Family-friendly spots in Bristol for the October half term

The Old Market Assembly makes for the perfect family-friendly eatery. It’s laid-back, lively, and the menu is brimming with crowd-pleasing dishes. On Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays there’s a pizza menu, all made using hand-stretched, freshly baked bases. An additional dinner menu is available from Thursday to Saturday, where you’ll find small plates (we like the Giant Tortilla Chip, served with broad bean and pea guacamole) alongside tasty sides (dough balls with garlic and parsley butter? Yes please!). If you make a reservation on a Sunday, you’ll be greeted with a knock-out roast dinner, which includes two veggie and vegan options.

We guarantee that any treat from this place is certainly bound to make the whole family swoon! You won’t find a more authentic gelateria or ice-cream shop in Bristol. Using only the finest, freshest ingredients, all the gelato at Swoon is churned slowly over an extended period. Among the usual suspects (pistachio, salted caramel, chocolate brownie), you’ll find ‘guest flavours’, picked according to seasonality: one of the more recent offerings was Custard Amaretto (custard cream gelato with mascarpone, amaretti and orange, served with a dark chocolate and amaretti biscuit topping) and Mixed Berry (a dairy-free fruit sorbet). Yum!

Who doesn’t love a burger? Self-confessed “creative burger people”, the options here are endless. Veggies and vegans are well catered for, with the option to switch out ingredients with meat and dairy alternatives. Prices hover around the £10 mark, and given the generous portions, this is more than reasonable. There’s also a children’s meal deal available at £8, which includes a small burger or chicken goujons, a small juice, and a scoop of ice cream. The staff are friendly, and the atmosphere is super relaxed.

This market is home to some of the best food in the city. Well-loved by locals and tourists alike, here everyone can enjoy a taste of what they enjoy — the glass arcade is full of permanent food stalls, each showcasing different cuisines from across the globe. From Pieminister, where you can get your hands on a hot pie piled high with buttery mash, minted mushy peas and gravy, to Chilli Daddy, serving authentic Szechuan street food, and everything in between, no one will feel left out. Prices are low and the atmosphere is buzzing, particularly on a Saturday.