Plymouth's empty Drake Circus unit to become awesome new children's indoor play area

General view of Drake Circus
-Credit: (Image: Matt Gilley/PlymouthLive)


A massive new children’s indoor play area is set to open in Plymouth’s Drake Circus Shopping Centre. Bristol-based company Wild Things Play Project will unveil the 5,000sq ft play space, which will contain climbing frames and serve food, in December.

The business has leased the top floor space occupied by the Cafe Curva restaurant until it closed in January 2022. Wild Things said it will turn it into a “vibrant hub for creativity, adventure and community engagement” for children aged up to seven years old.

Wild Things already runs a successful play project at the Cribbs Causeway mall in Bristol. Describing its offer as “soft play reimagined” its immersive indoor play areas use natural materials to “recreate the feel of outdoor play” - but indoors..

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The Plymouth site will feature a range of play structures to encourage children to explore, discover and learn while playing, such as climbing frames, interactive features, sand pits and sensory spaces.

The centre will have an area just for toddlers with a range of play equipment selected to encourage fine motor skill development, language and communication, physical and cognitive development, problem solving and understanding of the world.

There will also be an area for private parties that will host nature-based craft activities. When the space is not being used for parties it will be somewhere children can draw and colour.

The top floor unit which will become home to Wild Things at Plymouth's Drake Circus Shopping Centre -Credit:William Telford
The top floor unit which will become home to Wild Things at Plymouth's Drake Circus Shopping Centre -Credit:William Telford

Wild Things is also installing a new commercial kitchen that will deliver an extensive, new menu containing children’s favourites including freshly-made pizza and pastas, jacket potatoes with a range of fillings, and a range of sandwiches, baguettes and paninis. For adults it will have a range of nourish bowls and salads - and the children’s favourites come in adult portions too.

As well as a lunch and tea menu, Wild Things will be offering breakfast sandwiches and muffins each morning. It will have tables outside the play centre and a takeaway service with sales of barista coffee, artisan teas, cakes and pastries.

A workshop space, separate from the main play area, can be used for craft sessions, kindergarten groups, after-school clubs and children’s parties. It’s also available for private hire for community groups.

Wild Things’ Plymouth site has been designed with the environment in mind, incorporating natural, sustainable materials and practices throughout its construction.

Oliver Stroud, founder of Wild Things Play Project, said: “We are incredibly excited to open our new play site in Plymouth. Our mission is to create spaces where every child feels welcome, safe and inspired to play. We believe this new site will become a cherished destination for families in the community.”

Greg Lumley, centre director at Drake Circus, said: “We’re really looking forward to Wild Things Play Project joining the centre later this year offering children across Plymouth a new space to explore and have fun with friends and family. The opening will be a great addition to the existing child-friendly leisure facilities already available at Drake Circus and we look forward to welcoming families for a fun day out.”

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