Alison Hunt visits Surrey’s newest soft play centre to find out what's on offer
If you've children under the age of 10, you’ll know the phrase, “Let’s meet at soft play?” all too well. These indoor play centres offer a sanctuary for adults and children alike, where the kids can let off steam while the grown ups drink coffee and chat, regardless of the weather.
Sadly, the reality can be quite different, with grubby play structures and grimy ball pools often putting off potential customers. Luckily, there’s a new soft play in town that’s hoping to show parents it doesn’t have to be that way.
The Lighthouse Play Centre lies just off the A322 in Bagshot. Previously known as ‘Giggles’, the building has been completely rebranded by Sam and Daniella Lighting and their three young daughters, who have big plans for the future.
Taking inspiration both from their name and the Uhmlanga Lighthouse in Daniella’s childhood home in South Africa, the theme of light runs throughout the centre with brightly coloured lighthouses decorating the walls.
The building feels light, airy and spotlessly clean with plenty of café style tables and booths. The main soft play climbing structure is aimed at 5-10 year olds, with a well-designed, dedicated play area for the under 5s that even features some seating for adults.
I spent the morning there with my 7-year-old son and his best friend and the boys quickly declared the giant slide, surfboard and guns to be ‘epic’. What I found impressive was how easily I could keep an eye on them, while sipping a latte from the comfort of my booth.
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Owner Sam is clearly passionate about The Lighthouse, having spent five years looking for the perfect venue and giving up a lucrative job in the City to make it happen. His aim is to make it a real part of the community and he’s been listening to his customers’ feedback to find out what they want.
As a result, The Lighthouse now opens at 9am, ideal for parents that drop older children at school first. Child-minders receive a £1 discount per child. The kitchen opens earlier, too, and coffee-lover Sam has proudly partnered with coffeeandstuff.co.uk to offer his customers excellent hot beverages.
The menu includes freshly made sandwiches, picnic boxes and hot food for the kids, with jacket potatoes and paninis for the adults as well as a dedicated gluten–free menu. Cleanliness is crucial and the centre closes at 5pm daily to allow staff to thoroughly sanitise all play equipment.
Two party rooms (one of which Sam believes is the best in Surrey) can be booked for themed birthday parties and The Lighthouse hosts a two-hour Paediatric First Aid course, for parents to learn potentially life-saving skills from a fully trained professional, every month.
Baby Massage, Yoga, Sand Art and Disco parties are all in the pipeline and The Lighthouse is excited to be hosting this year’s Home-start Surrey Christmas Party, for local disadvantaged families. And importantly, after a successful trial in the summer, Sam plans to run more dedicated sessions for children with special needs, allowing them to play in a relaxed environment with reduced noise.
I certainly found The Lighthouse to be a great day out for both myself and my son and will definitely return with friends very soon!
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