CHILD-FRIENDLY venues have been recognised with a new award from Huddersfield nursery products firm.
Mamas & Papas honoured seven Yorkshire organisations with its Mum & Dad’s the Word Awards.
The awards were presented at the Colnebridge-based firm’s newest store at the Trinity Shopping Centre in Leeds .
Product development director Amanda Scacchetti and Coronation Street star Charlie Condou were on hand to present the prizes.
The entrants were all nominated by Mamas & Papas customers.
The awards tie in with a free guide called Mum & Dad’s the Word, which has been launched by Mamas & Papas and gives details on the best independent cafes, shops, playgrounds and days out that families can enjoy in West Yorkshire.
Amanda, a mother-of-two and the brains behind the Mum & Dad’s the Word initiative, welcomed the winners, runner-up and VIP guests to Mamas & Papas, new Leeds store for champagne and canapés.
She said: “The awards ceremony is an opportunity for Mamas & Papas to recognise all the local businesses that go the extra mile to make sure that their establishments enable parents to relax in an environment that feels safe and welcoming for them and their family.
“Becoming a new parent can be daunting. Many new young families talk about how their lives change once they have a new baby. All the familiar local landmarks for a parent change.
“Suddenly, it’s no longer about finding the best local restaurants and boutique shops – instead, knowing where the most child-friendly cafes, parks, playgrounds and soft play places are becomes important.
“This is why we have decided to help create this guide to support new parents.”
Mamas & Papas is employing 22 people at the new store. The company will open another store – its 64th – on May 23 at Fareham, Hampshire.
Amanda said Leeds city centre had been on the firm’s list of preferred locations for new stores for the past three or four years.
And she stressed that Mamas & Papas remained committed to city centre retailing at a time when some traders are retreating from the high street.
“Stores are still an important part of what Mamas & Papas do,” she said. “We aim to give parents and parents-to-be the opportunity to shop whichever way they want.”
WINNERS: Best Child Friendly Eatery – Baraka Coffee House, Garforth, Leeds; Best Green Space – Roundhay Park and Tropical World; Best Shopping Centre – White Rose; Best Shop – The Little Hen Company, Horsforth; Best nursery – Swillington Preschool Playgroup; Best Soft Play – Go Hyper, Dewsbury; Best Family Day Out –Eureka! National Children’s Museum, Halifax.
