Mummy Cafe

[GetSmart]

Calling all mum's....I'm thinking of starting a cafe thats specifically for Mums (and dads) as a place to go and mix with other parents in a comfortable and slightly luxurious place, enjoy a decent coffee and healthy food, a clean and baby/toddler friendly environment with high speed internet access and phone signal. I want to create a little retreat where Mums can go to be with likeminded (and often sleep deprived) people and just hang out! I want to evolve this to have a 'pamper room' and the occasional sitting service for parents who just 'need an hour'. I wanted to use you lovely people as a sounding board really. What would make this idea extra special? Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you!

I'd rather eat my own kidneys than go anywhere described as a 'mummy cafe'.

There are loads of these places about - but just called cafes.

Do you have DCs of your own? Mine are just 1 and 2 and a newborn but there's no way I'd be comfortable leaving them in s crèche type facility with care givers they had never met before just to get an hour by myself. Perhaps people with older children might find it a useful service but by the time DC are older, they are at school etc so parents have a bit of f time

As a non-mum with a serious coffee habit who loves healthy food I think it's a shame you wouldn't want my business.

Just out of interest, why do you think all mums are like minded?

Maybe pop over to the sparkle huns. Sounds more up their street.

I would never go in a café with the intention of meeting like-minded people.

I'd never go in a 'Mummy café', knowing it would be full of women hoping to meet like-minded women ie those who call themselves and other mothers Mummy . I'd feel left out.

Sorry guys, I've missed a fundamental piece of the jigsaw out. The 'cafe' would been completely geared up for kids, with places for them to play, not your usual high street cafe. I have two young children and found it very frustrating when I couldn't get round in a cafe with a buggy for instance and on occasion would like a coffee somewhere where the kids are genuinely welcome and can get down from the high chair and play, without it being an issue. I think I've painted an incorrect picture of what I have in mind - sorry. It seems to have provoked a bad reaction. Its not meant to isolate parents, but include them. There are hundreds of baby groups meeting over the country, crammed into small coffee shops and I thought it would be nice to have a nice 'family friendly' place to have a cuppa and some healthy food (not a microwave panini!). The creche wasn't for you to leave your children. Rather have a coffee in peace, whilst you know your children are safe, supervised and having fun and where you can clearly see them.
Long term plan was to include some classes, maybe: exercise classes, baby yoga, healthy eating etc. Hope this paints a clearer picture.

It's either child friendly or it's a place for parents to relax. The two rarely go together.

So it's essentially a soft play with a larger coffee area?

This might give you some ideas?

There was a cafe near where I used to live that did something similar to this.

It found that people simply didn't spend enough for the amount of time they occupied tables, and abandoned that model becoming instead an ordinary coffee shop/cafe.

Have you experience of running a cafe?

Oh I don't know. If its child friendly, surely that means the parents get a break? :) The idea started as a soft play centre but they are so expensive to set up!

I would welcome this. I am always trying to find places to go.

Yeah, thats a concern that people could just sit all day and enjoy the 'free play'.

Thank you 'Friendofsadgirl' thats really helpful.

I've worked in coffee shops before and a good friend of mine owns a very successful one - if the idea is a goer, I'll be spending some time there no doubt learning the ropes.

It's a soft play with a café? They're rarely relaxing places, just think of the noise levels.

Most parents meet up in a soft play area, park or similar if they want their DC to play, don't they?

Do you have children? How in God's name is this a relaxing idea?

Thanks everyone, you've given me A LOT of food for thought. Its all been helpful, thank you. Lots to think about and revise.

Bleurgh to Mummy Cafe. Just a nice normal cafe with nice normal food, a few toys in a corner and space for buggies does the trick.

We have a few places around us - basically a cafe with a large area set aside for toys, play houses etc for kids. Like Cafe Junior, for example. They're always busy BUT they're always a bit grimy too... I don't think you could expect much else with that many preschoolers there. Luxurious doesn't really spring to mind... In fact, I would be terrified of taking mine somewhere that nice and dropping crumbs, smearing food, spilling drinks etc. Brings me out in a bit of a cold sweat, just thinking about it!

I have a 5 month old and a 5 year old. I don't think I'd use it for the follow reasons:

The soft play area bit would be too old for one, too young for the other.

It would be full of toddlers/preschoolers roaming around and screeching. I don't have to deal with that yet so I don't want to.

When youngest is at the screeching, roaming stage I won't be able to relax because she'll be roaming/screeching.

Are you providing childcare? Would I pay for DD2 to be looked after and another mum just bung their kid in and leave them unsupervised? How would you stop this? If you're not watching the children then I would have to. Not relaxing.

Wherever there's groups of parents. There's millions of pushchairs. Will you have a buggy park? Will it be secure? Or will you lose 2/3 chairs to make space for the pushchairs? Will this impact on your takings?