Dad’s dream comes true as his new soft play area and dessert bar opens
A NEW soft play area and dessert bar opened in Chesterfield at the weekend.
Kooca is offering lots of indulgent treats, from fresh waffles to ice cream, and is now taking bookings between 10am and 6pm, seven days a week. Ian Biggin, 43, director of operations, said: “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do because I thought I can do this better; I can do it safer and cleaner and have my own unique spin on it”.
Mr Biggin highlighted how important it is for Kooca to partner with Derbyshire businesses, from getting their coffee from Arden Coffee in Clay Cross, to using a Derbyshire carpet company to fit the new flooring.
Inside the main body of the building, a giant, colourful play frame can be found.
Mr Biggin said: “This is the biggest single investment for the business, over £50,000 worth of cash investment.
“There was lots of 3D rendering, and it is completely custom built to ensure maximum use of the space available. We’ve got three slides, an in-built climbing wall and a trampoline. Because it’s just been installed, we’re bleeding edge”.
A father of two, Mr Biggin describes Kooca as a place “owned by parents for parents”.
The location was an old cake and craft shop and required a full refurbishment due to the “tired nature” of the building, with nothing being touched for 20 years.
Within the building is a wedding boutique called Miss to Mrs, run by a friend of the owners.
Mr Biggin said: “She offers gowns for hire and sale. Nowadays the modern person getting married, might have a family, so you come to a wedding boutique and feel awkward because the child has nothing to do.
“Here they can book on soft play whilst their mum tries on a wedding dress”.
There is also a party room, specifically for pre-booked birthday parties, where each child will create their own ‘wafflette’, with toppings and a scoop of ice cream.
Halloween parties and “Christmas indoor markets” are already on Ian’s mind as he looks ahead to the upcoming holiday months.
The name Kooca, comes from a colloquialism for parrot used in the Dominican Republic which bemused Mr Biggin when he was on holiday in 1998.