Can't decide where to go so you can enjoy a coffee or a spot of lunch without feeling that you're in the way? My website will hopefully help with that decision. I review coffee shops and restaurants and anywhere else I think parents might be interested in.
Each coffee shop/cafe/restaurant will be marked on the following.
1. Access in and around the premises with a pushchair.
2. Do you feel welcome? Is the staff helpful?
3. Cleanliness of baby changing facilities.
4. High chairs and other children’s facilities (i.e. play area)
5. Coffee & Cakes, children’s menu and price.
During my maternity leave my husband and I have visited Ask restaurant a few times, mostly due to buy 1 get 1 free vouchers so it has been good value.
When Henry was little we could visit the restaurant and leave Henry in his pram sleeping as there is plenty of room between the tables for the push chairs.
Now that Henry is sitting in a high chair we still enjoy our visits. When we first asked for Henry's food to be warmed the staff happily took the container to be micro-waved, but on a recent visit their polices have changed and can only warm food in hot water behind in the kitchen.
The staff are all very nice and helpful and always make you feel welcome no matter how many babies are in your group. The baby changing facilites are very clean and roomy.
Even without vouchers I would recommend a visit to the restaurant to all families with babies or young children. Older children are given crayons and an activity sheet, the children's menu looks very appetising.
Over all I give Ask Restuarant 4* out of a possible 5
Access: Although the front door is relatively narrow the staff are always on hand to open the door to welcome you in. Getting to your selected table is easy as there is plenty of room between the tables.
Welcome: Great.
Cleanliness: The tables are always clean and the changing facilities are of a high standard.
High Chairs: Very good and great design to get close to the table so that they feel part of the group.
Coffee & Cake: I have not actually tried the coffee or dessert at the restaurant as yet.
Starbucks in Salisbury has to be the worst coffee shop in the city. The tables are always cluttered with dirty mugs and plates. And on a number of occasions I have been given a take away cup even when sitting in. I thought Starbucks was terrible before Henrys arrival, but something keeps drawing me in.
Once you manage to get through the door it is very hard to get to the counter to order your drink with a push chair navigating around scattered furniture. Although if you do make it to the counter the service is friendlier than at Caffe Nero. The queue and the speed to receive your drink is as slow and can often result in walking out empty handed because Henry has got frustrated and is crying so loud you have to leave.
I have to admit most of my recent visits to Starbucks have been on an early Saturday morning without Henry.
The high chairs are pretty good, they attached to a normal chair so this takes up less space which is great as you don't have much space anyway.
The baby changing facilities are again in the disabled toilet downstairs, but it is relatively cleaner than Caffe Nero.
The coffee and cakes are good. I prefer Starbucks for my summer cold coffees and my husband thinks they do the best hot chocolate and whipped cream, although it has to be the Signature hot chocolate.
Over all I give Starbucks Coffee 2* out of a possible 5.
Access: You can just about get into the cafe shop but it is difficult to navitage to the counter to order your drinks and it is usually very busy and tables are often dirty .
Welcome: Better than Caffe Nero but could be improved.
Cleanliness: Terrible, only clean and tidy early in the morning.
High Chairs: Very good design and always available.
Coffee & Cake: Best for Hot chocolate and summer iced coffees. The caramel short bread is yummy!
In my opinion Caffe Nero do the best Skinny Cappucino, but it can only accommodate a small number of push chairs at one time.
Three of us met last Friday for a morning coffee, after re-arranging the furniture we managed to find space for 3 adults and 3 high chairs. One snag there were only 2 high chairs.
We have been meeting in Caffe Nero since we started our maternity leave so we are used to the poor access, terrible service, long queues and extremely disgusting baby changing facilities. I guess it is the adult coffee that takes us back every time.
Henry and Emil
y sitting very nicely in their high chairs.
Over all I give Caffe Nero 2* out of a possible 5
Access : Access into the Cafe is okay, but as soon as you get inside there is limited space to push the prams around to get to a table.
Welcome: Considering we do visit the cafe regularly I would expect an occasional smile or hello from the staff - this is not the case.
Cleanliness: The baby changing facilities are in the disabled toilet. Thank goodness for Milton wipes. If you have to change your baby make sure you take something with you to clean the surface first. It is horrible and you would not want to use the toilet either, most of the time it is blocked.
High Chairs: Not actually sure how many there are but when found they are clean.
Coffee & Cake: Great coffee and good cakes. Although they could drop their prices, you can get a loyalty card, buy 9 get 1 free.
