Play cafe born during lockdown a hit with parents

STARTING out in business can be a difficult thing to do at the best of times.

But getting the keys to your new premises a few days after lockdown has to be one of the rockiest starts going.

However, this dodgy beginning has not held back Nick and Sarah Goddard, who have created a new play cafe that is attracting the attention of parents across the county.

The couple, from Locks Heath, opened Little Big Village in Locks Heath Shopping Village as soon as restrictions would allow – firstly as just a coffee shop, then finally on August 22 as a full blown play cafe with toys and role play stations.

The business, which has taken over the former DIY shop which has moved to another unit at the centre, has taken off – and scores of families have shown their support for it. Nick said: ‘It has been really busy. We have a lot of regular customers. People are coming back to us which is really promising. It has been quite emotional for us. We feel like we are part of the community now.’

The couple struck upon the idea of running a play cafe four years ago after visiting similar places with their two children Millie, six, and Evie, five.

Nick said: ‘We noticed at a few of the places that it was difficult to sit down and have a coffee and keep an eye on your child. But in our place all the adults, no matter where they are sat, can see. We have had a lot of positive feedback about that and about our level of cleanliness. That was also really important to us.'

The family all pitched in together during lockdown to transform the unit into the play centre, learning skills from online tutorials as contractors cancelled.

Not only did Covid present challenges with getting people to carry out the necessary work, they faced problems with supply, couldn’t apply for any government support as they had not been trading and Nick was also made redundant.

Nick said: ‘We had quite a lot of challenges. We signed the papers on March 11, then got the keys on March 27. It couldn’t have been worse timing. We had a lot of contractors lined up as it was just a concrete shell when we took it over. When Covid hit we couldn’t get hold of any contractors but as we live so close we decided to do the work ourselves, everything except the electrics. It was a huge effort but it has been worth it.’

The cafe, which sells a range of locally-made cakes and meals, now employs six people. It is open seven days a week and costs £5.95 per child for a 90-minute session.

For more go to facebook. com/LittleBigVillage