Children's food feature - Child's play
PubChef helps hosts get the inside track on the family market with ideas from licensees across the country… and some frank views from half-pint customers.
They've bags of energy, can be fussy, noisy and demanding - but dismiss them at your peril. We are, of course, talking about children and how catering for the family market can set your tills ringing. But pubs have to get it right - from the types of food, to the facilities on offer to keep your younger customers content. With this in mind, PubChef went in search of licensees' top tips from around the country:
Healthy options Lee Eggle, licensee of the Old Courthouse, in Mawgan, Cornwall, uses Quorn on her children's menu to provide her younger customers with a healthier option. "Children themselves want a wider choice of foods, and healthier options," Lee comments. As children have an instinctive wariness of healthy foods, it is important to empower young people to make positive decisions about the foods they eat, and provide foods that can be healthy, and nutritious yet still familiar. "I always have Quorn products in the freezer - nuggets, sausages, burgers, and fillets."
The pub also provides a children's box which includes colouring pencils, paper, Lego and books. As one regular comments: "We can pop in for an after-work pint, or spend a lazy Sunday afternoon enjoying lunch while the children play in their own garden, complete with gazebo."
A clear difference The Farmers Arms in Bispham Green, near Parbold in Lancashire is the first no-smoking pub in the north west. This has increased its appeal to people with young children. Lessee Martin Currell says: "People want their children to eat in a healthy environment and therefore the implementation of this policy has undoubtedly increased the number of families who eat here." The pub offers its younger customers a mix and match menu. Children can choose from fish stars to mini sausages, from mash to BFCs (big fat chips) and from spaghetti hoops to broccoli and baton carrots. The pub also offers its young customers free Softy whip ice cream which, time permitting, the children are allowed to dispense themselves. The Farmers Arms has a large self-contained outdoor play area.
That's entertainment
Families first. That's the motto of Pam and David Watts, licensees of the King's Head in Letheringsett, Norfolk. Entertainment is definitely the name of the game as far as their younger customers are concerned. The pub's garden includes a specially commissioned wooden play castle, a living willow tunnel, bikes, toys and a giant snakes and ladders game. Pam says: "Our own kids have taught us what children really want and it's not all computers. They like getting out there and playing properly. They need somewhere completely safe and to lose mum and dad for a few hours." The pub is host to many bands who provide outdoor concerts for families to enjoy free of charge. Its children's menu offers mini portions of fresh foods that might be found on the adult menu plus a few childhood favourites such as peanut butter and Marmite sandwiches. There is also a pick and mix section for kids to create their own meal. Home-made baby food is available, too.
Perfect portions
Andy Dungate, owner of the Queens Arms in Egerton Forstal, Kent, says: "In my experience, I have found most children have quite grown-up tastes, so we tend to provide half portions of most dishes from the main menu. This is particularly successful with older children, who like to be treated as young adults. "About 90% of all our food is made from scratch by our chef, who uses fresh local produce whenever possible. I think this element really impresses parents who are concerned with their children's diets."
Quality is key
Anthony and Allyson Windle, licensees at the Three Crowns in Brinkworth, Wiltshire, feel strongly that the quality of children's food is important to their business. "We've got two children's menus, one for younger children with familiar foods like beefburgers, and one that we call our Little Adults menu for older children," explains Allyson. "This includes things like a home-made steak and kidney pie, and a smaller 6oz rump steak. We've also got more adventurous dishes, and if they spot something on the adult menu that they'd like, we can do plates for children to share."
Get balance right
Peter Nottage, landlord of the Sussex Oak, near Horsham, West Sussex, believes it's important for pubs to take responsibility for offering a balanced diet for children eating with their families. "We encourage children to eat adult food, so all the dishes on our menu are available as half-portions for children," he says. "We also have a special children's menu for our younger visitors - including a junior roast beef. All of this is freshly prepared in our own kitchen. "We run a family orientated business and a lot of our trade at the weekends includes families eating with children so it's important that parents feel their children are being offered quality food and a wide choice." The pub also offers highchairs and colouring sets to help parents entertain the children while they enjoy their meal.
What they really want is...
Do you really know what your younger customers want? Here, a selection of children describe their ideal pubs
Georgie, 11, Broomfield, near Taunton, Somerset Dream dish: Pasta with tomato sauce and cheese Ideal pub: It'd have a nice, quiet atmosphere but some nights, it would have live entertainment. There would also be lots of food to choose from. Favourite chef: The chef at the Fitz Head Inn in Fitzhead, Somerset Dream Dinner Date: Busted or The Black Eyed Peas
Emily, 10, Bexhill On Sea, East Sussex Dream dish: Chicken korma Ideal pub:It would have Dalmatian-spotted wallpaper and pictures of dogs and horses everywhere Favourite chef: Ainsley Harriott Dream Dinner date: A sheepdog
Courtney, 9, Collaton, DevonDream dish: Toad in the hole Ideal pub: My ideal pub would have lots of computers, PlayStations and X-Boxes to play on Favourite chef: Daddy Dream dinner date: Caprice
Emily, 6, Portslade, East Sussex Dream dish: Roast dinner Ideal pub: Each table would have its own television and video and a selection of tapes so that you could watch TV while you're eating Favourite chef: Ben from CBeebies' Big Cook, Little Cook Dream Dinner Date: Scooby Doo
Abbie, almost 4, Thrapston, Northants Dream dish: Fish fingers Ideal pub: It would have a really big soft playroom Favourite chef: Mummy Dream dinner date: Barney
Kindergarten flop, or kinder surprise?
Many pubcos offer family-friendly concepts. In the first of a new series, we put to work a panel of ruthless judges - kids of course - for their views on what's on offer.
The brand: Spirit's - the Vine Inn, Ower, Hants - reviewed by Isabel, 7 and Charlie, 3 What's cooking? Nearly all the dishes on the menu are served in mini portions, which are just right for kids. There's also a section called mini mini where there is a choice of pizza, chicken fillet strips with chips and petit pois or beans, lasagne or sausages with mash and gravy. Desserts include ice cream with a choice of Cadbury's buttons, Refreshers or Crunchie nuggets. Yummy or yucky? The food arrived on a small plate which was just the right size for us. Usually we get far too much food when we go to restaurants and it's a bit daunting. Entertainment: There were no ball pool pits or outside play areas - although there was a large garden. However, we didn't really need them because of the fantastic "MTEC system" at our table - a touch-scre
