Pretend Town: A Mobile Role-Play Adventure for Kids in Lanarkshire
A new interactive play experience called Pretend Town is launching in Lanarkshire, offering young children and their families a unique role-play adventure. The mobile play concept features ten themed pods, such as a supermarket, space center, car garage, post office, and hair salon, designed to ignite children's imaginations through open-ended play. Founded by local mom Megan Brawley, the sessions cater to various age groups and encourage children to explore through imaginative play while involving adults in the fun.
Megan, a mother of three currently on maternity leave from her job as a business analyst, created Pretend Town after struggling to find activities that engaged all her children, aged four, two, and six months. Inspired by similar role-play models in other cities, she saw an opportunity to bring a mobile version to Glasgow and surrounding areas. The pop-up format allows her to rotate between venues, providing a cost-effective solution without the need for a permanent location.
To bring her vision to life, Megan secured a £20,000 loan from Virgin StartUp through the British Business Bank's Start Up Loans program. This funding helped her acquire high-quality props, develop backdrops, and purchase a van for transporting the setup between venues. While Megan plans to return to her analyst role initially, her ultimate goal is to make Pretend Town her full-time focus and potentially expand it into a franchise opportunity for other parents.
Since its launch in 2012, the Start Up Loans program has supported entrepreneurs in Glasgow, providing over £10 million in loans across 1,122 businesses. Barry McCulloch, Senior Manager at the British Business Bank, commended Megan for identifying a market gap and transforming her personal experience into a promising business venture. Diana Greenhalgh, Operations Lead at Virgin StartUp, praised Megan's journey from idea to a thriving business, highlighting the importance of funding and guidance in bringing business ideas to fruition.
Pretend Town sessions will take place at various venues in Lanarkshire, including Rutherglen URC Church, St John's Parish Church in Hamilton, and Glebe Street Community Hall in East Kilbride. With two time slots available each day, prices start from £7.50 per child, with up to 25 spaces per session. Weekend party bookings are also available for birthdays and special occasions. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to spark your child's creativity and make lasting memories at Pretend Town in Lanarkshire.