2 weeks Ago
Little Beans Cafe and the adjoining soft-play area Totsville, in Durham Road, Wickford, has been placed on the market by owner Sarah Walby as she starts the search for a new owner. She is hoping to find someone keen to continue using the businesses in its current form. Sarah owns the business alongside her partner Kevin and they also run the Escape Basildon escape room in Basildon town centre and the Stay and Play soft play centre in Wickford.
While thankful for the 18 months of trade at the spot, Sarah feels the strain of juggling her other businesses alongside a need to spend more time with her family has led her to making the decision. She said: “I have other businesses and other family commitments and then I don’t have the time, we have reduced the opening hours. “We thank everyone for their custom and we really hope someone comes forward to take it over, we love it with all our heart.
“We spent a lot of money on it, £120,000 went into it and we are hoping someone comes in and takes it and grows the business. “There is not much we can do but we would love to see it thrive and we have had the business for 18 months, it is all brand new stuff and we took it on in May 2023 but the play area didn’t open until August 2023. “I don’t have the time anymore, I have two new grandchildren since opening.
” Sarah added that Stay and Play is around 20 times the size of Totsville and holds around 100 children. She said: “There was nothing like it in Wickford and we said we will open a smaller version of Stay and Play to get it open and running, for me it is a love of the business, you must be in there growing it and be hands-on.” The business has been listed on the market with a guide price of £35,000.
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