Indoor Play Centre

[Motherandbusiness]

Hi All!
I hope everyone is managing to keep safe!

I am interested in setting up my own Indoor Play centre in Surrey, after being to so many with my two children (5 and 3) I really feel like I can create something that both Children and Parent's will love.

Just wondering what is important to you all when choosing to go to an indoor play/ soft play centre? (If you go at all)!

Hi All,

Thanks so much for the feedback it has been super helpful. It’s interesting to see so many saying WARM, I am normally extremely hot in soft plays so this is something I really wouldn’t have thought too much about!

I agree with both sides re the colours and music, I think finding a good balance of the two will be key and have thought of offering a “Relaxed session” once a week two for those that struggle with sensory and noise.

Cleanliness has always been a priority for me so totally agree with this.

Gated baby/toddler area with toys as well as small frame/slide
Good coffee
Healthy snack options
Clean toilets with steps etc for small children
Good visibility of the frame from seating area
Decent parking
Pro active staff who would tell older children to stay out of the baby bit
I've never been cold either, so I couldn't comment on that bit

We're really lucky to have a range of really well run soft play centres near us, and each offers a slightly different thing. They're all clean and feel safe. The one I don't go to feels manic and out of control - the staff turn a blind eye to everything and it's a bit Lord of the Flies!

Easy parking

A play structure where you can see a lot of it from the seating area

Only one way in and out and secured exit so you're comfortable that kids can't escape!

Toilet with child seat and low down sink

Have you been to 360 play, they have a few around the county? It's quite expensive to go but it's impressive as not just soft play.

You could do something different alongside soft play. I think it's hard to cater to the toddler weekday market and the all ages weekend / parties.

Whereabouts in Surrey?
My DS always gets very hot and sweaty at Soft Play, whatever the weather so my vote would be somewhere that isn't too warm!

Soontobe60 you wouldn't have music playing at an outdoor play area so why do you need it at an indoor one? Surely you take children to a play centre to play. If you want them to hear music take them to a music group.
(I also hate music blasting out in shopping centres/supermarkets/bus stations/McDonalds etc. I'm there to shop/catch a bus/eat etc.... I don't need fricking music to do that)

Softplays round us are always boiling as well!

My favourites are:

Really clean & well cared for - toys that look well kept in baby areas and no ripped or fraying or discoloured climbing areas.

Decent food - I love lunch at softplay on a Friday 😄 I like softplay where I can give my kids a main meal as well. Then I can just do a light meal at home for either lunch/tea.

Slides that are slippy! Some are so bad, you get stuck half way down & the kids get quickly bored. Keep them well polished.

Not keen on ball pools. I’m glad they’ve gone away with covid! Kids chew them, throw them, I imagine hard to keep clean!

If considering a toddler area - make sure the climbing frame is actually toddler friendly. It’s so frustrating when the steps or frame are too high or far apart & kids can’t climb up to reach the toddler sized slide for example!

I think music is very important for ambience personally. Softplay without music is just a loada screaming kids! Music drowns out some of that & makes it an upbeat place - maybe just not too loud.

And I think primary colours are kid friendly. Yes as adults, we love a pale & neutral tone but my kids find that really boring. Bright colours capture their imagination FAR more. Unless you are going completely natural, like indoor wooden frames, then keep it bright & cheerful. It’s for the kids, not the adults.

I live in the Leeds area & I practically live in this softplay (photos attached). It’s a big operation attached to an enormous garden centre but I love the colours & way they’ve done it. The roof has big sky lights & the under 5’s play area is woodland themed. The big kids area is typical softplay. It’s exceptionally clean. Also has a large outdoor play area too but appreciate that’s quite rare!

For me it’s 90% about whether a place is clean.

The other 10% of what I’m bothered about are decent coffee for me, parking and price.

@Iwonderwhatsnext

My Dd always comes back from soft play with a cold ….so strict hygiene

How would you enforce "strict hygeine" in a mostly unsupervised feral playground full of snotty 3-7 year olds???

@Motherandbusiness

Hi All,

Thanks so much for the feedback it has been super helpful. It’s interesting to see so many saying WARM, I am normally extremely hot in soft plays so this is something I really wouldn’t have thought too much about!

I agree with both sides re the colours and music, I think finding a good balance of the two will be key and have thought of offering a “Relaxed session” once a week two for those that struggle with sensory and noise.

Cleanliness has always been a priority for me so totally agree with this.

But you don't actually want a WARM soft play, the kids are running around getting warm, they'll be sweating buckets if it's a warm environment as well.

Maybe if you can kid if zone the areas, so the seating area is slightly warmer than the okay area.

Or have the café area warm etc.

The adults can just wear a jumper/coat/whatever, the customer/main user is the children, and they don't need the heating.

@Bobholll That is a much nicer soft play to look at than the one we go to!
Ours is Amazing for kids but it's pretty ugly tbh.
I'd be happy with those colours.

There are two really good ones near me, these are the best features:

• windows and fresh air for the summer
• small outdoor play areas
• one has lots of excellent quality wooden toys and role play areas
• seating area that has adult chairs, high chairs and toddler chairs
• both really clean
• both bookable in advance so you know you’re not going to rock up and get turned away.
• not too big - in my experience these tend to attract a lot of older kids going wild which isn’t safe for smaller ones

Would be good to see, ideal wish list:

• more vegetarian food options
• free tap water
• at least one toilet big enough to take yourself and a couple of children in
• ALL parking spaces to be parent and child sized

Parking. Separate baby area / room. Baby change. Decent coffee. Decent price. The ones near is range from £1.50-£8.50 (no noticeable difference in quality). Some charge the same for adults as they do for children.

Maybe if you can kind of zone the areas, so the seating area is slightly warmer than the play area.*

A good toddler area with toddler slides that is enforced so toddlers aren’t allowed out of it even with parental supervision- bored toddlers trying kamakazi stunts while older kids are just trying to play really pisses me off.

I’m just trying to help - before sorting out the minor details (such as ambiance etc) have you made a business plan to check it’s a viable venture? You’d be surprised how little these soft plays actually make once overheads are taken into account (business rates/salaries/etc). Have you thought about having a secondary revenue within the softplay, like a shop (kids toys/party bits etc)? The profit margins on these sorts of businesses are very tight…I speak from experience