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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

private members' club for families

474 replies

pippiLS · 20/04/2014 11:32

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?

OP posts:
Original poster
pippiLS · 21/04/2014 16:04

ThinkAboutIt

'I think the balance of kid to grown up stuff is one to get right. Is it a space for kids that adults can bear or is it a space for adults that kids can bear.. Luxury hotels is more of the latter, maggie and rose looks like the former.'

I have been asking myself this question over the past few days and I think what I'm looking for (that may be elusive) is a balance, so a place that is equally for both. I don't like the kiddie language that M&R and other places use and made up words for kids activities, that whole 'tots vocab' grates on me and I don't think it's necessary. I share a house with 3 DC and our space has never been kiddyfied (we might use the odd made up word, but they are more of the Roald Dahl variety).

OP posts:
pinkdelight · 21/04/2014 16:27

"you'd almost certainly have issues with change of use."

That's what I was wondering - the idea of owning the residential property being a kind of safety net, but it'd be a commercial premises. Could be all kinds of headaches. A lovely nursery near here got shut down because of some restrictive covenant about how the building could be used. If it's a commercial property, won't it be let/leased not mortgaged and ultimately owned? I dunno but it sounds like just one of many practical problems that don't seem to be shifting the 'vision'.

Original poster
pippiLS · 21/04/2014 16:33

The property that I have fallen in love with was once a commercial property and is now a dwelling so I don't anticipate there being a change of use issue although I could be wrong.

OP posts:
JohnnyBarthes · 21/04/2014 16:36

A struggling pub might be easier to get change of use for (based on no proper knowledge, other than our local, which the landlady ran into the ground hoping to be able to change it to full residential - which so far hasn't gone her way). Residential properties are often worth more than pubs.

Just a thought.

TheZeeTeam · 21/04/2014 16:46

We belonged to one until recently. It offered a huge range of facilities, including soft play, sensory play, a mini indoor water park, art, homework help, personal training (in a fun way) for kids, yoga for mum and kids, etc etc. And there is an adult only area, so you can drop off the kids and go and get a coffee and wifi.

I didn't renew our membership though as at $500 per family to join and then $300 per month (for 3 kids), I just didn't use it enough to warrant the cost. Although it was for children up to the age of 12, my youngest was 9 and was finding it a bit "young".

ItsAFuckingVase · 21/04/2014 16:46

Generally people struggle to succeed in running a business in something they aren't knowledgeable in

Please listen to the posters who have suggested that you work for a while in one of these places to get a proper feel for what works and how to provide it. It really isn't about Farrow and Ball paint and vi rage furniture!!

Original poster
pippiLS · 21/04/2014 16:55

The thing is ItsAvase, what I'm proposing/hoping for doesn't really exist. I know how kids classes work, I've certainly been to enough of them, I would say I am pretty knowledgable about kids and keeping them interested.

OP posts:
Original poster
pippiLS · 21/04/2014 16:56

TheZeeTeam, I'm intrigued by the mini indoor water park. Was there a pool?

OP posts:
ItsAFuckingVase · 21/04/2014 17:01

Fucking hell! How many people have to tell you that you're describing Sure Start (where by your own admission you've never been) before you listen?????

And honestly, a pool? Are you mad? You've come up with a concept that will thus far lose money from day 1. Have you any idea how much it costs to maintain a pool? Have you any clue of the legislation governing opening and running a pool for public use????

TalkinPeace · 21/04/2014 17:04

OP
so now we have a pool, a coffee bar, a soft play area, exclusive membership
I know
lets add in a creche and some activities for parents in between and just call it this place
www.davidlloyd.co.uk/home/clubs/hampton/facilities

stop trying to reinvent the wheel

Preciousbane · 21/04/2014 17:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

rookiemater · 21/04/2014 17:08

Yup TalkinPeace I was just about to say that the concept seemed very much like the gym I go to (Virgin), without the added benefit of the exercise equipment and classes.
I did spend quite a lot of time there when DS was young because of the nice sofas, coffee and then the play area, but I'd find it bizarre that anyone would pay to be a member of a place that didn't offer the gym facilities as well.

Original poster
pippiLS · 21/04/2014 17:27

Who said I wanted a pool!?! Can't a person be intrigued about something ffs.

