Cafe with play area - good idea?

RoxieW

Ok - so not sure if this is in the right place but wanted to gauge mummy opinion and also any of you who are business owners??

There are several cafes in our town but my friend and I travel to the next town which has a cafe with a play area for the little ones. We chose to do this because the kids enjoy it more and we get to have a coffee in peace, even though it is out of our way to go there. This led to us chatting about the possibility of opening something similar in our town. Its just the very seedling of an idea at the moment so I'm just researching demand, how feasible and how much it would cost to set up.

I feel there is demand as like I said, we will go out of our way to go there. There are a couple of larger 'play centres' with cafes that are also out of the way and rammed to bursting point. What do you guys think?

There is a premises in town that is coming up for rent (rumour) - and would be ideal size wise but obviously we would have to refit it with a cooking area, tables, chairs etc.

We are both stay at home mums at the moment but I'd like to think we could make a go of it. I'd say she's the chef (she does fantastic cakes!) and I'm more the business side We get on really well and I think we would work well together.

Any one want to throw up any advice, suggestions or things for me to chew over. Like I said, it really is just a seedling of an idea at the moment.
Thanks

angelicmary85

It sounds like a good idea!

OH and I always thought that maybe one day we'd open a dvd rental place where we live...it's amongst lots of things we don't have here!

Have you thought about maybe posting on the small business board?

I've never been on there but I'd assume they'll be able to tell you the things that you've not thought of.

Good luck!

money_saving_diva

Sorry I am going to be no help with the business side of things but think it sounds like a great idea. All I wanted to say is that all the indoor play centres around me have cafes but you can't see your children from the cafe so you end up wandering around keeping an eye on them 9and they all go in different directions) then stop for a coffee. You have no where really to leave your bags/pushchairs safely. They must be great for people with older children but I find them a bit of a pain with toddlers.

I think you are thinking more along the lines of a cafe with a play area with soft shapes/ball area/lego tables ?? stuff like that? That is what I would love near me! I would make sure you don't put too many tables in the cafe so you move pushchairs and highchairs around easily (this is something that annoys me about some cafes as you feel in the way when you have buggy with you). Also make sure that the play area is situated so that all the tables can view play area and the children in the play area can see their parents.

I don't know if that helps - just stuff that came to my mind when I read your post (sorry you have probably already thought about all this)

Where are you? Would love to visit if near me when you open

viktory

An opinion from someone without (young) children - I wouldn't visit a place like the one you are suggesting. Ever. I suspect that you will be isolating a huge swathe of the nation (people like me, the elderly, etc) so be sure to do your research well and make sure you would have enough customers.

MarieAAP

Gd idea, and I am not a mum.

The one thing would be, might you need to find out if u need to be a registered child minder, what H&S courses will you be required to take. I know the mums will be within the same arena, but will you be asked what qualifications / experience do you have, if something goes wrong? eg liability

M

gabyjane

Hi sounds like a great idea..it's the kind of thing that runs through my head then someone else does it and i say to dh 'but i thought of that!'
We have lots of cafes in our little town but nothing with play areas..we have a soft play area place but not really within walking distance for a lot of parents and isnt cheap either..
The one we had a while back closed down and was great..it had a room in that you could see your children and worked really well..quite missed i reckon!
One thing is the buggy space..the fact that you may get mums taking advantage of sitting for hours for a cuppa while LO wrecks your place not their home!..obviously like the above poster said you will only get people in like parents as others will want some peace!
Its a lot to think of with all the requirements for cooking etc but probably well worth it if your town has nothing like it.
Sounds good though..good luck.

gabyjane

MarieAAP wrote: »

Gd idea, and I am not a mum.

The one thing would be, might you need to find out if u need to be a registered child minder, what H&S courses will you be required to take. I know the mums will be within the same arena, but will you be asked what qualifications / experience do you have, if something goes wrong? eg liability

M

Hi i'm a childminder and as far as i'm aware it's only if the OP was looking soley after a child..she would be running a cafe so the parents would have responsibilty of their child..unless ive completely misread and it's a drop off cafe! You would need Public liabaility incase anything happened to the child while on your premises though..also like i said food hygiene etc.

Somnium

I like this idea, there is a bookshop in the next town over that is a combined coffee shop and they have a big area by the childrens books with playmats and toys, its always busy when ever I go in. Its quite open plan and there is a seating area on the other side of the store from the play area for those who dont want the children annoying them, and sofas dotted around nearer the play area. I cant wait for my Bubs to arrive and take her there with Mil and friends. I'd love to do something like this too, as OH has always wanted his own cafe and I love books

Rockporkchop

It's so weird to read your post as I have been thinking about the same thing a lot lately and doing a bit of research. The nearest soft play cafe is over half an hour away from me and there is no real parking as it is in the high street. It is expensive as well and I keep thinking I could do better.

There is a massive Kidspace reasonably close but there is no proper baby and toddler area, just an under fives section, so the babies get knocked over a lot. I think the daytime market for parents with babies and toddlers is massive, and it could also be a lucrative venue for private parties and classes such as Sing and Sign, Monkey Music etc.

Hey, whereabouts are you - I'll go thirds with you!!

sparrer

If this had been available when my children and grandchildren were small it would have been a great idea..and still is today as it helps me decide where I don't want to go for my coffee!

Lotus-eater

The only thing I'd say, is that it takes a huge amount of money and time to set up and run something like this. Have you got enough of both?