Dream Big Nursery
BEST FOR
Ages 0-8
ENTRY
from £6.95
SETTING
Outdoors
WHERE
Chester-le-Street
What it’s like
Six role play sets, a chicken coop and a mud kitchen give small kids a proper morning of pretend and outdoor mess.
There's a lot to get through here. Inside, six role play areas let kids run a supermarket, a builders yard, a vets, a beauty salon, a café and even a jail, which is a funny one to explain to grandparents. Babies get their own soft playroom, and there's a sensory snug you can hire on top if you want that bit to yourselves.
Outside is where the morning tends to disappear though. Ride-on toys, sandpits, water play, a mud kitchen, a pirate ship and climbing walls, plus a vegetable patch the kids can help water and harvest. Feeding the home-bred chickens is the detail most kids will still be talking about at teatime.
Entry for 1 to 8 year olds is £6.95, with separate sensory and messy play sessions for under-ones running £7 to £9 depending on the theme. Booking online is recommended, especially at peak or rainy times, and if a session's already started you're best ringing ahead to check there's room. The homemade café covers hot drinks from £1.10, toasted sandwiches and jacket potatoes from £3.25, and cakes, with vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan options if that matters to you.
Parties are a private 2-hour hire on weekends, either the 10 to 12, 12:30 to 2:30 or Saturday 3 to 5 slot, starting at £125 for 10 to 20 children before you add catering and extras. Given it's exclusive hire rather than a shared soft play slot, that price feels fair once you weigh up not sharing the pirate ship with strangers' kids.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 0 to 8, with babies getting their own sessions and space
- Booking
- Online booking recommended, especially in peak or rainy times
- Food
- Homemade café with hot drinks (tea, coffee, hot chocolate from £1.10-£3.00), snacks (beans on toast, scones, sausage rolls £1.70-£3.75)
- Parties
- Exclusive 2-hour weekend sessions (10-12 or 12:30-2:30, Sat 3-5), £125 minimum for 10-20 children
- Ring ahead if a session's already started, they may still fit you in
- The jail role play area gets mentioned a lot, kids seem to find it funnier than expected
- Feeding the chickens and harvesting the vegetable patch are hands-on, not just watching
- Party hire is exclusive use, so it's just your group for the whole 2 hours
- Under-ones have their own themed sessions rather than joining the general 1-8 activities
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£6.95 covers the 1 to 8 year activities. Baby sensory and messy play sessions run £7 to £9 depending on which themed one it is.
Do we need to book?
Booking online is recommended, particularly at busy or rainy times. If a session's already underway, ring to check whether there's space.
Is it any good for a baby under one?
There's a dedicated baby soft playroom plus themed sensory and messy play classes for 0 to 12 months, and breastfeeding support is available at the baby social.
What can the older kids actually do?
Six role play areas including a supermarket, vets and beauty salon indoors, then a mud kitchen, pirate ship, climbing walls and a chicken coop outside.
What's the food like?
A homemade café with hot drinks from £1.10, snacks like beans on toast and sausage rolls, toasted sandwiches and jacket potatoes from £3.25, soup and homemade cakes. Vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan options are all on the menu.
Can you book it for a birthday party?
Yes, as an exclusive 2-hour weekend hire in one of three slots, starting at £125 for 10 to 20 children. Catering and extras get added once you've booked.
Is there anywhere for breastfeeding?
The venue is breastfeeding friendly and there's support available at the baby social sessions.
Is there outdoor play if it's raining?
The outdoor area covers ride-on toys, sandpits, water play, swings and slides, so a wet day is exactly when the site suggests booking ahead as it gets busier indoors.
What's the sensory snug?
It's a separate space you hire on top of general entry, aimed at babies who want a quieter sensory session away from the main play areas.
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