Pub fun
We’ve chosen pubs which are fun for children. However, you may have a little drive to reach the pub, or a short wait for food if the pub is busy. So it is always worth setting out on a pub adventure with some simple activities in your bag.
Pub Games Toolkit
Leave the DS at home. We recommend you take in your bag a selection of the following:
- felt tip pens or crayons
- blank paper and/or colouring sheets
- a couple of miniature picture books
- Top Trumps
- a sticker book
- pocket-sized magnetic board game
You can download free colouring sheets from the internet. This pub guide is full of animals, so why not check out www.nationalgeographic.com/coloringbook
Or, since you’re out in the countryside, try some insects at www.coloring.ws/insect.htm. This website has loads more colouring pages on all kinds of subjects.
On the way
Even short journeys can last a lifetime for children. Check out the great car games on www.cartravelgames.co.uk/simple_car_games.html before you set off for some helpful inspiration. It doesn’t have to be ‘I Spy’ all the way!
If you want to keep the children busy while you’re packing up to go, ask them to make a list (or draw small pictures) of 20 things they might expect to see on the way. On the journey, they have to tick off the items as they see them. The first one to tick everything off is the winner.
Best of all, take a bus: they will love the difference, and might be able to sit on the top deck. Many Hampshire services are provided by low-floor buses which are easy for prams and toddlers to negotiate.
Wordsearches and other pen and paper games
If you are lucky enough to have a copy of our free printed guide, you might be looking for the solution to the pub animals wordsearch. See the attached Word document on the right. Did you get all 18?
Why not make your own wordsearch for free at www.teachers-direct.co.uk/resources/wordsearches/wordsearch-maker.aspx and take it to the pub?
There are lots of other great games to play with a paper and pencil: simple bingo for little ones, Battleships for older children, and hilarious Consequences for everyone. Let us know your family favourite by emailing pubs@winchester.gov.uk.
See the digital page turning brochure and download it for free:
Write a review
The Hampshire Tourism Partnership would love to hear about your pub visit. Send us a picture or a review, telling us what you enjoyed and – maybe – what would have made it even better. We would like to put the best of these on the website, and we may even find a prize for the star submissions. Parents should email pubs@winchester.gov.uk and include the pub name, date of visit, and the name and age of the author or artist!
You can also view the booklet using digital page-turning software