Family-Friendly Fare
Our favourite family-friendly restaurant list...continued.
If you think we've missed out a real family gem, let us and other parents know by clicking here.
Essex: The Cricketers, Clavering
You'd expect Jamie Oliver's parents to put out a red carpet for children in their Essex pub and the Cricketers doesn't disappoint. The children's menu features free range chicken strips and organic salmon, while more educated younger palettes can enjoy any of the main adult dishes in a children's portion size.
We like: trying the food that inspired school food champion Jamie Oliver.
Where: Clavering, near Saffron Walden, Essexl
Price: Main courses on the children's menu start at £5.25
Click here for the Cricketers website
Norfolk: The King's Head, Letheringsett
Winner of countless awards, this Norfolk pub has a massive garden complete with child-sized Norman castle and toddler toys. There's an extensive children's menu complete with jam sandwiches and homemade baby food. If the weather's bad, head indoors to the playroom with snooker and table football.
We like: their accommodation of special diets from gluten-free to diabetic.
Where: Letheringsett, North Norfolk
Price: Sandwiches start at a bargain basement £1.20.
Click here for The King's Head website
Norfolk: The Victoria at Holkham
A great family favourite, the Victoria is situated just a few minutes from the white sands of Holkham Bay. There's a playground in the garden at the back, a separate menu for the kids and the staff are extremely friendly. Best of all, once you've finished lunch you can walk off the calories on the beach.
We like: this restaurant/hotel's perfect location
Where: Holkham, Norfolk
Price: £6.50 for two courses
Click here for the Victoria website
Sussex: Momma Cherri's Soul Food Shack, Brighton
A Brighton landmark, Momma Cherri's offers soul food and sustenance to families in off the beach. There's a separate kids menu with the usual children fare. The Junior Soul Burger and all plates come with a small salad, fruit and corn on the cob.
We like: the massive, gut-filling portions. Starve yourself before a visit!
Where: 11 Little East Street, Brighton
Price: £5.50 before 6pm for meal, fries, salad and corn on the cob.
Click here for the Momma Cherri's website
Cumbria: Gilpin Bridge Inn, Nr Kendal
Keep the kids happy and their parents will have a great time; that's the thinking behind Craig and Melanie Thorpe's award-winning pub. Although there's fish fingers for the fussiest of eaters and the kids' menu features chips with all the main courses, adult meals can be served in child-sized portions and there's a huge new outdoor adventure playground.
We like: the cupboards full of building bricks to keep little ones happy
Where: Bridge End, Levens, Nr Kendal
Price: £3.95 for choices from the Kids Menu.
Click here for the Gilpin Bridge Inn website
Manchester: Head Over Heels, Chorlton
This huge indoor family experience boasts the perfect combination of children's entertainment
and top-notch food. It's no wonder then, that Head Over Heels, was voted as one of the best
kids' restaurants in the UK in this year's Observer Food Monthly Food Awards. Let the kids run
up an appetite in the play centre and then tuck in at the restaurant, knowing there's no fast
food in sight.
We like: the food ethos - locally sourced and freshly cooked.
Where: The Albany Trading Estate, Chorlton, Manchester
Price: Main courses start at £3.75.
Click here for the Head Over Heels website
North West England: Olive Press
Set up by Michelin-starred chef Paul Heathcote, the four branches of Olive Press promise no
chicken nuggets on their menus and all the burgers are chargrilled. Instead, kids get involved
in the cooking process, by making their own pizzas.
We like: that toddlers aged under 3 eat for free
Where: Preston, Manchester, Liverpool, Warrington and Bolton
Price: £7.50 for a main course and a dessert
Click here for the Olive Press website
North West England: Ego Restaurants
Based on the premise that the Italians and Spanish know how to eat and have fun, the Ego
chain of restaurants promises good food in a laid-back environment and a promise that
everything is cooked fresh.
We like: that all the children's dishes are low-salt and low-fat.
Where: Chester, Heswall, Liverpool, Bramhall and Stockton Heath
Price: £4.50 for two courses with the Little Ego menu
Click here for the Ego restaurant website
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