CLICK HERE FOR SUGGESTIONS OF OUTDOOR FANILY EATING AROUND SOUTH LEEDS
Here is our selection of beer gardens and outdoor play areas to consider for your next family meal out:
A country pub situated in a conservation area surrounded by woodland and some great walks. Offering quality real ale alongside a menu of pub classics.
The beer garden is one of the biggest in Leeds, with an enclosed children’s play area; complete with wendy houses and rabbit garden, perfect for children of all ages.
The beer garden is also non-smoking, making it increasingly popular for families. BOOK A TABLE HERE.
*Cover image courtesy of Myrtle Tavern
The New Inn, Eccup
Recently re-opened under new ownership, the New Inn offers drinks (and soon food) in a friendly and relaxed environment. Play area with slides and swing in a grassed beer garden.
Eccup Lane, Eccup
The Mustard Pot, Chapel Allerton 
Offering Cask Marque ales and award winning food, The Mustard Pot is a family friendly pub in the heart of Chapel Allerton. There is a large green space outside for families.
The Dalesman, West Park
Recently refurbished, the Dalesman is a friendly local pub that is open to all, with a wide selection of food and drink options.
They have a great new play area for children, maximum age is 12 years old.
Butcher Hill, Leeds LS16 5EA
Hickory’s Smokehouse, Adel
NEW!! OPENED 14th JUNE 2024
Otley Road, West Yorkshire LS16 7PH
Beck and Call, Moortown
Now owned by the same people who have Waterlane Boathouse, Headrow House and Belgrave Music, their new venture The Beck & Call has a family focus.
The menu provides a range of traditional favourites, including Sunday roasts, vegan and vegetarian options. There is also a children’s menu available.
And to top it off, there is a large beer garden and children’s play area.
Stainbeck Road, Leeds, LS7 2NP
Duke of Wellington, East Keswick
A cosy country gastropub in East Keswick between Shadwell and Wetherby. They have a special Little Duke’s menu that runs alongsidethe core menu and weekend specials. Family groups are warmly welcomed, with a snug area in the bar that is perfect for small groups as well as a more formal dining room. They also have an outside terrace for al fresco dining.
Main Street, East Keswick, Leeds, LS17 9DB
Cafes don’t tend to have much outdoor space, but here are a few, some of which are situated adjacent to outdoor play areas:
Three Cottages Cafe at Meanwood Park
Located at the entrance to the Park on Green Road, Three Cottages Cafe at Meanwood Park serves cakes and coffee, as well as home-cooked light bites and Yorkshire ice creams.
There is a large outdoor space with picnic tables for the little ones to roam, and there is also the park play area just up to the right hand side with ample slides, swings, and climbing frames.
Three Cottages, Green Road, Leeds LS6 4LE
Café at Wharfmeadows Park, Otley
Sandwiched between the old Otley Lido and Wharfmeadows Park; the café and Ice cream booth is open 7 days a week, serving, breakfast, dinner, tea and coffee, cold drinks, cakes and sandwiches.
The play area is directly adjacent to the café and is split into two sections for the older and younger children.
Off Farnley Lane, Otley LS21 2BH
The Milk Churn – Farm Café & Gelateria, Scarcroft 
Based on the working farm of T.D Goodall all the gelato is made fresh on the farm, with a wide selection of gelato and sorbet flavours. As well as gelato the café also serves hot drinks, smoothies and cakes, as well as a range of paninis over lunch (12-2pm). With plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Toilets and highchairs are available.
There is a small play area outside which has a climbing structure, swings and plenty of space for children to play in; probably best suited to children up to 8 years of age. Inside the café there is a play corner with toys for younger children too.
T.D Goodall Dairy, Beech Grove Farm, off the A58 in Scarcroft. (LS14 3HQ)
Inkwell Arts Café, Chapel Allerton 
Inkwell Arts Café has a lovely terrace and garden surrounded by herbs, flowers and veg – some of which you may find on your plate! Serving fresh homemade vegetarian and vegan cuisine.
Open Tuesday – Friday 11am-2pm. Saturday 10am – 4pm.
31 Potternewton Lane, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 3LW
More and more venues for children are expanding to bring you a safe and secure outdoor space to play in the sunshine while you sip on coffee and eat cake!
Crazy Tykes, Wetherby
Crazy Tykes is a play area designed to cater for children from 0-13 year olds; with a separate toddler area for the under 4’s.
The café serves freshly prepared food with a comfortable seating area including daily newspapers and magazines to hand.
The outdoor area is open all day (weather permitting) and there are lots of things to do including swings, slide, climbing ropes, ride-ons and bubbles. And when it’s really hot they bring out the water sprinkler!
Unit 650 Street 4 Avenue B, Wetherby, LS23 7BJ
Tiny Boo, Headingley 
Tiny Boo offers an imaginative play space for under 5’s and they now have a brand new outdoor play space, including a little playhouse, a mud kitchen, a (stationary) train, a water table and a sand table.
Headingley Enterprise and Arts Centre, Bennett Road, Headingley, Leeds LS6 3HN
Crag House Farm, Cookridge
Crag House Farm has some fantastic children’s outdoor play equipment (best suited to under 10s) in the gardens for children to ‘enjoy the great outdoors’.
The play equipment supplements the nature trail, outdoor games, activity sessions and the child-friendly cafe already at Crag House Farm.
Otley Old Road, Cookridge, Leeds LS16 7NH
The Village, White Rose Shopping Centre 
The Village has a great outdoor covered play space for children in and amongst lots of cafes, bars, restaurants and cinema. With a slide, swing, climbing wall, stepping stones and balance equipment, it’s a good choice when you need to combine a spot of shopping and lunch with a little play.
Children can also take part in the Woodland Nature Trail, where they can track down 10 animals in The Village. And if you download the app, each one unlocks animaltastic experiences from fun facts to selfies.
White Rose Shopping Centre, Dewsbury Road, LS11 8LU
For more details of family friendly places to eat in and around North Leeds click here .
*Cover image courtesy of Myrtle Tavern
