A POPULAR Crewe children's play centre has relaunched itself as a cafe venue while it prepares to reopen its facilities.

Funsters in Stalbridge Road has been closed since March, although last night's government announcement allows soft play areas to reopen from tomorrow (Saturday) providing they adhere to strict Covid-19 Secure guidelines.

But the complexity of the measures the venue will have to introduce means owner Kay Tran and her staff need more time to prepare for the influx of parents and children given the short notice they have been given.

She says Funsters will reopen "as soon as possible" but that a more realistic date will be a month ahead.

"It is great news that we can reopen but it is impossible to advance this with less than 30 hours notice by the government," said Kay.

"We are following specified guidelines to ensure that staff and customers are Covid Secure. However, these extensive guidelines mean considerable changes to our operation and will take some time to implement, so we won't be able to open this Saturday but we will be working to towards opening as soon as possible."

In the meantime the Hall Cafe, which was reopened on Monday, is offering meals and drinks along with a range of surprise events.

The family-run business decided to re-open it in a bid to attract former customers and signed up to the "Eat Out to Help Out" scheme where cafe and restaurant goers can get 50 per cent discounts on meals and drinks on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays through August.

Kay was paid a visit this week by MP Kieran Mullan who offered his support for the soft play centre's fight to stay in business.

Kay added: "The opening of The Hall Cafe is Funsters fight for survival. We have already seen so many of our wonderful longstanding customers visit and I am really grateful for their support.

"I want to thank Kieran too for coming and supporting our efforts to get further financial support and encouraging people to visit us to help us survive. As the business has been compulsorily closed since March all government funding is drying up."

Funsters has been in the heart of Crewe for more than twenty years, attracting generations of children and their parents to its premises in a former church. The fun equipment for children includes ball pools, slides and one of the largest play frames in Europe.

The MP said: "I have a huge admiration for Kay and the whole team who are struggling and are now trying their best to find a way forward. The government has put in unprecedented amounts of support for businesses, but for those still locked down I am pressing for further sector specific support.

"I would ask everyone locally who has enjoyed visiting Funsters over the years to come and try out their cafe to help keep them afloat. The staff have worked really hard to setup a COVID Secure café."

Funsters' cafe is open tomorrow when Peppa Pig will be visiting from 10 to 11am and 12 midday to 1pm and a free milk shake is available with every meal.