The Sun Inn Hardingstone: The Family-Friendly Pub That’s Got Everything

You know that feeling when you find a pub that actually works for the whole family — not just tolerates children, but genuinely caters for them — and you wonder how you ever managed without it? That’s The Sun Inn in Hardingstone, and I have a feeling it’s about to become your new regular.

Tucked away in the beautiful village of Hardingstone, The Sun Inn has built a reputation as one of the most welcoming and genuinely family-friendly pubs in Northamptonshire. And once you’ve seen what it offers, it’s easy to understand why.

A Garden and Play Area You’ll Actually Relax In

Let’s start with the outdoor space, because this is the bit that matters most when you’ve got little ones in tow. The Sun Inn has a fully secure garden with a brilliant play area — we’re talking a proper climbing frame with a slide, tyre swings, rope ladders, and bark chipping underneath. The kind of setup that keeps kids happily occupied for a good stretch of time.

While they’re climbing and sliding, you can sit at one of the garden tables, order a drink, and actually exhale. The garden has a children’s menu, colouring activities, and kids’ drinks ready to go — so it’s all been thought through properly.

• Also check out:
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• Pubs with kids Play areas in Northamptonshire

A Covered Outdoor Space for All Weathers

One of the things that really stands out about The Sun Inn is their covered outdoor room — a gorgeous glazed marquee-style space with fairy lights, proper outdoor furniture, blankets on the chairs, and even a screen. It means you get that lovely outdoor feel without being entirely at the mercy of the great British weather, which, let’s be honest, is essential. It’s the kind of space that works for a relaxed Sunday lunch, a birthday celebration, or just a catch-up with friends.

Events the Whole Family Will Love

The events programme here is genuinely impressive. The Sun Inn runs regular kids’ discos, princess parties, superhero parties, and Minecraft parties — and from the photos, the party setups are really lovely. The indoor event space has a real character to it, with exposed brick walls, a fireplace, and fairy lights, and it transforms brilliantly for parties. There’s also live music, scheduled early enough in the day that families can enjoy it together rather than it being an exclusively grown-up evening affair.

And That Breakfast…

If you needed another reason to visit, The Sun Inn also serves up what looks like a seriously good full breakfast — the kind of loaded plate that makes the whole weekend feel worthwhile. A proper treat.

Whether you’re heading over for a casual lunch, planning a party, or just want somewhere lovely to spend a few hours with the kids, The Sun Inn in Hardingstone is well worth a visit. You can find out more and check their upcoming events at thesuninnhardingstone.co.uk.

And if you want to stay in the loop with the best family-friendly places and events across Northamptonshire, sign up for my weekly what’s on newsletter — I do the digging so you don’t have to.

You can find The Sun Inn’s full listing on the Northants Families directory, or visit their website directly at thesuninnhardingstone.co.uk

The events listed in this guide are run by third-party organisers, and all details were correct at the time of publication, based on information from their official websites. However, changes or cancellations can happen at short notice. To avoid any disappointment, we recommend double-checking the event information on the official websites before making plans.