Thinking of setting up a play café in the UK? The demand for high-quality, family-friendly spaces that combine excellent food, barista-level coffee, and beautifully designed soft play areas is on the rise. More parents are looking for somewhere to relax while their children are entertained in a safe, inspiring environment. This practical guide covers premises, layout, soft play design, safety (EN1176/RoSPA), licences and timelines so you can confidently set up a play café that’s beautiful, safe and profitable.

Choosing Premises for a Play Café (Space, Layout, Height)

Your premises could make or break your business. When assessing venues for setting up a play café, focus on space planning, circulation and visibility. Think about:

Space planning: Do you have enough room for play equipment, seating, a kitchen, pram storage, and accessible toilets? Aim to dedicate around 60% of your floor plan to play and seating, with the remainder for back-of-house amenities.
Layout & sight-lines: Can the space accommodate both active zones and quiet corners? Integrate seating into play zones to maximise capacity and keep children in sight.
Ceiling height & access: Larger soft play structures need appropriate vertical clearance and safe service access.

We can advise on how much space is needed for different age groups and play types, and produce a play café layout that balances capacity with comfort.

Location Strategy (Footfall, Access, Visibility)

Location is a crucial consideration for a play café. A strong concept may not work if your café is hard to reach.

Footfall: Is it on a high street or in a retail park with regular traffic?
Accessibility & parking: If you're relying on car journeys, check for safe drop-off and plentiful parking.
Visibility & curb appeal: Does the site have good signage and street-facing presence?

The right location accelerates discovery and builds a loyal customer base from day one.

Play Café Design & Equipment (Safety, Sensory, Sustainability)

This is where we come in. The play equipment is the heart of your business, so it should be safe, stimulating, and tailored to your audience.

Ask yourself:

What are the typical age ranges of your target market?
Do you want to focus on under 5s, or cater to older children too?
Will you offer sensory play for babies or quieter zones or sessions for neurodivergent children? (We think the answer to this should be “yes”!)

Safety: All play equipment must meet EN1176 standards, and installation should follow RoSPA-aligned guidance.
Inclusion: Create calmer, low-stim zones and sensory elements where appropriate.
Sustainability: We specify durable, environmentally-friendly finishes and responsibly sourced materials wherever possible.

Coffee, Menu & Operations (Parents’ Expectations)

Obviously we’re all about the ‘play’, but you could argue that the coffee and food offer is just as important. Today’s parents expect:

Freshly made meals and snacks
Consistent, barista-quality coffee
Kids’ menus that go beyond chips and juice

Plan your menu early - it will shape your kitchen fit-out, storage and workflow. Also consider allergy-friendly options, takeaways, and whether you’ll offer extras like birthday party catering or baby-led weaning choices.

Business Model & Extras (Revenue Streams for a Soft Play Café)

To make your soft play café sustainable, think about some extra revenue streams:

Birthday party packages and private hire
Mum & baby and Toddler classes e.g. baby yoga
Memberships or loyalty schemes
Retail (toys, snacks, merch)

Each of these can boost dwell time, average spend and customer retention.

Compliance, Licences & Systems (UK)

Like all business ventures, opening a play café comes with some admin and logistics to consider:

Licences & insurance (public liability; employer’s liability)
Food hygiene registration and HACCP
Hiring and training staff including safeguarding
POS and online booking systems (with capacity management)
Branding, signage and social media marketing

We’re experienced in sequencing compliance and fit-out so you can open on time and on budget.

Timelines: Design & Installation

Timelines vary depending on the size and scope of your project, and if shipping time is required. We offer a comprehensive consultation, design and development service where we establish a project timeline that works for everybody involved in the project. Early surveys and a clear programme keep everything on track.

Start Your Play Café Journey with Us

At Tigerplay, we design and install bespoke soft play areas that look beautiful and perform brilliantly. Planning to set up a play café? Speak to our play café designers for a free layout review and advice.

Let’s build something extraordinary.

FAQs About Setting Up a Play Café

How much space do I need to set up a play café?
It depends on your offering, but many successful play cafés dedicate approximately 60% of the floor plan to play and seating, with the remainder for kitchen, toilets and storage. We’ll space-plan to your target capacity and age mix.

Can I set up a play café in a listed building?
Yes — we’ve worked in heritage sites before. We design within planning constraints and respect original features while maintaining EN1176 compliance.

What safety standards do soft play cafés need to meet?
All play equipment must meet EN1176 safety standards, and are ADA compliant where appropriate in the USA. We are SafeContractor accredited and install to RoSPA-aligned procedures, with robust inspection and maintenance regimes.

What age range should my play area target?
Most play cafés cater to babies, toddlers, and preschoolers (ages 0–5), but adding sibling zones or areas for older kids can widen your appeal and dwell time.

How long does it take to design and install a soft play area?
This depends on the size and complexity of your bespoke design and manufacturing time. Complex builds may take longer; early surveys help lock in timelines.

How to Set Up a Play Café: Key Considerations