Chopsy Baby is Reviewing: Pop Shop on North Street Bedminster
Are you looking for somewhere to go in Bristol, Bedminster or Southville with your baby or toddler? Meeting up with other mums in a coffee shop for a chat, catch-up and essential dose of caffeine has become a highly regarded way of adapting to motherhood within a supportive network.
Until now, there have been few successful ventures in the nappy land of South Bristol. But finally, a pair of local mums Ella Bissett MacEwen and Polly Maggs, have hit upon a winning formula. Located at the old bingo hall end of North Street, Pop Shop fills a much needed gap in the Bedminster market for mothers looking for a baby friendly venue.
Yes it could be argued there are plenty of baby and child friendly coffee shops and venues in Bristol, particularly North Street, but Pop Shop is in a different league.
Pop Shop owners Ella and Polly greet customers with a friendly warmth. The shop is light and airy, elegant, modern and inviting. They describe Pop Shop as a ‘front room style space’ and it certainly feels like a place you can relax in.
The Pop Shop flyer doesn’t do the venue justice. Whilst it’s easy to gurn at a £3 entry fee, what you get with this is a spotlessly clean space that is baby and toddler safe.
There is plenty of comfortable seating, high surfaces to place drinks and an array of clean, fun toys. A dedicated pram storage section is at the front of the shop and a baby gate stops little runners from exiting the front door.
You have no qualms popping even very small babies on the floor to play. The shop is spacious enough to do this as well as being intimate enough to see your baby – even crawlers – at every point.
A bookcase stands in the corner with parenting reference books to delve into. The thick, bright carpet is comfortable to sit on when playing with your child. Or, there are deep comfortable sofas to relax on if your baby is sleeping.
There is plenty planned for parents in the dynamic space, including buying and selling of second hand baby products. Taster classes such as baby signing programme Sing and Sign will be popping along to entertain parents. But even more importantly, it does give mothers the chance to exchange ideas, network and become involved with other parents and projects within the community.
Pop Shop is a great, safe place for mothers with babies and young preschoolers to relax and play. We highly recommend it.
Further Information
Pop Shop
20 North Street
Bedminster
BS3 1HW
Open Tuesdays to Fridays
Entry £3 per day – come and go as you please
Entry price includes either a tea, coffee, hot chocolate or squash
Home baked cakes and baby salads on sale
Suitable for parents with children aged birth to four years of age. Parents and carers with a second child older than four years are encouraged to check during holidays if there is space to bring them along.
Pop Shop will be hosting regular taster sessions for local children’s activities; simply pay for day entry and the activity and drink are included.
Dates for the diary so far:
Sing and Sign on Friday 10th June at 10.30am
Les Petits ZousZous (French Nursery Rhymes) at 10.30am on Wednesday 22nd June
Singing in Harmony (singing session for parents with children welcome) Tuesday 28th June all at 10.30am
Pop Shop is also available for hire outside of retail hours and will be offering birthday party packages.
www.pop-shop.org.uk