The term family friendly is used alot in business, networking and retail but what does it really mean?

Yesterday, I took my two children out for lunch to a well known restaurant chain that regularly promotes itself as family friendly. This is a brand new, purpose built outlet for this particular chain, so I thought that given it was Valentines Day, I would "LOVE" to spend some time with my girls over lunch.

I was therefore a little surprised to have to negotiate the pushchair through a small passageway, bumping into tables and people as I went. There was no highchair offered and when I looked around, every child was either seated or on their parents lap.

So what makes this family friendly? A childs menu that offers hamburgers with chips and peas? ((shudder)) A balloon on the way out?

Before I had children, I wouldnt have noticed but to me, family friendly means easy access, good changing facilities, high chairs, food warming and decent food options for the little people. My eldest is a particular fan of fish but unless she wants fish fingers, there is never an option for fish, rice or even vegetables half the time. There are countless programmes about obese children but if our family friendly restaurants insist on only offering chips to our children, we are fighting a losing battle!

Rant over ...... I was feeling the love on Valentines, honestly!!