Alastair Duncan, a father of two from London, has created the Pubs with Playgrounds app to help parents find family-friendly pubs across the UK. The app currently lists more than 870 pubs and hotels with on-site playgrounds, play areas, or indoor play spaces, including 49 in the West Midlands.
From a Google Map to a Full-Fledged App
The idea originated from a shared Google map where Duncan and his friends with young children pinned reliable pubs for Sunday lunches. After his appendix burst and he was confined to bed rest, Duncan decided to turn the map into a dedicated app. The app is available for free on iPhone and Android and features a forum-style interface where parents can add suggestions, reviews, and photographs.
Why Playgrounds Matter for Families
Duncan, a TV producer living in London with his wife and children aged three and seven, emphasized the importance of playgrounds. "Having a playground makes a huge difference, it's more than just giving the kids something to do," he said. "Going for a meal with kids can be stressful as half the time you're worried about them being noisy and bothering other diners. It gives them a chance to make friends with other children, which is brilliant because they have a lovely time too. But also, psychologically, if they see there's a playground, they know it's a space where they are welcome. Even if they don't use it, everyone just feels more relaxed."
Practical Features for Parents
The app provides practical details such as baby change facilities, high chairs, children's menus, parking, beer gardens, photos, and opening hours. It also records less common family features like indoor play, farm animals, miniature railways, and bouncy castles. Parents can save favorite pubs for weekends, holidays, and emergency pit stops.
Pubs with Playgrounds in the West Midlands
Examples around Birmingham and the West Midlands include:
- Hopwood House, Alvechurch – 4.3 stars from 3,815 Google reviews; canalside pub with extensive garden and children's play area.
- The Beeches, Birmingham – 4.3 stars from 2,414 reviews; indoor soft play and outdoor play area near Sandwell Valley Country Park.
- Fleur de Lys, Lowsonford – 4.5 stars from 2,148 reviews; Warwickshire country pub with acre beer garden and enclosed playground.
- The Manor Arms, Rushall – 4.6 stars from 382 reviews; historic Walsall pub with slide, swings, and climbing frame.
- The Nelson Inn, Burntwood – 4.7 stars from 1,259 reviews; family-run country pub with outdoor play area.
- Old House at Home, Harborne – 4.3 stars from 3,355 reviews; Wacky Warehouse indoor play and outdoor playground.
- The Three Horseshoes, Alveley – 4.7 stars from 406 reviews; country pub with large play area near Bridgnorth.
- The Crown Inn, Stockton – 4.7 stars from 288 reviews; Warwickshire village pub with outdoor play area and indoor games.
- The Broadway, Willenhall – 4.4 stars from 2,228 reviews; Wacky Warehouse indoor soft-play and outdoor play area.
Building a Community Resource
Duncan said, "The idea grew out of repeated failed Sunday lunches. Friends with young families shared the same small set of trusted pubs in WhatsApp chats, so we began pinning reliable options on a shared map. Every parent has the same shortlist of pubs they trust. When I was stuck at home recovering, turning it into a proper app was something useful I could do. This is a starting point, not a finished directory. The hope is to build a community around it: parents adding the pubs they know, sharing photos and reviews, and suggesting corrections; pubs checking their own listings; and the database becoming more useful as more people contribute."
Encouraging a More Inclusive Culture
Duncan added, "I think in Europe, there's a more inclusive culture towards the whole family being out together and I think it's a shame we don't have more of that here. I'm a big fan of spaces that are welcoming for everyone from babies to old people so I hope the app helps with that." Listings are checked against pub websites, photos, and parent reviews, but details can change. Parents are invited to add missing pubs and improve entries, while pubs can verify or correct their listing free of charge.
