Steph Smith, who manages the Hale, Altrincham and Sale area for Mums in the Know, chooses five great things to do with the kids over the next week.
1. Have brunch at the new Carluccio’s in Hale
The family favourite, Carluccio’s opened its doors on Victoria Lane in Hale (formerly the American Bar & Grill) on August 29. Open Monday to Saturday from 8am-11pm and 9am-10.30pm on Sundays. Give yourself a break from cooking and pop in with the family for brunch! The kids menu is delicious for £6.60 per child or £2 dips & sticks – and each little person gets a lovely little activity booklet to keep them happy.
Carluccio’s, Victoria Rd, Hale, WA15 9AF. To book, call 0161 929 9259.
2. Get your skates on at Altrincham Leisure Centre (Saturday September 6)
Why not enjoy a bit of retro fun with the kids and take them along to this roller disco at Altrincham Leisure Centre on Saturday evening. The two-hour disco starts at 6.30pm and tickets can be purchased on the day for £4 each. Don’t worry if you don’t have your own skates – you can hire them for just £1.
Altrincham Leisure Centre, Oakfield Road, Altrincham WA15 8EW. Call for more information on 0161 926 3255.
3. Enjoy lunch, music and a shop at Altrincham Home, House & Garden Market (Sunday September 7)
We’re very lucky to have the historic Altrincham Market on our doorstep and earlier this year it had a little bit of a facelift. If it’s a while since you have been, you’re missing a treat! As it’s the first Sunday of the month, it’s the Home, House & Garden Market with a wide selection of stalls selling top-quality soft furnishings, handmade cushions, knitted throws and vintage home wares. Admission is free and there will be kids’ crafts, delicious pizza from Honest Crust and Vintage Afternoon Tea’s freshly-made crumpets, as well as live music! The market is great place to bring the family for a browse and a bacon sarnie before bringing home some fresh veg and tasty, locally-made specialities for your Sunday lunch.
Altrincham Market, Greenwood St, WA14 1SA. See @AltrinchamMkt on Twitter for up-to-date information.
4. Take your preschooler to Rugbytots (Saturday mornings)
September marks the new school year and for lots of pre-schooler classes it is time for new registrations. Rugbytots run sessions for boys and girls aged 2-5 years on Saturday mornings at Altrincham Grammar School for Boys and Ashton-on-Mersey School in Sale. The classes are designed to develop your child’s physical, psychological and social attributes as well as enabling pre-schoolers to burn off some energy! Click here to find out more about Rugbytots and to read about a special offer for new recruits.
Marlborough Rd, Bowdon, WA14 2RS. For more information, contact Michele on 0845 313 3255.
And if you feel like venturing a little further afield…
5. Take in the simple pleasures of Lymm Dam
Lymm Dam is a mere 15 minute drive from Altrincham, located on Higher Lane next to St Mary’s Church (Aiden Byrne’s gourmet pub, The Church Green Inn, is just next door). This 17-hectare site was built in 1824 and recently won a Green Flag award – a real testament to its excellent standard as a recreational park area. There’s no adventure playground, no cafe or gift shops, no pet’s corner – the genuine allure is nothing more than nature itself and the opportunity for children to run a bit wild (along with their imaginations).
A bonus for us is that this simple pleasure is entirely free – if you exclude the ice lolly at the end from the ice cream van that seems to be in permanent residence… a small price to pay! The walk around the dam takes around an hour, especially if you stop to take in the wildlife and play games. There are plenty of picnic benches and the paths are level enough to take a pushchair along or scooter if needed. Read a full review of Lymm Dam here.
Wright House/Crouchley Lane, Lymm WA13 0AS. See here for more information.
