Opening a soft play area is one of the most popular ways to grow a family business, whether that's a full soft play centre, a play café, a corner of a coffee shop or a kids' zone in a pub, hotel or garden centre. Parents will travel and stay longer for somewhere their children can play safely. This guide covers how to plan the space, what equipment you need, the safety and paperwork to sort out, and how to keep costs under control.
Step 1: Decide what kind of soft play you're opening
The right equipment, budget and paperwork depend on the type of space. Most new soft play businesses fall into one of four groups:
- Play café: a café where the play area is the main attraction. Usually aimed at babies and under-5s, with parents sitting nearby.
- Soft play corner: a smaller play area inside an existing coffee shop, pub, restaurant, garden centre or hotel, there to keep families staying longer.
- Dedicated soft play centre: a larger venue with fixed multi-level play frames, often for children up to 10 or 12.
- Soft play hire: no venue at all. You take the equipment to parties and events. See our guide to starting a soft play hire business.
Most people starting out choose a play café or a soft play corner. They cost far less than a full centre, use loose foam soft play rather than fixed frames, and can open in an existing building.
Step 2: Plan your space by age group
The best soft play areas separate children by age so babies aren't knocked over by bigger toddlers. A simple layout works for most venues:
- Baby zone (0 to 12 months): soft play mats, a low ball pit and gentle sensory pieces.
- Toddler zone (1 to 3 years): step and slide sets, tunnels, rockers and a bigger ball pit.
- Preschool zone (3 to 5 years): foam block and castle sets, bridge sets and pieces they can build with.
Keep the play area in clear view of the seating, leave plenty of space around each piece, and keep fire exits and walkways clear. Put soft play matting under everything children can climb on or slide off. For more layout ideas, read how to create the perfect soft play area for your venue.
Step 3: Choose commercial soft play equipment
Commercial soft play gets far more use than anything at home, so choose equipment built for it:
- Wipe-clean covers such as eco leather or PU, which can be cleaned between sessions.
- High-density foam that holds its shape after thousands of climbs.
- Modular pieces you can rearrange to keep regular visitors interested.
- Neutral or pastel colours that suit your interior and look good in photos parents share.
The easiest way to start is with a complete set. Our Soft Play Party Set (£1,360) gives you climbing blocks, a step and slide, a tunnel, a rocker and a ball pit with 500 balls in one order. For a bigger centrepiece, the Mega Castle Soft Play Set (£2,400) adds ramps, tunnels, slides and climbing blocks. Smaller venues often start with an indoor play area bundle and add pieces over time.
Step 4: Safety, insurance and paperwork
Every venue is different, so check the details with your insurer and local council. The main things to sort out are:
- Public liability insurance that specifically covers a children's play area. Ask your insurer what standards they expect your equipment to meet.
- Equipment standards: loose foam soft play is usually tested as toys under EN 71. Large fixed play frames come under the BS EN 1176 playground standards and normally need professional installation and inspection.
- A written risk assessment for the play area, reviewed regularly.
- Food business registration with your local council if you serve food or drink. Register at least 28 days before you start trading.
- Play area rules on display: age limits, socks on, no food in the play area, and children supervised by an adult.
- Cleaning and inspection logs, so you can show what was checked and when.
Our soft play safety buying guide explains what to look for in foam equipment.
Step 5: Set up a cleaning routine
Parents notice a clean play area straight away, and a dirty one even faster. Most venues work to a simple routine:
- Between sessions: a quick wipe of high-touch surfaces and a check for damage.
- Daily: wipe down every piece with a child-safe antibacterial cleaner and tidy the ball pit.
- Weekly: wash ball pit balls and any removable covers.
Keeping a spare set of balls, such as our 500 pack of ball pit balls, means one set can dry while the other is in use. See our full guide to cleaning foam soft play equipment.
Step 6: Keep start-up costs under control
A full soft play centre with fixed frames is a big investment, but a play café or soft play corner can start much smaller. A few ways to keep costs down:
- Start with loose foam soft play rather than fixed frames. It needs no installation and you can take it with you if you move.
- Open with one complete set, then add pieces as you see what children use most.
- Use the equipment twice: many venues also offer soft play hire for parties on quieter days.
- Charge for sessions, even a small entry fee per child, alongside food and drink.
Where to buy soft play equipment in the UK
When you compare soft play suppliers, look for clear information about materials and safety testing, wipe-clean commercial-grade covers, and delivery included in the price. At Children's Soft Play UK, every order comes with free UK delivery. Browse our soft play sets, read about soft play for play cafés and coffee shops, or contact us to talk through your space.
Opening a soft play centre: FAQs
How much space do you need for a soft play area?
A soft play corner in a café can work in a few square metres. A play café usually needs a dedicated room, with separate zones for babies and toddlers and enough space around each piece for children to move safely.
Do I need insurance to open a soft play area?
Yes. You need public liability insurance that covers a children's play area. Check with your insurer what equipment standards and inspections they require.
What equipment do I need for a play café?
Most play cafés start with soft play mats, a ball pit, a step and slide set, tunnels, rockers and a foam block set, arranged into baby and toddler zones. A complete set such as our Soft Play Party Set covers most of this in one order.
Is home soft play suitable for commercial use?
Choose equipment with wipe-clean covers and high-density foam designed for heavy use. Soft fabric pieces such as bouclé or velvet are lovely at home but harder to keep clean in a busy venue.
Do I need to register my play café with the council?
If you serve food or drink, you need to register as a food business with your local council at least 28 days before you open.