Our Favourite Kids' Menus in the Peak District
- Jen Bell I Editor I Good Life List Peak District
- Jul 27
- 10 min read
Let's be honest, eating out with children can sometimes feel like a bit of a minefield...You spend all morning climbing hills, exploring caves or wandering around stately homes, only to end up somewhere with a children's menu that looks as though it hasn't changed since 1998. A few frozen nuggets, fish fingers, chips and beans, all served with a colouring sheet that's already been scribbled on by the previous table. Sometimes that's exactly what your little ones want. Other times they're eyeing up your burger or roast dinner wondering why they can't have something similar.
Thankfully, there are loads of places across the Peak District that do things differently. Whether it's homemade comfort food, wood-fired pizzas, children's steaks, massive portions or simply somewhere that makes families feel welcome, these are the places we love going to with our own kids. Some have playgrounds, some are perfect after a walk, and others prove you don't have to compromise on good food just because you're eating with children.
The George at Hathersage
Main Road, Hathersage
One thing we like about The George is that the children's menu doesn't begin and end with the main course. There are starters too, from vegetable sticks with hummus and halloumi fries to homemade soup and cheesy garlic bread, which means you can have the same courses at the same time (rather than their mains arriving with your starters). It's a small thing really but it's a nice touch and something we always appreciate.
When it comes to mains, there's plenty to choose from, including burgers, pasta, fish and chips, chorizo mac and cheese and a brilliant selection of pizzas cooked in the George's wood-fired oven. In fact, the pizzas deserve a mention of their own because they are excellent. We've been known to order a children's pizza ourselves if we're not quite hungry enough for a full-sized one. Add in colouring sheets and puzzles to keep little hands busy while food is on its way and it's easy to see why The George is such a dependable choice for families. If you're travelling around the Peak District, it's also worth knowing that many of the other Longbow Venues pubs have similarly good children's menus.
Bank House
Main Road, Hathersage
Like The George, Bank House is also in Hathersage - which we have to say is becoming an increasingly exciting food destination. However, it would be very easy to walk past this one and assume it's somewhere best suited to cocktails with friends rather than a meal with the kids. Thankfully, that couldn't be further from the truth. While the adults' menu is packed with beautifully presented dishes and a first-rate cocktail list, the children's menu has been given just as much attention. Yes, you'll find the classics like fish and chips and sausage and mash, but there are also crispy chicken strips, tomato and basil penne, creamy mac and cheese and even a children's flat iron steak for youngsters who prefer something a little more grown up.
It all feels a touch more premium than the average pub children's menu without becoming fussy. Sunday roasts are available for children too, making it a lovely choice for a family lunch after a walk around Hathersage or nearby Stanage Edge. The atmosphere manages to strike that difficult balance between stylish and welcoming, so whether you're popping in for lunch, staying for dinner or treating yourself to one of the cocktails afterwards, nobody feels out of place (and no, we won't judge if you fancy a mojito).
The Bulls Head
Church Street, Ashford-in-the-Water
If you're spending the day around Bakewell, the Monsal Trail or Chatsworth, we'd wholly recommend taking the short detour into Ashford-in-the-Water for lunch. The Bulls Head has all the charm you'd hope for from a traditional Peak District village pub, but it also does a stellar job of looking after younger diners. The children's menu keeps things simple without feeling unimaginative, offering cod goujons, chicken goujons, cheeseburgers and cheese and tomato pasta, all served with a choice of beans, peas or salad. It's familiar, satisfying and what kids are often craving after a busy morning outdoors.
One thing we particularly like is that children don't miss out on a decent pudding. Warm Bakewell pudding, homemade jam roly-poly and chocolate desserts mean they can enjoy a full two or three-course meal rather than simply choosing a main. Meanwhile, the adults' menu showcases seasonal pub classics prepared with care, making this somewhere that appeals just as much to food-loving parents as it does to hungry children. You can also find one of our favourite play areas on the village green behind the pub, with slides, climbing frame, an obstacle course and more. That alone means it deserves pride of place on this list.
