To help banish the back-to-school blues, children across the UK are being encouraged to savour the delights of Italian food while raising money for a good cause: Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity
At the Hotel Wiesenhof dining en famille is no problem – in fact they have designated areas for all different sizes of families and the chef makes sure everyone is happy with their food.
Eating out with children can be stressful but the Italians are renowned for loving children so we regularly take Harriet to Strada which has restaurants throughout the UK.
Families are sure of a warm welcome at the Cantina del Ponte on Butlers Wharf in London. And at the weekends they have introduced family sharing menus – a real feast of Italian food as Anne, Olivia and Harriet Coates discovered.
To welcome Matilda the Musical to London’s Cambridge Theatre, the Mercer Street Hotel in Covent Garden has launched a new Stupendous Afternoon Tea. Anne Coates and a friend had tea for two and loved it.
While holidaying at Altomincio with Thomson al Fresco, Anne Coates and family discovered a great restaurant just a few minutes away – Ristorante Alberto Diga.
While on their day trip to Peschiera Del Garda, Anne, Olivia and Harriet Coates stopped for lunch at the Ristorante La Toretta and had an excellent meal in a very friendly atmsophere.
Although the self-catering facilities at Thomson Al Fresco's mobile homes in Altomincio Family Parc were excellent – including BBQ – it's nice to eat out on holiday. The Parc had several family-friendly outlets for the Coates family to try.
On a visit to relatives in Australia, Claire Griffin and her family were caught up in the Queensland floods and decided to leave quickly, finding a last minute retreat at Dubai's Desert Palm, part of Per Aquum Resorts, for some sun and respite.
Louise Pollard and her family discovered the JCK restaurant in Rue des Baines, Houlgate but found that their pizzas were more than they had bargained for!
On her recent visit to Lille, Anne Coates ended up eating at La Chicorée restaurant three times - and each time was a different and enjoyable experience.
To see in the New Year on 2 January the Bell family went to St Pancras Grand, the new Searcys restaurant at London's St Pancras International much to the delight of Toby and Pippa!
