'The fun café where kids can play...'
Bebéccino Café, Newport, Isle of Wight
(Written April 2017)
Before I became a parent, I had this strange idea that babies kind of 'fitted in' with whatever you were doing in life...
20 months later (where we now have 'two under two,') that preconceived idea is somewhat laughable!
Now I have this inner-parent-voice that goes on in my head when we want to go out somewhere and do something simple, like, you know, go to town...or go for a coffee....
The inner-parent-voice says things like this:
- but where will I feed them?
- what will they eat from there?
- will there be highchairs?
- what about changing?
- what if they get fidgety?
- will other people mind?
- will there be space for my wagon (aka double pushchair?)
- and onnnn it goes....
Well.... if you want somewhere to ease all of these genuine-but-slightly-stir-crazy-parent-thoughts, I can really recommend Bebéccino.
If you're not familiar with Bebéccino , it is a fun cafe where kids can play and you can (for once) drink your cuppa hot!
On our most recent visit, we were greeted with a friendly face as we signed in, and then tot practically disappeared once she spotted the ball pit- a new addition to the café since our last visit! I had to scoop her out (cue a very minor tantrum- a 3 out of 10?) as I wanted us to do lunch first!
I must say how pleased I was to see such a sensibly priced menu- you can't go wrong with adult sarnies priced at around £3.50! I actually opted for a piece of cake on our most recent visit...I am a woman of curiosity and the cake on offer that day was beetroot flavoured... how could I not give it a go?! It was - honestly- delicious (yup, I'd nibbled the end off before I took the pic- couldn't wait!)
After food, tot was released from the highchair into toddler freeeeedom! She did launch herself head first back into the ball pit, at which point I prayed the Pom Bears and Pears wouldn't make a reappearance....! That said, I got the impression that if that scenario ever did play out, I wouldn't completely melt into embarrassment because Bebéccino staff seemed very understanding (they've probably seen a few sticky situations, right?!) We had a lovely chat with the owner, Rebecca, who clearly 'gets it' and wants Bebéccino to be a place to help us parents out!
Also with a newborn, it's a Godsend to go out to a café with some sofas!! I find it so much easier to feed when I can use the arm rests for support! That said, I felt so relaxed in the café by this point that, as tot had vanished into the toy castle, I actually got up and walked around feeding to watch her in her element! This 'moving around' method of feeding is usually only 'mastered' at home- but I felt so chilled, and if anything, it seemed in-keeping with the ethos of Bebéccino to be just 'as you are.' In my opinion, the cafe's not trying to be glamorous or swanky: it's being what we need, which is: practical, comfortable and 'it's ok' if your child 'accidentally' slings a cheese stick across the room...
As well as a train set; Duplo table; baby bouncers; arty area; giant chalk board and a cute reading corner (phewf!) there's also a spot of soft play. At the moment it's a small area, but it catered for my small-legged climber perfectly! I've often found with larger soft play areas that I end up with 'parent-panic' again (stampede-style scenes from watching too much Lion King as a child!) so I was grateful this wasn't the case.
Finally, I noticed handy resources, baby-related 'literature,' and a timetable for things going on at the café. I must keep my eye out for these 'things,' now that I'm getting into the swing of a maternity leave which involves leaving the house with two small people (MISSION!)
Overall, we had SUCH a lovely and easy afternoon! It's basically nice to go somewhere where the kids can be 'kids.' (Talking of which, I did chuckle at the imagination of one little boy, who emerged from the 'castle' dressed as a 'half-King-half-crocodile-sort-of-thing.' He came up to me- proud as punch- pointing at his nose declaring, "My nose! Nose!" before toddling off! Brilliant!)
If you've not been before, or not been for a while, I'd recommend you drop on down! You can follow Bebéccino by clicking here and find out more...!
Piece of cake aside, I'd like to applaud the menu for the kids... On the kids' menu was a selection of finger foods and for £2.50 you could pick 5 options! I opted for some of tot's staple favourites; but there was a good range of other bits too, or a sandwich deal instead.
Our tot is a big eater, and even this was a good sized portion for her!