The Red Lion at Peak Edge
Darley Road, Stone Edge
If there's one thing we always notice at The Red Lion, it's that the children's menu stars the same quality ingredients as on the adult's menu. This includes produce from the owner, Steve Perez's, home - Walton Lodge Estate - which is literally minutes up the road. The Walton Lodge burger is a favourite, the homemade meatballs with pasta are always a hit and, for older children with adult-sized appetites, there's even a 4oz Walton Lodge steak and chips. It's a menu that makes children feel included and as if they've had just a special a meal as the grown-ups - rather than fobbed off with whatever beige item happened to be knocking about in the freezer.
The grown-ups certainly don't miss out either. The food at The Red Lion has been getting better and better in recent years, and the latest menu is a step above anything we've seen so far. Dishes such as Braised Walton Lodge Pig's Cheek with Black Pudding, Sweetcorn, Celeriac and Truffle Jus and Hazelnut-Crusted North Sea Halibut with Crushed Heritage Potatoes and Courgette Sauce show just how ambitious the kitchen has become. In our opinion, it's one of the best places in the Peak District for a special family meal where the children are just as well looked after as the adults.
The Royal Oak
Hurdlow, Buxton
The Royal Oak is a character-filled country pub near Buxton, which is as much loved by locals as it is by visitors (always a good sign in our book). Owned by Peak Venues, the local company behind some of the region's prettiest self-catering cottages, it is well-known for its attentive service, delicious food and huge portions.
We love the children's Little Acorns menu for the name alone. Children can choose from beef burgers, battered fish, chicken goujons, sausages, beef lasagne or the pub's own Oak Fried Chicken burger, all served with a choice of pub chips, fries, mash or new potatoes, plus peas, baked beans or salad. It's hearty, great-quality pub food that keeps little appetites happy while adults can enjoy the extensive main menu, which champions seasonal ingredients and local suppliers.
Hassop Station Café
Hassop Road, Bakewell
If you're walking or cycling the Monsal Trail, chances are you'll end up at Hassop Station sooner or later. It can be accessed directly off the trail (or via its car park) and is also where you can hire bikes, if you choose.
The children's menu sticks to familiar favourites done well, with burgers, tomato pasta, fish goujons, jacket potatoes, toasties and sausages all making an appearance. There is an enormous amount of choice for the adults as well. A word of advice - this is an extremely popular spot so it is worth timing your visit if you can. School holidays and sunny weekends can see queues stretching outside, although they do a great job of keeping everything moving considering the monumental size of the menu. If you are waiting, the little wooden play area comes into its own, giving children somewhere to burn off a bit more energy before lunch arrives. Finish with one of the homemade brownies or an ice cream from the chiller and you've got the perfect ending to a family day on the Monsal Trail.
The Bulls Head
Church St, Monyash
Village pubs don't come much better than The Bulls Head. Sitting right in the heart of Monyash, muddy boots are very welcome and children can relax without risking raised eyebrows if they go a wander around the pub or laugh a little loudly. The large beer garden is a real draw during the warmer months, with a wonderful playground at one end (on the village playing field) that keeps the kids entertained while you wait for food or sip another drink. We've spent plenty of happy afternoons here, usually with a heated game of Uno making an appearance between courses.
The children's menu is also impressively extensive, especially considering everything is so sensibly priced. Alongside the usual sausages and fish options you'll find lasagne, pizza, ham, egg and chips, scampi and plenty more, so even the fussiest eater should find something to tickle their fancy. Meanwhile, the grown-ups are well looked after with a traditional pub menu that's every bit as appealing, making this one of those rare places where everyone around the table leaves feeling they've eaten well.
