Here’s a round up of the best places to eat out with children, the best deals – and where kids can eat free in Derby and Derbyshire during the school holiday this summer in 2023. Eating out with kids can be a bit of an adventure at the best of times, so deals like this, or a well-priced children’s menu is always a bonus.
The aim of Lovely Local Indie is always to support independent and small businesses so the independents are getting prime billing. However, I’ve been more flexible and have included some chains this time. Times are tough – and eating out with kids can be challenging enough.
However, times are also tough for small businesses – and if you’re looking for a great value day out there are plenty of lovely independents who offer good value eating out (if not the dirt cheap deals that the big chains can afford to do), so do keep reading for those. Terms and conditions apply to all of these. Please double check before making a special journey.
Lovely, Local, Independents where Kids Eat Free (or very cheaply!)
Kids Eat Free at Rutland Arms, Bakewell
Kids can eat free all summer long at the Rutland Arms in Bakewell. Book a table and your little one can enjoy three courses free. One free children’s meal per dining adult, for children 12 and under only during the school summer holidays. Terms and conditions apply. Read my review of the Rutland Arms.
Kids Eat Free at The Wheatsheaf, Bakewell
Kids eat free all day every day at The Wheatsheaf in Bakewell. It’s an ongoing offer that applies to children under 8 years old. One free child’s main meal with an adult main meal ordered, which start at £14, so it’s not necessarily the cheapest way to eat out – but you’re getting chef prepared fresh food, most of which has been locally sourced in a family friendly, nice pub environment. It’s also dog friendly. Read more and see the menu.
Kids Eat Free at The Robin Hood, Baslow
Owned by the same people who own The Wheatsheaf in Bakewell, it’s a pretty similar deal and ambiance at The Robin Hood in Baslow. Food is freshly prepared by chefs using locally-sourced produce where possible.
The Robin Hood in Baslow is a family-friendly pub. The children’s menu is packed with freshly prepared options. Children under eight years old eat free. One free child’s main course is available per adult main course ordered, which are from £15. Read more.
Kids Eat Free at Ice & Slice, Swadlincote
Until the 1st September, kids under 12 can get a free meal with a paying adult choosing a meal from the main or bottomless deal, Monday to Friday onlu. Read my review of Ice & Slice.
Free Kids Breakfast at Figaro, Wingerworth
Treat your little one to a free breakfast from the children’s menu* with every adult spend over £10. Offer is limited to one child per adult, Wednesday to Saturday 9am -11am and Sunday 10am -11.30am, until 10th September 2023. Read my review of Figaro.
Kids Eat for 10p at the Honey Pot Tea Room, Rosliston near Swadlincote
For the duration of the summer holidays kids eat for just 10p with every adult meal over £4.99. The deal includes a choice of lunch sandwich (cheese, ham, jam, tuna or egg mayo) served with plain Hula Hoops and cucumber sticks and a glass of squash. Applies to children aged 16 and under, 1 child’s meal with every paying adult.
Kids Eat for £1 at Little Shed
The Little Shed is a gorgeous café that’s always a good choice for breakfast or lunch. This summer they are running an offer whereby kids under 10 qualify for a kids sandwich board for every adult main meal ordered. Ask a member of staff for full Ts & Cs. Read my review of the Little Shed.
Kids Eat for £1 at Einstein’s, Chesterfield
Over the summer holidays, each child gets to eat for £1 when accompanied by an adult ordering off the main menu.
Kids Eat for £1 on Sundays at Harpur’s, Melbourne
Get one child’s main course for just £1 when dining with a full paying adult. Sundays only.
Kids Eat Half Price at Tickled Trout, Barlow
Kids eat half price mid week 12pm – 2.30pm in August with a full paying adult. There’s also games and activities for kids. The Tickled Trout is one of my all time favourites – read the review.
CLICK HERE for things to do with the kids in the summer holiday
Kids Eat Free at Chain Restaurants this summer holiday
Kids Eat for £1 at Asda
Long Eaton
It’s been widely reported that Asda will be running an offer starting on 25th July throughout the summer holiday where kids under 16 can eat a hot or cold meal for £1, with no minimum spend for adults.
Kids Eat Free at Yo Sushi
Birmingham, Leicester High Cross, Nottingham, Sheffield Meadowhall
From the 17th of July until the 11th of August 2023, kids eat free all day in Yo Sushi restaurants when dining with a full-paying adult (minimum £10 spend applies). Enjoy sushi and Japanese hot favourites and your little ones can tuck into one of our kiddo bento boxes absolutely free. Monday to Friday only.
