New attractions, reduced capacity and more cleaning: Popular Northampton soft play prepares for future

Staff at the attraction have been working hard to make sure the centre is ready to open once is has the green light to do so
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

A soft play centre in Northampton has been working hard during its closure to make sure it comes back ‘safer and better’.

Riverside Hub, in Carousel Way, is usually a popular place for children with its various play equipment areas and attractions.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, the centre has been closed for more than three months due to the coronavirus pandemic and still has not been told when it will be allowed to reopen.

Riverside Hub hopes to back better than ever.Riverside Hub hopes to back better than ever.
Riverside Hub hopes to back better than ever.

Despite the uncertainty, bosses at the centre are hoping they could reopen by the end of the month, so are preparing accordingly, including implementing new measures and preparing exciting new features.

Ellis Potter, head of health, safety, hygiene and happiness, at Riverside Hub, said: “We’ve been putting in a lot of hard work, we’re going well above and beyond what the Government is suggesting.

“We’ve taken this opportunity while we have been closed for months to enable us to improve what we do.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We have implemented a lot of safety and hygiene measures and we’ve created new play areas.

The new hotel role play feature is still under development.The new hotel role play feature is still under development.
The new hotel role play feature is still under development.

“We don’t just want to open up safely, we want to open up better too.

“The most important thing is safety, but after that it still needs to be fun.”

As part of the improvements, the play centre has added a ‘Hub Towers’ hotel and a garage for role play, as well as an infinity mirror room, a magic crystal tree and sensory rooms.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The play centre is looking forward to being allowed to welcome parents and children back, but also wants to reassure them about the safety measures.

There will also be a garage for children to play in.There will also be a garage for children to play in.
There will also be a garage for children to play in.

New safety features include an online booking system so entry to the building is quicker, reduced capacity down to 25 percent, a time slot of two and a half hours, an air purifying system, PPE for staff, constant cleaning, hand sanitising particularly on go-karts and laser tag, removed tables to enable social distancing and ‘safe playing’ to encourage children to stay a floor pad away from each other.

The centre is also debating the use of temperature checks for staff and customers.

Ellis added: “For those who visited in February half term when we were very busy, it will not be like that when we reopen. We will have a lot fewer visitors.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“A lot of people will find it better than before. It will be a lot less busy, so children will get more turns on things.

The centre has added an infinity mirror room.The centre has added an infinity mirror room.
The centre has added an infinity mirror room.

“We do not want people to visit if they are uncomfortable about the idea. Everyone has their own opinions on this so they should visit when it is right for them, but we will be safer and cleaner than we’ve ever been.

“Nobody is putting more measures in place than we are.

“It could be a long, slow road back and everyone has to be in a good mood if people are going to enjoy themselves, but it’s nice for children to do something fun and exciting. It’s been a tough time for all.”

More information will be released once Riverside Hub knows when it is allowed to open.

Message from the editor:

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

The magic crystal tree will be a hit with children.The magic crystal tree will be a hit with children.
The magic crystal tree will be a hit with children.

In order for us to continue to provide trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you