Bringing the whole family through the doors is a business model that can lead to success. Fast food chains worked out a long time ago that by marketing to kids, they bring their parents in as well. Some of Australia’s best run venues have worked out the magic formula of creating an offer that makes kids happy – from well-designed kids’ menus, games to playgrounds and specially catered meals.
In their criteria for the Best Family Dining awards, the Queensland Hotels Association has outlined what makes a great family-friendly space. This includes appropriate menu pricing relative to the family market, a variety of nutritious children’s food and beverage options, staff engagement, marketing and profitability.
In her role as brand manager for The Glen Hotel at Eight Mile Plains, Kelly Mansfield ticks all those boxes. The Glen Hotel, an old stagecoach inn between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, is a thriving pub offering a premium family-friendly option for everyday dining and a popular venue for weddings and corporate events, with 4.5-star accommodation attracting interstate travellers.
“We are known far and wide as a kid-friendly venue,” says Kelly. “We go out of our way to make sure our younger guests are treated with the same friendly hospitality as everyone else. We have stroller parking, high chairs and even school holiday program,” she says.
What most families remember about The Glen Hotel is the large adventure playground that wraps around a substantial section of the dining deck. Sitting around the deck, with a view over the playground, are eight large tables, mainly booked by families who want to dine together but also oversee the kids as they play on Deckster the tractor. “If the kids are playing, the parents are still here,” explains Kelly. “They order an extra glass of wine or a dessert if the kids are in the playground burning off energy. It’s a win-win for the kids, the parents and for the venue.”
The kids’ menu contains classics like a nine-inch Margherita pizza and cheeseburgers, along with some really healthy dishes like grilled chicken and vegetables. The Glen Hotel also runs a Kids Eat Free offer every Wednesday night, where a kids’ meal is offered free of charge with every main ordered.
During the pivot out of COVID in 2021, the team at The Glen Hotel started Kids Eat Free Breakfast on Sunday mornings. “It has now become a tradition for some families, who bring in friends and extended family. We increased turnover on this service by 300% over that time.”
Looking after kids with a special menu, free meals and a dedicated play area is not the only way in which The Glen reaches out to families. “We run our very popular Bambino Workshops during the school holidays,” she says. This involves the front-of-house staff working together with the kitchen team to help classes of 12 kids make pizza. The activity extends from decorating boxes to a crash course in dough fermentation to making and eating their own pizzas. There are three classes a week, with ages ranging from four to 12. “There is not a lot of return on the classes themselves. It is a passion project and a way to connect with our locals,” says Kelly. “But what it does do is make The Glen an essential part of the community, and we know that Bambino Workshops convert into increased commercial patronage over the long term.”
Kelly says the whole team is dedicated to serving kids alongside their parents and carers. Each young diner receives an activity pack and at events like the Christmas Day lunch, Santa hands out gifts to every child. We also throw a massive Halloween celebration with staff and patrons dressing up and lolly bags for the kids. “We are a family-owned business with a strong ethos around family values,” says Kelly. “It makes not only commercial sense to look after everyone, it creates a work environment that is so much fun.”
Creating a venue that truly caters to families involves more than just adding a kids’ menu or a play area. When families find a place that works for everyone, they’re more likely to return, turning a single visit into repeat business. Rather than thinking of children as an afterthought, successful venues treat them as valued guests, ensuring both kids and parents have a positive dining experience.
Kids’ menus require thoughtful planning. Parents today are more conscious of what their children eat so offering balanced meals with fresh, simple ingredients is essential. Instead of just smaller portions of the adult menu, child-friendly meals should feature familiar yet nutritious options. A variety of textures and flavours such as grilled skewers with dips, build-your-own taco plates or fruit-based desserts make meals more appealing. Offering choices within set meals can also help kids feel involved without overwhelming kitchen operations.
From a service perspective, efficiency is key. Quick turnaround times for kids’ meals help prevent restless diners and clear communication with parents ensures a smooth dining experience. Some venues streamline service by offering set dining periods for families or making use of modular meal prep to allow for quicker assembly without compromising quality.
Rather than relying on traditional menu descriptions, some venues take a creative approach to presenting kids’ meals. This might include playful menu names, interactive ordering experiences or simple icons that indicate fun or healthy choices. Some restaurants introduce limited-time themes or characters that make the menu feel fresh and engaging, encouraging kids to look forward to their next visit.
Families are drawn to spaces where kids feel welcome and that means considering everything from seating arrangements to service flow. Some venues focus on flexible layouts, offering cosy booths for family groups or designated areas that cater to different age ranges. Instead of traditional play spaces, interactive elements like digital touchscreens, simple tabletop games or creative activity packs can provide entertainment without taking up too much floor space.
True hospitality extends to younger guests just as much as adults. Thoughtful details like clean, well-stocked activity stations, staff who understand how to engage with kids and small touches that make families feel at ease can leave a lasting impression. When children feel comfortable and entertained, parents are more likely to settle in for a relaxed meal, boosting both satisfaction and spending.
By focusing on the overall experience through food, service, environment and engagement, venues can create a space where families feel valued, kids have fun and parents enjoy themselves enough to return again and again.
This is the recipe for success that the team at Adelaide’s award-winning Belair Hotel has been following for over a decade (2022 AHA Best Family Dining). The historic pub, built in the foothills of the Adelaide Hills in 1860, is a bustling venue, licensed for 1,100. It offers a variety of experiences, including the recently renovated main bar, the Hills View dining room, alfresco areas and the bottle shop. But it’s the bistro that attracts large numbers of families from across Adelaide’s leafy Eastern suburbs and beyond.
Venue manager, Chris Beaumont, explains the planning and execution behind the family-friendly bistro, which was designed with a six-level high modular playground at its heart. “When we were scoping out the new bistro, we already knew we had a strong family following,” says Chris. “We had an existing playground, but being a family-owned venue with strong community ties, we wanted to build on that offering.”
Chris and the team – owners and managers alike – worked on a concept that led to the creation of a purpose-built six-level, self-contained playground. The pièce de résistance for the little ones is a stylised replica helicopter cockpit, perched atop the play structure, offering sweeping views across the Adelaide Hills and the trains passing directly behind the hotel. The play area flows from the bistro into the chill out area, which features bean bags and iPads loaded with age-appropriate games. Large windows look out onto both dedicated kids’ areas from the bistro.
“It’s important that we create an environment where the kids enjoy themselves,” says Chris. “And if parents know they can go somewhere where the kids are happy, they can relax and enjoy the night too.”
Chris is also aware that not every diner has children and may prefer dining in a quieter space. “Our Hills View room offers the same great menu but has its own identity and is more serene,” Chris explains. When diners make a booking, whether online or by phone, they are informed about the different atmospheres of the various dining areas and are offered a choice.
In the bistro, kids are provided with a separate menu, complete with puzzles, games and pencils. The menu includes dishes like bangers and mash with gravy, pasta with Napolitana sauce and cheese and a small Hawaiian or Margherita pizza, all priced at $12 per dish – or $16 with a drink and dessert. To keep the kitchen running smoothly while ensuring the kids are happy, desserts are served once the kids return from blowing off steam in the playground. The floor staff plate up the desserts at a dedicated dessert station, offering soft serve or jelly, avoiding extra strain on the kitchen.
“We also split the service in the bistro into two to streamline the pressure on the kitchen,” adds Chris. The first service starts at 5 pm, catering to families with younger children who have earlier bedtimes.
“We’ve created a great, safe and popular place that kids love, and therefore, parents love too,” says Chris. “Our playground concept wasn’t cheap, but it’s been a vital part of the Belair Hotel’s ongoing success with the community.”
