Fun Shack — Attraction in Great Britain

This is one of the best play areas I've ever taken my nephew to, and he absolutely loved it!

People grumbling about the price don't seem to get that it's absolutely huge inside and unparalleled for the scale. I'm not knocking other places, but Fun Shack at Portrack offers much more to enjoy, explore and is more challenging than most of the other local play centres.

I was stunned by how large the play areas are. They're complex, with plenty to do and enjoy.

There are additional charges for things like the Whack A Mole, bumper cars and grabber machines, which is fine.

Their summer holiday offer of £55, which covers almost the entire summer holiday period, is an absolute bargain.

They have a dedicated area for under 5s.

The menu pricing was very fair I thought. Usually some places with cheaper admissions make more money through their food and drinks sales. We didn't get a chance to try the food (I'll get into that later), but it seemed fairly priced.

Whilst it was just a standard coffee machine, it was nicer coffee than anywhere else I've tried.

The staff were friendly and pleasant.

It's very clean and well maintained.

There are a few negative points.

The parking is not ideal. They can't help this though, it's beyond their control. The disability bays are awkward as they run horizontally alongside the building, meaning that if you park inside the lines, it's incredibly difficult to get out of the side running along the wall.

The staff, whilst pleasant and friendly, were unable to answer basic questions. I got the feeling that this was a summer job for many of them and they either hadn't been given full training or were not interested in the business.

They didn't know whether their coffee syrups were sugar free or if they even had any. I consider that pretty basic if you're working in the café.

I asked whether or not a child could have their ninety minute play session and then whether we could buy food and keep the child out of the play area and eat. I was given a very vague response that they didn't think so and that we 'might' have to buy and eat the food during the play session.

I'm sorry but the admission is good value for money, but if you're telling me that you have to take time away from the ninety minute play session to eat food that you're also paying for (some children eat slowly, especially if they have additional needs), then it quickly becomes a rip off. You're just cutting your nose off to spite your face!

We would have stayed and spent £40-50 on food and drinks, if we could eat after the play session. My nephew can take 45-60 minutes to eat a meal.

Instead we went somewhere else to eat and Fun Shack lost out.

I don't personally see the problem. You have multiple seating areas, with colour coding. If you had said that people could stay and eat (and about 70% of the tables were free) if they used the tables of a certain colour, or a table directly in front of the café, it's not difficult to keep track of who is allowed in the soft play, but I don't think most people would be dishonest. If they knew their time was up, most people wouldn't send their kids back in. You could also have a signage system where tables that were only eating food (and after a play session), had a little block with a vertical laminated sheet, showing they were just there for food.

As it was, both me and my sister were hungry (£2 admission each), so we would have bought three meals and drinks - but not at the expense of having to use half of my nephew's play time.

This has rubbed me up the wrong way as you might be able to tell. Why throw away the business? The food will no doubt have a considerable mark up to ensure a profit, so I don't get the need to be awkward about it. So we got food elsewhere. Might have used the coin machines after the food too, so I think you're missing a trick there.

Travelled from Hartlepool, so unlikely to visit again if food can't be purchased separately.

If you're going purely for the play area, it's a great experience for the kids and great value, less so for...

Was here for my friends child’s first birthday party, on arrival was a pleasant welcome by a member of staff but that’s all I can say was pleasant. Number of issues and the reasons for the 1 star. Went to change my son in the changing room and it was just absolutely disgusting. The smell was vile, the changing mat and unit were absolutely filthy, I was resulted in changing him outside in the car. Took my 1 year old into the ball pit that’s there for 0-4 years old to have older kids in and pushing toddlers out the way, one kid said “you better move or I am going to stamp on his head” now I know this is down to the parent that should be looking after their child but he was clearly older than 4 and no parent there to supervise him, this should be down to the place making sure older kids stayed out of this part especially when they were unaccompanied by an adult. I went to go for a coffee, looked like there were 2 lines one with kids that were getting soft drinks and another for hot drinks. I was in the queue 3 little kids were in front and looked like they were being served. I went round to the hot drinks part and asked for a coffee, I was rudely spoken to and was told to “Get back in queue”, by the time being told this there were 10 plus people back in queue which meant I was right at the back after already waiting, so give up on ordering anything, disgusted by the attitude of the staff, I know they’re dealing with a lot of kids and parties but there’s no need. Also when the kids were eating their food, it was a military operation, felt rushed and had to vacate the room quickly as there was another party coming, now again we understand there’s other parties but to feel like this and the way the evening went I would definitely not return or even recommend. Some training some of the staff in how to talk to customers would be helpful. Making sure the changing room was clean, again I understand each parent should clean after their child but the dirt around the mat and under it wasn’t fresh and obviously a place that gets...

So we decided to go here for my son's birthday. I checked the website shuts at half 6 up to 2 hours play great let's go. Arrived their just before half 4 I wasn't treated with a warm welcome it was how many kids sign the form theirs a purple bag of u go. Wow ok so followed instructions and we went in. I decided to get a cup of tea two younger members of staff their one saying to me to go on the website and leave her fellow colleague a bad review whilst laughing and giggling with each other. I got my tea thinking how strange and went and sat down. Half past 5 comes and a voice shouts over were closing in 15 minutes can people please pack up. What it's half 5. I told my kids to carry on playing and grabbed another younger member of staff. I asked her what time they close she said I don't know I'll get some one for you . I then see her carry on doing jobs like what I asked didn't matter. I see another member of staff the same one who I met coming in. I asked her why we had to leave when the kids should have more time to play and you don't shut untill half 6 . She told me I had a purple bag and it was time. I then said well that's not what it says on the website. I then said had you have told me when I entered you were closing I wouldn't have paid you £16 she then told me well did you read the sign in sheet I told her no I didn't I thought that was a safeguard sheet so you know how many children are in the building. She told me it was my own fault for not reading it fair point. However had she had of told me to read and sign I would have done. I had 2 children eager to play. She pretty much told me tough I was so appalled. I grabbed the kids and we left. This place totally ruined my son's birthday her customer service was none and the immature kids they have working their need some training. I will never return. I just hope people read this and check times if their going later in the day.oh not to mention I told her I was going to leave a review she told me to go ahead....