Soft Play Centres
You either like them or hate! But when you have children we all know there is no escaping them!
As much as I plan to find a quiet corner to sit with a cup of coffee whilst my son releases his built up energy it doesn’t quiet work out that way! I find myself constantly worried about those obstacles he’s running around especially when he’s at such a great height and the place is so big. I usually find myself looking around like a lost puppy to find where he’s gone and hoping he’s not stuck somewhere or hurt himself. But my son just can’t get enough of them and every time we visit a soft play centre he acts like he’s never seen one before!
We have made numerous trips to a few soft plays in Northampton and our favourite one so far is the Riverside Hub.
Riverside Hub
There is so much to do here and it really is one of the best soft plays we have visited not only in Northampton but compared to many cities and towns in England. And that is no surprise with it having one of the UKs largest soft play frame. There is so much to do and explore with 20 different zones consisting of sensory rooms, go carts, sports zone, creative studio and toddler village. They also have amazing themed rooms available to rent for birthday parties. Hot and cold food is available in the cafe and the bonus of Wi-Fi and free parking.
You really need more than a day to explore everything!
For anyone wanting to visit the Riverside Hub there is a family registration fee of £5.00 and the following fees apply:
Under 1’s £2
Children 1 - 3 years £5.50
Children 4 -12 years £7.95
Young People 13 -17 years £7.95
Adults £3
Grandparents £1.50
The fees are are slightly higher on weekends, bank holidays and school holidays.
Berzerk
We visited this newly refurbished colourful soft play centre in Moulton Park recently. It has a nice fresh and airy feeling with nice bright colours. They are open 7 days a week 9am till 6.30pm. There is a under 3s section and it has Northamptons’ only indoor air bouncer. They also have go karts for an additional charge of £1. The Coffee Box Cafe has a range of snacks and drinks. They also have ample free parking and Wi-Fi. From 10th November they will be introducing Friday Night Discos which will start at 6.00pm till 8.30pm
The charges are as follows:
Under 1’s £1
Children 1–3 years £3.45
Children 4 +£3.95
You can also pay extra and get a meal included which is referred to as ‘food and fun’.
The above fees are higher during weekends and half terms. Adults pay 50p during weekends and school holidays. They have a height restriction of 4ft 11inches.
There is a benefit for Junior Active members aged under 5 during Term Time Monday-Friday they don’t have to pay the fee.
Hullabaloo
We visited Hullabaloo which is situated on Gladstone Road a while ago. It has a reasonable sized playing frame with a dedicated play area for under 3s. There is also a licensed bar as well as a cafe that offers a adult and kids menu.
The facilities are available to hire for parties as well as sleepovers for a minimum of 30 children. We’ve not experienced the sleepover but can imagine it being so much fun for the kids!
The fees are quiet similar to what Berzerk charge. For under 1s it’s £1.95 and you get in free if there is a paying sibling. For other age groups they only pay £3.50 and get a cup of squash and biscuit providing it’s before 2pm. There is also the option to have a meal deal for £5.95 which includes a meal from the children’s menu with a cup of squash.
They do have a height restrictions of 1.44 metres. During the school holiday and on weekends, the prices are slightly higher. Adults have to pay £1 on weekends and during term holidays.
If you prefer to enjoy a coffee without it being too loud, there is a small soft play area at the Wyevale Garden Centre in Wootton. The play area is enclosed from the Garden Kitchen Restaurant but the seating is around the play area so you can easily keep an eye on the kids. There is a wide selection of food that is served daily and there is also a Costa. The fee for soft play is £3.00 however, you can register for free membership at the Garden Centre and qualify for the discounted rate which is £2.00.
Share with us your favourite soft plays around Northamptonshire!
