A DESPAIRING mum fed up with a lack of decent rainy day activities for children in Bournemouth has cornered the market with a special café.

Harriet Secker, 39, says ‘horrible’ experiences at children’s play areas with her young son inspired her to set up The Good Play Café in Southbourne last month.

She spent £200,000 renovating rundown Victorian shops in Seabourne Road into a welcoming café, selling homemade food, and installed a four-metre-high play frame.

Harriet, of Holdenhurst Road, said: “There’s basically nowhere to take young children in Bourne-mouth when it’s raining.

“I wanted somewhere safe and secure that parents could enjoy as well.

“It’s as important for the parents to have fun like the kids.”

She bought the premises in October and then enlisted the help of business partner Emily Marshall, an accountant and whizz in the kitchen.

A team of eight make all the food for the café, which Harriet was keen to furnish without the plastic that dominates other venues.

Staff members are already on first name terms with many customers and the café already has a ‘community feel’, Harriet says.

“Young mums meeting up locally have become friends because their children play together at the café,” she said.

“Some people do not see any other adults in the day so it’s a good way to meet people.

“It felt needed in the area, and I think it’s put a new feel in the area, a new impetus to start bringing it up to scratch.”

Business is booming, with many party bookings, and there are plans afoot to transform the basement into an ‘underwater garden’ for events, she added.

From 3pm, under-eights are allowed to use the play equipment. An extra £1 buys a ‘school meal deal’, including a nutritious dinner. Baby yoga and ballet instructors and NCT groups are interested in using the café.

Visit thegoodplaycafe.co.uk for details.