Doing it for the kids

Families are desperate to embrace eating out once more. Get your offer right for your youngest customers and you’ll see them return again and again

A staggering 75% of families are eating out more regularly than they used to, according to recent research. This means one thing for venues – big business.

The research carried out on behalf of Le Bistro Pierre in March this year, showed that three quarters of families were choosing to eat out together in restaurants more than they did five years ago. With the average household spending £1,050 per year on eating out*, it’s clear that winning over families is key for your venue’s bottom line.

Taking steps to become a family friendly venue will ensure you’re busy throughout the day.

Here’s our suggestions to delight your youngest customers, and their parents.

Make it fun

Dedicate a corner to the kids, packed with toys, books, puzzles and board games. Provide activity packs and colouring sheets, but make sure your pots of pencils are sharpened and ready to go or you have plenty of mini individual packs. If you have a great outdoor space, could you add some activities for children such as swings, slides and ride-on toys?

Mark the occasion

Factor in the kids for every meal occasion, including breakfast, lunch and dinner.

As families have been cooped up for months, expect to see a rise in demand for breakfast and brunch, leisurely lunches and evening meals. You could even go one further and offer a high tea, packed with children’s favourites, while their parents enjoy a glass of wine and grown-up snacks.

Offer lots of choice

Families have moved on from the standard children’s menu offering chicken nuggets and chips and want more variety and healthier choices that reflect the way they eat at home. As well as offering mini versions of your adult menu, now’s the time to shake up your children’s menu with some of the following:

» noodle and rice-based dishes, such as paella, biryani, ramen noodles or pad thai

» baked potatoes with a choice of toppings » chicken katsu curry

» freshly barbecued ribs, burgers or sausages

» pasta – let them create their own pasta dishes by adding extras to a tomato- or cheese-based sauce

» wraps, kebabs and quesadillas

» make-their-own pizzas.

Sharing’s caring

For many families, meals out are a great way to encourage their children to try something new. Rather than a separate menu for the children, could you stand out from the crowd by offering family sharing plates?

Never skimp on dessert

Delight your youngest customers with the ultimate kid-friendly dessert range:

» mini doughnuts or churros served with dipping sauces

» fruit and marshmallow kebabs with melted chocolate

» frozen bananas dipped in chocolate with sprinkles

» make-your-own ice cream sundaes

» fresh fruit iced lollies.

And don’t forget the classics – you can’t go wrong with warm chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream, traditional apple pie and custard or trifle.

Think creative

Make children’s meals exciting with new ways of serving, from fish and chips in your own newspaper to dishes served in tiny buckets, pans and striped paper bags. Rather than traditional soft drinks, could you offer customisable mini milkshakes and smoothies?

Promotions

Think about inventive ways to offer value, especially after the past year. If particular days of the week are quiet, could you offer a kids-eat-free deal, or maybe free desserts for all the family when dining off a set menu? Everyone likes to feel they’re getting a bargain!