United Kingdom,May 12,2025-If you run a café, restaurant, or pub, you’ll know how challenging it is to stand out—especially in a market where families have more choices than ever. One simple but highly effective feature can set you apart: a dedicated play area for children.
Whether you’re a small cafe, a restaurant or gastropub, ensuring that you have the means to entertain children and give parents a relaxed time is your ticket to success.
Here are five ways that creating a space for little ones can bring big rewards to your business.
1. Boost Footfall from Families
Families tend to return to places that make life easier. A well-designed play space gives parents peace of mind and children somewhere to burn off energy, and practice and enhance social skills and development.
If families know your venue is child-friendly, they’re far more likely to choose you over the competition, especially during peak dining hours, or school holidays when it can be difficult to catch a break from all the action!
In fact, research from VisitBritain shows that family-friendly amenities are a key factor in hospitality choices for both domestic and overseas visitors.
2. Increase Dwell Time and Spending
When children are entertained, parents can relax. That often means they’ll stay longer, order more, and even return with friends.
Whether it’s a second coffee, dessert, or an extra round of drinks, giving families a reason to linger can improve your margins without raising your prices. Relaxed parents can also mean relaxed boundaries, and allowing children to have that cheeky dessert after their main meal is a common feature in a venue where the children can immediately burn off the sugar.
Satisfied parents often also post positive reviews—mentioning child-friendly features helps improve your venue’s visibility on platforms like Google and TripAdvisor.
3. Enhance Your Brand Reputation
Adding a children’s play area signals that your business values the customer experience across all ages. It shows thoughtfulness, consideration, and a community-focused approach. You don’t have to build a theme park—just a safe, engaging space tailored to your location and audience.
Working with specialists like Creative Play UK ensures your outdoor play space is not only safe and fun but also professionally designed to meet your branding, space, and budget needs.
4. Support Children’s Development
Play areas aren’t just a marketing trick—they serve an important developmental role. Physical activity builds coordination and strength, while imaginative play helps children develop communication and social skills.
According to the National Literacy Trust, creative and physical play during early childhood also supports vocabulary growth and emotional development—both of which are essential life skills. So, by investing in a play area, you’re supporting families in more ways than one.
5. Encourage Return Visits and Word of Mouth
Parents talk, and if your venue is clean, has good food, and lets their kids play safely, word spreads quickly. A play area turns a simple meal out into a stress-free outing—and that kind of experience builds loyalty.
Offering small perks like colouring packs, kids’ loyalty cards, or family-friendly offers during quieter hours can strengthen those relationships even further.
Have you considered adding a children’s play area to your venue? Discuss your tips in the comments section below!
Contact Details:
Country: United Kingdom
Website: https://www.visitbritain.org/
Contact Form: https://www.visitbritain.org/contact-us
