. recently took over the reins at The Eastfield, you may know them from Westbury Park Pub, The Alma Tavern, The Greenbank and The Knowle.
Inside is huge – there’s tons of seating where family groups can snuggle themselves away, and there’s a skittle alley, which customers can make use of if free. Parking onsite is a bonus and the food’s tasty too. As far as child friendly pub gardens go, this is a good’un! The outdoor play area is larges and includes swings, slide and wooden climbing structure.
The Royal Oak Gloucester Road, Bristol
Our old local pub, The Royal Oak Horfield used to be excellent when it was a family-run affair. Since I last visited however, I’ve heard reports it’s gone slightly downhill for families after being taken over by new management. The pub still has a beer garden with children’s play area, but I don’t think the slide exists anymore and sporting events are given a fair amount of focus.
The Lazy Dog, Ashley Down
To find a drinking establishment in Bristol with as much outside space as The Lazy Dog, plus a kid friendly beer garden is excellent indeed. Inside it’s rustic industrial-chic, while outside, there’s a large garden with artificial grass, tables and booths to sit and enjoy a beverage or two, plus a little wooden Wendy house for kids to play in. There’s also a games corner for kids, who are welcome until 7pm.
The Farm Pub St Werburghs
Plonked amongst sprawling allotments and animal paddocks, and oozing urban grunge, this art-emblazoned pub, The Farm, is home to a lovely large family-friendly beer garden with sheltered and open air tables. While it doesn’t have its own play are per se, it is just a stone’s throw from the animals and outside playground of St Werburgh’s City Farm.
You can visit the pigs, goats, chickens and sheep (for free), then let kiddies loose in the wooden playground of the city farm before refuelling with some excellent food and drink next door at The Farm.
The Crafty Cow, Gloucester Road
This child-friendly pub 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 space with lots of tables and chairs (under cover of canopy) for kids to run wild in warmer weather, which is currently open for food and drinks.
Pubs with best play areas near Bristol
The Salthouse, Clevedon
One of my favourite pubs with garden for kids, thanks to the coastal vista, playground itself and activities on offer nearby is The Salthouse in Clevedon. Based in a listed building right next to the start of Poet’s Walk and Clevedon Marine Lake, this pub has a playground within view of some of the outdoor seating area, so you can sit, eat, and drink in pints and views while the kids play (the perfect child rearing combo right?)
It’s a picturesque spot, particularly on a sunny day and the perfect place to refuel after a seaside stroll or dip in the marine lake. For extra family entertainment, there’s often a bouncy castle pitched just across the way on warm days, and the Salthouse Fields miniature train skirts the field opposite.
The Salthouse has a small-ish car park right next door and if you manage to get a space here you can redeem the cost against your food and drinks. If it’s full, there is a bigger car park right next door.
New Inn, Mayshill
Dating back to the 1600’s, this kid friendly country pub, New Inn, sits just off the A432 between Coalpit Heath and Yate. Outside is a lovely lawned pub garden with children’s play area – monkey bars, balance beams and a climbing wall, plus a marquee for sheltering under with your pint (and good food!) Look out for the miniature pygmy goats (Joey and Chandler), sure to be a hit with little ones.
Ring O Bells, Compton Martin
The Ring O Bells is a charming village pub, managed by Butcombe Brewery, serves up oodles of atmosphere alongside a scrumptious menu of locally-sourced ingredients, seasonal dishes and pub classics.
Grownups should add this to their list of country pubs with children’s play area as its perfect for a scenic pint in the big beer garden or ‘Secret Garden’, while kiddos amuse themselves.
The Rising Sun, Backwell
The Rising Sun gastropub with rooms in the heart of nearby Backwell is run by Butcombe Beer. A haven for families, walkers, cyclists and locals, it’s great for families thanks to its large grassy beer garden with children’s play area.
The White Hart, Littleton-on-Severn, Bristol
One of the best country pubs outside bristol, this characterful pub, The White Hart, in the village of Littleton-on-Severn is just a 15-minute drive out of the city. Once a 17th Century farmhouse, the inside oozes old-world charm, while outside there’s a great big garden with picnic tables and lovely views (although not an actual playground per se). 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 Star, Tickenham
It it’s country pubs with play areas you’re after, head to The Star near Tickenham. Surrounded by rolling green fields and hills, The Star has a big garden, spaced out tables and a kids’ playground. It’s been ages since I ate here and it’s recently been taken over by new management, but seems to get the thumbs up in the family-friendly stakes.
The Lock Keeper Keynsham
A 10-minute drive from Bristol, the Lock Keeper – as the name suggests – sits in a pretty spot on the banks of the River Avon, next to a lock. It’s been a licensed public house since the 1700s (albeit under a different name) and is a cracker of a pub that ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to kid-friendly boozers – massive outside beer garden (just watch them near the river!), tasty grub, and they serve an excellent-looking gin.
While there’s no actual play equipment for kids, their grounds are also large enough to fit in their very own Petanque pitch and there’s a large grassy area where you can see the water rushing over the weir up-close. If you fancy a pre- or post-pub stroll, there are riverside walks to Bath (Swineford) in one direction and Bristol (past the old Fry’s Chocolate factory) in the other.
The Swan Inn Swineford
It never fails to amaze me how you can drive just 25 minutes out of Bristol and find yourself in rolling rural countryside. Sitting at the foot of sloping hills and overlooking fields this Bath Ales-owned, this family-friendly pub with garden play area is a great place to end up after doing a walk nearby. Inside the pub has a characterful charm, with cosy country inn vibes and a roaring fire in the hearth on cold days, while outside you’ll find beer garden tables under a marquee, overlooking an outdoor children’s playground, where you can enjoy your pint while the little ones play.
Click to find out more about The Swan Inn
The Riverside Pub Saltford near Bath
This family-run Saltford pub with outside play area sits in a great location on the banks of the River Avon. As well as river views and sheltered outdoor seating, the pub has a large playground, with tables placed alongside the play area so you can sip your tipple in peace while the kids play (be aware you can’t book these though – it’s first-come, first-served). Well-known for their Sunday carvery.
The Bath Soft Cheese Company, Kelston
Tucked away in the midst of rolling green hills and fields is Park Farm – the home of The Bath Soft Cheese Company. If you’ve ever tasted the award-winning, artisan handmade cheese, it’s idyllic countryside origins will go a long way to explaining why it’s so damn delicious.
Although more of a cafe/restaurant than a pub with kids garden, you can still sink a cider or beer (alongside some scrumptious cheese) while kids play in the great outdoor playground while you do it!
Their website shows some fantastic country walks to do in the area – I recommend the short circular, riverside walk with young kids, before heading back to the cafe for some tasty grub.
*Tip: take an empty bottle with you to fill up with their super creamy milk before you leave.
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