...with room to relax
THE new Aztec Soft Play Centre, in Carlisle is a bit more grown up than your average indoor children’s playground.
For while the youngsters are playing safely, or exploring the expertly-designed 3D play frames, their relatives, or minders, can enjoy comfort, great food and even large-screen Sky TV and free Wi-Fi access.
Opened in September Aztec Soft Play, in Crown Street, off the west side of Botchergate, has already proved a big hit, not only with children but with the more senior visitors. “We have customers who come in the morning, have lunch and who don’t go home until 4.30pm, so that must say something about the food,” said Lynn Steadman who, together with her husband Mike, owns and runs the business.
It’s open seven days a week 10am – 6pm and its Bistro Meso employs three chefs to cook everything from full English breakfasts (to 11.30am each day) to tasty lunchtime main courses such as Cumberland sausage and mash, or chicken stuffed with gruyere cheese with new potatoes, veg and a creamy white wine sauce. There’s even a traditional roast on the menu on Sundays and much of the food in freshly made on the premises. There are tasty, healthy, options on offer too throughout the day... or you could just indulge yourself with freshly made coffee and cake.
Aztec’s 3D play frames have been expertly designed to meet the differing needs of children from 0-12 years and offer a safe, healthy environment to play, develop and explore. In Toddler Time (10am 3pm during term time) the children’s playing time is unlimited. In term time the 4s-and-under fee of £4 even includes a glass of juice and a biscuit.
One of the main features is a four-lane slide and there are three others too. All play areas are spacious and have been thoughtfully designed to ensure maximum style, comfort and entertainment for all the family, while all the play equipment has been researched and tested by the some of the toughest critics in the field...the Steadmans’ three young children... aged nine, eight and six.
“They thought it was fantastic, trying out all the slides, chutes and other equipment as we considered exactly what to install,” said Lynn, “but it was a very useful exercise which really influenced our final choices.”
On some weekday mornings different activities such as jigsaws, colouring and dressing up, are provided for toddlers to take part in under supervision from their parents / carers’.
With two party rooms party packages are available for ages up to 12, for birthdays and other special occasions and they can also be designed to suit individual needs.
And why the name Aztec? Well, simply because Lynn likes adventure books and Lynn and Mike simply thought it a great name and a good theme to go with.
But customers’ are the most important people to please and this recommendation from one mum is to be found on the wall, on Aztec’s Facebook page: “It was fantastic and my girls, aged under one, and four, loved it. The food was yummy and the soft play amazing. I can see us becoming a regular. Brilliant just what we need around our area! Will be passing onto my friends!
