Thinking of setting up a play café? The demand for high-quality, family-friendly venues that combine great food, barista-quality coffee and beautifully designed soft play areas is growing rapidly.

More parents are looking for places where they can relax while their children play safely in an engaging indoor play environment. A well-designed soft play café creates exactly that — a space that is welcoming for adults and exciting for children.

This practical guide explains the key steps involved in opening a play café, including premises selection, layout planning, soft play design, safety standards (EN1176 / RoSPA), licences, and installation timelines. With the right planning, you can launch a beautiful, safe and profitable play café business.

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

Your premises can make or break your play café. When evaluating potential venues, focus on space planning, visibility and circulation to ensure the environment works for both children and parents.

Consider the following:

Space Planning

Do you have enough room for soft play equipment, café seating, a kitchen, pram storage and accessible toilets?

As a general guideline, aim to dedicate around 60% of your floor space to play areas and seating, with the remaining space used for kitchens, storage and staff facilities.

Layout & Sightlines

The best play café layouts combine active play zones with quieter corners. Integrating seating within or around play areas helps maximise capacity while allowing parents to keep their children in sight.

Ceiling Height & Access

Larger soft play structures require sufficient ceiling height and safe installation access. Planning vertical space properly allows you to create more engaging multi-level play areas.

At Tigerplay, we can advise on space requirements for different age groups and play styles, and create a play café layout that balances capacity, comfort and safety.

Location Strategy for a Play Café (Footfall, Access & Visibility)

Location is one of the most important factors in the success of a soft play café business. Even the best concept can struggle if the venue is difficult to find or reach.

Footfall

Is the site located on a busy high street, family-friendly neighbourhood or retail park with regular foot traffic?

Accessibility & Parking

Many families travel by car, so easy access, safe drop-off areas and convenient parking are essential.

Visibility & Curb Appeal

Good signage, large windows and a visible street presence help attract passing families and build brand recognition.

Choosing the right location helps your play café grow faster and develop a loyal local customer base from day one.

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

Your soft play equipment is the heart of your play café, so it should be safe, engaging and tailored to your audience.

Ask yourself:

• What age groups will you cater for?
• Will you focus on under-5 soft play, or include older children?
• Will you provide sensory play areas for babies or calmer spaces for neurodivergent children?

Safety Standards

We design all our indoor play equipment to comply with EN1176 safety standards, and our installation teams follow guidance aligned with RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) recommendations.

Inclusive Play

Consider incorporating accessible play features, sensory calm zones and lower-stimulus areas to make your venue more inclusive for different needs.

Sustainable Materials

Modern soft play design increasingly uses durable, responsibly sourced materials and environmentally friendly finishes to improve longevity and reduce environmental impact.

At Tigerplay, we design bespoke soft play installations that balance safety, creativity and long-term durability.

Coffee, Food & Operations (Meeting Parents’ Expectations)

While the play area attracts families, your café offering keeps them coming back.

Today’s parents expect more than basic snacks. A successful play café typically offers:

• Freshly prepared meals and healthy snacks
• Consistent barista-quality coffee
• Children’s menus that go beyond chips and juice

Plan your menu and kitchen layout early, as it will influence equipment, storage and staff workflows.

You may also want to consider:

• Allergy-friendly menu options
• Takeaway drinks and snacks
• Birthday party catering
• Baby-led weaning menu choices

A strong food and drink offering increases customer satisfaction, dwell time and repeat visits.

Business Business Model & Additional Revenue Streams

To maximise profitability, many play cafés introduce additional income streams alongside entry fees and food sales.

Popular options include:

• Birthday party packages and private hire
• Parent & baby classes such as baby yoga or music sessions
• Memberships or loyalty schemes
• Small retail areas selling toys, books or snacks

These additions can significantly increase average spend per visit and long-term customer loyalty.

Compliance, Licences & Systems (UK)

Opening a play café requires careful planning to ensure you meet all local regulations and operational requirements.

Typical considerations include:

• Public liability and employer’s liability insurance
• Food hygiene registration and HACCP procedures
• Hiring and training staff, including safeguarding awareness
• POS systems and online booking platforms with capacity management
• Branding, signage and social media marketing

Working with experienced designers and installers helps ensure compliance and fit-out stages run smoothly.

Timelines: Soft Play Design & Installation

Timelines for play café design and soft play installation vary depending on the size and complexity of the project, as well as manufacturing and shipping requirements.

At Tigerplay, we offer a complete consultation, design and development service that carefully plans each stage of the project.

Our process typically includes:

• Site survey and feasibility assessment
• Concept design and layout planning
• Manufacturing and material specification
• Professional installation

By carrying out early surveys and structured project planning, we ensure your play café installation stays on schedule and is ready to open on time.

Start Your Play Café Journey with Tigerplay

At Tigerplay, we specialise in designing and installing bespoke soft play areas and play cafés that look beautiful and perform brilliantly.

If you’re planning to open a play café in the UK, or anywhere else in the world, contact our experienced today. Together, we’ll create a safe, inspiring play space that families love and businesses thrive on.

Let’s build something extraordinary.