If you wish to open a restaurant, it is essential to consider the potential presence of young children in that space. It is well-known that every child is full of energy, and their expressions of it can often test the patience of other customers.
Even though such age-appropriate behavior is entirely healthy, running around tables or children's voices can cause discomfort for those who visit your establishment. Therefore, make sure that in the planning phase, you include solutions for a designated space for children.
Opening a child-friendly restaurant is an incredibly inspired idea because you enter a market with a HoReCa location that offers more possibilities for families with at least one young child to relax, thereby creating an excellent image capital.
In the latter part of today's article, we will also develop a series of ideas regarding the most suitable solutions for setting up such a space. So, we invite you to stay with us until the end.
1. Opening a restaurant: The importance of a playground
Make sure to allocate sufficient space for an indoor or outdoor playground, so that children can have fun in an organized setting under the careful supervision of their parents. Here's why this area of the restaurant is so important:
1.1. Provide a dedicated space for children
Properly enclosing the play area for children establishes a well-defined perimeter within the restaurant space, dedicated 100% to activities that attract kids. This creates a deliberate separation of indoor or outdoor areas, ensuring that everyone can enjoy their time at the venue, from young to old.
Highlighted by visible directional markings placed even at the restaurant's entrance, this area can be easily accessed and used by children under the attentive supervision of a parent or a team member (if the HR budget allows for such a position in the organizational chart).
1.2. Avoid unpleasant discussions among customers
Setting up a playground in the restaurant is the best way to communicate the venue's policy to certain customers: parents must direct their children to the specially designated area so that their playtime doesn't disturb other patrons.
The dining area is a public space that should be enjoyed equally by everyone present in the restaurant. The fact that a family includes young children does not automatically grant them the privilege to use the area as an unconventional playground.
1.3. Create a positive perception of the venue
Such a play area will quickly gain a well-deserved reputation locally because it conveys a clear message of catering to important customer needs. Moreover, it can attract families with young children from the very beginning, as they may have experienced the lack of such a space in other restaurants.
Opening a restaurant that includes such a zone can mean for parents: the assurance that their little ones play in a safe environment, the opportunity for a well-deserved moment of relaxation, and the pleasure of seeing their children play freely while adults enjoy a relaxing conversation in the company of friends. Therefore, the positive image capital generated by this project should not be overlooked.
2. Rules for setting up a playground in a restaurant
To ensure that the playground provides the benefits mentioned above right from the restaurant's opening, it is essential to consider the following tips for its setup:
Whether it's an outdoor or indoor playground, it must comply with safety and quality standards required by legislation. In this regard, our experts can provide you with all the support you need, both in gathering the necessary documentation for obtaining permits and in the actual setup of the area.
Utilize the available space as efficiently as possible, taking into account the budget for the project, available space, level of usage, specific materials, lighting, access paths, and transit areas.
The children's play area in a HoReCa venue should be highly visible, allowing parents to supervise their children's activities. It is recommended that children are not left unsupervised while playing to avoid any unwanted incidents as much as possible.
If the budget allows, you can hire a designated person to monitor the children in the area, who can also act as an entertainer during special events for kids on special occasions.
Lastly, it is advisable to ensure excellent sound insulation throughout the area. This way, children can play freely without disturbing the customers dining at the tables.
Our ideal products for such a space
Depending on the criteria you consider essential for setting up such a space, you can find a variety of solutions in the Waterboyz online catalog. Here are some suggestions:
● Outdoor playground safety surfacing - opt for materials such as artificial grass or tartan, as they are soft and effectively cushion potential falls. Additionally, they provide a uniform and aesthetic appearance.
● Trampolines - explore our wide range of trampolines and choose the most suitable solutions for your available space. Children's fun reaches new heights when you include interactive trampolines with electronic systems, bungee trampolines, in-ground trampolines, or trampolines with foam padding in the restaurant's play area.
● Outdoor playgrounds - if space permits, Waterboyz can help you create a complete play area within the restaurant dedicated to children's entertainment. Check out the latest outdoor playgrounds in our offer and make an inspired choice.
● Swings - among the most commonly used elements in a playground, swings are safe, easy to handle, very entertaining, and can be used at a pace suitable for young children. Their ergonomic design is essential in a limited space.
● Slides - these elements are a must in a space dedicated to the beautiful moments of childhood. Our offer includes slides of various shapes, colors, and sizes, all made to the highest quality standards.
● Toddler equipment - dedicated to the youngest children, the products in this category allow you to set up an area within the play space equipped in a manner suitable for this age group.
● Seasaws - available in different shapes and colors, they can be installed on various surfaces, following the manufacturer's recommendations. They provide a dynamic play style, ideal for the most energetic little ones.
Find out more about the rental service we now offer if you want to organize a series of events dedicated to children in your restaurant.
From Waterboyz, you can rent inflatable slides, ball pits, inflatable castles, Ecological Synthetic Ice Rink, and many other solutions for a successful event. You will receive technical support throughout the party, ensuring that all the children enjoy the charm of the rented solutions.
Errors regarding the opening of a child-friendly restaurant:
When embarking on a project to open a restaurant that includes an area for children's entertainment, it is crucial to avoid certain mistakes, such as:
● Creating a space without considering safety regulations for the materials used;
● Lack of an organized plan based on the available surface area for this designated area;
● Integrating the play zone within the dining area for adults;
● Ignoring the fact that a playground should adhere to the overall decor aesthetics;
● Blocking visual contact to the space where children play.
To ensure that all these planning errors can be effortlessly avoided, feel free to seek our advice anytime. We can provide you with an experienced team capable of designing spaces for children's play, both indoor and outdoor, tailored to your project.
With our assistance, such an area can be aesthetically pleasing while offering the practicality that any parent desires once they step into your restaurant with their child.
Opening a restaurant with facilities for children's entertainment presents a genuine challenge for any HoReCa operator. However, the benefits of such a space can positively influence your customers' perception of the services you provide.
Therefore, setting up a play area for children within your restaurant is a straightforward initiative, especially if you take into account the resources at your disposal. We are always here to support you with top-notch products and a team of professionals, so your ideas can quickly take shape. Contact us now for more details!