Clean, bright play area (Runaround Play Centre (Sheffield))

Member Name: masterchef98

Product:	Runaround Play Centre (Sheffield)
Date:	11/10/09 (42 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Clean, reasonably priced food and drink, free for babies

Disadvantages: Expensive once they turn one

I discovered Runaround when browsing the internet in frustration trying to find something to do with a 9 month old who just wanted to crawl round the front room and chew wires.

Its not clearly advertised on their website but there is free entry for babies under 12 months, although after their first birthday it is full price. Hence why we haven't been since he was 1 (he's now 14 months) as I just don't think he's going to get £3 or £4 worth of enjoyment out of it. This seems to be typical of soft play centres but I do think it would be better to have a more tiered pricing system.

The play centre is large, bright and spacious and not the dingy, claustrophobic warehouse feeling that I expected. The coffee is reasonably priced and nice, the food seemed OK but I didn't have any. The toddler area is safe and self-contained so I was happy for my son to explore with me keeping only half an eye on him. It is thoroughly padded and full of squashy shapes and balls, with a small climbing frame and slide in one corner, a ball blower which my son found fascinating and an interactive games screen. There is also an opening into a small Cosy Coupe track which has a hard floor and is the only place a baby could hurt themselves so of course my son headed straight for it!

As I don't have older children I can't assess the rest of the play area but it looked good.

Summary: A nice play centre which I'll be happy to return to when my son is a bit older