What do you want in a Soft Play/Activity Centre? Please let me know your thoughts and views..

[OMGIAMAMUM]

I'm in the process of putting together a business plan for a Soft Play Centre in Scotland. I have my own ideas and vision on how it's going to be HOWEVER I would really appreciate others views on what they look for in terms of a good time out with their small people please, in particular what you want, wish or look for in this sort of venue. It's really important for me to seek views of other mums for market research purposes.
In terms of what I have so far I can give you a brief description of my centre, which will:
? Be a children?s soft play centre where the emphasis is on fun and children are treated like VIP?s. Where the play equipment and the general environment is of a high quality, pleasant and clean.
? Have an age range of entry of 0 ? 12 years of age with a dedicated area for babies and toddlers to play.
? Have an emphasis on quality and service, to a level to rival other such centres coupled with a simple but tasty menu of snacks, meals and drinks available to suit both adult and child tastes with the emphasis on healthy but tasty food options for both parents and children. Emphasis on friendly but fast service for food and drinks we've probably all had some experiences when your trying to get something either ordered or heated up for your small people in such places and it's taken an age while you have a grumpy/v. hungry/unhappy child or children on your hands, so a common sense approach in these sorts of situations for customers will apply and the kids will be attended to asap by the staff.
? Be a funky place for parents to hang out and enjoy themselves while their children play with an area dedicated to parents and their wants and needs.
? Also be a party venue with a full range of party services and options for parents and children to choose from.

All views, thoughts and suggestions welcome please, the more the merrier.

I'm so picky that my kids only go to one soft play place - fizzykids in Aldershot, which is small enough to be able to easily keep an eye on the kids whilst sitting having a nice coffee, has great security on the only entrance/exit gate, cheerful and efficient staff, a really good baby/toddler bit, is clean and well maintained (no neglected corners full of rubbish and dirt) and the food, for adults and kids, is healthy, reasonable and appetising. The only complaint I have is that there is no policing of big kids' behaviour but then I do a great Glare of Disapproval which normally works. Soft play centres I hate and will never visit again include The Flying Fortress (great cavernous warehouse which is deafening, with horrid coffee, hopeless security and you have to accompany under 4s into the nightmare structure - who wants to be elbowed and kicked by bigger kids whilst knackering yourself trying to squeeze your fat backside through those padded rollers in the world's most undignified struggle whilst trying to see where your toddler has disappeared to?) and the Adventure Warehouse (filthy, deafening, smelly, staffed by sullen and surly teenagers, selling the worst of crap junk food, rampaged by hordes of obnoxious big kids and with racks of cheap 'pester power' rubbish toys on the way out).

Hi everyone, really interesting to read all your posts, topic of hot interest to me. I took my 3 year old to a soft play centre in Milton Keynes called Gambado. To go you have to register anyone in the family who may go, they take a photo to keep on the computer which is a wonderful safety proceedure however, costs £5 for the priviledge. After the initial cost, admission for a three year old costs £6 and me (adult!!) costs £2! So thats 8 a visit, just with one child with a time limit. Children under 5 are £7 and children under 11 are £8. So quick bit of maths, for a mum to take her 4 kids could cost up to £34. I think its sick!! i cannot afford to take my daughter very often, which is a shame as she is at the age where she is desperate to make some friends. Its only been open a year, so is new and clean, although you cannot get a drink for your child for under £2 despite high entry cost, wouldn't have been so bad if it hadn't been so hot in there, although it claims to be air conditioned. The food is priced well out of the average family's purse, but that is a blessing as the selection is as unhealthy and as processed as it gets. As mentioned on here before was staffed by about three 16 year old girls who didnt give a rats ass (sorry) about doing their job and ensuring the safety of the children. Only loo's upstairs and no-where near enough seating. But they did have internet access, but shouldnt parents be watching their children?!? Moan over =D Thanks, josephine

Haven't read the rest of the thread, but this is what I would like.

Fully enclosed, so that children are securely inside. Area for parents to have cups of tea, knowing that children won't escape. No loud music/cheesy announcements/sweet counters as you leave. Reasonably priced snack food that's vaguely healthy and won't have them bouncing off the walls when they come home. Friendly staff who are willing to actually supervise inside the play area, and jolly the kids along (obviously the parents are the main supervisers, but it would sometimes be helpful to have another adult watching for problems.)

At our local soft play a child was asked (well parents were) to leave as the y child kept biting other kids and parents wern't doing anything about it.

seems very responsible of the managers
its not the job of the staff to look after the children,but it is to look after the safety of their clients
well done them!

on admission charges
my softplay area cost £4 it is a great place to play (biys love the death slide) and is a good activity in the poor weather
but as i am a childminder and i have 8 children in the hols (we are going tomo) it will cost me £32 to get in then they will need drinks etc and thats for an hour
cheaper going to a theme park for the day!
should do discounts for c/m or for familys with 4 or more children