Whetting your appetite for the great outdoors

We can all hope to enjoy some alfresco food and drinks from April 12. With this in mind, ZOE CHAMBERLAIN has put together a list of the best family-friendly cafes, garden centres, restaurants and pubs with beer gardens

KITCHEN GARDEN CAFE, KINGS HEATH

Kings Heath’s hidden oasis is planning to reopen for outdoor dining from April 12. The booking system is now live so you can make reservations for tables in the cafe’s tent or in Fletchers Garden, as the inside will remain closed in line with government guidelines. Whilst there you can buy plants, vegetables, herbs and flowers too from this family friendly cafe.

WHITLENGE TEA ROOMS, HARTLEBURY

If you fancy a short drive out, this is a lovely place to spend an afternoon as a family. The three-acre ‘ideas’ garden has a labyrinth, fairy wood, cave, waterfall, green man, orchard and fire pit. There is a charge to enter the gardens but you can visit the garden centre and tea rooms for free and let the kids burn off some energy in the large play area. Staff are working hard at the moment to install lots of outdoor seating to be able to open the tea rooms on April 12 for alfresco food and drink.

ASHWOOD NURSERIES, KINGSWINFORD

This tearoom is currently open for takeaway but, from April 12, managers are hoping to offer outdoor seating so that people can enjoy their takeaway food and drink within the nursery. Situated in a canal-side setting in open countryside, Ashwood offers a traditional plant nursery, garden centre, gift shop and tea room overlooking attractive landscaped gardens.

PLANTERS GARDEN CENTRE, TAMWORTH

The garden centre has been offering a takeaway service but is aiming to reopen its cafe with plenty of outdoor seating for alfresco food and drinks from April 12. There will also be picnic tables in a field adjacent to the car park and a ‘coffee truck’ at the front of the store.

BLACKROOT BISTRO, SUTTON PARK

Named after the pretty Blackroot Pool, this family-run bistro is an ideal place to grab a bite to eat before heading out to enjoy the wonders of Sutton Park. The bistro has continued to offer takeaway food and drink throughout lockdown and has a large outdoor seating area to make the most of the sunshine in the summer.

CARTLANDS TEA ROOMS, KINGS HEATH PARK

This independent family tea room is currently offering a daily takeaway service plus a pop-up kiosk (subject to weather conditions). You can preorder via the Facebook page and enjoy afternoon tea, hampers, sharing platters, homebaked cakes, local cheeses and more to sit and eat on one of the outside benches or in Kings Heath Park.

THE BRITISH OAK, STIRCHLEY

The British Oak has always been popular with families as it has a large beer garden and often runs special family fun days. There’s already a marquee, pavilion and terrace and now owners have pledged that when they reopen on April 12, there will be even more heated, covered spaces to meet friends outdoors. They plan to offer new cocktails to try too.

HODGEHILL GARDEN CENTRE, KIDDERMINSTER

The cafe at Hodgehill is planning to offer a ‘Lite Bites Outdoors’ service from April 12. This is a lovely little cafe serving delicious homemade cakes and great coffee. Hodgehill started out selling a few tomatoes from a shed more than 35 years ago. Today there’s a plant centre, butchers, farm shop and florist. They sell predominantly local produce and support small growers. Children enjoy seeing the animals in the fields too.

ROWHEATH PAVILION, BOURNVILLE

This popular haunt has been open for takeaways for some time. You won’t be able to eat indoors until at least May 17 but ahead of that you can enjoy homemade cakes, ice creams, hot and cold sandwiches, salads, soups and jacket potatoes on the picnic tables outside the cafe. It has a lovely green space outside for children to let off a bit of steam and a lake for you to drink in the view.

THE HONEYBEE, DOVERDALE, NEAR DROITWICH

Set in four-and-a-half acres, with far-reaching views, The Honeybee will be a great place to enjoy a socially distanced lunch with the kids when it reopens for alfresco food and drinks on April 12. There’s no need to book as the pub won’t be taking any reservations until it opens its indoor area on May 17. The kids can enjoy the wide open spaces and play area whilst parents order and pay at their tables.

FARMER JOHNS, STREETLY

This Marston’s pub has a large garden and kids’ play area to keep little ones entertained when it reopens for outdoor eating and drinking on

April 12. Although booking isn’t essential, pub bosses are recommending people make reservations in advance. Look out for a special ‘Garden Menu’ from April 12 to May 16 ahead of the indoor part of the pub reopening on May 17.

YE OLDE SARACENS HEAD, BALSALL COMMON

Ye Olde Saracens Head is taking bookings for outdoor tables from April 12. This lovely old pub, which dates back to the 16th century, serves wood-fired pizzas, sarnies, sharing platters and charcoal oven steaks. There’s a pretty outdoor courtyard with plenty of tables and hanging baskets plus picnic benches at the front of the pub too.

THE RESERVOIR, EARLSWOOD

Hungry Horse pubs are getting ready to reopen as soon as Boris Johnson gives the thumbs up. The Reservoir is popular because it has a beer garden with a play area. It also offers special deals on food each day of the week, with a kids eat for £1 offer on Mondays.

DOG AND DOUBLET, SUTTON COLDFIELD

Staff are busy getting the beer garden ready for reopening, and are hoping this will be around April 15. They’re installing new benches to offer more outside seating at this pub which is recommended for its great canalside location and good children’s play area. There’s a large car park too, making it easy for parents. This is a good place for kids to learn about the waterways.

PLOUGH AND HARROW, SUTTON COLDFIELD

There’s a large beer garden and patio area at this Marston’s pub, which prides itself on offering a ‘‘great atmosphere for locals and families’’. Marston’s is planning to open all its beer gardens on April 12 providing Boris Johnson gives the green light. There’s a play area here for the kids.

THE HOPWOOD HOUSE, NEAR ALVECHURCH

This pub has a kids’ play area in beer garden, which is due to reopen on April 12. They serve food like rotisserie chicken and often have special offers. And, if the playground doesn’t tire your children out, you can always take them for a towpath walk along the adjacent Worcester and Birmingham Canal.