Play Factore — Attraction in Trafford

Play Factore in Manchester is an impressive indoor play centre that offers a wide range of activities for children, making it a popular choice for families. My visit there was enjoyable, and there are several aspects worth highlighting, though a few areas could benefit from improvement.

Positives: The first thing that stands out about Play Factore is the scale and variety of attractions. The centre boasts one of the largest indoor slides in Europe, which is a huge hit with both kids and adults. The excitement of sliding down from such a height is undeniable. The venue also includes a well-designed play frame with multiple levels, offering climbing, crawling, and other physical challenges that keep children engaged for hours.

In addition to the play frame, there are go-karting tracks, laser tag arenas, and a dedicated toddler area. The go-karting is particularly thrilling and adds an element of competitive fun, making it more than just a typical soft play centre. For younger visitors, the toddler area is thoughtfully designed, ensuring that even the littlest ones have a safe and enjoyable experience.

Another positive aspect is the cleanliness of the facility. Considering the number of children that visit daily, the staff does a commendable job maintaining a tidy and hygienic environment. This is especially important for parents who are often concerned about cleanliness in such places.

Areas for Improvement: However, while the facilities are top-notch, Play Factore can be overwhelming during peak times. The popularity of the centre means it can get quite crowded, leading to longer waits for attractions like the go-karts and laser tag. The noise level also tends to rise significantly, which can be stressful for both children and adults.

The pricing is another point to consider. While the centre offers a premium experience, it is reflected in the cost. For families, especially those with multiple children, the expense can add up quickly when you factor in admission, food, and additional activities like go-karting. Some visitors might feel that the pricing is a bit steep, especially when compared to other play centres in the area.

Finally, the café, while offering a decent selection of food, could improve in terms of both variety and quality. Given the length of time families tend to spend at Play Factore, more healthy and diverse food options would enhance the overall experience.

Conclusion: Overall, Play Factore is an excellent choice for a day out with children in Manchester. The range of activities ensures that there’s something for everyone, and the scale of the play area is impressive. However, potential visitors should be prepared for crowds and the associated noise, especially during weekends and holidays, and should also be mindful of the costs involved. Despite these considerations, the fun and excitement on offer make it a...

I wouldn’t recommend visiting here as it was dirty and the staff are not bothered about the safety and well-being of the children/customers. My brother (10) went down the big slide with my sister (21) they both came off half way down and ended up with blisters and burns. My brother blistered all of his fingers and my sister burnt the top of her leg. My sister was wearing leggings, I’ve also just read another review of a person getting burnt whilst using the slide who also wore leggings. If this is the case I would expect you to advise all children/parents on the website not to wear leggings if you are going to use the big slide.

I asked a member of staff is they could help us out with a first aid kit, he didn’t know if they had one so he went to find out. He came back and said reception will help. My sister took my brother who was in tears with pain to reception only to be given blue tissue paper soaked in water! And then was made to sign a form.

The lady at the top of the slide was sat there not caring how any child was attempting to go down the slide. She was only watching how many was let in to the area at the top of the slide. Children aged 5+ can use this and it is extremely high! The staff member was not concerned for the safety of the children, it was clear she did not enjoy being sat up there. At first I didn't realise she was a member of staff until she told me to wait before entering the top of the slide slide area.

The toddler bit was very run down, dirty and small! Everything was scruffy/scratched and a bit more than well used. It needs replacing.

My brother was also belly bashed by another child who ran into him whilst running into the play area and knocked him right over. The children were not being supervised and most parents were shouting/swearing which is not appropriate. The parents were also very rude/ hard faced in the big play area. It didn’t feel safe and no appropriate checks were being made when arriving, they literally scanned a barcode, stamped the child’s hand and let you walk through the gate. Anyone could bring anything into the play area without being noticed! Which is extremely scary and another reason I wouldn’t recommend going!

I was also being followed and constantly watched by a member of security staff which made me feel uncomfortable. She had no reason to follow me from one side of the building back to the other, linger around the table for the 2 hours we were there. We bought food from the menu which was clear as it filled the table so not sure what she was watching me for. It was very creepy and I’m still not sure what her...

Had a really upsetting experience at Play Factore today due to gaslighting from a male member of staff who I think was a manager.

My son has just turned one and can’t walk yet. I saw the baby area on lots of recent pictures online and knew he would love it.

When I arrived we payed full price (£12.95 for my baby and £5.25 for 1 adult), I was fine paying this to use a baby area.

However when I had a look around I couldn’t find the baby area that I had seen in pictures. I asked at the desk and was told it had been changed recently to an under 4’s area which meant that there was literally nothing my baby could independently (under supervision) play with.

He tried to climb up the ramps but he got upset that he couldn’t which was really sad.

The only area he could have played in had 2 large screens showing overstimulating cartoons (world health organisation recommends no screen time for under twos).

The sensory area was just a room with wall to wall flashing lights - again so overstimulating for a baby.

He crawled through the tunnel and down the slide on my knee but was done with it all in about 20mins.

The male staff member attempted to show me how my baby could play in an area for 4 year olds. I explained that this wasn’t the baby area I saw online and asked if I could be refunded to pay the £3.95 under one’s price since there wasn’t actually a baby area anymore. The staff member refused.

Then his exact words were ‘I think he can do it’ I was shocked at his audacity to comment on my baby’s abilities. I made this clear however did not once raise my voice.

The member of staff then completely gaslit me and denied that he said those words. He kept rephrasing and trying to tell me he didn’t say it.

He then said ‘this is getting out of hand’ which is another way to gaslight women into thinking they are overreacting to a situation. (Perfectly reasonable response to be upset about being lied to and gaslit at a soft play!).

He ended it with ‘I’m sorry if it came across that way’ which is a gaslighting phrase again. No apology for what he actually said or admission that he lied about what he said.

So not a good experience which is such a shame as this was my baby’s first soft play.

Going forward I would recommend further training so that staff members can recognise toxic and gaslighting behaviours in themselves and not project this onto customers. It would also be helpful to clarify on the website and entrance that there is no longer a baby area for...