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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think if I have paid £29 for 4 of us to get into an 'all weather family play centre

51 replies

lecce · 02/01/2011 20:01

I should not have to sit in a fucking freezing barn with only filthy, undrinkable coffee available. I am a bit of a coffee snob but I would have given anything for a Starbucks or a Costas instead of stuff from a machine, the like of which I have seen in offices etc with coffee costing 20p.

Why not cater for the parents a little, is it too much to ask? Some lovely cakes, not kitkats and mars bars, I'm not 14.

And turn the fucking heating on.

And breathe...

OP posts:
BooBooGlass · 02/01/2011 20:02

Not in Devon by any chance is it?

goldenbirdies · 02/01/2011 20:03

I know that place...were half the 'attractions' closed due to weather?

Original poster
lecce · 02/01/2011 20:08

Not Devon but I do believe the same company have a site in Devon. This one was in the East Midlands.

Yes, some of it was closed. A real 'highlight' was a freezing, dark corridor with some sinister snowmen and a ball machine. Never again.

OP posts:
sarah293 · 02/01/2011 20:08

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HuwEdwards · 02/01/2011 20:11

Not helpful at all, but I would be more worried if I were you, that I had more money than sense - £29!!!

goldenbirdies · 02/01/2011 20:25

Actually £29 is at the cheaper end for these things so hardly 'more money than sense'. It's just a lot of money to pay to be frozen and bored to death.

Original poster
lecce · 02/01/2011 20:25

What does everyone else pay for these things then, if this is what they cost?!

I usually use Tesco vouchers or online discounts etc but today I just wanted to be impulsive and get out, rather than sitting in the house feeling uptight about housework and depressed about going back to work on Wednesday.

both Ds loved it so it was not a total waste, I just wish there had been a bit more on offer in the way of 'sweetners' for parents.

OP posts:
pink4ever · 02/01/2011 20:30

I think that these places are always a rip-off.They know they got parents over a barrel.We had a new one open up a few months ago-costs me 12 for us to get in at weekend(and that only by lying and saying youngest dc is under 1 or would be 18 quid!). Their food is also extortionate(though not bad quality for that kind of place)but £1.50 for 2 pieces of toast,£2.50 for a jug of very diluted juice?-really is daylight robbery(but place has been mobbed since it opened!).

JemimaMop · 02/01/2011 20:30

YABU.

Starbucks and Costa both sell overpriced buckets of froth.

However proper coffee and cakes would be nice. As would heating.

But still, £29? Don't you have a park or something to run round in rather than paying silly money to sit in a barn?

sarah293 · 02/01/2011 20:32

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cobbledtogether · 02/01/2011 20:33

Our playbarn does coffee from the local coffee importer and roaster. Yummmmm. Entry is £4 per child - under 2s and adults free, plus home made cakes.

Still cold though, but it is in a huge barn on a farm!

Original poster
lecce · 02/01/2011 20:36

I know that Jemima, I lived in Italy for 2 years and am no fan of Starbucks et al. What I mean is that although they are shit, they would have been better than what we got. I have found about 3 places in this country that serve proper coffee and never expect it tbh, a Costas or something is not too much to ask.

We have excelent parks, I visit them daily in the holidays, I felt like a change.

As I said, the dc enjoyed it.

OP posts:
herbietea · 02/01/2011 20:38

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DanceInTheDark · 02/01/2011 20:46

Did you complain when you were there? I have complained about really cold soft play before now and been given a partial refund.

JemimaMop · 02/01/2011 20:47

I think I'm with Riven.

We went on a walk in the forest (free) then to the playground in the forest (free) then to the Forest Visitor Centre cafe which sells reasonably price nice coffee and homemade cakes.

I'm not a huge fan of "play centres" though, although as you say the DC usually enjoy them. We sometimes go to one which is on a local static caravan site, so I'm sure you can imagine the horror. The DC love it though so from time to time I grit my teeth and take them. I wouldn't pay £29 to go there though, I think it costs £3 per child and adults are free.

ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 02/01/2011 20:55

This is good

Wouldn't pay 29 bastard squid tho, get some wellies on em and freeze in style !

IAPJJLPJ · 02/01/2011 20:56

lecce - whats it called?

Original poster
lecce · 02/01/2011 20:57

Typo in my last post - excellent.

Can I just clarify that I am aware that we could have gone for a walk for free. We do so daily, long walks in local forests and by the river in the holidays and at weekends in term time. We have dogs as well as dc, we know about the pleasures of the outdoors. We are not some idiots who believe you cannot leave the house without paying 'silly amounts of money.' We felt like a change. The dc loved it.

To be fair, this place is more than 'just' a soft play centre, though I think they are certainly pushing it charging what they do at this time of year, but I was probably foolish to think that 'all weather' meant that...Oh I don't know what I expected really, I just wanted a nice coffee and a cake!

OP posts:
southeastastra · 02/01/2011 20:59

oh come of you go out for a day trip and only look forward to a branded coffee?

southeastastra · 02/01/2011 21:02

oh read your other posts and now realise you just want a nice tea Grin

i suspect that people will pay for that so it's got away with it

herbietea · 02/01/2011 21:05

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Original poster
lecce · 02/01/2011 21:06

No, where did I say 'only'?

I look forward to seeing the dc enjoy themselves AND a 'branded coffee' while they are happily playing. I am 34. I don't look forward to slides and the like for my own sake anymore, though I do love seeing my dc on them.

If it was a day trip to a castle, the beach, a museum etc then I would have had more to look forward to but this one was 'for' the dc. Not a crime to want a drinkable drink while I'm there is it?

Have I failed some test of motherhood here?

OP posts:
snice · 02/01/2011 21:10

where is this placethen?

curlymama · 02/01/2011 21:11

FFS, why is the OP getting such a hard time for spending £30? Obviously she was hoping it would be nicer than it was, but either way, the dc's enjoyed it. It's her £30, she can do what she wants with it and does not have to justify that to MN!

ivykaty44 · 02/01/2011 21:11

is that the north devon place has a sister in east midlands

next time op go to hatton, although its naff its cheaper for ball park and warm