

Discover Durham's favourite role play centre where children aged 0-7 explore a miniature town with shops, stables, and cafes while parents relax with refreshments.
Venue Type
Indoor
Typical visit duration
1-3 hours
Booking
Walk-in
Recommended ages
0 months (newborn) – 7 years
On-site cafe serving hot drinks, cakes, sandwiches and freshly-made snacks
Hours: 09:30-14:30 daily (Monday-Sunday)
I was really disappointed by the cleanliness and general condition of this play cafe. The play mat and surrounding areas looked visibly dirty, with dust, debris and grime built up along the edges and underneath the equipment. There were also areas around the plumbing and fixtures that appeared poorly maintained, with dirt, staining and what looked like corrosion around some fittings. Some of the wall and flooring edges also looked unfinished or in need of repair. For a children’s play cafe, I would expect the play areas, mats, floors and hard-to-reach edges to be cleaned thoroughly and maintained to a much higher standard. These photos unfortunately gave me the impression that cleaning and maintenance had been overlooked. I appreciate that a busy children’s venue will naturally get messy, but there is a difference between normal day-to-day mess and accumulated dirt and poor maintenance. I hope the owners take this feedback seriously, as cleanliness and hygiene should be a top priority in a place where young children are playing. Overall, based on the condition I observed, I wouldn’t feel comfortable recommending this venue until the cleanliness and maintenance issues are addressed.
We had the most incredible experience at Petite Street Playtown and honestly cannot recommend it highly enough. From the moment we arrived, everything felt so thoughtfully put together. The play centre itself is absolutely beautiful & every area is so well kept, colourful, and it really feels like stepping into a tiny world made just for them. What truly made our visit stand out, though, was the staff. Every single member we interacted with was warm, friendly, and genuinely fantastic with the children. A special mention has to go to the gentleman overseeing everything – he was absolutely lovely, incredibly attentive, and made sure everything ran smoothly while still taking the time to engage with families and create such a welcoming atmosphere. It’s rare to find a place where both the environment and the people are so exceptional, but this really has it all. Safe, clean, imaginative, and run by a team who clearly care deeply about what they do. We left with very happy children and will 100% be returning. If you’re considering a visit, don’t hesitate, it’s worth every moment. Highly, highly recommended!
Ideal small play area for young children for general play as well as birthday parties. The staff are very nice. The food for both parties and general café are good and reasonably priced. I attended for my granddaughter 3rd birthday party today and was a great success
We have always used Petite Street Playtown, even before the new management took over (2.5 years of visiting). Previously, under the old management, it was somewhere we would go at the last minute on a lazy Sunday. It was definitely nothing special. However, now with the new management, we try to visit every weekend so our daughter can enjoy some imaginative play and socialise with other toddlers. The new management ensures everything is clean and tidy, with new toys that are rotated regularly. The staff are super friendly, interact wonderfully with the children, and the food has improved by 110%. The new owner encourages you to speak up if there are any problems or concerns, as she wants to continue improving this amazing place even more than she already has. Thank you for being such an incredible place to visit — we love spending our time and money here. P.S. Our daughter gets very excited when we tell her where we’re going, and she absolutely loves playing here!
Fantastic role play play area. Fantastic pretend town with different well sourced areas such as vet, shop, supermarket, fire station etc. Very much like children's programme Bigleton. Plenty of adult seating and lovely cafe. Helpful staff. Visited with 18 month granddaughter who loved it. Highly recommended for younger children. Some lovely organised events take place such as clay modelling, unicorn day, rock pool day all of which add to the enjoyment of the day.
Reviews last updated: 29 September 2026
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This venue was last updated on 29 September 2026
