Mum friends bring Play Nooks and Coffee Nooks to Banham Zoo

A pair of former teachers have set up a children’s play area and a coffee shop just outside the entrance to Banham Zoo.

Play Nooks and Coffee Nooks, set up by friends Stephanie Tipple and Vickie Wretham, opened late last month.

But the idea for the businesses first came to the East Harling pair from meeting on the playground.

“Our children go to Kenninghall School and, after getting to know each other, having many coffees and chats, we wanted to create a play place that we felt was not really out there,” said Mrs Tipple.

“So it started as a whimsical ‘what if?’ thought and then, before we knew it, we got the place at Banham and Play Nooks and Coffee Nooks was created.”

The pair had been running toddler groups before – Mrs Tipple in Banham and Mrs Wretham in East Harling.

“We just loved running them and being that sort of support for parents was amazing,” said Mrs Tipple.

“But we wanted a place where there could be a lot more thoughtful, beautiful resources that children and parents could really enjoy.”

Play Nooks includes a trio of role play areas, a ‘dark den’ which has sensory elements, a cosy section for parents and children, a creative area and a sound kitchen in its garden.

“Our mindset is that it is a calm and nurturing space for children, but also for their parents,” said Mrs Tipple.

“A space where they could find like-minded families and spend quality time with their children without having to find those craft resources at home.”

The site is aimed at babies to seven-year-olds who can be booked in for two hours at a time.

As well as the play area, there is Coffee Nooks for people to get a drink and freshly-baked cakes made by another mum friend of the pair, Holly Barn Bakes in Winfarthing.

Mrs Tipple said: “We have had such lovely feedback for both and it has just been a magical start for us.”

To find out more about Play Nooks and Coffee Nooks, go to playnooks.co.uk.