Role play centre brings playtime to Morpeth via North East Small Loan Fund

Morpeth’s first role play centre for young children has opened its doors with the help of a five-figure investment from the North East Small Loan Fund Supported by The European Regional Development Fund.

Little Morpeth offers a 1,200 sq ft play space which features a number of different themed areas that are loosely based on locations within the town and that are equipped with all the costumes, toys and accessories required for imaginative play.

Located on the town’s Grange Road, the business has been set up by qualified teacher Steffanie Parrott after she decided she wanted to offer new play facilities to local families and realised there were no similar facilities to what she had imagined anywhere further north in Northumberland.

The £18k Small Loan Fund investment, which was obtained through regional fund management firm NEL Fund Managers, has supported the fit out of the new attraction and will also help with recruitment and marketing activity around the launch.

Three new jobs have been created at the new venue, with more expected to follow as it gets fully established, while in the longer term, Steffanie is potentially looking to open similar facilities in other North East locations. Little Morpeth’s ‘mini town’ features locations including a supermarket, fire station, police station, vet practice, a construction site and a nursery.

A baby sensory area has also been created for very young children, along with a reading corner featuring a tepee, and a café area offering a place where parents, carers and grandparents can watch their little ones.

Steffanie Parrott commented: “Little Morpeth offers a safe, fun environment in which children can create their own stories while giving adults somewhere comfortable to relax while they’re watching, and because there are so many different options available, it allows kids of different ages to enjoy themselves in the same space.

“I’m excited to be able to show everyone what’s on offer at Little Morpeth, and if the right locations come up, I’m open to looking at creating more ‘Little towns’ in other places around the region.

“The investment options that NEL provided gave me the flexibility I needed and the process of securing the money was straightforward, quick and easy after sharing my plans and ideas for the business with them.”

Mike Guellard, senior investment executive at NEL Fund Managers, added: “This is a brilliant concept that will appeal to children and parents alike, and we’re very pleased to have helped Steffanie bring her ideas to life.”

By Matthew Neville – Correspondent, Bdaily

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