Lashings Coffee House
260 Gloucester Rd
Horfield, BS7 8PB
0117 329 4252
“Large, relaxed cafe. Very baby friendly. Plenty of space for prams, plenty of high chairs, toy corner with dolls house and toys, baby changing, toddler toilet, toddler menu. I spent much of my maternity leave in here as it’s probably the best on Gloucester Rd for groups of parents and babies to meet”. Elinor, Bristol
The Brewery for pint sized people!
‘The Brewery’. Don’t be put off by the name! This great little theatre in Bedminster has no more to do with alcohol than its founder organisation, The Tobacco Factory, is an endorsement of smoking! Opened in August 2009, The Brewery is becoming established as a venue willing to take chances with innovative and fringe productions, and it’s particularly family friendly. It’s easy to find on the main road in North Street at the Ashton, and it’s relatively inexpensive too! The theatre area is cosy with terraced seating for 90, so everyone can see, and there is a small bar area where appropriate homely snacks and drinks are available during childrens’ shows. Unallocated seating for ticket holders, as in most studio theatres, does mean getting there a bit early if you’re fussy where you sit, and the queue is kind of outside, but under cover. As a theatre experience it’s quite exciting, participative but unintimidating, and children love it. A bonus, if you’ve forgotten to shop for tea, is the new hands-on tiny bakers next door Mark’s Bread, where children can see dough being worked, and you can buy wholesome treats and wonderful bread.
There’s usually free street parking not far away from The Brewery, and Lidls customers can use their free car park for up to two hours. (But believe me, you really do get a hefty fine if you exceed this time limit.) Fortunately, the kid’s shows at the Brewery tend to only last about an hour.
There have been some great shows for young children through 2010, including ‘Fishwife’ from Little Ray’s Rod, and ‘Twinkle twinkle’ from the highly acclaimed Tall Stories. Travelling Light and Sixth Sense Theatre are companies are always names to look out for, but their production of ‘Bob, the Man on the Moon’, which played in June, was a special delight. Frank Wurzinger gave a tremendous, clever and genuinely funny performance. Look out for a return from him! Also this year’s Christmas show ‘The Elves and the Shoemakers’ from Pins and Needles Productions was pitched just right for the pre-schoolers with delightful puppets and accomplished story telling.
Sometimes a children’s touring production is only in Bristol for a single day, commonly giving two Sunday mid- day performances, and these tend to get booked up quickly. And if you’ve got older children there’s likely to be something for the over 11s too. Notable this year was the truly commendable Myrtle company’s production of ‘Up and Down Boy’ which poignantly and amusingly explores family life with a son who has Down’s syndrome. Get on The Tobacco Factory mailing list and have the season’s programme in advance so you don’t miss out! Cinema, film and TV are all OK in their way, but there’s nothing like theatre. It’s the real thing!
<< Go back
