Child friendly eating places places near St Austell

There are plenty of great places to go to eat with the kids - here are our favourites:

Sam’s Cornwall – Fowey, Polkerris, Crinnis and Truro

The Sam’s empire began in Fowey and they have continued to bring their relaxed dining in effortlessly cool surroundings vibe to their establishments in Polkerris, Crinnis and Truro.  They are well geared up for the family market with the crayons and colouring in sheets delivered alongside a great children’s menu.  The young and trendy staff (to apply for a job you need to answer ‘if you were in a band which band would you be in!’) put children at ease and the atmosphere means Mum and Dad can relax whilst eating out.  Each of us here have our favourite Sam’s – Libby and Mark are old school Sam’s Fowey fans, Tom and Hannah return again and again for the mussels at Polkerris whilst Kate, Spence, Guy and Edward head to Truro for a burger at Sam’s in the City. http://samscornwall.co.uk/

The Beach Hut, Watergate Bay

If your children are looking for a cool surfing vibe but you don’t think you can handle the crowds in Newquay then Watergate Bay is a happy medium.  Don’t worry about the sand on your feet (or your wellies if it’s winter) - the Beach Hut is well known as one of Cornwall’s best beach-side hang-outs. Right on the sand at Watergate Bay, it’s an easy, relaxed restaurant serving seasonal food amongst the hustle of beach life.  The menu is classic, with a children’s options that should keep everyone happy.   The views are fantastic and the Beach Hut is an ideal venue whether looking for a full blown meal or a warming hot chocolate. https://www.watergatebay.co.uk/food-and-drink/the-beach-hut/

Charlies - Coffee House and Boathouse, Charlestown

The absence of the apostrophe in Charlies bothered me for sometime but since the opening of the boathouse means they have two venues I can forgive their original error and assume they always knew they’d become plural!  Aside from fodder for pedantic punctuators both Charlies provide comfy spots for a rest whilst exploring Charlestown.  The Coffeehouse is well known for their delicious cakes and doorstep sandwiches whilst in the colder months the open fire roaring and their lovely homemade soup is equally tempting.  The boathouse continues the comfortable feeling and offers an opportunity to relax and enjoy the picturesque views of Charlestown whether it be day or night.  http://www.charliesboathouse.com/

Woods Cafe, Cardinham, Nr Bodmin

Now, if the Gruffalo had a favourite cafe in the deep, dark woods it would definitely be Woods cafe which is situated within the Forestry Commission maintained woods at Cardinham.   The little cottage has been crafted into a cosy haven with comfy sofas and a log fire, ideal when the weather is gloomy but transforms itself into a bright little space on sunnier days and there’s loads of outdoor seating with a play area nearby.  Visit their facebook page to drool over the photos as owner Lara regularly posts pictures of the cakes and tarts that she makes.

https://www.facebook.com/Woods-Cafe or http://woodscafecornwall.co.uk/

Park Cafe at the Lanhydrock Cycle Hub

Situated by the visitor car park and cycle hire facilities, The Park Café provides a convenient refuelling place for families making the most of the cycle trails through the woodland.  They serve speciality homemade burgers and have tasty vegetarian options, like butternut squash and pearl barley risotto. Children are catered for with special 'tag-on' lunch bags which are ideal before you set off on the family-friendly cycle routes.  Children will also love the adventure playground next to the cafe.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lanhydrock/features/cycle-the-trails-around-lanhydrock

Lifebuoy Cafe, Fowey

Living the well-trodden dream of uprooting from London to run a little cafe in Cornwall, the owners of The Lifebuoy took the plunge in 2010 and haven’t looked back.  The Telegraph rates The Lifebuoy as one of the best places for breakfast in the UK (they obviously hadn’t tried the breakfast at Poltarrow) but whether you visit for a slap-up feast of fishfinger butties or a hunk of lemon and courgette cake, service is impeccably friendly and the tea ladies are well-known for handing out sticky sweets to small children.  A stash of retro toys are on hand to keep little ones amused and the ambience is that of a splendidly British vintage cafe.  http://www.thelifebuoycafe.co.uk/

Pinky Murphy’s, Fowey

There’s quirky and then there’s quirky and then there’s Pinky Murphy’s.  This eccentric cafe has a decor as vibrant as its menu and eating here is an experience.  Adored by the local Mums as a child friendly meeting place as well as visiting families in the know, Pinky Murphy’s offers charcuterie platters as well as hot soups and homemade cakes.  Unfinished knitting waits near the squishy sofas so patrons can add a row or two to the accumulating scarf before settling back to enjoy their coffee.  In the summer the small but perfectly formed terrace is a suntrap and you can enjoy a smoothie while watching all the goings-on on the river.

http://www.pinkymurphys.com/

 This page brought to you by Kate at Poltarrow Farm on the south coast of Cornwall