The Magic Faraway Tree written in 1943 by the legendary Enid Blyton was one of my favourite books as a child. It was a classic when I read it in the 70's and as proof its charm is timeless, there's now a movie featuring my old favourites from this beautiful book.
To celebrate the magical new big-screen adventure The Magic Faraway Tree (in cinemas from Friday 27th March), Prezzo Italian is bringing the wonder of the Faraway Tree to life with enchanting dining experiences for children and families across the UK.
Now, a whole new generation can discover the adventure for the first time on the big screen - while parents (like me) rediscover the spellbinding stories they loved as children.
With a star-studded cast of much-loved British actors and actresses bringing the classic tale to life, the cinematic release promises to delight audiences young and old, capturing the imagination and magic that has made the Faraway Tree one of Britain’s most treasured children’s stories.
From Monday 16 March 2026, Prezzo Italian is sprinkling a little Faraway magic into mealtimes in partnership with the film’s release.
Young diners will receive magical activity sheets to spark creativity and keep little imaginations busy while they wait for their meal.
And for a truly enchanting treat, there's a magical new dessert: Fizz Pops - custard-filled mini doughnut balls coated in white chocolate, topped with chocolate pearls and served with chocolate sauce and popping candy for a little burst of magic in every bite. I can confirm, these are delicious although the popping candy is tame compared to the pain-inducing stuff I bought from the newsagent as a child. I dread to think what was in that stuff!
Obviously when invited to go along to Prezzo Italian in Hemel Hempstead last night (GIFTED) I felt I would not be able to offer my readers a full and accurate review without throwing myself into the experience. Or actually throwing my 25 year old into it on my behalf.
Our server looked slightly bemused when I asked for the new activity sheet and crayons as there were clearly no young children with us. Not only did the obliging staff bring us the sheet and crayons, they also produced three courses from the children's menu for us to try while completing the numerous imaginative activities. Our verdict? Very tasty, especially the tomato spaghetti.
BTW, Prezzo Italian offers a selection of children's menus -one for 0-2 year olds, another for 2-8 year olds and a bigger menu for 8-12 year olds. Amazingly they offer a deal where for a subscription of £1.99 a month or £19.99 for the year you can feed up to three kids a full three course meal free! The subscription is totally flexible and can be cancelled at any time.
My 25-year old was very entertained by the activity pack which they declared difficult enough in parts to keep even older children engaged. I don't need to include this photo but their siblings will think it's funny so here we are.
Their verdict was proved by a an actual child at a nearby table who was so engrossed by the sheet that her mum resorted to spooning her food into her mouth to ensure she ate!
I got drawn in, in between enjoying my meal (crispy calamari, rigatoni with king prawns and salmon in a creamy sauce, a side of truffle fries and a sharing Tiramisu) which as always was delicious, and between us we managed to finish the colouring in.
My husband helped with the word search initially although as soon as his oven baked King Prawn starter arrived he could not be torn from it. He went on to enjoy a luxurious crab and lobster ravioli in a lobster bisque, finished with freshly grated parmesan, and managed the lion's share of the tiramisu.
My "child" for the evening adored the incredibly stretchy hot honey glazed mozzarella sticks and in between colouring managed most of rigatoni with chicken, mushroom and garlic. Our lovely server Roxana gamely packed up the leftovers which will make a lovely lunch for them today.
As a foodie who reviews some top notch places I am guilty of sometimes being a bit snobby about chain restaurants. However I do think Prezzo Italian rises above many lacklustre chains and deserves recognition for the quality of their menus, including their drinks menu.
In my experience Prezzo offers imaginative, tasty and well presented food at excellent prices, especially if you download their app and look out for discounts and special offers like their Mega Mondays where you can enjoy selected pasta dishes and pizza for just 99p (Ts&Cs apply) and their kids eat free or kids eat for £1 deals - all deals outlined on the Club Prezzo app.
With almost 100 restaurants across the country, many of which have recently had a stylish refurb, there is bound to be one near you. Why not combine a meal with a trip to the cinema to see The Magic Faraway Tree - the perfect treat for the whole family during the school holidays. If we get more of this lovely weather you can even sit outside! Buon appetito!
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