30th October 2024
Steph from High Weald Marketing weaves tales of toddlerdom into her social media posts, so we thought she'd be the perfect person to pay a visit to TN card partner Kidsbury for us. Here's what she (and Edward!) thought of this exciting new addition to our kids directory...
"I'd heard about Kidsbury from local chat and the social media teasers over the summer (including the TN card's Instagram reel!) and I couldn't wait to take my toddler along to find out more. Edward is 20 months old so at the perfect age for exploring different settings and imaginative play. Kidsbury appealed to me too for several reasons - they are big on sustainability with zero plastic and local businesses being supported in the cafe, and as parents themselves, owners Sean and Tarragon know just how to provide for little ones.
The week before we visited, the phrase of the moment was 'Choo-Choo', so as soon as we went through the gates into Kidsbury Village, Edward was sitting in the Kidsbury Express faster than you could say train! There were plenty of other attractions around the roleplay village, and by the end of our hour and a quarter session, Edward had been a florist, mechanic, musician, supermarket shopper, post office worker, doctor and an ice cream vendor!
As a parent, it was incredibly rewarding to watch Edward explore and try out new toys and settings. The smile on his face whilst playing the piano and realising he could play loudly or quietly was heartwarming! It also gave me an opportunity to watch Daddy and Edward playing together, which I always enjoy.
Staff were on hand to answer questions, and they tidied up before, after and also during the session so children got to enjoy each section as it should be. This was rather necessary with Edward around - they'd have found cars in the doctors, flowers in the workshop and ice cream in the post office!
The changing facilities were clean and tidy, and it was a pleasant surprise to find some spare nappies and wipes underneath the changing table. It is little touches like this that show that Tarragon and Sean 'get it' and care about the whole experience.
The reasonably priced cafe was spacious and had plenty of chairs and highchairs. My top tip here is to put your toddler in one of the highchairs so you can put their socks and shoes back on! It was great to see local businesses on the menu, such as TN card partner Tunbridge Wells Coffee Roastery. We'd have loved to see babyccinos on the menu, as Edward is just starting to enjoy these. And decaf tea too - great for pregnant or breastfeeding mums who don't like decaf coffee!
We had a wonderful time and it was lovely to spot a couple of parents who I'd met during maternity leave, catch up with them and hear stories of how those tiny babies we used to have are now toddlers with lovely characters and enjoying the fun.
Thank you to the TN card and to Sean and Tarragon at Kidsbury for giving us an opportunity to spend time as a family and watching our son explore, play and imagine! Thank you Sean and Tarragon for being part of the TN card family too - we'll be back often to take advantage of our member reward!"
Kidsbury thanks members for supporting local with a free adult ticket (worth £2) when booking online. Find all the info here.
Steph supports fellow small business owners with their social media presence through High Weald Marketing and, as a TN card partner, gives members 10% discount on her services. Find out more here.