Summer days are on their way and when you’ve got little ones, there’s nothing better than being able to enjoy sitting in a sunny garden enjoying nice food and drink, knowing that your little ones can entertain themselves and not keep nagging you to go home because they’re ‘bored’.
So we have compiled (I hope that you’ll agree), the biggest and best guide to family pubs with beer gardens in the Midlands. See that we have missed one? Get in touch so that we can add it on. Visited one, and you weren’t keen? Let us know so we can remove it from the list
If we have been to the pub and approve of it, we will put ‘SmallHouseBigTrips Recommended’ at the end. If you don’t see that, then we haven’t been there for food/drink/a play. I’ve run around to a few for photos to create this guide, but they don’t get SHBT recommended until I’ve fully tried them.
Birmingham
The Gate Inn, Gate Lane, Nether Whitacre, B46 2DS
Farmer Johns, Aldridge Rd, Streetly, B74 2DX
Dog and Doublet, Dog Lane, Sutton Coldfield, B76 9JD
The Dog and Doublet sits next to a picturesque canal. The beer garden includes play equipment suitable for children aged 2 to 10.
The Boot, Rectory Road, Sutton Coldfield, B75 7RU
Half Penny Farm, Joseph Street, Oldbury, B69 2AQ
Plough and Harrow, Slade Rd, Sutton Coldfield, B75 5PF
Staffordshire
The Trooper, Watling Street, Lichfield, WS14 0AN
The Trooper has an array of tasty food options on the menu and is a great location for a walk and to enjoy the nearby roman ruins. The beer garden is large with plenty of space to run around. There’s also a small playground frame for added fun.
SmallHouseBigTrips Recommended.
The Red Lion, Lichfield Rd, Hopwas, Tamworth, B78 3AF
The Blue Bell Inn, 25 Hardingswood, Kidsgrove, ST7 1EG
The Queens Head, Watling Street, Wilnecote, Tamworth, B77 5BP
The Boathouse, Park Road, Rushall, WS4 1LG
Robin Hood, Drayton Road, Belbroughton, Drayton, Stourbridge, DY9 0BW
Horse and Jockey, Freeford Bridge, Tamworth Rd, Lichfield, WS14 9JE
The Bush, 199 High Street, Silverdale, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 6JZ
Horseshoe Inn, Tatenhill, Burton, DE13 9SD
Wolferstan Arms, Main Road, Shuttington, Tamworth, B79 0DP
The Swan Inn, Whiston, Penkridge, ST19 5QH
The Round Oak, 100 Ounsdale Rd, Womborne, Wolverhampton, WV5 8BU
The Pretty Pigs, Shuttington Rd, Alvecote, Tamworth, B79 0ED
Castle View, Castlegate Way, Dudley, DY1 4RJ
The Fox, Wolverhampton, WV6 7EH
The Spread Eagle, Watling Street, Gailey, Stafford, ST19 5PN
The Drill Inn, Springle Styche Lane, Burntwood, WS7 9HD
The Nelson Inn, Coulter Lane, Burntwood, WS7 9HL
Black Horse, Illey Lane, Halesowen, B62 0HJ
Hussey Arms, Chester Rd North, Brownhills, Walsall, WS8 7JP
The Sun, Romsley, Halesowen B62 0LA
The Forge, Pensnett, Dudley DY5 4TS
Chase Gate, Wolverhampton Rd, Wedges Mills, Cannock WS11 1SY
Malt Shovel Inn, Nr Lichfield
Chorley, Lichfield, WS13 8DD
The Garden Bar, 200 Birmingham New Rd, Lanesfield, Wolverhampton WV4 6NZ
Ye Olde Windmill, Windmill Ln, Gentleshaw, Rugeley WS15 4NF
The Old Crown Inn, Carter’s Lane, Halesowen, B62 0EP
Harleys Smoke House, 39a Dunsley Rd, Kinver, Stourbridge DY7 6LU
The Malt House, Tamworth Rd, Cliff, Tamworth B78 2DL
The Park Gate, Rugeley, United Kingdom, WS15 4RN
Warwickshire
Fleur de Lys, Lowsenford, B95 5HJ
The Jubilee Inn, Bromsgrove Road, Studley, B80 7PQ