The Travellers Rest
Brough Lane, Hope
The Travellers Rest is brilliantly placed if you're spending the day exploring Castleton, tackling Mam Tor or heading underground into one of the area's famous show caves. It's become well-known as a reliable stop-off for families because it manages to keep things simple without feeling uninspired. Children can choose from pizzas, fish fingers, sausages and all the familiar favourites you'd expect, making it an easy win after a morning of fresh air when everyone has worked up an appetite.
One thing that really stands out here is how well they cater for different dietary requirements across the whole menu. Alongside the children's options there's a substantial gluten-free and vegan offering for adults, which isn't always easy to find in country pubs. It means families with different tastes or dietary needs don't have to compromise, and everyone can enjoy a good meal together before heading off to the next Peak District adventure.
The Duncombe Arms
Ellastone, Ashbourne
If you're approaching the Peak District from the Ashbourne side, or planning a day at Alton Towers, The Duncombe Arms is a fantastic option. This lovingly restored country pub has built a reputation for excellent 2 AA Rosette food - Tom Parker Bowles even called it "the local we all wished we had" in The Mail on Sunday. High praise indeed! But what impressed us just as much was the time and effort that's gone into the children's menu. Rather than feeling like an afterthought, it mirrors the quality of the kitchen as a whole, with generous portions of fish and chips, chicken breast goujons, cheeseburgers, tomato pasta and even children's Sunday roasts sitting alongside homemade desserts like a cereal milk sundae, Krispie square with chocolate flakes or dark chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream that many adults would happily order themselves. Book ahead as this gem is understandably popular.
The Hide
Baslow Road, Eastmoor
The Hide might be one of the newer additions to the Chatsworth collection, but it's already become a brilliant option for families. Sitting on the edge of the Chatsworth Estate between Chesterfield and Baslow, it's well placed if you're heading to or from Chatsworth House, and the children's menu has clearly been designed with families in mind. Alongside familiar favourites like fish fingers and pizza you'll find a Hidden Veg Mac & Cheese that cleverly sneaks extra vegetables into the sauce, plus a smoked beef burger that looks remarkably similar to the adult version. Every children's meal also comes with a choice of fries or veggie sticks and either a juice or milkshake, which parents will appreciate.
The desserts are just as much fun. Build-your-own ice cream with toppings, toasted marshmallows for dipping into chocolate and colourful fruit skewers mean there's something to suit every child, whether they're after sugar or something a little lighter. We also think the weekday offer deserves a mention, with one free children's main course available with each adult main before 6.30pm. These days, when everything feels that much more expensive, every little bit helps.
The Wheatsheaf
Netherends, Baslow
Not every family meal needs to be a grand occasion. Sometimes you've spent the day walking, everyone is hangry, nobody wants to wait too long and you just need somewhere where everyone will find something they fancy. That's exactly where The Wheatsheaf comes into its own. Yes, it's part of a well-known pub group, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with that when the food is consistent, the welcome is warm and the children's menu is this comprehensive.
Children can choose from starters, mains and desserts, making it feel like a real meal rather than a single plate of food. There are burgers, fish goujons, chicken dippers, macaroni cheese, sausage and mash, vegetarian options and plenty of lighter choices too, before finishing with brownies, sundaes or fresh fruit. We also like that there's enough choice to cater for different appetites and dietary requirements, which isn't always the case. If you're staying around Baslow, Chatsworth or Bakewell, it's a solid option.
Plus, it has a proper pub playground in the beer garden, which seems to have become something of a rarity in recent years.
Final thoughts
One of the nicest things about eating out in the Peak District is that so many pubs and cafés have realised families don't just want somewhere to keep the children quiet while the grown-ups eat. They want good food, welcoming staff and menus that make younger diners feel every bit as important as everyone else around the table.
We'll keep adding to this guide as we discover more places that deserve a mention, so if you've found a brilliant children's menu that you think we've missed, we'd love to hear about it. Drop us a line at hello@thegoodlifelist.co.uk and we'll check it out. After all, any restaurant can serve fish fingers and chips. It's the places that go that little bit further that keep us coming back, weekend after weekend.
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