'I took my kids for a £1 breakfast and the whole experience was embarrassing'

The school holidays can be a costly affair, with many families struggling to find the cash for their weekly food shop, never mind eating out.

But there are places making it a bit more affordable over the summer, with kids eat free deals or kids eat for £1. One of those places in Farmhouse Inns, which runs a number of family-friendly pubs across Greater Manchester, including Applewood Farm in Astley.

All families have to do is visit the website to sign up for a voucher, which allows kids to eat a breakfast, a junior carvery, or any kids' meal for £1. For every adult ordering a meal, two children can eat for the offer price - even better!

Read more: Everywhere kids can eat FREE or for £1 in Manchester in the summer holidays

All sounds very simple doesn't it. However, in reality it wasn't quite so easy. The voucher process was straightforward enough and I didn't have to wait too long for it to arrive in my inbox. But ordering the breakfast for myself and two children was a different story.

Arriving at Applewood Farm just before 10.30am on Tuesday morning, we were among a handful of customers at the venue so I was served pretty quick.

However when I asked for two children's breakfasts I was told in no uncertain terms, 'we don't do children's breakfasts, we just have the one adult size'.

Pointing out the information on my voucher - "This voucher entitles you to a small breakfast, any kids' meal or Junior Carvery from the Kids' Menu for £1 each on the purchase of an adult breakfast, main meal or carvery", the response was the same - 'yes, I don't know why they've put that as it's supposed to just be main meals'.

Now the shy and retiring customer may well have slipped away quietly at this point, or coughed up for three