A former primary school teacher has opened a fun play café within an independent toy shop in Topsham. Squid & the Kid in Fore Street is now also home to family-orientated café Nook.
Aimed at babies, toddlers and young children, but also those without children, it offers a simple menu catering for all ages and, in the future, will host live music and parent groups. It has been set up by Pip Williams who is already a familiar face at Squid & the Kid from having run private tutoring from there.
The combination of the toy shop and Nook hopes to create a unique destination to shop, refuel with coffee and lunch, and play all in one place.
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Pip explained: “Opening Nook is a dream come true. I wanted to create an inclusive place for people to relax while kids let off steam - with no booking necessary. The café is aimed at families, but anyone can enjoy the space – people without kids too.
“As a parent myself, I understand the isolation that can come with raising a toddler. Speaking with other parents fuelled my passion to create a welcoming space where carers can come together, feel at home and hopefully make connections with likeminded people.
"By supporting each other, we can build a stronger, more resilient community. As the café evolves, we’ll look forward to hosting live music such as amazing Poco Drom, and parent groups too. The café will remain open during these pop-ups.
“Nook embraces Squid’s holistic approach to community engagement and actively seeks collaborations with local artisans, particularly those owned by women, to showcase their products and creations.”
Squid & the Kid launched three years ago and is described as a toy and lifestyle shop. Within it, Scamps Vintage has just launched a preloved clothing rail for children.
Squid & the Kid is run by Alice Garrad and Alex Stenning. Alice said: Nook brings a new dimension to our shop, providing families with a space to gather, rest, and power up. We’ve had the pleasure of hosting Pip’s tutorial sessions here at Squid and we’re thrilled that our businesses will now operate side by side.”
Nook has been designed to allow full visibility so carers can keep check on little ones as they explore the role play area, reading nook and playhouse.
