Play centre market research

[claireizz]

I am looking to set up a playcentre/party rooms/cafe and would love to hear from other mums about what their likes and dislikes are about the current indoor play centres that they visit, and what they would love to have there.

Thanks!

[Picante]

Have loads of sofas.

Be strict about enforcing age limit in toddlers area.

Have more than just sausages and chips as children's meals.

Have lots of adult supervision.

[littlelamb]

Going from the ones I have been to
A definate seperate area for babies to play- ours has nothing and its a pita trying to stop ds getting trod on by the older children.
Enough staff to actually clean and clear the tables.
Good, varied and well priced food
Lots of magazines to read

[funnypeculiar]

Decent food - for parents and kids - coffee shop type stuff seems to go well (paninis and muffins)

Agree with age-discrete sections

Something for older kids (ie 5+)- esp in school holidays

One local one used to have a book corner, pens and paper on tables and dressing up clothes which went down very well & gave some options.
In fact they even had staff doing games occassionally (musical bumps etc)

[funnypeculiar]

Lots of free papers & magazines too
And decent loos with provision for kids (amazing how few of them have this ime)

[misshardbroom]

some friends of mine used to run one - they did a thing where it was a set £5 entry for 1 parent & 1 child (which is a lot, granted), but for that you got unlimited play up to 2.5 hours, plus free, unlimited, proper filter coffee and pots of tea and decent slices of cake for grown ups, juice & biscuits for children.

Would depend very much on your area & size of your premises whether you could do this, they used to have a moderately sized shop unit, about the size of a cafe, with sofas and coffee table one end, toys & craft stuff the other.

[ohdearwhatamess]

Strict enforcing of the age rules on baby/toddler areas. Went to one recently where the under 5s bit was full of boisterous older children who then complained to me that my dcs were getting in their way.

Separate baby areas are good, but not if they're nowhere near the areas for slightly older children. I can't go to our nearest soft play place because of this - can't supervise baby and 3yo at the same time.

Parking.

Lockers for putting bags and clutter into.

Decent coffee. Not bothered about food - could never imagine staying a one to eat.

[ohdearwhatamess]

Also decent ventilation - they're always such hot and sweaty and smelly places.