Help!! .thinking of opening an indoor play centre and I crackers or what?!!!

[mummy2go]

Hi

The astronomical start up costs haven't put me off which means I must be crazy as I have no money! LOL

Does anyone visit soft play/indoor adventure play venues on a regular basis and if so what do you like to see and what don't you like to see? (also what do your kids like to see)

What would make you go to one over going to say a Wacky Warehouse?

How improtant do you feel any educational benefits are of these facilities?
what do your Dh's like?..
What about Food?

And would you use one located in your loacl town centre with a drop and shop facility?( i know sounds terrible)

It would be in the Redditch/Solihull area.

Thanks Ladies your all super stars!!!

Must be clean

Home made food not over processed crap

Really good tea and coffee and cake

I would use a drop and shop

we go about once every couple of months to one near us.

Like to have area for smaller children/ babies as well as 3+ (then baby can have nice time too)
The food is always shite (expensive and unhealthy)- would love to see healthy food options.
Not bothered about ed targets being met- more a chance for DC to let off steam- run about like crazy and generally have a good time.

my DC's like- good slide/ chance to climb ++/ tunnels and space to run if poss. unusually not interested in ball ponds.

would use one with a creche but prefer to be on site.

very best of luck

good point about need for good coffee/ tea and hygene (the one near us is filthy- found unmentionables in ball pond...perhaps thats what put DC's off!).

Wow! Good luck to you. I'd love to do something like that.

Agree with other posters - good homemade nutritious food, proper coffee, lovely cakes. Also like mags & papers to browse through. Clean facilities (loos, highchairs, tables, play equipment...). Membership options? Tie-ins with other child-centered groups for quieter morning times (Jo-jingles, sing and sign, baby gym...).

Thanks Ladies!!- thats all brilliant

I know what you mean the fact they are often filthy is horrible -cleaning will be high on my agenda!

Brilliant keep it coming!

We go here, it is fab:

www.cafejunior.com/

Proper coffee, homemade cakes/sandwiches plus organic hot meals for kids, no junk food at all.

Comfy sofa, loads of highchairs, fab play area with dressing up stuff, lots of ride-on toys, kitchen corner big wooden car, fort etc.

Is a bit of a middle class Wacky Warehouse, but we love it. They have a room that can be hired out of kids parties, but is also used for baby yoga/monkey music etc most days.

We have a FANTASTIC one near us - regularly go there with DS. All the food is locally sourced and cooked from scratch and the seating area is very open plan so the parents can comfortably watch their children while enoying a cuppa.

There is wireless internet so parents can take laptop and work if so required, a baby area, a pre toddler area, a toddler area and then the big stuff. They also have party rooms separate to the rest of the play so that party bookings don't ruin the play for the other kids. They also run themed activities during the summer holidays as well.

I wouldn't do a shop and drop though but then I am very pfb with DS!

www.playspace.co.uk/

They have pics as well so you can get an idea of it

Hi, we use them often.

Agree with above.

I hate seeing parents with trays of hot coffee/tea walking passed areas were kids are playing - cue wrinkled forehead and teeth on edge. If poss, have the eating area close to counter, away from playing kids.

Good door security, a must

Wireless internet?

Please don't have a slush puppy machine

sorry meant to do this

I thought of doing this,but never reached past the dreaming stage!
Go for it!

I like to see a good under 2's area,completely safe for them to roam about.

Reasonable good quality food and drink,and an area with a microwave etc. that mums can use for their babies bottles/Baby food.

Decent child friendly toilets and baby changing area.

Reasonable party prices!

Mother/parent Toddler mornings.

Discount for MNetters!!!!

All the web links are great there is such a variety with these places..

There is so much to think about my brain is going to explode!!!!!

No slush puppy machine!- no probs
WiFi- will do- great idea!
I agree with the seperate zones- done
Microwave-will do

Sawyer- can I ask what is a reasonable party price in your view? less that 7.00, 8.00, 9.00 etc..?

Thanks a million

Oh I was just looking at that Cafe Junior place and thinking how fab it looked and wondering where it was - so I clicked on the map. Sheesh, blast from the past - we used to laugh (in a highly immature, studenty way) about Fanny Street in Cardiff

The best ones for me are...

-reasonable prices (some are £5 per child near me!) £2.95 is good or £1.25 per half hour for short stays
-toddler rates in off peak times with drink and biscuits inc
-clean and secure with proper locks and signing in (some I have seen kids open small gates etc when assistants back turned)
-hot drink area well away from play area/where kids run past but still in view of children playing
-comfy chairs and magazines
-adult area nearest to door and kids play furthest away so you can relax without having to panic where kids are/if they are near doors etc
-seperate baby area
-seperate party room
-cheap food/snack options such as crumpets/toast
-discounts for siblings/twins
-baby change and clean loos
-playstations for older kids

I would not use a shop and drop as am abit overprotective unless know someone well, they are a good idea though.

I paid £8 per head and was happy with that, party bags were included, I just brought cakes. It was £15 for parents tray which was good. Most places do a cheaper rate for pre schoolers in term time.

I have one 2 miles from my house but its CRAP (everyone in my town hates it) and I actually travel 16 miles to one I like better.

The things I don't like about the one near me is that:

They charge £2.00 for every adult (????), and £4.50 per child

It's dark and dingy

Always freezing cold

Stanky toilets

and rubbish food

So have reasonable prices and make sure it's bright and warm!!!!

Good Luck.

good luck!!

I like "this one www.bigspace.biz"

Being able to see more or less where my DD is is really important to me.

Security one near me has metal gates to stop children getting out but are wedged open for deliveries, parties etc straight onto road hate it if got three or four toddlers. Parent & toddlers should be that ours just reduces rate but will let 10 year olds in if off school, sofas are great though, disabled friendly party area all local ones to me are upstairs

decent table and chairs!

one near me has the crappiest flimiest tables about, you put a cup of tea on the table and it practically tilts to one side.

We have stopped going to our local one as the following is annoying -

1. full of teenagers running it.
2. smelly toilets which waft into the place.
3. fifthly - i accept that there will be some mess but they are sometimes fiflty.
4. large kids in the 2 and under bits.

To be honest, we live near Redditch and opening a play centre is one of those things i would do if won the lottery and had some cash. it would be clean, good food & ran by people who care !

Soren,

I snigger like an 8-year-old every time we go there, and can't tell anyone where it it without giggling!

When I was looking for student houses there always used to be a few on Fanny Street and I would think "I can't live there - I wouldn't be able to say where I lived without laughing." Awww, I'm all sentimental about Cardiff now - dh and I went back a year ago (for our 10th wedding anniversary - it's where we met as students) and it has changed almost beyond recognition (I graduated in 91, dh in 92). Still a great city though.

lol missblythe..... i was going to mention cafe jnr too..... my gripe about it is though paying for myself to go in....it drives me insane!! i begrudge having to pay to go somewhere which is charging for the kids...if i didn't take them, they wouldn't go!!

there is a local softplay to me...its dingy..dark, dirty, crap staff, the staff smoke outside, and allow it to waft through the building, its cold there, and the furniture is cheap garden plastic style... i really dislike it!

what i do like is bright and open, being able to see the children, a separate area for tiddlies, a good door security policy, nice food (we all travel to one 10 miles further away because of its lovely freshly baked baguettes!)

one i used to go to kept a loyalty scheme going for regular customers....for every 5 visits you made, you got the next one free.... that used to be a deal clincher when deciding where to go!

its a great idea! go for it.

rugrats and halfpints - this is only an hour from redditch, you might want to visit and get some ideas. we love it.