The Ice Cream Farm heading for Barons Quay Shopping Centre

The team behind The Ice Cream Farm family attraction, in Tattenhall, Cheshire, is set to open a new indoor attraction at Barons Quay shopping centre in Northwich at the start of 2020.

The Ice Cream Farm, home to the ‘World’s Largest Ice Cream Parlour’, has partnered with Cheshire West and Chester Council to open a new restaurant and play concept at Barons Quay, named ‘Sticky Paws in the Flavour Forest’.

The Tattenhall facility underwent a multimillion-pound redevelopment in 2015 and director Jonathan Fell has been working with the council for more than a year to develop a new food and play concept, which will be unique to Barons Quay.

The new concept, currently in development, is set to open in early 2020. It will comprise a family eatery named ‘Sticky Paws’ and bespoke indoor play area ‘Flavour Forest’.

The unique attraction, which is targeted at young families, is planned to be unlike anything seen before in the indoor leisure sector and aims to make play and eating out with children an easy and enjoyable experience.

‘Sticky Paws’ will have around 200 covers and will offer wholesome fast food with deconstructed and innovative dishes that encourage children to try new foods and make food fun.

The menu will consist of small individual dishes, enabling visitors to share and try new things and spend as much, or as little as they like.

The University of Chester is assisting with the development of the menu, which will be tested out by a focus group over the next few months.

‘Flavour Forest’ will be a bespoke indoor play area incorporating every element of play including climbing, sliding and bouncing, allowing children to explore and be adventurous.

The focus is as much about the visual and sensory stimulation as the play itself.

Renowned Dutch designer, Gert Eussen, has worked closely with Jonathan and play specialist manufacturers, Greenspan, to come up with the play experience. The design is very much focused towards younger children aged up to seven years old.

The Barons Quay partnership with The Ice Cream Farm is part of a new drive by Cheshire West Council to adapt to changes in retail, revitalise the ‘high street’ and work with successful independent businesses, as well as national chains, to deliver a mixed customer offer unique to Northwich.

Jonathan Fell said: “Local authorities need to identify the importance of utilising proven leisure concepts to drive footfall in areas that require regeneration.

“We wouldn’t be able to create this new offering without the forward thinking and support from CWAC and it’s great to see Barons Quay diversifying their attitude in this way.

“We have carried out an in-depth branding strategy to make sure this new concept fits in the urban environment and a lot of time and investment has gone into making sure it’s done right.

“The Ice Cream Farm’s usual ethos of ‘inclusive not exclusive’ is still at the heart of the new concept and visitors can spend as little or as much as they want.”

Cabinet member for regeneration and growth, Cllr Richard Beacham, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that The Ice Cream Farm has chosen Barons Quay in Northwich for its second venue in Cheshire.

“Not only does this mean they will bring a totally new concept to Barons Quay, but this is also about a local business growing in our borough, which is great for the Cheshire economy. I’m really looking forward to bringing my family to explore what’s on offer when it
opens next year.”