Marston's reveals new family-focused pub format

Family pubs are the latest focus for operator Marston’s, as it continues to reveal the new brands behind its five-format approach.

Following the debut of Grandstand, its new locals sport pub concept, Marston’s has announced the launch of Woodie’s, its new local family pub format.

The Skymaster in Warrington, Cheshire, will be the first pub rebranded as a Woodie’s, reopening at the end of July.

New family-focused spaces will be created in each redesigned pub, including Woodie’s Den, a 'magical woodland-themed' with games, craft activities and special events such as discos, karaoke and quizzes. The spaces will be fitted with a system that will allow streaming through built-in TVs. 

The pubs will also be home to Woodie’s Sweet Factory, a self-serve confectionery bar for children to top their desserts using a token system. 

"We’re really proud to introduce Woodie’s, our new local family pub format, which understands families’ needs better than anyone else," says Ed Hancock, chief development officer at Marston’s. "Built around real insights and feedback from parents and local guests alike, Woodie’s is all about making pub visits easy and enjoyable for everyone, where kids can be kids and adults can genuinely unwind. We’re sure Woodie’s will delight the whole family and be the backdrop of many get-togethers, celebrations and special moments in our local communities over this summer and beyond."

"Built around real insights" 

To best understand families’ needs and ensure both parents and kids alike have the best experience possible, Marston’s reviewed research on why parents have left restaurants early, with insights revealing that parents critiqued slow service, expensive children’s menus, a lack of healthy options and entertainment for kids, and unaccommodating staff.

These insights have informed Marston’s’ Woodie’s concept.

Once the renovations are complete, each Woodie’s reopening will be celebrated with an all-day family festival, complete with bouncy castles, face painting, storytelling sessions, live music and an official ribbon cutting by a local community hero. Local families with babies born in the last 12 months will also be invited to be VIPs at the family festivals, with each baby receiving a Woodie’s onesie.

Marston’s is also offering local guests a ‘Pint For Your Past’, giving away free pints in exchange for local stories of the pub and beyond, which will feature on each pub’s memory wall over the opening weekend. 

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