Soft play centre re-opens as new business owners take on challenge

A soft play centre which closed in Stapleford has re-opened after being taken on by new business owners. Mighty Monsters Soft Play Centre, on Halls Road, welcomed its first new customers on Sunday, November 24. The previous iteration of the centre, Little Drivers Soft Play, closed in April after a "variety of contributing factors" led to the owners not believing it feasible to continue.

It looked to be the end - but two local entrepreneurs, Imogen Hopkins and Megan Fletcher, have revived it again. Megan said: "There was a lot of upset people when Little Drivers closed. As soon as we announced we were opening there was a lot of interest in the community.



We just want it to be a safe space for children and parents. "It's been very busy and we didn't realise how big of a job taking on a business would be. But it's worked really well and me and Imogen work really well together.

We feel great and we're proud." Friends Imogen, 33, and Megan, 30, both ran their own businesses before stumbling upon the soft play opportunity. Imogen's was post-natal exercise classes at Little Legs, while Megan's was cake making under her brand, For Goodness Bakes.

The pair, who are both mothers, had taken their own children to Little Drivers before Megan saw on Facebook that it had closed. As budding businesswomen, it was a challenge they thought was right up their street. Megan said: "As soon as I saw it was closing, I messaged Imogen and said: "I'd love to do something like this.

" She said: "Oh my God, you're not doing that without me."" The pair bid for the building's lease but were initially turned down with a competitor chosen to take it on. But when that competitor dropped out at the eleventh hour, Megan and Imogen's new bid was accepted straight away, and they got to work.

While the building's structure and the soft play itself hasn't changed, it's had a whole new paintjob and clean-up to become what it is. The walls are now grey with friendly neon monsters offering youngsters a smiley welcome. Unlike Little Drivers, Mighty Monsters will not be serving hot food.

But unlike most soft play centres, parents are allowed and encouraged to bring their own packed lunches. Megan's cake business, which she used to run from home, will now be run in-house at the centre, with cakes available to buy in-person. And there will be other snacks and drinks available - sausage rolls and scones courtesy of Derby-based independent caterer Not A Pizza, coffee courtesy of local chain 200 Degrees, and fruit.

Mighty Monsters is open seven days per week. That's 9am until 5pm every weekday apart from Thursdays, when it's open until 7pm, 8.30-4pm on Saturdays and 9-3pm on Sundays.

Wednesday mornings, from 9-11am, are for SEN children. The centre can also be hired exclusively for parties after closing time on weekends..