A review of Burford Garden Company on the food blog Crumbs , got me thinking about the new ways in which we socialise with our friends now most of us have kids. Nights at the pub are planned months in advance in order to arrange baby sitters or we split into girls’ nights and boys’ nights leaving the other half to mind the roost. Often it’s easier to get together as families during the daytime.
Getting together so the kids can get a good run around and we can have a nice cuppa and a chat needs a bit of thought putting into to it. If it doesn’t have a play area, coffee shop, and baby change facilities with double buggy friendly door, it’s not on the list. Being really picky I also need some sort of child proof gate that my toddlers can’t escape through and it needs to be fairly quiet so I can’t lose them in the crowds or face potential dramas when they have to queue for the swing.
Sitting in a garden centre with friends you previously got drunk and went on the pull with can be a little odd at first but it’s actually fun and the coffee always makes up for it. Sometimes I will look across the coffee cups, gateaux and high chairs at my mate and think I’ve seen you sprawled across a beach at midnight in Teneriefe, and here we are amongst the hanging baskets. But it’s quite comforting to have made that journey with good friends. This is my top five list of places to spend time with your best friends and your children, keeping everyone happy.
1) Soft play
If you can avoid the warehouse-style windowless hell holes soft play centres can be quite pleasant. Look carefully and you find there are some play-barns springing up with natural daylight and home-made cakes on offer. Try Pigg’s Play Barn in Shropshire if you’re local (see my earlier blog post).
2) Garden centres
Ticking all of the above requirements plus offering fresh air and a bit of vitamin D if you wander around the flowers and shed displays. Many often have a pet section where you can look at rabbits, birds and fish, which my children love.
3) Farms
Cute baby animals available to stroke, play barns, nature trails, sandpits with diggers and bouncy castles – farms are not what they used to be. Throw in a shop with some locally sourced cheese and beer and some duck racing and it’s bordering on a theme park. Hatton Farm Village near Warwick is well worth a visit for children under 8.
4) National Trust properties
Family membership to the National Trust used to be the sort of thing retired people bought each other for Christmas. Now it offers seriously good value and inspiration for young families looking to fill up weekends. Many properties now have excellent facilities for children – play areas, toy shops and family friendly cafes. You can also gain some new knowledge about local heritage whilst you’re there.
5) Children’s birthday parties
Obviously you can’t just arrange a party so you can see your friends – you need to have an actual birthday to celebrate. However, you can invite your friends along to your child’s event as it goes that your friend’s children are your children’s friends even if they hardly ever see them. Then you have the added bonus of your best mates’ company whilst giving your child the best birthday ever.
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