New business venture- soft play

[Jess125]

Hi all,

I think I've decided I want to quit my job and try my hand at something new. I've decided I want to open a soft play.

The property I've seen is in Halifax (west Yorkshire) it's opposite the bus station and a short walk from the town centre. It's would be great for a soft play and to host birthday parties, family parties, baby showers etc. There's just this big nagging voice in my head saying it's a bad idea.

Is this something that would work? I know there's the cost of living crisis but I'm trying to take that into account and trying to ensure that it would be affordable and have deals on food etc.

Also bonus if anyone would like to say the best and worst thing about any soft plays they've been to, so that I could try to work that into my plans!

Thanks :)

Best ones (toddler mum in West Yorkshire) have an under 5s section that's actually got some decent stuff and slides where they can't escape. Not just a rocker and some sensory lights which only work for babies so you're left hurtling around some giant play frame with the older kids after a tiny person.

I don't know Halifax well but often I find ones near me fully booked and I have travelled to get to one, not sure about how profitable they are but they always seem busy with general play, parties, extra sessions on various themes, lots now seem to have those role play villahe bits too.

If there's any outdoor space it can make it a bit more summer friendly rather than somewhere just for wet days?

I’d look into the set up cost more if I where you. My sister looked into it and the set up costs where horrific- even things like insurances etc. not sure about where you are but where I am there are just tonnes of them.

maybe try something similar but with more of a usp. For example a place has just opened up near me called the modern playhouse (Birkenhead). It’s a Montessori experience and really great for small kids. That’s a good market to get into as parent will be off for that first year or so compared to soft play which will really only be busy on weekends.

maybe ask some local soft play providers to sit down and go over things with you.

A friend of mine opened a sort of soft play early last year and massively regrets it now.
To fit in all the equipment you need a large space which in turn takes a lot to heat so costs a fortune.

I love a soft play with good food and proper coffee. One I went to had table service which was great as it meant if I wanted a drink or something I didn't have to leave the table empty (9 times out of 10 that exact moment would be when DS would appear and ask me to take him to the toilet or want to sit with me for a moment). Cards were preauth'd on arrival and everything charged at the end.

I hate a soft play that is too simple. I get the equipment is expensive but if it's too simple, kids won't be arsed about coming back and feels like a right rip off.

Also hate soft plays that go on and on on social media platforms about how expensive they are to run and basically begging people to come and help them support their family. We're all in the same boat!

My 2 favourite are the Riverside Hub in Northamptonshire and Millets farm in Oxfordshire. Both are massive and have lots of different things for the kids to do. Millets is well known for being super clean too, which is a massive bonus!

I don’t think the soft play/building will be the expensive bit, it’ll be staffing costs/NI/training/ongoing maintenance of equipment that would scare me!

Will you be able to get staff?

Not easy at the moment

Where we are most soft play places are in an industrial estate because they need a cheap big space with loads of parking. Town centre rents tend to be more expensive. I know nothing about Halifax but are parents with young kids more likely to drive or use public transport? If driving then they’ll have to pay for town centre parking which adds to the cost.

You’ll need to start putting together a business case to see if it’s worth it

My first thought was that you’d need decent public liability insurance for any potential mishaps.

What about a role play centre rather than a soft play centre? Ours is always fully booked where I live!

The best soft play places are the ones which have clean, modern facilities with decent coffee and refreshments. Not some skanky old blocks in a windowless venue with instant coffee.

I don’t know Halifax but the ones that are good near us are a bit more expensive and parents seem happy to pay that. Play cafes / role play places are popular too. A few have bars in as well and that goes down very well with the yummy mummy set!

You need to look at putting a business case together.

There’s a lot of costs to think of -

the lease of the building;
the equipment purchase & installation;
other fixtures and fittings;
insurance, including public liability insurance;
utility costs - electricity, gas, water, internet etc;
staffing costs;
publicity / advertising;
food / drink;
maintenance;

There’s probably more I haven’t thought of.

But you want to work out an initial start up cost, a running cost, and that’ll give you an idea of how many customers you need and how much you’ll need to charge them in order to break even or make a profit.

You need a cafe area with lovely food and drinks that is lit nicely for the parents so we don't feel like we're sitting in a warehouse under a hospital light getting a headache.

If you could find some way for us to be able to feel like we're in an ambient coffee shop whilst being able to see our children the whole time this would be ideal.

Probably impossible but it's an aim. An observation deck could work.

Aesthetically pleasing for adults and children would be nice. I've not seen one in nice pastel colours for example.

A theme, like woodland creatures.

very engaging for older children and an area for babies maybe with a learning element.

Vegan, Kosher, Halal, and gluten-free food options.

Proper coffee!

Pleasant staff uniforms.

The best soft plays for me:

bookable online
parking
good Under 4’s section
variety of good quality meals and snacks for children and adults
clean equipment and natural light

worst soft plays for me:

tables being really far from the play equipment
no enforcement of the age limited areas (so when big kids go into the baby section)

There’s a soft play near me that does amazing burgers you pick the bread the burger e.g. chicken/beef/veg the sauce and potato type it comes with a drink and it’s £5 we go for lunch and it’s a bonus there’s a soft play. It’s the food and drink you will make the money on.

@OddsocksinmyDocs Halifax already has the best role play ‘museum’ in the country Eureka!

I looked in detail at this 20 years ago and i already owned the building

couldnt make it pay

i own other profitable businesses and was keen for this one but it just wouldnt stack up

Natural light , plenty of parking, a decent cafe , clean
and separate areas for different ages .

Lovely things people are saying

in reality alcohol licence and outdoor boozing space ?

I'd agree with decent food! Some other options for kids other than nuggets, sausage and fish fjngers. And my kids always love a soft play that has a trampoline!

No charge for adults!!!!!! I'm sick of paying to essentially sit in a cafè whilst I then buy drinks & food.

I know nothing about soft play, but know the area.

Once the new bus station is fully open, there'll be lots of footfall - I understand there'll be a couple of cafes and shops opening up in the bus centre complex. You do get a lot of people bussing in from outlying areas, then walking through into town, so I think you'll have visibility. It's an area the council seem to be investing in.

You've got parking reasonably near in Woolshops behind M&S or the Broad St multi-storey - also Sainsburys, where I think you get 2.5 hours free, but that's a bit more of a walk uphill.

You've also got footfall going from town to Broad St Plaza.

On the whole I think it's good location. Good luck with it if you go ahead.

I like the set-up I see a lot in the Netherlands, an enclosed field with play equipment and a bar, cafe at the end. So your kids can run around and not escape, you can have a meal or a drink at the same time. Play equipment all quite spaced out so it's easy to see where the kids are.

But you need lots of space and good weather so probably not in a town centre space.

I also like the role play type places. I've only really seen those recently and my kids are too old already.

Natural light, space and a bit of an escape from the noise needed for me. I like when there are staff around to supervise so you don't need to supervise so closely but I know they will be more expensive to run

A place with lockers and an area to actually put your shoes is great.
a proper toddler area

affordable. I’m not paying £10 for 1 hour!

I’ve always wondered how they survive.

So work out your costs and how many people you need to have visit in a day so you can see if can be profitable.

I always liked the smaller soft plays which had a separate play area with cars and a toddler kitchen.

But you need lots of space and good weather so probably not in a town centre space.

Halifax is not known for its good weather, alas!

My favourite one in Yorkshire is babyccinos in Brighouse. Take a look a sits always fully booked but not chaotic x