If you fancy a nice glass of your favourite tipple but also want somewhere that your kids will be entertained whilst you enjoy said tipple – then you’ll be looking for pubs with play parks in Plymouth.
You would think the choice would be vast, but I hate to say it, my beloved city is definitely lacking in pubs with outdoor play areas to keep the children busy and provide a warm welcome for the whole family.
What us parents want is good food, plenty of space, pub classics and local real ales. (Not for me I might add, I stick to the fizz). Obviously an indoor play area or soft play areas for small children would be perfect, but alas, they don’t seem to exist in Plymouth anymore. But there are a few pubs with a great children’s play area in the Plymouth area and even more if you go a little further afield in South Devon.
We all love a cosy pub with a beer garden on a sunny day, and if there’s loads of outdoor seating where we can ‘relax’ whilst the kids enjoy the outside play area, we feel like we’ve got this whole parenting malarkey made, right?
So here’s a list of a few of the pubs in Plymouth with play parks and the nearby areas that I’ve found. Let me know if you discover any more!
Pubs with play parks in Plymouth
The Mussel Inn
Down Thomas, Plymouth, PL9 0AQ
The Mussel Inn is my absolute favourite pub to go with the kids. It’s a traditional pub not far from me with fantastic food, a great children’s menu, good views over the South Hams countryside and friendly staff. But best of all it has an amazing play park and beer garden with plenty of room for both young children and older kids to run around and play. This is our family’s first choice to go for any special occasion whether it’s birthday parties, early Christmas dinners or Mother’s Day. You can eat in the main bar, but they also have a ‘snug’ area that we always go for, which is a large table that seats up to 14 tucked in behind a stone wall. It’s a great place to sit if you have kids with you – as I always feel nobody is watching if they’re misbehaving! And The Mussel has just started having a pizza van in their car park once a week which you can buy from and eat in the pub or beer garden. I am DEFINITELY going to be doing that this year!
The Miners Arms
Hemerdon Ln, Hemerdon, Plymouth PL7 5BU
The Miners Arms on the edge of Plymouth at Hemerdon is also a fab place to go if you’re looking for family friendly pubs with play parks for the kids. It has a terrace and beer garden with stunning views back over Plympton to the city. You can sit back and enjoy these views whilst enjoying a pre-dinner drink and let the children work up an appetite on the play frames in the play area. It has an extensive menu and you can either eat in the bar, outside or in the main garden restaurant which is a beautiful conservatory. Every Bank Holiday Monday is a Family Fun Day at The Miners Arms. They provide free face painting and bouncy castles throughout the day while you enjoy a relaxing time in the beer garden. So what’s not to love?
The Lyneham Inn
Plympton, PL7 5AT
Considered to be one of the prettiest pubs in the local area, The Lyneham Inn on the A38 on the edge of Plympton is the ideal location should you wish to visit for a glass of wine, a pint of beer, or good food. They offer tasty bar snacks but are especially renowned for their delicious farmhouse carvery lunch or evening meals. Inside, you will find a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere with its cosy interior, whilst in warmer months you can sit outside in the beer garden whilst the children play in their own park.
The White Thorn
Shaugh Prior, Plymouth, PL7 5HA
The White Thorn is a lovely country pub offering great food, a roaring fire and awesome beer garden on the edge of the moors. It’s got a large wooden pirate ship in the garden for kids to play on, and loads of seating for us parents to keep an eye on them.
The Skylark Inn
Clearbrook, Yelverton PL20 6JD
The Skylark Inn is a traditional quaint olde English pub, located in the pretty village of Clearbrook, Devon nestling in an idyllic valley surrounded by beautiful Dartmoor. It’s a great place to go if you’re out on the moors, or on the Plym Valley Cycle Path – treat that beer as a reward! Head to the large garden at the rear, where you can give your legs a rest and enjoy the sunshine, whilst your children are kept amused in the large play area.
The Plymstock Inn
88 Church Rd, Plymstock, Plymouth PL9 9BD
If you want something a little more central in Plymouth then head to the Plymstock Inn. It’s a family and dog friendly pub situated in the very heart of Plymstock with a giant play frame in the play area in its beer garden. When the weather is good sit on the sunny drinks terrace and watch the kids play on the swings and wooden climbing frame. There are plenty of places where you can sit, have a drink and keep one eye on the children. They’ll love it!
The Beefeater Marsh Mill
300 Plymouth Road, Crabtree, Plymouth, PL3 6RW
Centrally-located at Marsh Mills roundabout and easy to pop in for some great food is the Beefeater Marsh Mill. Open all day for breakfast, lunch and evening meals, the Beefeater always offers great value food and deals, and is ideal to take the kids – as it has a play park outside. The small but fun-looking play area is suitable for children up to 12.
Turtley Corn Mill
Avonwick, Devon, TQ10 9ES
Another favourite family friendly pub near Plymouth is the Turtley Corn Mill. If you’re prepared to travel 20 minutes up the A38 you won’t regret it. It’s not got an actual play area but the kids will love its absolutely huge beer garden, complete with giant chess set, lake and wandering peacocks to enjoy. Not to mention the huge mill on the side of the building that seems to mesmerise my boys every time we go. There’s a large car park and the food is to die for with many dishes that can be made as smaller portions for the kids. If you’ve not been, you are definitely missing out!
Avon Inn
Avonwick, South Brent, TQ10 9NB
Just a bit further along the same road at Avonwick, you’ll find the Avon Inn. The family-friendly traditional village pub has a huge climbing frame, swings and slide in its outdoor play area that the kids will just love. With smaller portions of the main menu available for kids, as well as high chairs, it’s the perfect place to head on a sunny afternoon or if you’re on your way home from Woodlands Theme Park.
The Carbeile Inn
Trevol Road, Torpoint, PL11 2NJ
If you’re in Torpoint and looking for a pub with a play park, then head to the Carbeile Inn. There’s a large car park, great beer garden, extensive menu and a fun-looking play area for the kids, complete with climbing wall and slide. Sit back and enjoy a drink in the beer garden, whilst the children enjoy themselves too.
The Cecil Arms
St. Stephens, Saltash, Cornwall, PL12 4AR
The Cecil Arms in Saltash has a small play area for little ones in their beer garden. Kids can climb up into the inside of the tree climbing frame and slide down. There are also swings. So if you’re in the area, pop in for a drink and some food.
So as you can see, Plymouth isn’t absolutely teeming with pubs with play parks for kids, but the ones they do have are awesome. Which ones have you tried? Or do you know any others that I can add to the list?
How did I do?
Did you enjoy this post? Keep an eye out for the latest Local Stuff here. And why not check out some of these:
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