What would YOU like to see in a soft play area?

[elliesmummy]

For example, I would like to see healthy, organic snacks & meals available, plus lockers for bags/purses.
What would make your ideal soft play venue?
tia

Age restrictions rather than height restrictions. My dd's are all tall and can no longer go in our local Brewster's although older, shorter kids can.

Somewhere clean where you know the sick/wee has been properly dealt with.

Definitely monitors to throw out the bullies including the young bullies. Not all bullies are older/bigger.

Have recently discovered a play area with a decent checking-in system: you hand in the kids shoes. Entry/exit via door on buzzer to be activated from behind the counter so kids can't get out (and random people can't get in either). Children given stickers with their names on, and the time they're due to leave. NONE of this happens at the other play areas I've used. And as my new favourite tucks a half-price entry voucher, and a cheap cup of coffee voucher in each pair of shoes, guess where we're going today?!

Think I may have been to that one too purpleturtle (near MH???). The voucher and coffee must be a new thing though. Not been for a while. It's good though isn't it? And it is often nice and quiet during mid week, term time

ooooooooohhhhhhh, serenity, where is that?

staff who don't nibble at the party food!!!! (yes I have seen that)

Serenity, do you mean PlayTown in the old Grant's building? I think it's the most depressing place I've ever been Maybe ds is still a bit young for it though... and I've never had the food so.... oh, I'm such a crap mum, I need to be a bit more gung-ho about these things lol!

I think everyones covered everything.

All the ones I have been to have those rubbish plastic patio table and chairs, which do the job but it would be nice to have comfy seats.

Good food has to be a must instead of all that deep fried cack.

Agree with the climbing areas for toddlers.

Designed so you can see the kids all the time

Quick access so adults can get to kids easily if need be - I don't want to squeeze through rollers to get at an upset child!

I think it would be nice if they had swings and other "normal" playground equipment as well as the soft play stuff.
And definitely lockers for handbags.

Yep, Hula, that's the one. We went for an hour over lunchtime (sandwich in the car between shoe-shopping and ball pool!). It cost us a whole £1.50 for 2 children to play for the hour . And there were only about 3 other children in the whole place.

But it's such a sunny day we've come home to play in the garden now.

thankyou everyone for taking the time to reply to this. Loads of great ideas. Thanks again

snafu, compare it to the other local ones - Jungle Jims in Valley Park, Tigers Eye or Wacky Warehouse in Colliers Wood then Playtown is an absolute delight

Actually, after trailing three kids through various god awful places I quite prepared to admit that I'm easily bought with squishy sofas and decent hot chocolate with cream on top. My expectations are low

I second lots of the ideas here - especially lockers for handbags, and decent food (for kids and grown ups) but I'd also like them to be less crowded. I would willingly pay an extra quid or two for a lower limit on numbers