7 Best pubs with play areas in Somerset
I’m pretty sure I’m not the first parent to feel nostalgic for their former pub-going days, idling hours away in a beer garden, getting twirly on a cheeky glass, tucking into tasty grub and talking in uninterrupted sentences…Dining experiences with young kids in tow, where you actually relax and savour your food, are elusive at best. It can be a big ask for little ones to stay seated for an entire meal, no matter how many colouring books or devices you’re armed with.
So in my opinion, finding good pubs with play areas is like stumbling across a nugget of gold. Add to that some tables overlooking the playground, a great atmosphere, good food, some epic views and lovely countryside walks nearby, and you’ve got yourself a priceless parenting combo.
Here are the best pubs in Somerset with outdoor playgrounds where you can eat, drink and be merry while the little ones play!
The Salthouse, Clevedon
Located right next to Clevedon Marine Lake, The Salthouse in Clevedon sits in a cracking spot on the North Somerset coast. From its raised outdoor decking you can gaze out over the Bristol Channel towards the town’s elegant Victorian pier and Wales in the distance, while splashing kids, SUPers and diehard cold water swimmers make strokes up and down the tidal infinity pool.
The pub was used as a salt mine in the late 1800s before becoming a private residence and later a hotel. It’s been in the hands of the current owner for some 20 years and is the perfect place to refuel after a seaside stroll, marine lake dip, or to have a bit of downtime while the kids play in the large, grassy playground. For optimum pub enjoyment with children in tow, grab a pew overlooking the play area, so they can whizz about, clambering over the wooden equipment, while you sip refreshing beverages, tap along to live music and tuck into tasty food.
You’ll find your standard pub grub on the menu, which is regularly updated with daily specials and roasts on a Sunday. For kids, the meal deal, which includes a main meal, dessert and drink for £6.45, is good value.
If, like me, you enjoy earning your lunch with a preprandial stroll, you’ll find a rather spectacular one with glorious estuary views starting just behind the pub, at the wooded end of the marine lake. Known as Poet’s Walk, strollers can follow in the footsteps of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Alfred, Lord Tennyson, who were inspired by this patch of Somerset. Head in the opposite direction to follow the seafront promenade all the way to Clevedon Pier.
For extra family entertainment, there’s often a bouncy castle pitched on Salthouse Fields on warm days, just across the way.
The Ring O’ Bells, Compton Martin
A member of the Butcombe brood (whose Brewery is just down the road in Wrington), The Ring O’Bells is a charming village pub in the heart of Compton Martin in the Chew Valley. Just down the road from a 900-year old Norman church, the pub itself, which dates back to the 16th century, can lay claim to its fair share of history. Charming olde worlde features reveal its age – think dark wooden beams and lower than average doorways. While inside is pure cosy country pub vibes, with lots of comfy seating and open stonework, it is the outside space that offers families a compelling reason to visit.
The large beer garden is divided into a hedge-enclosed dining area, close to the outdoor bar, and children’s play area. Further tables can be found under the trees, overlooking the playground, and more yet on a huge lawned area beside the large car park. The entire garden backs onto a sweeping field and woodland, with distant houses sandwiched between the hills. It’s a beautiful spot for al fresco dining and drinking, with plenty of equipment to keep the kids entertained.
Patrons can expect to find an extensive menu with everything from snacks, sharing plates, starters and light dishes to hearty pub classics, flatbreads, salads, burgers and buns, plus exciting dishes for non-meat eaters. Everything is crafted from locally-sourced produce, and their website features a map revealing the origins of each ingredient within the West Country. If the English weather is playing ball, they also open up their Smokehouse and BBQ Menu, which is brimming with mouthwatering bites.
The World’s End, Taunton
One of only ten British pubs to bear such a name, The World’s End pub near Bradford-on-Tone, is not in any way related to the apocalyptic quest featured in Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg’s film of the same name, (though there is a nod towards the theme – see if you can spot it).
Inside is a huge space with beams and flagstone floors on show. On summer days, the terrace and garden with children’s play area are the place to while away an afternoon with drinks, sharing plates, pub classics, as well as more unusual dishes such as a ‘nourish bowl’, or pulled mushroom burger.
Riverside Inn, Saltford
Sitting on the banks of the River Avon between Bristol and Bath, The Riverside Inn has one of the biggest and best pub gardens in the area. The enclosed childrens’ playground is overlooked by picnic tables, so you can keep one eye on your offspring tearing around the climbing frames, and another on the sunlight sparkling in your drink.
You’re close to the Bristol and Bath Cycle path here, so this is a good one to add as a cheeky stop to enjoy a beverage, lulled by the rush of water over the weir in the near distance, if you’re heading along this route.
The Castle of Comfort, East Harptree
In the heart of the Mendip countryside, close to Cheddar and Wookey Hole, the curiously-named Castle of Comfort (so-called, it is believed, for serving death row prisoners travelling from Wells Jail to Gibbets Brow back in the 1600s), has the feel of a traditional country pub, thanks to its rustic beamed bar and ancient fireplace.
Outside there’s a ginormous beer garden with lots of seating and a fantastic, large grassy children’s playground overlooking green fields. On the menu you’ll find generous portions of home-cooked food, beverages from Somerset breweries, plus a weekly guest ale and rough cider.
The Swan at Swineford
Sitting at the foot of rolling hills and surrounded by open fields, The Swan at Swineford, part of the Bath Ales family, is a welcoming spot for families. The charming country pub exudes cosy inn vibes, complete with crackling fire on chilly days.
Outside, the spacious beer garden features tables under a marquee, with a perfect view of the children’s playground. It’s an ideal place to relax with a pint while the kids burn off some energy or refuel after doing a walk nearby.
The Nut Tree, Worle
The Nut Tree in Worle is a family-run, independent gastropub, renowned for its delectable British dishes, good selection of real ale on tap and impressive wine list.
It’s a great one for families seeking a pub outing with children in tow, thanks to its spacious beer garden with outdoor dining tables and a small children’s play area.
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