Sparkles Adventure Play Ltd

What it’s like

A castle-themed frame with a two-lane slide and a proper ball pool, split into 90-minute sessions so nobody outstays their welcome.

The three-level castle play frame is where the time goes: spider webs to climb, rope bridges to wobble across, a spooky cave for the ones who like a bit of a fright, and boulder balls to lob about. The two-lane astra slide is the bit worth saving until last, because once they've found it you won't get them back on the frame for anything else. There's a separate baby area too, so a crawling one and a climbing seven-year-old can both be occupied without either getting under the other's feet.

Sessions run 90 minutes and last entry is 90 minutes before closing, which is fair warning that this isn't a place to turn up in the last half hour. Prices step up by age and by day: a four to ten-year-old is £5.50 on a weekday in term time but £6 at weekends and in the holidays, and the under-ones are cheapest at £3.50 midweek. Booking's required, and there's no online system, so it's a phone call to sort your slot rather than a few taps on your phone, which feels a bit old-fashioned but at least you get a human on the other end.

Parking needs a moment's thought. The front car park is Lidl's and capped at 90 minutes, which matches a session neatly if you're quick out the door, but the free precinct car park round the back gives you a full 18 hours if you fancy lunch after. There's a café on site and wifi if you need to catch up on emails while they're on the ball pool.

Birthday parties get their own room, with packages starting at £126 for an hour and a quarter of play plus food and drinks, and exclusive hire if you want the whole place to yourselves.

Facilities

Need to know

Best for

Babies to age 10, with the slide the big draw for over-fours

Last entry

90 minutes before closing

Booking

No online booking system. Call 0161 628 5530 for information and booking

Parking

Front car park (Lidl-operated, limited to 90 minutes) or free precinct car park to rear (free for 18 hours)

Parties

Multiple party packages from £126 for 1 hour 15 minutes play plus party room, food and drinks

• No online booking, you'll need to call to reserve a slot
• Weekend and school holiday prices are a pound or two higher than weekday term time
• The Lidl car park out front only gives you 90 minutes, matching a session exactly
• The precinct car park round the back is free for 18 hours if you're staying longer
• Wifi's available if you want to get some emails done from the café

Plan your visit

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