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10 Family Friendly Isle Of Wight Pubs With Playgrounds (2025)
Dining out with children is rarely a relaxing occasion.
The children are usually full of snacks by the time the food arrives so they play on your phone whilst you shovel down your dinner in 30 seconds.
Relieve your stresses (slightly) by finding a family-friendly pub with a playground on the Isle of Wight.
Our criteria for inclusion are places with a playground, a children's menu and a TripAdvisor rating of at least four stars. We've only included pubs and restaurants that do evening meals, which excludes a lot of cafes and casual dining places.
This isn't a comprehensive list and it's in no particular order. If we've missed an outstanding pub with a playground, please feel free to contact us if you feel inclined.
The children are usually full of snacks by the time the food arrives so they play on your phone whilst you shovel down your dinner in 30 seconds.
Relieve your stresses (slightly) by finding a family-friendly pub with a playground on the Isle of Wight.
Our criteria for inclusion are places with a playground, a children's menu and a TripAdvisor rating of at least four stars. We've only included pubs and restaurants that do evening meals, which excludes a lot of cafes and casual dining places.
This isn't a comprehensive list and it's in no particular order. If we've missed an outstanding pub with a playground, please feel free to contact us if you feel inclined.
1. The Fighting Cocks, Arreton
The Fighting Cocks (4.5/5 on TripAdvisor, see food hygiene) is a large pub that is 10 minutes inland from Shanklin and Sandown. It isn't a particularly scenic spot (half way between a garden centre and a Suzuki dealership) but it is very popular with customers, and it has a much better-than-average play area. It won third place in the Best Pub category at the Red Funnel Isle of Wight Awards 2022.
There's a playground for older children, a toddlers' area and an inflatable go kart track. The last two are weather permitting, but I doubt you'd want to sit outside in the wind and rain anyway. There's also a children's menu.
In 2023, they added an impressively large bouncy pillow at the Fighting Cocks. Perhaps let the kids on this before they've eaten an ice cream sundae rather than after.
Warning: the name of this pub will make some dads make embarrassing jokes.
There's a playground for older children, a toddlers' area and an inflatable go kart track. The last two are weather permitting, but I doubt you'd want to sit outside in the wind and rain anyway. There's also a children's menu.
In 2023, they added an impressively large bouncy pillow at the Fighting Cocks. Perhaps let the kids on this before they've eaten an ice cream sundae rather than after.
Warning: the name of this pub will make some dads make embarrassing jokes.
The Fighting Cocks pub has a playground...
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...and a bouncy pillow and an inflatable go kart track (weather permitting)
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2. Eight Bells, Carisbrooke
The Eight Bells in Carisbrooke (4/5 on TripAdvisor, see food hygiene rating) has a large garden with a playground. It backs onto some water, which is lovely but is a little hazardous if your children are a bit giddy. It is right on the High Street and is a convenient pub if you've just been to Carisbrooke Castle.
There's also an indoor soft play area at The Eight Bells, so you can send the little darlings in there if it's raining. I didn't go inside when I last visited as I didn't have the children with me and didn't want to get odd looks from the other parents.
There's also an indoor soft play area at The Eight Bells, so you can send the little darlings in there if it's raining. I didn't go inside when I last visited as I didn't have the children with me and didn't want to get odd looks from the other parents.
3. The Blacksmiths, near Carisbrooke
The Blacksmith's on the outskirts of Carisbrooke is one of our favourite places to eat on the Isle of Wight (4.5/5 on Trip Advisor, see food hygiene rating). We've always had good food there and it's often busy and buzzing with atmosphere. It's a grown-up pub with a playground rather than the sort of place you'll find one of those 20p grabbing machines where you might win a cuddly toy. The views are lovely on a warm evening, and you can see the sea in the distance even though it's some way inland. .
The Blacksmiths was named as pub of the year at the Red Funnel Isle of Wight Awards in 2021 and was a runner up in 2024.
The Blacksmiths was named as pub of the year at the Red Funnel Isle of Wight Awards in 2021 and was a runner up in 2024.
The Blacksmiths has better food than most family-friendly pubs
4. The Chequers Inn, Rookley
The Chequers Inn in Rookley is very child-friendly with a large playground and a wendy house. Again, it isn't by the coast but reviews are solid (4/5 on TripAdvisor, see food hygiene rating). Rookley is roughly in the direction of Ventnor and it's also home to The Lakes holiday resort.
