Being a kid is great; adults can only dream of playing with such abandon again. Now our little ones’ childhoods are only about to get 10x better, with the opening of a new all-weather adventure playground this March. We are so jealous. Hockerhill Adventure Playbarn has opened in Staffordshire less than an hour from Birmingham.
Designed to “challenge, entertain and inspire”, it will be full of swings, slides, towers, bridges, walkways and tunnels to clamber over and explore. At the centre of the Adventure Playbarn, sits an awe-inspiring mock Royal Oak tree which kids climb. Elsewhere, it looks like there will be pedal go-karts, a climbing wall, a racing zipline, ‘sensory dens’, see-saws and more.
Situated on the Chillington Estate – where King Charles II famously his inside of an oak tree from Oliver Cromwell for two days – Hockerhill Adventure Playbarn is the project of the Giffard family. Not only as somewhere that challenged and entertained children but somewhere that gave adults a place to pause.
Tessa has a background in child psychology and catering. Meanwhile, Charlie manages the estate and is working to preserve its history and beauty while adapting it to the present-day climate. As such, the play equipment is all made from sustainably sourced wood, and is designed for “active learning”.
As the kids play, adults can kick back and relax in the cafe area. Tuck into artisanal sour-dough pizzas or freshly pressed juices and blended vegetable smoothies – they’ll also serve wines, beers and coffees (with an age-inclusive marshmallow policy). Much of the produce will come from the playbarn’s kitchen garden too.
Hockerhill Adventure Playbarn is open 9am to 5.50pm, Monday to Friday; 9am to 4pm, Saturday and Bank Holidays; and 10am to 4pm, Sunday. To learn more about the adventure playground opening in March head here.