Latest news with #softplay
The Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
UK beachfront waterpark to open new soft play this summer and it's free to visit
A NEW free-to-visit soft play is opening at a waterpark this year in time for summer. SC2 waterpark was forced to close back in 2023, but has confirmed they would finally be reopening this summer. 6 6 And ahead of the reopening, a new soft play is opening inside as well. The new kids attraction is part of the Rainforest Diner, with the soft play also rainforest themed. Inside the two-storey climbing structure will have nets and tunnels to explore. Jamie Groves, managing director of Denbighshire Leisure Ltd ( (DLL), said: 'We are bringing a free, brand new soft play to SC2 this Summer, ensuring maximum fun and play opportunities. "This Summer is going to the our biggest and best one yet." Guests can opt for coffee with Costa as well as ice cream from Red Boat Gelato at the cafe, as well as snacks such as pizza and burgers. The new rainforest soft play is alongside a larger dinosaur soft play and a Ninja TAG adventure course. But the main attraction is the indoor waterpark which is set to reopen next month. SC2 closed in December 2023 after huge storm damage. But from July 5, families will be able to visit the waterpark once again. TUI resort next door to giant waterpark 6 Inside is a huge indoor pool along with flume rides. This includes the Boomerang, where guests can whizz down on a rubber ring, as well as The Anaconda, the fastest ride in the waterpark. Or there is the Speedster, where guests can race each other to the bottom. For younger kids, there is the Piranha Play area with smaller slides, water cannons and wheels. And when the weather is good, there is also an outdoor splash pad with fountains and pools. Jamie Groves, managing director at Denbighshire Leisure Ltd, said: "Everyone at DLL is extremely excited to see our flagship attraction reopening. The damage to the roof was extensive, but we were never going to let that get us down. 6 6 "SC2 is the jewel in Rhyl's crown and our priority was to re-open the attraction as soon as we possibly could. "We know how important SC2 is to Rhyl, and we were determined to come back bigger and better than before. Tickets start from £11.50 for adults, which includes an hour access while kids are £9. Under 1s cost £1.95, while the Ninja Tag and soft play also cost extra. In the mean time, here is the £200million indoor waterpark opening in Manchester. And we've rounded up the best family-friendly waterpark hotels. 6
The Sun
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I'm a single mum & sick of soft play costs so transformed my shed into a mini one – it's going to save me a fortune
WITH two kids, a trip to the soft play can be pricey. So, instead of having to fork out, single mum Liv decided to transform her shed into a mini one - after coming across secondhand soft play equipment being sold on Facebook Marketplace. 5 5 5 5 And she took to TikTok to document the process, as she admitted: "You're probably thinking I'm absolutely nuts. "I'm a single mum with very little time and energy. And what do I choose to do with the very little time and energy I have? "Turn my shed into a mini soft play!" She admitted the soft play bits did "need a good clean", and said that while they still have "a few marks", they;ll "do the job just the same". Liv used some soft floor mats, and said she wanted to add some balls into the bottom. "I'm probably gonna regret it when balls end up all over my garden, but sure," she laughed. She attached some sensory boards to the wall, and said she was going to do a "grand reveal" when more balls arrived for the floor. "It's nearly done, and I'm so pleased with it!" Liv concluded. And people in the comments section were quick to praise Liv for the epic makeover - with many admitting they were going to try a similar transformation themselves. "As a childminder I think this is great!! I'll be clearing my shed out at the weekend," one wrote. I DIY-ed a 'professional' level kids' birthday cake for less than £25 using Amazon & eBay buys - I didn't bake a thing "Omg I can't wait to get housed to do this," another said. "Brilliant idea, mum!" "Love this idea - my autistic son would love this," a third commented. "Oh this is a great idea!" someone else said. "I was going to put soft play bits in my son's bedroom but I think in a shed would be better now I've seen this," another wrote. "Brill job! So much ceiling space, could have things dangling down, I know my kids would love that," someone else added. More parenting hacks IF you want to make your life easier as a first-time mum, here's nine hacks you won't want to miss. 1. Routine Charts Create visual charts for daily routines. Use pictures and stickers to make them engaging for younger children. 2. Meal Planning Plan meals a week in advance to save time and reduce stress. Involve your children in meal prep to teach them cooking skills. 3. Toy Rotation Keep a portion of toys stored away and rotate them periodically. This keeps playtime fresh and exciting without the need for constant new purchases. 4. DIY Cleaning Solutions Make child-safe cleaning solutions using vinegar and baking soda. It's effective and keeps harsh chemicals away from little hands. 5. Time-Out Jar Create a time-out jar filled with calming activities written on slips of paper. When emotions run high, children can pick an activity to help them settle down. 6. Educational Apps Utilise educational apps and websites to make screen time productive. Look for ones that offer interactive learning in subjects your child is interested in. 7. Command Centre Set up a family command centre with a calendar, key hooks, and a bulletin board. It helps keep everyone organised and aware of daily schedules. 8. Emergency Kit Keep a small emergency kit in the car with essentials like snacks, water, first aid supplies, and a change of clothes. It's a lifesaver for unexpected situations. 9. Label Everything Use labels for clothes, school supplies, and lunch boxes. It makes it easier to keep track of belongings, especially in shared spaces like schools. "Love this, well done mama!" another commented. "That's class I want another shed now!" someone else said. As another wrote: "We did this two years ago in our wendy house for the boys. "Still going strong and the boys love it." 5
