Babies & Kids in the City 2013 is available to buy now online! It's completely new with some fab ideas on what to do with children aged 0-11years.

Days out in Manchester - Babies & Kids in the city

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Assheton Arms (The) – Clitheroe

The village of Downham is often quoted as being the most beautiful in Lancashire – lovely grey stone mullion windowed cottages and, uncommonly now, no yellow lines on the road, no television aerials, no overhead wires spoiling the countryside views. Its quaintness makes it a popular choice for filming, most recently ITV1’s The Secret of Crickley Hall.    Downham was my Grandpa’s favourite place to visit, especially the pub at its heart – The Assheton Arms. After a walk with friends in nearby Pendle, we chose here for lunch. We were seated at a large farmhous...

Bells of Peover (The) – Lower Peover

After a lovely autumn walk round the Peover countryside we headed to this beautiful whitewashed country pub just outside Knutsford, located down a little cobbled road. In spite of muddy boots we were warmly welcomed, both by staff and the open fire burning in the bar area!     This is a country pub that prides itself on serving locally sourced, seasonal produce. It has a simple junior menu with mains from £5. Our children plumped for the homemade burger and hand-cut fries, beautifully presented on a wooden board.   The Bells of Peover offers several menu choices. Price...

Black Swan (The) – Lower Withington

Too often in the modern age of the gastro pub, style rules over content, but this homely pub nestled in beautiful Cheshire countryside bucks that trend and delivers both in an extremely accomplished way.   Auspices were promising as we pulled up - The Black Swan is very pretty and the finger post pointing one way to the Boules court and another to the outside wood-burning pizza oven with eating area indicated this was a pub that was making sure it stands out from the crowd. Not overly surprising, as it hales from excellent pedigree - it’s the “little brother” of The Sw...

Clog and Billycock (The) – The Ribble Valley

Eating at The Clog and Billycock is such a lovely treat – I only wish that there was one a bit closer to me in Didsbury! Meeting up with an old school friend and her two-year-old son Jack, we hit this Ribble Valley Inn after a good romp round the playground delights of nearby Witton Park.   The Clog and Billycock is an award-winning gastro-pub with a delicious line-up of dishes from celebrity chef, Nigel Haworth. It is a joy that there’s not a nugget in sight; the kids’ menu is simply a scaled down and tailored version of the adults’, with the same pick of perfec...

Crown (The) – Goostrey

Well placed for a trip to Jodrell Bank or a country walk, The Crown at Goostrey is a traditional 18th century pub serving delicious food in a cosy atmosphere. It has recently been re-opened after a sympathetic refurbishment by Kalton & Barlow, also responsible for the fabulous Swan at Tarporley and The Boat, Erbistock.   There was so much on the menu to tempt us, from nibbles and sharing platters to substantial main courses. The children’s menu was small and simple, but the food was of excellent quality and portion sizes were generous. The homemade chicken and ham pie and the ...

Dysart Arms (The) – Bunbury

If a good pub is one of your criteria when considering a move to the countryside, the beautiful village of Bunbury in Cheshire may be the place for you, as it has two! The Yew Tree Inn and the Dysart Arms.   The Dysart Arms is next to the village church, with a gorgeous outlook. A couple of swings are tucked away at the bottom of its garden for young ones.   Despite being a mild October day, there were two fires roaring which always gives a great first impression. We split a fish and chips children’s meal between two three-year-olds and it was perfect. Portion sizes ar...

Inn at Whitewell (The) – Near Clitheroe

Friends visiting from London? Want to show off Lancashire? A walk in the stunning Forest of Bowland, followed by lunch at The Inn at Whitewell, fits the bill perfectly. And you’re moments away from the geographical centre of Great Britain!   The lovely tiny village of Dunsop Bridge, minutes away from Whitewell, is the nearest village to the aforementioned centre, with a telephone box, BT’s 100,000th, marking the spot! Dunsop Bridge is also home to an extraordinary number of ducks that love being fed by eager children (the village shop opposite the river sells duck feed). &n...

Plough and Flail (The) – Mobberley

In a pretty setting with a big outside seating area and a children’s play frame across the car park, The Plough and Flail is especially lovely to visit on a hot summer’s day.   The children’s menu includes dishes such as kids’ steak with chips and vegetables or sausages, mash and onion gravy. Kids’ prices have risen over the past year, with all now at £7.95, but thankfully our youngsters have always happily wolfed it down. Adult options include sandwiches at £7.25, fish platter to share at £14.50 and chickpea and cauliflower curry at &poun...

Ram’s Head (The) – Disley

Its proximity to Lyme Park makes The Ram’s Head a perfect destination for tasty home-cooked food after a family excursion. We dropped by in winter when the blazing log fire and aroma of mulled cider made for a cosy welcome.   It has several different areas, with a few large tables tailor-made for families. The staff were very accommodating, handing out puzzles to our noisy rabble, which thankfully kept them amused for a while. The children’s menu at £4.95 had plenty to choose from. There were the usual suspects but also a few great additions such as pigs in blanke...

