New dessert shop Wiffle Waffle to open doors at Robin Hood Entertainment and Soft Play on Malt Park, Newark

A town’s last remaining soft play centre is to open a new business within the premises, with hopes of battling current financial struggles.

Tim Dallison, the owner of Robin Hood Entertainment and Soft Play on Malt Park, Newark, has announced the opening of a new dessert shop, Wiffle Waffle, this Saturday (May 10).

Following financial struggles this year, particularly due to the nice weather and new rises in business rates and wage increases, Tim decided to integrate his other business and install it at the play centre.

The new shop will serve a range of desserts such as bubble waffles, bubble teas, and ice creams, and the soft play reception area will have tables where customers can sit down and enjoy their desserts. New benches have also been installed outside the premises.

Tim’s family has been visiting Matlock Bath since he was a child, and he continued to do so with his own children, and everyone’s favourite ice cream shop was Wiffle Waffle.

“It became so cult in our family that instead of suggestions being made on what to do for the day or for someone to say, shall we go to Matlock, it simply became the question… ‘Wiffle Waffle?’” he explained.

Last year, the family went back to Matlock for an ice cream at their favourite shop, only to find it to be permanently closed, and they decided to take over the business.

In April 2024, Wiffle Waffle was back open under the ownership of Tim and his partner Carrie, who manages the shop alongside her mother and some staff members from the soft play who do shifts at the shop during the summer months.

“We want to reach out to everyone in the community — this is not just for children, it is for mums, dads, grannies, grandads, people who work on the go and want an alternative caffeine hit with coffee bubble tea.

“Putting the Soft Play aside, this is a worthy stand-alone business which already has a cult following from around the country who come to Matlock to Wiffle Waffle. Now they can do it right in the heart of Newark.”

Tim took over the soft play in 2021, and at the time, he made the promise to elevate it to high standards and make it bigger, brighter, and better, which he has been working towards.

Over the years, he has extended the soft play and added a number of facilities, which include a huge three-tier soft play, a football and basketball court, a curly slide and a ball pit with an integrated air blower, a climbing wall and a trampoline pod.

It also includes activities such as zip wire, spin me, monkey bars, transparent bravery ledge, rollers, tunnels, and punch bags.

It has a separate area for under-fours with slides, a look-out window, balancing equipment, mirrors, interactive musical instruments, a trampoline pod, soft play, puzzles and a sensory room.

It has two party rooms, a castle and a disco-themed room; integrated LED lighting throughout the centre, a play frame and UV lighting for laser tag parties.

Tim added: “Robin Hood and play centres in general struggle in the warm weather months, but this year the good weather started in March and April, where we usually do well, and business has fallen off a cliff compared to previous years.

“That situation added to the new wage increases, supplier and bill increases and national insurance and business rates massively increasing.

“It has forced action to navigate these new challenges.

“The goal in bringing Waffle to Robin Hood is to bring a unique and beautiful product to the people of Newark while adding much-needed extra income to help with the building's rising running costs.”

On the opening day of Wiffle Waffle, a random winner will be chosen to receive a free adult and child entry to the soft play and a free dessert on the day.

Additionally, to celebrate the opening day, there will be a 50% discount on the dessert shop menu.

“Wiffle Waffle is the question, and the answer is always a resounding YES.

“It’s more than an ice cream or dessert, it’s an experience — something to love and share a moment with your loved ones.

“We pride ourselves on amazing customer service, and each of our products we make gets you smiling.”