Indoor soft play crowned best in the UK lets kids run a whole village – and even gives them credit cards
AN indoor soft play attraction has been named the best in the UK – and kids can act out adult jobs inside.
Jack In The Box, in East Yorkshire, first opened in 2011 after turning an abandoned food factory into the huge indoor play area.
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Inside are 14 different play areas which recreate real-life adult locations.
Last year, they opened their new role play centre Jacks’ Mini Village, where kids can act out jobs including a vet, doctor, builder, hairdresser and builder.
At Happy Tails, vets can check x-rays, wash the “animals” and measure them while the Mini Hospital has baby dolls to look after and change.
Jack’s DIY teaches plumbing, digger driving, wall building and plumbing, Riley’s Barn has pigs and sheep to look after and Little Snippers lets kids give hair washes, cutes and beauty treatments.
There is also The Laundry, Mini Shopper and Village Post Office, along with Cara’s Costumes, Music Stars and Mini Bites.
Kids are given a “credit card” to even use in the shops, and can pretend to use washing machines, ovens and hobs, as well as supermarket check out counters.
And it was named the Best Role Play Centre at the Association of Indoor Play earlier this month.
Ken Lunn, who runs the site with his wife Gail, said: “We wanted to make an exciting and stimulating place to visit.
“Somewhere where children can have lots of fun whilst also learning and losing themselves in their imaginations.
“It’s not just the children who have fun though. It’s lovely to see the adults joining in and having fun as well.”
They said some of the most popular parts of the play area are the ice cream van, which has realistic chimes and ice cream machines, as well as the supermarket scanners with real beeps.
The music room with real drum kits and guitars is also popular, along with the “working” washing machines.
Outside of the role play area there is also a huge soft play area, with three different areas for different ages.
The baby area is for 18 months and under, with a toddler area for four years and under.
Bigger kids between 4 and 12 have their own area, with an interactive game zone for all ages.
Don’t worry about leaving for food – the on-site cafe has everything from sandwiches and toast to pasta and pizza, as well as full meals and snack boxes.
Adults can opt for tea and coffee too, with cold drinks and ice cream available as well.
Role play tickets start from £7.50 while adults pay £3.50 for midweek visits, or £8.75 and £4.50 during weekends and holidays.
Soft play tickets range from £3.50 to £9 depending on the age of the child during mid-week visits.
Another soft play attraction for kids opened in the UK last month.
Little Town Adventures opened in Weston-super-Mare, with some of the seaside town’s landmarks inside such as the Grand Pier.
For adults, there is a grown-up role soft play attraction in the UK too.
What is it like to go to an adult's soft play?
The Sun’s Jane Cook tried out a soft play just for adults – here’s what she thought.
“Walking through the dark and neon-lit corridors, you can’t quite help but notice the wacky but marvellous Alice In Wonderland inspired graffiti that glows in the UV light alongside quotes ‘Never Grow Up’ and ‘Drink Me’.
“At first, it’s a bit of an odd thing to see adults crawling on all fours, whizzing down a slide and running about with the energy of a kid on a sugar high, but once you try it yourself, it does make sense.
The structure is, of course, child-proofed, but we did see two guests willingly go down a deep slide backwards and experience a painful-looking tumble, so you have to use common sense, especially if alcohol is involved.
“Perhaps, for this reason, the adult soft play area is closed at 11 pm sharp to avoid anyone getting too drunk.
“If you’re looking for a more relaxing experience, you should head down to the ball bit, where you can sink into brightly coloured balls and take photos with your friends.”
Adventurers, in both Taunton and Cheddar, opens to kids in the day, but only adults for their Adventurers After Dark events with laser tag and alcoholic slushies.
The Sun’s Jane Cook tried out a similar one in London – here’s what she thought.