FUN TIME
Play date
Nicole Wood chats to Cyrenne Khaliq-Fleming to discuss Gosforth’s newest play café, Hopscotch… Returning home to the North East from London after 14 years in finance, mum of three Cyrenne, with ambitions to set up her own business, identified an opportunity in the area and is currently about to open an exciting new play café on Gosforth High Street. Hopscotch, which is due to open this September, will have distinct interiors that incorporate a stylish café, innovative play area and outdoor playground. Hopscotch will be somewhere that parents, grandparents and friends can relax while the children engage in fun, entertaining and safe play. “There are some great play areas. One I used to take my children to was Pineapple and Bears in Gateshead and it is a similar concept, but what I found is I was searching for these places and travelling out of our local area to find them. Gosforth has nothing like that despite the amount of growing families in the area,” Cyrenne explains. “When I say play area, I don’t mean a big
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industrial soft play, it’s more of a boutiquestyle play café where little ones can have fun while parents, grandparents and friends can enjoy a nice cup of coffee, a slice of cake or a bite to eat in nice surroundings,” she adds. The bespoke play space has been designed by the industry’s forward-thinking supplier Tigerplay, who are creating an inspirational structure that offers obstacles and slides for little explorers, as well as a ball pool and sensory points for babies. Role play huts and a chill-out zone for older children will also feature, as well as a unique
Enjoy a delicious meal while the kids play for a little while and burn off energy before bedtime
outdoor area for young adventurers. “We’re looking to operate sessions and create set times so people can make the most of their time in a relaxed, yet playful environment. For example, you can book a table for tea after school and enjoy a delicious meal while the kids play for a little while and burn off energy before bedtime,” she says. As well as weekday and weekend sessions, the play café will be available to host children’s parties and other events. It will offer exclusive use, working closely with local businesses to offer a range of added extras to make those occasions special. “We’ve also obtained an alcohol licence,” laughs Cyrenne. “I know that sounds odd, but I’ve seen it done before and it works great because it’s a place for parents to enjoy too. The idea is that on a Friday afternoon between 5pm and 7pm we offer a pre-bathtime happy hour,” she explains. With an emphasis on using locally sourced suppliers, Hopscotch will offer an inviting brunch and daytime menu, quality coffee,
delicious pastries and sweet treats as well as fun nutritious children’s meals. “Giant soft plays are great for kids, you can’t fault them. Kids love them, but we want somewhere that’s enjoyable for the whole family. There’s nothing worse than attending a child’s play area and not having anything nice to eat or drink. We wanted to make sure we were offering some delicious drinks and bites to eat for children and adults. The brunch menu will include typical dishes like poached eggs on toast and on the lunch menu you can expect fresh salads and a selection of sandwiches. There’ll also be a range of tasty kids meals, cakes, pastries and a great coffee offering,” she says. As a local resident in Gosforth, Cyrenne hopes the café will be a welcome addition to the high street, which with further planned investment will attract thriving new local businesses and offer a renewed sense of community for current and future generations. instagram.com/hopscotch_playcafe
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