Best Family Pub of the year

Britvic sponsors this award, which recognises the pub that has bestcapitalised on thefamily market in thepast 12 months

North: Garsdale Country Inn

Brandlesholme, Lancashire

Licensees David and Gillian Heyes have discovered the solution to a problem that remains one of the biggest stumbling blocks for anyone wanting to run a successful family pub. Namely, how do you attract and cater for parents and children without detracting from an adult market, which is also a key element of the business?

The answer came to the Heyes thanks to the responses in questionnaires handed out to customers who paid a visit to the Garsdale in Brandlesholme. The lack of a direct access to the freehouse's rear beer garden and play area was a major turn-off for families involving a tortuous route through the pub car park and around its side garden.

David remarks: "The feedback came loud and clear that access was a major problem and it was obvious we were going to lose business if we did not do something about it. Families were just notprepared to make the long detour to order drinks at the bar and then proceed back along an obstacle course laden with trays of drinks. So we decided to build a separate log cabin bar at the rear of the pub exclusively for servicing the beer garden and playground."

This was followed by the purchaseof a new static mini marquee to provide inside accommodation for gardencustomers. David adds: "There is accessfor staff through the pub kitchens into the cabin, so it has solved all our problems because families can now be served with both food and drink direct into the garden."

The cabin bar and tuck shop is no makeshift building. The interior hasbeen fitted out with state-of-the-art beer pumps, coolers and refrigeration and operates independently of the main pub. The cabin also doubles as a function bar for weddings and parties being held in the garden marquee.

David reports: "It's a terrific saving on both space and staff because it takes just one person to man the bar and take drink and food orders. Food comes from the kitchens direct into the log cabin with minimum delay so everyone is happy."

On top of the £16,000 spent on the cabin and the marquee, the Heyes splashed out £9,000 on new play equipment and garden seating.

David and Gillian have already seena quick return on their investment."One day last summer, the cabin took £850 in wet sales and £150 on confectionery, so it has paid off spectacularlyfor us," says David.

Central:

The Greyhound Hinckley, Leicestershire

The Greyhound is a family pub with a difference. Few would guess that it catered for children at all on first viewing of its bar, tap room, and lounge.

It is only when you delve further into the interior that the true nature of this unusual town-centre pub becomes apparent. Housed in a converted rear function room is a state-of-the-art children's play barn complete with soft play areas, slides, ball pits, rollers, toy park and even its own tuck shop.

The play area is the brainchild of licensees Howard and Sue Williams who have invested £35,000 in a bid to set the Greyhound apart from other high-street pubs. The project has certainly been a success and has fully vindicated thecouple's belief that a true "point of difference" was the only trading format that was going to make the Greyhound work.

The Williams have gone to great lengths to ensure the play barn scheme is a success. With safety a paramount consideration, all equipment in the barn has been purchased from suppliers that are approved by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. Full liability insurance has been taken out at a cost of £5,000 per year.

A total of £50,000 has also been invested in the main body of the pub to ensure it is an attractive venue, not only for adult customers, but also for the legions ofparents bringing their offspring on a visit to the barn.

Howard reports: "The play barn has been a fantastic success and has enabled us to attract a lot of spin-off business as a result. It cost a lot of money, but we knew a project like this had to be done properly and now we are starting to see the returns.

"Some family pubs can lose their appeal for adults, but here we can keep both sectors of our trade apart so everyone is happy."

The play barn attracts a variety of mother and toddler groups and is also hired out to local playgroups.

A major source of income comes from children's birthday parties, which have become the barn's biggest single type of event. Single fathers, on weekend visits to their children, are also frequent visitors, which has led to new friendships formed.

The play barn is vigorously marketed with adverts on local radio timed to coincide with morning and afternoon school runs. Adult customers at the pub are certainly not ignored, however, because darts and other traditional pastimes flourish in the main bar area.

Home Counties: Swiss Cottage

Shoreham-by-sea, West Sussex

Barbara and Gary Smith admit the Swiss Cottage has a problem. "From the front," explains Barbara, "it is difficult to get people to realise that it is a family pub, but from the back it is lovely."

It is easy to see what she means. The Spirit-owned managed house is one that families on a day out would drive past without thinking twice. For those that do call in, the real attractions of the Swiss Cottage soon make themselves apparent. There is a large, well-maintained play area with slides, swings, climbing frames and all the other paraphernalia thatchildren love, and a separate area for the under-fives. Except in winter, a bouncy castle is in permanent residence and there are lawns for kids to play ball or run around.

The most striking attraction, however, is the lake, which was originally added as part of a Victorian pleasure garden. The Smiths have made good use of this asset and there are ducks, black swans and other species of waterfowl and birds such as kingfishers in residence, the latest additions being a snow goose and a Chinese painted goose that came from an animal sanctuary. Artificial floating crocodiles and frogs are also used to add to the kids' delight.

During the weekends in summer, Barbara reckons 90% of the Swiss Cottage's customers are families who have been drawn by the garden and its facilities. An additional attraction on Sundays is the free provision of face-painters, clowns, magicians or a Punch and Judy show. It almost goes without saying that events such as Hallowe'en and Bonfire Night are celebrated in style and activities like Easter egg hunts are firm fixtures in the Swiss Cottage's calendar.

The fun doesn't stop when the weather turns and winter sets in thanks to an investment in games such as Jenga, Connect Four and Limbo. During the year, the pub has also benefited from £6,500 invested in awnings and heaters to provide shelter for the patio dining area.

Barbara and Gary also provide activity packs for their younger clientele so that adults can enjoy a quiet meal while their children colour in paintings, join the dots, or try to solve riddles. And the Swiss Cottage has not resorted to standard kids' fare for its menu; junior portions of most adult meals are offered. There is also a fully stocked bar serving children's drinks from Britvic 55 and J2O to squashes and carbonates. Even the youngest visitor is well provided for with free baby food, bottle warmers, highchairs and baby changing facilities.

West: Double Locks

Exeter, Devon

There can't be many better locations than the one enjoyed by the Double Locks. The Young's managed house gets its name from the lock gates that control canal boats entering or leaving Exeter. Although only minutes away from the city centre and the M5 motorway, the pub enjoys tranquil and picturesque surroundings which act as a natural magnet for families.

Manager Jennifer Hale has been at the Double Locks for just over a year and says: "I wouldn't change anything, there would be uproar." It's easy to see why. Ther