Roebuck Inn (The) – Oldham

Situated high up in Strinesdale, near Oldham, you can’t fail but be impressed by the fabulous views at The Roebuck Inn. Inside, the décor is a little dated but it’s homely and the proprietors take care of the restaurant and customers.   On our visit the boys thoroughly enjoyed the mini roast dinners. I had a simple melon starter, then fillet of pork. There is a children’s menu including pizzas and chicken at £3.95 and all dishes come with a lucky bag; half portions of any meal from the main menu can also be served.   With a small play area at the ba...

Rope & Anchor Pub (The) – Dunham Massey

The Rope & Anchor is exactly what you would expect from a gastro pub: it’s clean, modern and well-designed. The outside area is large, with lots of seating. I really liked the glass-walled barn with outdoor heaters – excellent for a cold, sunny day.   We visited on a warm afternoon and sat outside, which was perfect as it’s in striking distance of the children’s play area. There is a great play frame with slides and a swing. My boys enjoyed kicking a football around the grassed area, which is quite close to the car park, so not ideal, but I kept a beady eye o...

Shoulder of Mutton (The)

On a Sunday, The Shoulder is packed with walkers, kids and dogs. There is no play area here but a walk up Holcombe Hill is on offer instead, so once you have worn out your little ones bring them in all red-cheeked and settle down for a pint and some hot chocolate.   We booked ahead when we went to eat and were given a cosy table by the fire. Due to how busy it was, my friend left her pram outside and brought in a car seat instead for her six month old. The seasonal menu offered tasty wholesome dishes with special touches, such as corned beef hash with a quail egg, Blacksticks twice...

Sutton Hall – Macclesfield

A 480-year-old manor house, once the family home of the Earls of Lucan and a former convent – that’s what I call a bit of a “wow” pub! Located just south of Macclesfield, bordering the Peak District, we enjoyed a drive through stunning countryside to get here.   The pub is big – lots of nooks and crannies and seven dining areas, with open fires adding to the atmosphere. With a couple of three year olds in tow, Jo and I tucked ourselves away in a little snug area. We ordered one children’s sized fish and chips for Eleanor and Ted to share (£7.95)...

The Wizard – Alderley Edge

If you fancy a slap up lunch when exploring the wilds of mystical Alderley Edge, look no further than this superb ancient coaching inn. The Wizard is just a few hundred yards from the Edge itself and kids will adore the Wizard picture on the pub sign – it’s pure Gandalf (or more accurately Cadellin, the local variety).    Once inside, matters are a little more sedate as the pub has been turned in to a very tasteful set of dining rooms with rather nice antique furniture. At this point, do not be put off! The pub is child friendly and the food is excellent. Kids order any...

Three Fishes (The) – Mitton

We have always enjoyed a Sunday trip to The Three Fishes which, for us, involves a long lunch and a nice countryside ramble.  However this year, as both the kids have been inspired by hobbits, elves and a very well rubbed ring, we decided to extend our normal walk and work up an appetite by trying out the five-and-a-half-mile Tolkien Trail (we downloaded the map from forestofbowland.com) which started in Hurst Green at the Shireburn Arms Hotel.   Though not a pushchair-friendly walk, it takes in some beautiful scenery and, if you are familiar with The Lord of the Rings trilogy, doe...

Travellers Rest (The) – Frodsham

The location here is fab – on the eastern slopes of Frodsham Hill looking eastwards, with wide vistas over the Cheshire Plain towards Manchester, The Pennines and The Peaks. The Travellers Rest seemed initially more restaurant than pub and we were all starving and looking forward to some good grub; we were not disappointed.   The choice of three menus ranged from sandwiches, to pub favourites and a beautiful sounding A La Carte option offering in-season exotic dishes such as pan-fried sea bass with wild mushroom risotto scented with white truffle oil! Our family played it safe.&nb...

White Hart (The) – Oldham

Set on a hillside in the countryside, with impressive views over Oldham and Manchester, this is a traditional pub serving wholesome and some locally sourced food and ales. Its website states humorously, “children are welcome... and help to control sometimes badly behaved adults whom are obviously not tolerated!”   We found the atmosphere a little stiff and starched but the staff were very polite and we had an enjoyable lunch. The pub has tables set for dining and a snug area where you can just enjoy a drink. The children’s meals are excellent quality but some may find ...

Yew Tree Inn (The) – Bunbury

We set off for a late lunch to The Yew Tree Inn in Bunbury – our second pub review in this gorgeous Cheshire village! It was a perfect day for this type of pub – cold, a bit rainy and definitely worthy of an open fire. It didn’t disappoint. Built in the 19th century by The Earl of Crewe, the inn has been lovingly refurbished, with lots of nooks and crannies in which to find a bolt-hole for your family.    The staff were friendly, helpful and seemingly happy to see a family with three young boys. An excellent selection of children’s meals was available, start...

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