To think this is a great business idea

[Misstomrs]

A friend and I were chatting at the playground yesterday. We both have toddler DSs, born one day apart. With the onset of the less than clement weather we were discussing the lack of pleasant indoor play areas for children. This led us on to what we would like...a softplay centre that offered prosecco and cake, as well as nice coffee and perhaps stone baked pizzas. We're not suggesting that parents should come to these places to get plastered (although it might numb the pain or at least distract from the smell) but that as adults we should be able to have a pleasant time while waiting for our LOs to wear themselves out.

AIBU?

Let the trolling about irresponsible parenting commence!

I don't think think people who disagree are trolls. Just people who put up straw men arguments to try and make a point that criticises other people and their ideas. Completely cool that not everyone will like the idea. Just after opinions really 😊

I probably like prosecco more than most but I would not want to have a glass while in charge of my DC especially at a venue with loads of other children. You may be completely reasonable after a drink or two but I imagine there are lots of people who aren't. So a combination of angry parents that their pfb has been slighted in some way by another child, combined with alcohol is not somewhere I'd rush to visit. I'd love it if it was full of like- minded friends, but loads of people with differing parenting styles. Sorry, no! But good luck if you decide to go for it!

There's a soft play near me that has a bar selling alcohol. (It's not a soft play area in a pub, there are plenty of them around here too!) It's on a business park out of town, not within reasonable walking distance. I find it bizarre to be honest!

I know of a pub with a huge soft play area plus a big outside playground with a sandpit.
It's usually full of dads looking a bit worse for wear while their kids run wild. I doubt they sell prosecco but you never know!
I like prosecco and I like talking my kids to soft play but not sure if I want to combine the two. I would love see a soft play with a cafe that did nice food and decent coffee though - the ones near me do disgusting instant coffee and everything with chips.

We go a soft play that does this. Proper home made fpod. Amazings pizzas and alcohol. Obviously you must drink responsibly. Never see anyone even tipsy never mind hammered.

Just what you need in softplay, tiger mothers fired up on prosecco.

You should go for it OP. I want to read those threads.

There's a soft play/bowling alley/climbing place near us that offers pretty much that.

I hadn't thought about those Mums having access to fizz at soft play. Good point.
The venue I'm thinking of is in the centre of town so no need to drive, but I think a one drink limit would be a good idea, for a number of reasons, and shouldn't bother those who are count themselves out of the cider in the park / white lightning brigade.
Thanks everyone, genuinely appreciate your thoughts and ideas keep them coming 👍

But a venue with good food would be lovely. Most soft play venues sell rubbish, microwaved food where I am (in west London). If there was somewhere with restaurant style food or stone baked pizza, healthy food options for children, non plastic furniture, gastro-pub stylee, that would lovely! I think there is a market for what you're suggesting, possibly without the emphasis on prosecco!

When DD1 was small, there were several pubs round here that offered soft play - I mean proper large areas. I think most got closed, because parents got pissed and left their kids to it.

DD1 is now 20 btw.

Putting up a straw man argument does not make you a troll!

I think the idea of licensed soft play is dreadful (and I'm in London, where there's is plenty of public transport).

Better food would however be worth working towards

TBH I don't think you'd get it past a licencing authority.

Pub chains = family dining experience..... a soft play for yummy mummies to quaff? It's the whole perception of negligent parenting. that aside of course, most who need a drop in the afternoons have their own little drinking clubs round each others houses, which doesn't stop at one glass.

Also the imposition of a one glass limit. I'd like to be a fly on the wall to see that in practice.

I am past that stage now but would rather have a soft play that served proper good food and not charge the earth. Half a ham sandwich and half a dozen Quavers for a kids meal but charge £3!!
And all of our softplays involved driving to them so alcohol wouldnt be much use unless there were more than one adult.

I love the assumption that by offering prosecco as well as cake etc that it would be an unclean place that would make children ill

I'm delighted for you that you live that assumption, even though nobody at all made that assumption.

Live?

Love.

Other parents not supervising their children pisses me off at soft play. I dont imagine alcohol would help this..... (although slightly concerned about disagreeing with the OP after her reaction to previous perfectly reasonable comments)

I can think of about 5 soft plays attached to pubs within a few miles of here. Although judging by what Ive seen on a weekend at some I'm not sure alcohol and soft play is a good combo.

I'm just thankful for soft plays that have decent food and coffee.

Do you not have Chuck E. Cheese in the UK?

I've been in a couple of pubs with large play areas for kids, but you usually have to be dining there and not just on the lash.

All soft play places I've been to are out of town and require a car.

What might work is a naice licensed café in a town centre location, which also has a play area for small children. But if you make the play area too large, you'd pretty much only be appealing to parents of under fives.

Sounds an ok idea. Depending on where you site it. If people have to drive to it, might not be so responsible.
But I'm all for decent, quality cake ... and stuff not just for the children

Also prosecco is rather chavvy and common now, probably not the image the OP was looking for.

• Clean
• Excellent coffee
• Reasonably-priced, healthy lunch food

That's what anybody I know wants at soft play. Forget booze.

Pubs with play areas and activity places with bars have been around for a very long time.