English Pub Restaurants Children's Entertainment
In England pubs such as Wetherspoons are geared up for children and so are many more chains.
French American Themed Buffalo Grill
In France the 2026 voted family favourite is American themed Buffalo Grill, which has more than 350 outlets. We went to one in Perpignan which had am outdoor play area, lots of amusing decor, and loads of activities in the kiddie pack.
Buy Multi-pack coloured pencils
You can buy a multi-pack of sets of crayons for a children's birthday party in the UK and elsewhere in a restaurant which does not supply crayons. Also use them at home, or travelling with several children. Ideal if you run a restaurant or events, including a kiddie corner at weddings, One pack of twelve crayons will do for a group of four children sharing for fifteen minutes before a meal, less to clear up than several sets. Or a set of four coloured pencils for each child.
A multipack of 144 boxes for a school or restaurant costs about £30. A pack of 144 from Shuttle Art on Amazon costs a penny under £18.
Wedding Kiddie Corner - Inspiration From Singapore
I went to a wedding in Singapore which had a kiddie corner. The bride worked in a pre-school. She had invited the children to her wedding. Naturally she thought of keeping them entertained. Her wedding was one of those huge weddings which went on all day. First, family in the morning, extended family, including the mothers with small children. The afternoons, with the lunch buffet still going, was opened to adult friends, but their children were also welcome, and some of the family's children were still around.
If you are organizing a wedding or event where all the adults are given gifts, such as bags of almonds, not suitable for under threes), single use cameras, manicure sets, xmas/festive crackers with gifts (or fill your own set of DIY crackers) consider giving the children crayons, and a placemat to draw on.
After you have given the children coloured pencils, what will they draw on?
DIY Child's Placemat
You can print off an A4 placemat, vertical or turned sideways, with the name of the event, or the venue, or the child's name.
Add a picture of your child's favourite character or party theme at the top. Dinosaurs, unicorn, Princess, whatever. Or make a border or frame from repeated smileys or symbols.
Add a flag of the destination country, or home country and holiday country, for a holiday. Or a wedding couple from different countries. Or add religious symbols for a baptism or Barmitzvah or other occasion, having checked that this would be acceptable and welcome.
Divide the paper into a grid of four.
For entertainment stuck at home or in a hotel overseas on a rainy, snowy, stormy day, invest in coloured watercolour pencils. A huge department store with a large stationery section, or a big stationers, or an art and craft shop, is likely to have good value small sets of watercolour pencils.
If you have a stick of paper glue, and only discarded paper which is printed on one side. glue together the two pieces of paper with the printed sides facing each other on the inside. If the print does not show through too much, you now have a thicker card on which the child can draw.
DIY Paper Booklet From Discarded Paper
For a diy pad, take a discarded envelope from your wastebin. Fold it in four or more. slit or cut the edges. Staple the pages together to make a child size booklet, or a dolls house book.
For just one child, a book with paints attached is good. Check whether the brush is included. If not, buy one, or bring one from home.
Paintbox Set For Home And Holiday Home
Not for a restaurant, but at home, a paintbox set, including a pencil for drawing a design, brush,8 pieces of paper, and lots of colours.
Useful Coloured Pencil Supplies For Travel & Parties
20 boxes of six coloured pencils, with four sharpeners.
Themes & Activities
https://thatsup.co.uk/london/guide/the-best-soft-play-centres-in-london/
https://loopla.com/blog/pubs-with-play-areas
https://www.thekidstable.co.uk/find-a-location/
More pricey than the pubs
https://www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/hub/things-to-do/themed-afternoon-tea-london-2026
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