When we think of soft play centres, we tend to imagine bright coloured plastics, fluorescent lighting, and fish fingers. So, it is nice when you find something a little more chic. Crumb and Play Cafe is located inside a beautifully restored Dutch barn and features a garden where the play extends into the sunshine.
A Unique Setting for Families
Crumb and Play Cafe is set within the Heart of the Country Village in Lichfield, a shopping park full of artisan jewellery shops, independent boutiques, and locally sourced treasures to explore. There is even a small, natural woodland where children can build dens, hunt for hidden fairy doors, and meet the village's two friendly pigs, Sandra and Sower.
Streetly mum of two, Rem Bains, who used to work for an investment bank, said she built Crumb and Play for parents as much as kids, creating a space that feels a little more elevated. "Crumb and Play is just as much a treat for grown-ups as it is for little ones," said Rem. "We are tucked away in a beautiful shopping village, once a working farm, now home to a curated mix of lovely independents."
Play Areas and Features
The Dutch barn houses a chic role play space upstairs and a cosy soft play area downstairs for babies and toddlers. The role play street boasts a mini cafe, kitchen, ice cream van, construction area, and a salon aptly named The Dutch Barn-et. Outside, Little Crumbs Garden offers year round adventures with wooden climbing frames, a mud kitchen, and plenty of room for imaginations to run wild.
Rem loves bringing families together and, since opening in 2023, has hosted mummy meet ups, pyjama parties, and an annual free Crumbfest day with stalls and face painting. The cafe caters for vegan and gluten free diets and offers lunch baskets full of healthy treats that go down just as well with the kids as they do with parents.
Sustainability and Thoughtful Design
"Sustainability is really important to us," said Rem, who has worked with celebrities like Rochelle Humes, Myleene Klass, and some of the England players through her other business, The Kids Corner, creating luxury pop up play areas for clients across the UK. "We use wooden toys only, recycled cups, and we are constantly working to make our space as eco friendly as possible and reduce waste wherever we can. Ultimately, it is about creating a place where families feel relaxed, included, and cared for."
Her sons Jovan and Rueben help out as product testers. "They are my go to for advice and also my best product testers, always giving me their honest opinions!" she smiled. "Crumb and Play has really been built with a lot of love and thought behind it. We have really focused on creating a calming, beautiful space with soft colours and thoughtful aesthetics throughout, so it feels welcoming, and never overwhelming, just a nice, feel good environment for everyone."
The cafe was designed from a parent's perspective, so they understand what makes a visit easier, calmer, and more enjoyable. "One of the things we hear most is how they can sit anywhere in the space and still keep an eye on their little ones playing. We always try to go over and beyond to make it a lovely experience for everyone who comes through the doors. It is something I am really proud of, and it has been amazing watching it grow into a space that families genuinely enjoy and feel at home in. We are especially excited as we have some lovely new additions arriving soon in our garden area, which we know families will really enjoy."
How to Get to Crumb and Play from Birmingham
Crumb and Play is in the Heart of the Country Village on London Road, Lichfield, WS14 9QR. It takes around half an hour to drive there via the A38.
