private members' club for families

[pippiLS]

So do you think £10 per week for access to a stylish child-friendly club (with tasteful soft play areas etc) is a big ask?

DH thinks it's too much and no none would pay it whereas I think £520 for annual membership of a place where people with babies/toddlers go and meet other mums/dads/nannies, have a decent coffee (maybe even a tasty, healthy lunch), relax in comfort and attend classes with their little ones is an OK price to pay.

Am I being unreasonable to be considering opening such a place as a business venture?

YABU

There are literally tens of thousands of places like that, that don't charge an extortionate fee.

There are a couple of clubs like that in London, one is called Maggie & Rose. I've never been or looked into it as my DCs are older now.

I think it depends where you are, and what people are looking for.

Yanbu to consider it but you need to really know your market. It might work in a really affluent area if it was much nicer than other soft play centres, otherwise why would anyone pay? Can't see it working where I live and I would personally consider a luxury I couldn't afford.

Sorry, consider it a luxury I couldn't afford

It would be vey expensive to run. Maggie and rose is around that fee and costs millions a year to run. Staff costs, building costs, food, insurance, equipment, cooking classes etc etc

You should look at purple dragon Chelsea

Are you in a wealthy area? There is demand for that, and I think others charge even more, but it depends where you are.

Eastpoint, I've had a look (online only as not in London) at Maggie & Rose and that's close to the kind of thing I'm thinking of.

Worral, £10 per week is £2 per day, is that really a lot to pay for a delightful, clean, fresh-smelling non-gaudy haven - somewhere to sit in comfort and feed your baby without feeling that you shouldn't be there?

Maggie and Rose is over £800 per year. My country club membership is less than that!

YANBU

In SW London so many of the lovely kid friendly cafés with toys, books, classes etc are going bust because people drop by for for a coffee, and stay for hours. It's not a profitable business venture. I think even soft play venues don't make huge profits.

However private members clubs guarantee an income stream, and allow you to keep the place attractive to members (clean, working toys, soft play, discounted classes etc). Maggie and Rose are an excellent example of this.

What pRt of the country are you OP?

It would depend on what else is available, our soft play has annual membership. Certain expensive gyms offers a similar package more expensive but gym membership is included and the added bonus of a swimming pool. You would need a certain area with certain people who would rather pay for exclusivity than use what is cheaper with no tie ins.

Definitely depends on the area - SW London, go for it. East Devon, maybe not.

And FWIW I have never felt I shouldn't be somewhere when feeding my baby, including a private golf club yesterday. I sat and fed while chatted and drank coffee and ate cake and no one raised an eyebrow. What I mean is, don't assume everyone needs a 'baby friendly' space to feed in.

Yes, £40 a month for soft play is far too much, particularly with the extra costs such as food drinks etc

I bet you need to charge a lot for it to survive. Eg Maggie & Rose and Purple Dragon.

Would the children not get bored going to the Same place day In day out ?

Worral, £10 per week is £2 per day, is that really a lot to pay for a delightful, clean, fresh-smelling non-gaudy haven - somewhere to sit in comfort and feed your baby without feeling that you shouldn't be there?

Yes imo because who is going to go every single day?

Plus, whenever any soft play centre opens up, it's delightful, clean and fresh smelling etc. Give it a year and it'll be similar to most other well kept soft play centres, that you don't have to pay a fortune for.

Just like comicsansisevil, we have a place exactly like you describe that's also kitted out with the latest computers and free wifi etc.

Except it's PAYG although you can pay a yearly fee if you wish, but it's nothing like the amount you want to charge.

Isn't PD £4000 a year? Or is that just what the DM says when googled.

comicsansisevil, it wouldn't be soft play in the usual sense but more a few cosy corners (perhaps one with a ball pool) where little ones can play safely.

Artandco, Purple Dragon membership is £4000!! I do live in a fairly affluent area but that's a bit too much.

MarshaBrady, yes, I too think there is a demand for it. What sort of things would you expect to see for the grown-ups in such a club?

I would not pay that (nor could afford to). I think it does indeed depend on the area.

What about older children? People sometimes have more than one.

For £520 a year, I think parents will expect more than a few cosy corners and a ball pool.

Remember they're going to be paying for drinks and food too.

I think you can do it and people will pay. But the running costs are probably huge, that would be the problem.

Whether even what you are proposing is enough to cover the costs.

Do you think people would prefer to join a luxury gym with a creche and nice area and get it all at once?

I suppose what people want most is an area for children to play and for them to sit down with a magazine, relax, watch them and for it not to be dark, dingy and awful surroundings.

I actually think that your price is too cheap, at that price you will be offering no more than what can be sourced by local clubs. Those wanting and privileged to afford a private members club will want more than what £520 can give you. The reason expensive gyms survive even though they are at least double the cost is they provide up-to date equipment with fewer numbers so you are not crammed in the pool like sardines surrounded by a bus load of teens. I would imagine that an area with enough wealth to support the charge will have high overhead costs.