Honiton's Full of Beans Café goes from strength to strength

Friends Tilly and Bekki really enjoy coming to Full of Beans (Nub News, Kate Baxter)

Harriet Spence (aged 38) has been running Full of Beans Café in Honiton for four years. She used to work as an Early Years Assistant at Honiton Primary School and was away on holiday when she visited a café which gave her the inspiration to open her own!

Full of Beans is a soft play café with a baby area and a soft play zone, where parents book a play slot and then sit back and relax as their little ones safely play.

The café changes the toys and books that are available to play with each month, to keep it interesting for regular visitors.

The café serves hot drinks and food, such as paninis, full breakfasts and lasagnes as well as cakes, made by local baker 'Life is What you Bake It'. There are lots of options for children, including main meals but also snack pots, pouches and hot drinks.

Harriet has lived in Honiton since she was 16. She has two children, India and Eli, who are nine and seven years old.

She told Nub News: "There was nothing like Full of Beans before we opened. There was a bigger soft play but I wanted it smaller so parents could see their child wherever they are, so they can read or chat to their friends!"

"I wanted to keep working with young children but do it in a different way."

Harriet was full of praise for the Honiton community, who she says have really supported her. When she left Honiton Primary School and opened the café, lots of the families came to visit the café because they knew Harriet.

Harriet said: "The pandemic was very difficult. We kept having to close and we have needed to develop a new cohort of customers, because the children from before the pandemic have started nursery or school.

"It has been a little bit challenging, but we are definitely getting there and things are going great! We've been really, really busy!"

The café also does a range of special events, such as Halloween, Christmas and Easter parties, and it can also be booked for birthday parties.

"The Christmas parties were absolutely fantastic. They were all fully booked and we had a lovely man come and do Father Christmas, so I'm looking forward to doing that again next year!"

Bekki Gardener, whose son Buddy is almost one, and Tilly Shoesmith, whose son Harvey is two, frequently come to the café. Becki said: "It's lovely to come here and relax whilst the kids are safe to roam about and have fun."

Tilly added: "It's nice and easy to come here, especially when you have two kids to look after. We love it!"

You can read more about Full of Beans on their Facebook page and you can book a play slot here