THE ADVENTURE CENTRE OPENS IN HORSHAM

The Adventure Centre has proved popular after opening on Foundry Lane Industrial Estate, Horsham, in February. AAH met business partners Mitchell Kersley and Barney Rutherford to find out more about the venture…

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS

The initial spark for The Adventure Centre came from siblings Barney and Sydney Rutherford, who grew up in Horsham. Sydney was having to travel to Crawley or Ford to take young son Vinnie to soft play centres. Her brother Barney felt there was an opportunity for a similar business closer to home.

Sydney, now pregnant with her second child, said: ‘We talked about our dream for a soft play centre, as we knew local parents were crying out for it. But for a long time, it was a pie in the sky idea. We spoke to our dad, Clive, as he had run successful businesses, including Champagne’s in Horsham and Rutherford’s nightclub in Worthing. He hadn’t been involved in a new venture for a long time, so he was hugely excited about the idea and was our primary investor.

‘I met my partner Mitchell at Muntham House, a special school in Barns Green, where we both taught music. He enjoyed working in education, but needed a new challenge. He talked to Barney about the soft play idea and between them, they turned a dream into reality. Dad was involved at every step too, but sadly died before the Adventure Centre opened. His influence is still evident, and we keep a photo of him on the front desk.’

ROARING SUCCESS

Finding an ideal location proved difficult, with Barney and Mitchell having to wait for the right opportunity, which eventually arose in Foundry Lane, following the closure of Speedy Build. Although parking can be difficult in peak times – there are 13 customer spaces, but the only alternative is roadside parking – the unit did offer enough space for both a play zones and a café in a central location. When it came to a theme, all parties wanted something non-gender specific that most children would relate to. Dinosaurs was the obvious choice.

Barney said: ‘The dinosaur theme has nothing to do with me sharing a name with a purple dinosaur! All children love dinosaurs, and this theme allowed us to create a soft play zone inspired by the jungle. We worked with UK-based indoor playground specialists House of Play, who implemented our ideas. We wanted at least two slides to keep a steady flow, as well as a climbing volcano and plenty of interaction. We also have an area partially sectioned off as a safe place for toddlers to play.

‘Although we’re based on an industrial estate, we didn’t want it to feel that way. We set out to make it warm, modern and inviting – a place where families would be happy to spend time. The layout was carefully planned too. Parents can sit down with a coffee and see the whole of the soft play area. Lighting beams down into the play zone, so people can keep an eye on their children. This means parents can relax and chat while their children play. We serve great coffee too. Ben from The Barista Project in Henfield supplies the cafe, and he trained our staff too. So, we all know how to make a great cup of coffee!’

LET’S PLAY CLEAN

The Adventure Centre team have placed great emphasis on hygiene too. That is a primary reason for the lack of a ball pit, which have been the subject of medical studies concerning the spread of germs.

Mitchell said: ‘One of the gripes people have about soft play centres is cleanliness. So, we have placed an emphasis on hygiene. Sessions run for 90 minutes, after which we close the centre and clean the soft play area profusely, as well as the café, games area, sensory room and toilets. We have four sessions per day and this same routine is carried out after each one. Then, after the final session, we have a deep clean, before freshening up once again in the morning.

‘When we tell people that they can’t come on for another 15 minutes as we’re cleaning, we find they appreciate it, as it means that their children can enjoy a play zone as clean as it was at the start of the day. We hope this will help maintain the longevity of the play equipment too, as it doesn’t take long for sticky, sweaty little fingers to take their toll.’

SENSORY EXPERIENCE

The Adventure Centre also has an arcade room, which features several games and an air hockey table. More games are to be introduced in the coming months, providing a space where older children can relax while younger siblings enjoy the jungle. The centre also hosts birthday parties, with a private room equipped with speakers and special lighting available. Parties are allocated a member of staff to tend solely to its needs, with the first such party receiving a glowing review.

Another feature is a sensory room, which was especially important to Mitchell: ‘My background is in SEND education, and Sydney and her mum Mallie – also an important member of our team – have both worked at Muntham House too. So, we wanted to create a proper sensory area. We have been to places where the sensory area has been small, and the equipment is used by everyone, so it quickly becomes dirty. So, we designed an inclusive space for those with sensory needs. The sensory room is also popular with new mothers, as it’s a peaceful area where babies can engage with lights and colours.

‘We are proud with what we have achieved. It is lovely to see and hear children having fun too, engaging and interacting through play, without the need for electronic devices.’

Further information: Visit Unit 3B at Foundry Lane Ind Estate, Horsham, RH13 5PX. Call (01403) 900181, email: info@advcentre.co.uk or visit www.advcentre.co.uk

Originally published in AAH (All About Horsham) Magazine on 1st February 2026. Words by Ben Morris. Photography by Alan Wright.