Newark Town Council agrees to explore idea for toddlers’ soft play in town hall

Keen to open up the town’s ballroom to more visitors, councillors have agreed to investigate running soft play sessions for toddlers at the venue.

Proposals to spend around £3,000 on soft play equipment, for use in the ballroom at specialist children’s events, were put before Newark town councillors on March 12.

Kirsty Edwards, hospitality and events sales manager, explained the equipment could be set out and packed up by staff, and the sessions would be supervised by parents with a DBS checked member of town hall staff present.

It was suggested entry would be priced at £2.50 per child per session, with sessions for up to 50 children aged under six at each time.

She added: “The idea is to bring them in when there’s nothing else going on — such as in the school holidays.”

Matthew Skinner spoke in favour of using the space and “investing money to make money” and bringing more people into the ballroom as it is an “unknown, beautiful, piece of Newark”.

Matthew Spoors said the entry cost seemed “quite a lot” and suggested it may be better used as an opportunity to attract more people into town as part of other attractions.

David Moore also echoed this, and added that the beach is free and money could be recouped through sale of refreshments instead.

He added: “The ballroom is the best kept secret in Newark. The more people we get in here the better… but part of me cringes with the amount of money we’ve spent repainting the place.”

However the £2.50 cost is “a lot cheaper” than other play venues, Paul Taylor said, highlighting that the proposal aimed to raise income for the council when the ballroom would otherwise be empty.

Jack Kellas raised concerns about a lack of market research for the proposals — noting that similar play businesses had “not survived” in the town. He also raised concerns about what would happen in the case of emergencies with 50 children in the building, and also about how bookings would be managed if a more profitable last-minute conference booking was received.

Clerk Matthew Gleadell said it would have to be thought about vey carefully, while deputy clerk Anna Lawson added it would be used predominantly during traditionally quieter periods for conference bookings, such as the start of the week.

It was also voiced that the sessions could be combined with access to parent support services and advice in the neighbouring council chamber.

Councillors agreed for the idea to be further investigated and brought back for decision.