By Helen McGinn, aka Knackered Mothers' Wine Club
For years we didn't eat out. Years. Pre-children we practically lived in city gastro-pubs. The ones where a small bowl of olives, a plate of bread and some dipping oil costs more than an entire meal for five now that we live in the middle of bloody nowhere. Yes, we upped sticks and moved to the, er, sticks. More truthfully, we followed the free childcare and moved near the grandparents. And there are lots of very good things about having done this, not least the very reasonable prices that you can feed a family of five for around here. And that, going back to my point, was the reason we didn't eat out for so long. Dining out with small children can be such a painful waste of money when so much of it ends up on the table/floor/in siblings’ ears. But now, with a few years on them, we’ve started venturing out again and have found we are surrounded with good child-friendly places in the New Forest.
For years we didn't eat out. Years. Pre-children we practically lived in city gastro-pubs. The ones where a small bowl of olives, a plate of bread and some dipping oil costs more than an entire meal for five now that we live in the middle of bloody nowhere. Yes, we upped sticks and moved to the, er, sticks. More truthfully, we followed the free childcare and moved near the grandparents. And there are lots of very good things about having done this, not least the very reasonable prices that you can feed a family of five for around here. And that, going back to my point, was the reason we didn't eat out for so long. Dining out with small children can be such a painful waste of money when so much of it ends up on the table/floor/in siblings’ ears. But now, with a few years on them, we’ve started venturing out again and have found we are surrounded with good child-friendly places in the New Forest.
One of my favourites is The Mayflower in
Lymington. There’s the cry of gulls, the clang of halyards (boat rigging to
normal folk) and the unmistakable smell of salt in the air. Or perhaps that’s
my plate of chips. Anyway, The Mayflower is geared up to keep families happy,
with a huge outdoor (secured, very important) garden – and playground! – and a
huge menu. The food is simple, but you feel you are getting value for money.
There are sandwiches, salads, jackets, fish of the day, curries, pasta, nachos,
local sausages and more. The children’s menu is great, unless your children
don’t like pizza, sausages, fish & chips or pasta. And they always put
loads of ice in my Spritzer; a sure-fire way to win my undying love.
Address: King's Saltern
Road Lymington, Hampshire SO41 3QD, United Kingdom
Tel: 01590 672160
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Claire from Crumbs here. I've just visited the Mayflower in Lymington as we're on hols in the New Forest. Kids saw the sachets of ketchup and vinegar and could barely contain their excitement. Their pizza came with chips, no veg, and their afternoon was spent suspended from a small chain bridge (they chose to do that, we didn't make them) in the playground. Little people heaven.
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