Indoor Play Area - Manchester Area

[Janbo25]

Hi i am looking after my friends 5 year old son tomorrow and i also have a 7 month old ds. I am looking for ideas on what to do and wondering if anyone could recommend a could indoor play area or come up with any other ideas??

[stacijc]

where in manchester are you?

If ur near stockport theres whale around,alphabet zoo,funizus,trusty olewacky warehouse!

have u tried www.netmums.com. they have pages and pages of things like that but local to you.

[Janbo25]

thanks for that staz tried most of them except funizuz whats that?

[anchovies]

I think funizuz is in cheadle near wilmslow road somewhere but have never been.

[stacijc]

Funizus is FAB!!! its in cheadle where Galts toys used to be on the industrial estate.

Reading from the flyer....its open 10 - 6 every day for 0 - 12 yo (0161 491 6611)

its £3'75 for over 3s and £2'50 for under 3s. THeres a small place for prewalkers to go that is seperate from the up to 18 months bit and the over 2s bit. The big part is botg enough for you to go in as well if your kiddies get stuck/fall etc

can u tell i am fan??!!!!

[Janbo25]

sounds good any more recomendations??

[Lua]

I heard about a new place in Chorlton. Comments included "fabulous cakes to go along with soft-play"!
Haven't been there myself though...

[Janbo25]

i'm desperate for more suggestions if people can help or where abouts on mumsnet do i look?

[Judd]

There's Charlie Chalk's at the Mickerbrook pub in Cheadle - only open afternoons but free for under 3's. There's also Rumble in the Jungle, or Whale Around. Have never been to either of those but they are around the Stockport area.
Reddish Vale Farm is meant to be good.
Bruntwood Park in Cheadle - has got animal area now and the ducks are back on the pond. Nice cafe too.
I too would veer towards Funizuz though, I think! Drive to Ridge Danyers in Cheadle, turn onto Orrishemere Road, down to bottom and turn left onto Queens Road, keep going until you come to Brookfield Road on left and it's up there on the industrial estate.
(Staci - have you seen they are wacking up the prices from September? £8.50 per child for a party!)

[Janbo25]

funizuz seems to be popular

[stacijc]

£8.50 ??? grrrr

Reddish farm is supposed to be good but will only be good if weather holds and apparently only fills an afternoon/morning

i know its indoor u want but weather may hold

[dot1]

There's Whalearound in Reddish - I think it's £2.50 for over 1's. Is fab - has great cafe, chairs and tables for parents in the middle and soft play divided into little ones/bigger ones around the outside. It's not enormous so you can sit in the middle of it all and keep an eye on the kids!

[marthamoo]

I second Whalearound (in a weird, I am stalking dot1 and agreeing with everything she says kind of way). Took ds2 to a party there and thought it was the nicest soft play place I'd been to - so much nicer than grim Wacky Warehouse.

[dot1]

Definitely Marthamoo! We're probably in all these places at the same time, grinning like idiots 'cos we've found nice places to entertain the little devils/cherubs..! I agree Whalearound's almost civilised - dp and I would hook up with a friend and her 2 boys at least once a week while I was on mat. leave - lots of fond memories of coming as close to relaxing as you can do in the company of four boys under 4!!

[marthamoo]

If you can close your ears to the noise it's almost like being in a real, grown-up coffee bar - those big squishy sofas Perhaps more people should get MN badges - then we'd be able to spot each other!

[dot1]

Now that's a good idea! Right, am going now as it looks like I'm stalking you now!

[mancmum]

head over heels in chorlton fab fab place and the food is divine....

[Judd]

Where did you go Janbo?
What do MN badges look like? I'm sure I could find a picture somewhere for myself but am keeping children at bay with one foot so manoeuvrability is not my strong point! I'd feel the need to wave mine around (Badge not foot)loads as soon as I got anywhere. I'd hate my children to whack somebody and I only realise they are a fellow MNetter when I'm making a grovelling apology!
Excited by WAround and sofas, I always seem to end up hunched on a kiddies chair at Funizuz. Is it massively busy in the holidays though ?(I've got 3.5yo and 15mo)

[Janbo25]

hi i went to PLAY in oldham which is a new one but worthy of recommendation www.playoldham.com

[Raspberry]

Janbo25, Hyde Leisure Pool is great, wave machine, sprays, whirl pool, rapids, slides, jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, etc...

even though we live 20 miles away it well worth it
J3 of M67, then right, past Morrisons, left, then follow signs

Manchester art gallery has a kids interactive area too, for say an odd hour

Manchester Mueseum of Science & Technology is great for kids, it too has a creche/kids play area on the top floor of the main build. Kids love the steam engines, planes, rockets, computers, etc...! (Castlefields area)

Just a few thoughts..

[oliveoil]

Janbo - I have been there, it has just opened I think.

[cardy]

Head Over Heels in Chorlton is great. The food is nice and not all chips etc....

If you want to get out a bit more try the Museam of Science and Industry - the interactive area is really good, just about right for a 5 year old.

Whereabouts in Manchester are you Janbo?

[oliveoil]

I used to live in Chorlton sob , is that lovely deli still there on Beech Road?

[Raspberry]

Bellisimo?
I believe so

[cardy]

Deli still there, so is the Barbakan (Polish deli) and the Unicorn (veggie/organic shop) is fab. I used to live there too but don;t love far now. I visit quite a lot for non-supermarket shopping.

[johnnyo]

Bizzy Bouncers the UK?s first fully inflatable indoor play area manchester.