BBC News
27-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Soft play owner in Newark 'losing sleep' over struggling business
Looking out over nearly empty soft play equipment that should be packed full of sticky fingers and laughing children, Tim Dallison says the sight of his struggling business makes him "panic and lose sleep at night".The 42-year-old is the managing director of Robin Hood Entertainment and Soft Play in Newark, Nottinghamshire, which has just celebrated its fourth Dallison opened the business to satisfy his love of entertaining, after a 20-year career touring as a Robbie Williams tribute act. But four years on, the unseasonably warm weather and increases in business rates, combined with a rise in the cost of living, has left the business on the brink of closure. Mr Dallison invested his house deposit and small loans from friends and family to buy the business in said he could not afford to pay rent, so spent the first two years running it homeless. "The reality is, I just bought a mattress and put it on the floor of the office," he said."I couldn't afford to pay staff at the time so I'd work big days and then get my head down here."I've made so many sacrifices, but it's not guaranteed that we'll still be here next year. I'll sell everything I have and borrow before I admit defeat though." This spring is ranking as the driest in over a century, according to the Met many families, that has meant more time outside, but for Mr Dallison's business, it has contributed towards him running at a loss since March."I live in a house with five kids so I do understand it, if the sun comes out we're in the fields or swinging from trees, but wow," he said."Last year, March and April were my best months, but this year, because summer started in March they're my worst."We're down 40% on where we were this time last year and my overall costs have gone up a minimum of 20% because business rates have almost doubled, minimum wage has gone up and so has National Insurance."From 6 April, National Insurance contributions for employers went up from 13.8% to 15%, there was a reduction in business rate discount and an increase in the minimum 2020, businesses like cafes, bars and retail units have had a 75% discount on business rates - capped at £110,000 per business - but that also expired at the start of the new financial year."I lose a lot of sleep knowing I have to put the prices up and face my customers," Mr Dallison said."I'm not trying to get a bigger house or a bigger car. I'm taking more and making less." Molly Harrison is a stay-at-home mum to her two-year-old 26-year-old, from Newark, said the rising cost of living has meant she is visiting soft play centres less."Since she turned two, the price of coming to places like this has almost doubled," she said. "And then there's the food. For entry and then coffee for me it costs around £15. I try and budget around £30 for extra bits each week so that's half of that."I have to think is this the best way to keep her entertained when I could take her to a park for free?"It is the same for 30-year-old mum Amy Dey, from works as a veterinary nurse and has had to pick up extra hours to make ends meet."Everything's just so expensive," she said. "We're having to cut back on the things we do with him that cost money because we have to be a bit more careful."They still have a great childhood, but we're doing lots more stuff at home." 'Worse than Covid' Robin Hood Entertainment and Soft Play is not alone in its struggles, according to the Association of Indoor organisation has said it does not have precise data to show how many indoor venues have shut over the past year, but that evidence suggests about 10% of the industry has Forster is on the executive board and also own Safari play described the situation as "heart wrenching"."During Covid, we were in exactly the same position and I had to borrow six figure numbers just to survive."But for some business owners, this period will be worse because during the pandemic you could switch off a lot of your costs and there was help."Now, the costs keep coming. Rent keeps coming. Wages, energy, you've got to keep the building open."
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Gloucester Quays climbing wall and soft play zone approved
Plans for climbing walls and a soft play area at a shopping centre have been given the will be built on the first floor mezzanine at Gloucester Quays, alongside a business Clip 'n Climb UK is expected to operate the site, which was described by Gloucester Quays LLP as a "theme park meets climbing wall" in its plan City Council approved the plans on Friday. The developers now have three years to begin building. The plans also include party rooms, a buggy park, a shop and staff facilities. The whole 1,256 sq m space on the upper floor of the shopping centre will be consultants previously said the climbing zone and soft play would bring "wider economic benefits by encouraging longer stays within the city centre and increasing footfall", according to the Local Democracy Reporting consultants said the facilities will create a number of jobs, with employees "generally being sought from the local area".Gloucester Quays, which opened in 2009, was originally intended to have leisure spaces, the consultants to the application for the climbing wall, several alterations to improve accessibility were made to the top deck of the shopping centre, including the installation of two escalators. These did not require planning permission.
