The latest business to invest in the newly rebranded Royal Quays Independent and Outlet Centre in North Shields is all set to appeal to the young shoppers of tomorrow.
Amy Morris has opened the Acorn & Oak Play Café which is aimed at children up to six years old. Unlike the traditional soft play area, the café encourages children to play by using their imagination in a series of creative role play areas.
As well as “Oak Cottage”, the children’s safe play areas include a kitchen so that budding chefs can create dishes to impress their parents, “Mick’s Bricks” construction area to practise banging and hammering, a medical centre to “train” the next batch of NHS professionals and a picnic area to entertain their friends.
Each week the café will host a different themed activity giving children an opportunity to experience and learn important skills in a play environment. It also provides a welcome place for adults to watch their children having fun while enjoying a cup of tea and a cake.
Amy developed the idea for the role play café after finding it difficult to take her young children anywhere where she could watch her children playing without having to search for them in a ball park or behind a huge bouncy castle structure.
“I’ve got two children aged three and four and I found that most of the places to take them to play involved climbing or running and didn’t concentrate on good old fashioned play involving imagination and a few well positioned props. I decided that was what I wanted for my children and feedback from other parents and carers backed this up, so Acorn & Oak was born, “she said.
“We’ve invested in play equipment and our play areas are all hand crafted by local tradesmen, so the quality is excellent. I wish I had somewhere to play like this when I was younger, “she added.
Royal Quays Independent and Outlet Centre, manager Matt Dawson was delighted to welcome Amy and Acorn & Oak to the centre.
“Amy is the latest business to embrace our centre and I’m particularly pleased to see that her café is a great place for our young shoppers of tomorrow to learn through play and for parents to get a nice cup of coffee and home baked cakes while watching them,” he said. “It’s quite possible that some of the young people’s play could encourage them to take on a career in building or retail thanks to the experiences they gained at Acorn & Oak.”
Royal Quays is developing a real positive community spirit catering for all ages and the centre is fast becoming a destination venue rather than just a shopping centre. Recently, many new, local independent businesses have moved into the centre including Garden World, Hauticulture, The Pineapple Room and Quay Furniture. A new games arcade with a unique business concept is due to open in late spring.
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Photo: Amy and Matt at Acorn & Oak
Photo: Amy at Acorn & Oak
(The Bigger Picture Agency)
Media and PR keith@highlightspr.co.uk 07814 397951