Research into opening a soft play centre

[Jaysfinished]

OK i have had my three kids and have visited various soft play centre's and i think i could do it myself....so i am hoping to open indoor adventure play centre/ softplay in Nottingham.

I am right at the start of my venture and would like some help with research.
I would like to hear from anyone who has comments or ideas about what they would like to see in a softplay center.

Things like;
What times would you like it to open and close?

What would you like to see in the cafe?

How much would you expect to pay and for how long?

How would you like to see the ages segregated?

thanks ladies , i know you will come up with the goods!

After school tea-time deals are good!

I would like to see a nice cafe/eating area, every one I've ever been to has been filthy.

Also not staffed by surly teenagers would be good.

Most don't open until 10 at the weekends, I'd like it to open a bit earlier on a saturday.

In the cafe: good coffee, toasties, baked potatoes

I don't like paying more than £4.50 and I would make it unlimited play.

Weekday mornings do a 'toddler deal'. Mine used to charge £2.50 for: unlimited play, a coffee/tea for mum, squash for dc, a slice of toast and a biscuit!

I also agree about a tea-time deal, we pay £5 for unlimited play and kids meal (fish finger & chips etc) if you're in before 5pm.

I'll come back with anything else I think of. Though I must say it's months since I've been to one and not planning a visit any time soon.

I've thought about doing the same. will watch this thread with interest.
Good luck btw.

thanks ladies all comments are noted and much appreciated! I have posted this in another topic also in the hope i reach more people..

I am planning on having a large warehouse which will accommodate, three sections, 0-2, 2-5 and then older children. IMO the youngest areas often get overlooked and not much thought goes into them, so thats going to be a focus point. I want to have various activities that are on offer so that people dont get bored when they come, as well as the usual fames and slides etc, i want to have a huge 'car track' that runs round the outside of the seating area for the kiddies to go round. Somewhere in the middle is going ot be a massive ball pit and there will be events and 'find the golden ball'(for example) That happen around it.

From my experience, the staff have to be observant and enforce the age restrictions on areas and have a hands on with the children although obviously they still remain the full responsibility of the parents!

I want to have toilets that are large enough for parent and toddler to use, small loos and sinks for the little ones. Hand towels have to be an option and these will have to be checked regularly.

Parking i feel is a point, it has to be free and there has to be a lot of it.

How about something/anything for Dads?

Parking definitely important.
Do dads need anything different from mums?

Dont know, hence my question!

I asked DH - he suggested retro arcade games...... - frogger, Pacman etc etc,i then asked him who would be watching the kids while he was playing them !!

newspapers for dads

Would really like a locker where I could dump my bags/shoes, at my local one you just have to leave everything with your buggy and keep half an eye on it all the time.

Not sure that dads need anything specific to them, tbh.

lockers and buggypark then, good idea!

newspapers for dads and mums.

How about a subscription fee option, for those that cant be bothered to pay as you go...offering a small discount - say over a six month period?

My local one also has a loyalty card which you have signed every time you go. After every 10 plays you get a free session.

have you looked into the costs? Soft play areas are hidiously expensive to set up, and you will need watertight liability insurance, especially as you will also be catering for under 3's.

There is a soft play near here that has gone bust three times in the past two years, under different managements, and another one that has practically doubled its prices over the past year because it just couldn't afford to keep running.

I think there really is an opportunity for a decent softplay in Nottingham. Derbyshire has Lanky Bills and Chucklebutties (have been to neither but have trusted friends who have). Nottingham just has Denz and KoolKidz (which are both borderline in my opinion). The main thing that is ok about them is that they are airy. Nothing, and I mean nothing, is worse than a sweaty, dark fleapit of a softplay, regardless of how much the kids like it. If you want to see what not to do look at Run Riot in West Bridgford and Tumbletown in Arnold.

I think there is a huge untapped market in Nottingham for good quality soft play areas serving good quality food. If you served free range/organic/additive/hydrogenated free food/proper coffee (pick any from the list and make it a marketing point) I would go (but not for the coffee.. I hate coffee ). There are an awful lot of us mums who would flock to, and pay an appropriate price for good quality.

There is NO competition! Set yourself apart!

we went to good one that had a section with lots baby/toddler toys in like little people sets, train track, mega blocks. that was popular with the younger kids
it also had an area done out like a football pitch (obv smaller!) but had goals at each end and loads of balls etc in
also had ride-ons and walkers and little tykes cars

it was very good! wish it was local to here!!

good luck!

wireless broadband / internet access

sorry realise my post doesnt answer your questions!

would like it opening for toddler sessions in the week, where parents can go on the activities and juice/coffee available
jacket potatoes, toasties, healthier options than burger &chips! in the cafe

i only have a toddler at the mo, so am biased but every soft play we have been to there is a big leap from the tiny ball pool area for the littlies to the giant 4 floor part for the older kids! would like to see abit in between for the adventurous 2 year olds

sorry for waffling! hth

somehting our new one does which is good is that after each school holiday they close for a "deep clean" (usually on the Monday) - makes you think that at least it does get cleaned!

intresting tommy, certainly a good plan, and like you say it fills you with some peace of mind that it gets done!

thanks for the vote of confidence winestein, i have been to the playcentres you have mentioned and agree with you. I would like to find somewhere south of the river to house it in, fingers crossed it happens soon!

Keep em coming ladies

Can I just mention, a little off topic admittedly, you really do do heap big babies, don't you?

LOL winestein, yeah no reminding needed there youngest is almost 7 weeks and already 15lbs! Still both my DH and i are tall, so it was a given really

i really am taking notes of everything everyone is saying, i propose to collate all your suggestions and will post it to 'summerise'

have to say, cleanliness is top of the pops at the moment!!

Ha - I get this too.

others: "Gosh he's really massively tall isn't he?"

me: "if you are addressing that question to me I'm up here..."

Cleanliness and food quality .