Kids Eat Free at Dunelm Pausa Coffee Shops
Derby, Chesterfield, Mansfield, Nottingham, Sheffield Woodseats.
Kids eat free in Dunelm’s Pausa coffee shop. Enjoy a free mini meal deal with every £4 spent. Available all day everyday.
Kids Eat Free at Tesco
Kids eat free at Tesco from Monday 24th July to Friday 1st September 2023 with any purchase in The Café. Kids can get a free breakfast with any adult purchase in a Tesco Café while the Kids Eat Free offer is available. Or at lunchtime, choose any main, 2 sides and a drink to create a filling meal for your kids. This meal deal is free with any adult purchase in a Tesco Café when the Kids Eat Free offer is available.
Kids Eat Free at M&S Cafe
Marks & Spencer haven’t yet announced whether they are running a kids eat free offer this summer holiday – but they usually do, so watch this space!
Kids Eat Free at Morrisons supermarket café
Kids eat free at Morrisons café. Get one free kids meal with any adult meal £4.49 or over. All day, every day.
Kids Eat Free at Dobbies
Chesterfield (located between Barlborough and Clowne), Derby, Leicester
Kids eat free at Dobbies when an adult main course is bought. Choose from the kids lunch menu or a pick and mix meal deal, all served with a drink. Daily from noon.
Kids Eat Free at OK Diner
OK Diner has an ongoing offer where kids under 10 eat free from the children’s menu when an adult purchases a main course from their a la carte menu. Available all day, everyday at the Derby location on the A38.
Kids Eat for 95p at IKEA
Kids can get pasta and tomato sauce and a soft drink for 95p at Ikea – or any other kids meal for £1.50. For the best deals make sure you have an IKEA Family card (which usually gets free coffee!).
Bambinos Eat for £1 at Carluccio’s
Meadowhall, Nottingham. Indulge in a taste of Italy this summer and treat your little ones for just £1 offer until 1st September. Use voucher code: CARLSUMMER1 Terms and conditions apply.
Kids Eat for £1 at Bella Italia
Burton upon Trent, Mansfield, Leicester, Sheffield and nationwide
Kids meals for £1 with the purchase of every adult main course, from 4pm to 6pm, Monday to Thursday. Double check the restaurant’s social media to ensure the offer is on.
Kids Eat for £1 at Sizzling Pubs
Derby – The Argosy, The Oak & Acorn, The Stenson Fields; The Plough Inn, Sandiacre; The Highfield, Chesterfield.
Monday to Friday from 3pm to 7pm, get a kids main eat for £1 with the purchase of an adult meal. More details here.
Pizza Express
If you ever dine at Pizza Express sign up for their loyalty programme. After 12 visits (or you can also collect rewards by scanning their supermarket products) you get free kids meal on every visit Mon-Thurs.
Independents that offer Great Value Family Dining
Other great options for family friendly dining
The next few places don’t offer the dirt cheap deals listed above – but are otherwise great options for dining out with kids.
Café bar at QUAD Derby
Most of the kids meals are priced at £4.95 for a main and two sides but it’s a really welcoming, inclusive place – and really easy access with pushchairs etc. The art exhibitions are also free to explore! Read my previous review here. And there are plenty of free things to explore in Derby city centre – read more here.
QUAD also offer places on workshops (including activities and lunch) for people who access free school meals. Get in touch with QUAD for more information.
Dunston Hall Bistro
I can’t find a children’s menu online but Dunston Hall is a good option with kids because the play area is so nice. Read more here.
Church Farm Anslow
Just into the Staffordshire border, Church Farm is a children’s farm and lovely tearooms. I think it’s a great value day out. Read more here.
Café bar at The Showroom, Sheffield
Welcoming and inclusive, and just a few minutes walk from Sheffield train station, the café bar at The Showroom is a great option for family friendly dining.
Please let me know if you see any other places where kids eat free or other great deals or fabulous independents that are great with kids and I’ll try to keep this post updated.
For lots more ideas of how to entertain the kids this summer holiday, click here.
The ULTIMATE guide of what To Do with Kids in Derbyshire this Summer Holiday
Summer holiday landing page: All the most useful posts on Lovely Local Indie for entertaining the kids this summer holiday. Keeping the kids entertained over the long summer can be a job in itself. Make life easy by bookmarking this page. I’ll keep it updated with the best family days out, family friendly dining and…
Keep reading
You might also be interested in this great travel hack to get FREE hotel stays.