Check out the playground at the Chequers Inn
5. The Griffin, Godshill
The Griffin in Godshill is unusual as it's got a maze as well as a playground. Hopefully you won't be lost near the middle just as your food arrives. Again, it's not by the coast but Godshill is a busy tourist location thanks to its thatched cottages. You might like to visit after wandering round Godshill's Model Village and remarking at the model village in the model village. Reviews are positive (4/5 on TripAdvisor, see food hygiene rating) and we enjoyed our last visit. We found they were very helpful with allergies too.
The Griffin in Godshill has lots of outdoor seating and a small playground...
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...as well as a pretty large maze (my photo doesn't really do it justice)
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6. The Woodman's Arms, Wootton
The Woodman's Arms is a traditional style old pub with a playground and a children's menu. It won't give you a sea view but it's a high scorer with customers (4.5/5 on TripAdvisor, see food hygiene rating). It's 7 minutes from the ferry from Fishbourne to Portsmouth, so perhaps a good one to visit on the way home or if you've got time to fill before you can check in at your accommodation.
7. Horse and Groom, Shalfleet near Yarmouth
The Horse and Groom is one of the few West Wight pubs with a playground (4.5/5 on TripAdvisor, see food hygiene rating). The West Wight is lovely, with far fewer people and cars than the East Wight. The beaches are usually less accessible but are much quieter.
Last time I drove past they had several things to fill time in the beer garden in an area called The Paddock.
Last time I drove past they had several things to fill time in the beer garden in an area called The Paddock.
8. The Caulkheads, Sandown
The Caulkheads (4/5 on TripAdvisor, see food hygiene rating) is only five minutes' walk from the seafront in Sandown, which is one of the most popular beaches for families on the Isle of Wight. It's a similar distance from Sandham Gardens, which has decent minigolf, bouncy nets and child-friendly go karts. The pub has indoor and outdoor playgrounds and a kids' menu.
In case you're wondering, it is named after the traditional nickname for a born-and-bred Isle of Wight resident.
The same company also owns The Bugle in Brading. It also has a playground, but scores 3.5/5 on TripAdvisor, so just misses out being included in this guide (Ed: although you did just include them, didn't you?).
In case you're wondering, it is named after the traditional nickname for a born-and-bred Isle of Wight resident.
The same company also owns The Bugle in Brading. It also has a playground, but scores 3.5/5 on TripAdvisor, so just misses out being included in this guide (Ed: although you did just include them, didn't you?).
Caulkheads is five minutes from Sandown seafront
9. The Wight Mouse, Chale
The Wight Mouse (4.5/5 on TripAdvisor, see food hygiene rating) is a large enough pub that you won't feel your children are disturbing the peace too much. It's got a playground and good views of the South Wight even though it's not right next to the beach. It's also near to Blackgang Chine, so perhaps one for visiting after a day out with the dinosaurs and dodos.
10. The Cedars, Wootton
I must admit I don't know a lot about The Cedars in Wootton (4/5 on TripAdvisor, see food hygiene rating), but it does have a small playground and it's described as family-friendly. It's another one that is quite near to the ferry from Portsmouth.
A few alternatives which didn't make the list
- There are some relaxed pubs right on the Isle of Wight's seafronts which might do the trick. For example, The Spyglass in Ventnor (4/5 on Trip Advisor, see Food Hygiene rating) is a busy pub with atmosphere and outside seating overlooking the beach. With a bit of luck you can send the children to run around whilst you wait for the food and then beckon them over. Of course, there's a high risk they'll ignore you.
- The Cow in Freshwater (4.5/5 on TripAdvisor, see Food Hygiene) doesn't exactly have a playground but it is next to Tapnell Farm so it's convenient to visit after a day out. It specialises in burgers and has good views if you book an upstairs table.
- The Bandstand in Sandown (4.5/5 on Trip Advisor, see Food Hygiene) doesn't have its own playground but it is only a few metres from a large public playground in Sandham Gardens. It's got terrific views of the beach and it's a bit trendier and more modern that most pubs.
- If you've given up on a pub, there are McDonalds in Newport and Ryde, a Burger King in Newport, Pizza Hut in Newport and branches of KFC in Lake and Newport.
- The Woodvale in Gurnard (4/5 on Trip Advisor, see Food Hygiene) doesn't have a playground but it is only 100 metres from a public playground and it has a kids' menu. The big advantage with the Woodvale is that you get terrific sea views and outstanding sunsets.
- If you want a chain pub, Beefeater in Newport (4/5 on TripAdvisor, see Food Hygiene) is only about 5 minutes' walk from a public playground in Seaclose Park.
- The Hare and Hounds has its own play area. When we checked, it was only scoring 3.5/5 on TripAdvisor, so it didn't make our top 10. It is next door to Robin Hill Country Park.
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