The Red Lion, Wall Hill Rd, CV7 8AP
The Oak Inn, Coventry Rd, Baginton, Coventry, CV8 3AU
The Waterside, Crick Rd, Rugby, CV21 4PW
The Bell, High Street, Hill Morton, Rugby, CV21 4HD
The Shilton Arms, Shilton, Coventry, CV7 9HX
The Green Man, 14 Daventry Rd, Rugby, CV22 6NS
Barley Mow, Main Street, Newbold on Avon, Rugby, CV21 1HW
Worcestershire
The Honey Bee, Doverdale Lane, Doverdale, WR9 0QB
The Hopwood House, Redditch Rd, Alvechurch, Worcestershire, B48 7AB
The Swan Inn, Worcester Rd, Upton Warren, Bromsgrove B61 7ET
Ewe and Lamb, 68 Hanbury Rd, Stoke Prior, Stoke Heath, Bromsgrove B60 4DN
The Crown, Wychbold, Droitwich WR9 7PF (has been closed for a fancy refurbishment and will reopen Bank Holiday Monday)
Shropshire
The Bell Inn at Tong is a real family friendly pub. It has all the traditional charms of an old pub, with wooden beams and yet a modern feel to it. The pub is even dog friendly, so there is no need to leave your four legged friends at home. There’s a whole section where they can have some bones, blankets and toys.
Back to the humans and the food is absolutely delicious and with a menu for little ones too, you won’t struggle to feed everyone. The drinks menu is extensive too – whether you’re choosing an alcoholic or none alcoholic beverage, your taste buds will be treated.
Outside in the garden there is a play area with slide and rope bridge. In the summer an outside bar will open and giant garden games will be on the very large lawn. Borrow board games from inside the pub, to enjoy a game in the sunshine. Or maybe you will want to bring a book to enjoy in the sun with a refreshing drink – if you forget your glasses, this fabulous pub has a basket on the bar with reading glasses to borrow.
With super friendly staff, tasty food, refreshing drinks and an outdoor area to keep children entertained, this may just be a Small House Big Trips favourite.
Small House Big Trips Recommended.
Address: Tong, Shifnal TF11 8PS
For more details, check their website here: https://www.bellpubshifnal.co.uk/
Nottingham
Eaton Farm, Wilsthorpe Rd, Long Eaton, NG10 4AW
The Old Vol, 61 Caythorpe Rd, Caythorpe, Lowdham, Nottingham NG14 7EB
Derbyshire
The Jonty Farmer, Kedleston Rd, Derby, DE22 1FT
The Stepping Stones, Carnation Way, A52, Ashbourne DE6 1AY
The Railway, 120 Ashbourne Rd, Cowers Lane, Belper DE56 2LF
The Ketch, Kniveton, DE6 1JF
The Knockerdown Inn, Knockerdown, Ashbourne DE6 1NQ
Northamptonshire
We are still trying to find Northamptonshire family-friendly beer gardens. Please do get in touch if you know of any.
Lincolnshire
We are still trying to find Lincolnshire family-friendly beer gardens. Please do get in touch if you know of any.
Leicestershire
The Bradgate, Main Street, Newtown, Linford, LE6 0AE
The Shires Inn, Main Street, LE17 5PU
The White Horse, White Horse Lane, Birstall, LE4 4EF
The Swan, Newbold Verdon, LE9 9NN
The Queens Head, Main Street, Saddington, LE8 0QH
The Bulls Head, Leicester Forest West, LE9 9JE
Rutland
We are still trying to find Rutland family-friendly beer gardens. Please do get in touch if you know of any.
Leicestershire, The Coach and Horses in Markfield, The Bulls Head in Abbots Oak
White Horse, Sutton Coldfield
The Lighthouse in Blackheath
Bar and grill.
Large enclosed beer garden.
No equipment but allowed to take own football etc