It was my birthday last week so we decided to take my children to the soft play in Greenock to tire them out and as the weather was not great it needed to be something indoors. It is very easy to park they have their own parking with plenty of spaces and we managed to find somewhere to park easily even with it being Easter break.

**Toddler soft play area 3 and under **
This has a small climbing frame with obstacles on it not too challenging cause of course it for younger children and also has a large ground area where they have things like ride on's a little tikes kitchen and just general small toys for children to play with, It also has a jumparoo for children and a sit me up cosy so even young babies have something to do while playing in there. There is a soft mat covering the whole of this area so if children lose their footing they will not hurt themselves and generally has a lot for younger children to do. My youngest boy who is two in May loved this area although I did have to go in with him as he did not want to play by himself and my little girl who is three loved playing with the kitchen and other toys that were in there.

**Pirate ship 5 and over **
This is a large play area the biggest in the centre that has lots of netting all over it for children to climb across and climb over obstacles in the way it looked great fun for older children but my little boy who is just coming up to five did not enjoy it at all. It is designed for 5 years and over and there are lots of different platforms to climb and things to do but it all looked a little repetitive and is definitely aimed at older children who like a challenge.

**2 bouncy slides **
These are both large inflatable slides one is for 5 and under and one for 5 and over at the entrance of each of these slide are small obstacle courses so a small whole to climb through and then soft poles to squeeze through to reach the stairs to climb the slide. My children loved these this was the most used item by most of the children in the soft play and they went up and down over and over again.
They are not too challenging for the age ranges they are designed for and it provided something a little different for them to enjoy of course I was frightened as the large slide is rather huge but both my three year old and four year old decided they liked this one best so my heart was in my mouth but my children loved it and had no fear at all while playing on it.

**2 bouncy castles** - There are 2 bouncy castles 1 for 5 years and younger and one for 5 years plus there is no one watching to make sure that the children abide by the age recommendations but of course parents will be watching their children to make sure they are on the right equipment. My children did not really spend too much time on these they just were not interested enough as there were other things to do but they were a nice addition and very quiet as all the children seemed to prefer different areas.

**Soft ball area **
This is in a netted area that children have to climb into to find a small court to play on there are basketball nets up in there and a number of soft balls very simple but my children loved it this also was a very quiet area meaning each child can easily have a ball and lots of space to move around it may have been nice to have football posts or such in there but it was nice all the same to have an open space where children can run around and let of some steam.


**Laser tag **
There is also an option to play laser tag you can buy an all inclusive pass that allows you access to this and the whole play area but as my children are too young for this we did not take advantage but it would be good for older children as there is not much for them to do in the main play area of the building so would be worth looking into of you decide to go.

**Cars area **
This is a small track where there was 4 to 5 cars for little one to ride they are like go carts and the child simply press the peddle and rides around the track. Most of the cars have 2 seats so the children can go on together or a parent can go on with younger children. These are not included in the price and you have to pay a £1 a shot for the children to ride so of course this happened to be one of my children's favourites and we ended up paying an extra £5 for them all to have goes on them.
This area could have been used for something else for the children that was free but to be honest it is a good addition as my children loved it even if it did add to the amount of money we spent while we were there the smiles on their face was definitely worth it.

**Large blue way slide **
This is a plastic wavy slide that children climb steps and slide down very simple yet provides lots of fun as they do come down at some speed. My children did not notice it until the end as it is tucked away in the left hand side behind the pirate ship but as soon as they did it became another favourite and they went up and down over and over again.

**Price and getting there **

Babies not walking:
FREE
All Inclusive Pass - Children:
(For 2 hours & 1 game of Laser Matrix)
£6.50
All Inclusive Pass - Adults:
(For 2 hours & 1 game of Laser Matrix)
£3.00
Under 5's:
(For 2 hours)
£4.10
5 years and over:
(For 2 hours)
£4.65
1 hour play any age:
(Between 9.30am and 4pm)
£3.50
Last hour:
(Between 5.30pm and 6.30pm)
£2.60
Adults:
(Members free)
£1.00

We were not members so were only charged £1 each for us to get in so it was not to high an admission fee for us all to get in as we just paid for the soft play rather than the al inclusive pass. The children were £4 each to get in but they certainly got here money's worth and were tired out by the end of their 2 hour play.

We drove to the soft play which I would say would be your best bet but it is not too far from the centre of Greenock so public transport would also be able to take you there rather easily.

Fun world Leisure Ltd
Unit 1 - 2
Fort Matilda Industrial Estate
Eldon Street
Greenock
PA16 7QB

T: 01475 783003
F: 01475 783007

**Food **
We had just eaten before we got there so did not purchase any food but they did have a large range available to order mainly fast food like chips and burgers the prices seemed reasonable for what you usually pay in children play areas we brought 3 fruit shoots and 2 regular cokes and it came to around £6.50 in total. There is a canteen area to sit and eat or you can choose to take it across to a table in the viewing area which is what we decided to do as the children wanted to continue playing and the canteen is in a different area so we would not have been able to see them.

**The staff **
The ladies we were first greeted with were lovely I asked where the toilets were and as she then knew that we had not been before she took the time to explain everything to us like where all the areas were, that we were allowed to go on the apparatus with the children though we must wear socks or it was a £50 fine that children could go on the older activities if they like it was down to us to decide and that none of the areas were supervised by staff and of course it was our responsibility.
We only came across 3 members of staff after this and to be honest they could have cracked a smile I understand they had been working all day and children can be very loud and irritable but the attitude of some of them was appalling considering they were working around children.
I asked one lady for change of a £2 coin at the canteen so my children could go on the cars and you honestly would have thought I was asking for her to run a mile she sulked to the counter and back with my change.
Another was supervising the cars this is the only area that had a member of staff and he looked really bored and quite agitated with the children but she did leave to take a break five minutes later so maybe it was long overdue.

**Overall **
They also have toddler classes and exercise groups with notices pinned around everywhere as to when they are on but as it is an hour's drive away from us I was not interested in them so did not take much notice to be honest. They also offer parties and have 2 separate rooms for children who are booked in with parties although you do share the whole hall will paying visitors also.

The whole place is set out very well there is lots of room between each area for children to run about. The small bouncy castle and small slide are next to each other as is the bigger slide and bouncy castle.
We went last week and was actually dreading it as it was the Easter holidays but actually it was not too bad at all it was busy but not overly so and there was plenty of room for everyone on the activities.

A lot of parents were moaning there was no staff watching over each area but to be honest even if there was staff doted around I would have been watching my children anyway it is not like we are paying for a babysitting service we pay to use the items they have there so I do not think this is a problem at all.
The whole area is clean light and well laid out and all the equipment in perfect condition for use by young children. There is lots to do and my children really enjoyed it although as it is a hour drive each way to us it is ok for special occasions but not something I would do on a regular basis as we actually have good soft plays around us that are more suited to all of my children's age range but this is a very nice change for older children as a lot of the play areas only have little ones in mind.

It is a great way to tire little one out and I actually was tired out by the end of it as I found myself on many of the activities with my children and at seven months pregnant a bouncy castle is not the best place for m to be so we all slept well that night.