OP posts:
Original poster
pippiLS · 21/04/2014 17:30

Quite a few of you have mentioned the enforced bonding thing, I'm not into it either and I'm not one of those school gate mums, I'm also not part of a clique and I don't fall out with people. I wouldn't want to create or spend my time in a place that reinforced any of these things.

OP posts:
zeezeek · 21/04/2014 17:56

OP I have no advice to give because I've never run a small business and so am happy to admit I know nothing. However, there are a lot of people on here who are trying to advice you that your ideas are not going to work and you run a very high risk of making a complete tit of yourself and possibly becoming bankrupt. To do that you are giving up a nice secure teaching job with a pension, that also allows you holidays with your children (and thus save childcare costs). Being on the finance ctte of a school is nothing like running a business - I too am a school governor and on the same ctte so know what the responsibilities are. I also have to say that I have never come across a teacher (esp secondary school) who has such a rose-tinted, naïve and snobbish view of life.

TheDoctrineOfSnatch · 21/04/2014 18:01

OP

There are many types of commercial use - it's not just a commercial or a residential split. A property might be fine to use as a shop but not as a takeaway, for example.

It would be good to find out what "use" category Maggie and Rose is in.

MrsCakesPremonition · 21/04/2014 18:02

A lot of families local to me use the David Lloyd centre as you describe. Toddler gets booked into the creche, mum does a class, mum and toddler have a swim then they have lunch. But that is sold as family gym membership with added stuff for kids, rather than kids stuff with adds stuff for parents.

Original poster
pippiLS · 21/04/2014 18:02

zeezeek, I have been out of teaching for a while now. I've been a SAHM for a number of years and have more recently (last few years) been working in the education field.

OP posts:
Original poster
pippiLS · 21/04/2014 18:04

Not only have I not been to a Sure Start Centre but I've never used a creche Blush.

OP posts:
Dinosaurporn · 21/04/2014 18:09

Maybe you should consider a business idea in a area you have some experience of...

Lovecat · 21/04/2014 18:09

I don't want to add to the chorus of 'it won't work', OP, because it does sound lovely, however... we have a localish softplay that is £75 a year membership - for that, a child and 2 adults get in free as many times as they like (limited to 2 hours at weekends, but during the week you can stay as long as you like).

It has gone slightly downhill in terms of tattiness since it opened, but it has fantastic coffee, really nice food, wine (!), newspapers, big squashy sofas and free wifi/computer terminals.

It also has a huge softplay area, separate baby play and sensory area that was policed by trained nursery nurses (so no big kids trampling the babies), indoor gokarting, climbing wall, indoor football/basketball/dance studio room and high ropes trail all free on entry, does baby gym/yoga classes and art sessions for £5 a time and runs holiday clubs. Now DD is 9 we don't use it as much and are no longer members, but between 3-7 she pretty much lived there!

This is in Greater London in a reasonably affluent area. Is there really that much money around in Bury St Edmunds?

TheDoctrineOfSnatch · 21/04/2014 18:16
Original poster
pippiLS · 21/04/2014 18:16

There is money in BSE but I'm not sure how much, some big houses, quite a few private schools, what other indicators are there? Lots of new restaurants springing up too and some Michelin starred ones that have been around a while and a couple of nice spa type places.

Is it wrong to want to create a 'sophisticated' space that parents and kids can coexist in?

OP posts:
candycoatedwaterdrops · 21/04/2014 18:17

With the best will in the world, looking at websites is a waste of time. If you are serious, you need to visit these places. Photos can 'fake' ambiance and make it seem like there is a certain environment but members and staff have a huge impact.

As you don't have any experience in this area, to me, it sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. Just my opinion though.

JennySense · 21/04/2014 18:17

OP I was just relieved up thread to read that you don't have the finances to fund this - and I doubt you'll get a bank loan - promise MN you won't remortgage or something to get the £ ?

I don't think you have the experience yet to manage a venture like this. Take notice of what Maggie Whatsit did - she started very small and grew.

Do the same. Start by hiring a room in your community and create a brand - you'd have the flexibility to test ideas without the massive outlay. See if there's a market and a demand before you jump straight in.

As I see it you have two models here from MumsNetters - a community based social enterprise [which would attract funding possibly] or a high end and exclusive Members Club.

The high end option to me is not feasible. You don't have the capital, the experience or I doubt the market where you live to fund it.

There is no middle ground here as far as I can see.