The Willow Bean Play Cafe — Bedlington, Northumberland
More than a play cafe
Founded by Senior Occupational Therapist and mam of two-under-two, Beth, who dreamed up this space over nap times and sleepless nights with one goal: to create a space where children could simply be and where grown-ups feel seen, supported, and never rushed.
A place built to support playful learning and independence. Beth designed every inch of the cafe to encourage child-led, open-ended play zones for babies, toddlers and preschoolers within a calm space and a signature aesthetic built around willow motifs, coffee "beans" and soft nature tones.
Whether you're popping in for a play date, chat with fellow grown-ups, a slice of sanity or to just enjoy 5 whole minutes to yourself, you're always welcome here.
It's more than just a play cafe. It's something special for our community in Northumberland, a place to connect, recharge and watch your little worlds thrive.
Built for little ones.
Designed
for you.
Our Play Zones
Our play zones are designed to support sensory development, independence and playful learning at every stage.
Baby Nest
0–12 months / pre-walkers
Our enclosed calm and cosy space designed for baby beans, with soft mats, sensory elements and room to explore safely at their own pace.
Toddler Explorers
1–5 years / walkers
A thoughtfully designed space for little beans to explore and create, with open-ended play, role play and activities that encourage independence and imagination.
Cloud Lounge
Our calm, low stimulation space for calm play, quiet moments and little beans who need time to reset.
Speciality Coffee & Treats
Because you deserve more than a lukewarm brew! We serve locally sourced barista-quality coffee, lunches, wholesome snacks and sweet treats whilst little ones explore. Allergy or intolerance? Just let us know before ordering — allergen information is available for every menu item.
Key Features
Child height coat pegs and storage, a lowered cafe counter so little ones can see and choose, open shelving with clearly labelled play areas, and a layout designed to support freedom of movement. Every detail here is built to grow confidence through everyday moments.
Events & Sessions
From play sessions to themed mornings and parent well-being events, we host a rich calendar! To view our calendar and for all bookings, please click the link below.
What to expect
Inclusive & Welcoming
We believe every child and family deserves to feel at home. Our space is designed with accessibility and inclusion front of mind, from arrival to last sip! See our accessibility details to plan your visit.
Community at Heart
A gathering place for families in Northumberland. There's always a seat here for you.
Safe & Clean Always
A dedicated buggy park at the entrance keeps our space clear and safe, alongside a no-shoes policy in play areas to help maintain a clean, hygienic environment for little ones. Fully sanitised play equipment and surfaces before & after each session or event. We take child safety very seriously, so you can relax knowing they're in good hands!
A little look inside
Swipe, scroll or use the arrows to see more
Frequently asked questions
The practical details, so you can plan your visit with confidence.
Is The Willow Bean accessible?
At The Willow Bean Play Cafe, we want every family to feel welcome. We have worked hard to make our space as accessible as possible and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all of our visitors.
As our cafe is located within an older building, there are some structural limitations that mean we are unable to provide fully accessible facilities throughout. We appreciate your understanding and are always happy to discuss individual requirements before your visit.
- Level access is available from the entrance into the cafe and play spaces.
- The entrance doorway to the cafe has a clear width of 710 mm.
- Access to the toilet area is via a doorway with a clear width of 700 mm.
What are the toilet facilities like?
We have two toilet cubicles:
- A standard toilet cubicle.
- A larger toilet cubicle measuring approximately 1150 mm × 1660 mm.
To help improve accessibility, we have installed grab rails within the larger toilet cubicle to provide additional support for those who may need them.
While the larger cubicle provides additional space, it is not a fully accessible Changing Places or wheelchair-standard accessible toilet due to the limitations of the building.
How can you support us during our visit?
Our team will always do their best to support you during your visit. If there is anything we can do to make your experience more comfortable, please don't hesitate to ask.
If you require assistance in the event of an emergency evacuation, please let a member of staff know when you arrive so that we can ensure appropriate support is available if needed.
If you have any questions about accessibility before visiting, we would be delighted to help. Please get in touch and we'll be happy to discuss your individual needs.
What about food allergies and intolerances?
If you or your child has a food allergy or intolerance, please speak to our team before ordering — every time you visit, as ingredient and supplier information can occasionally change. We can provide allergen information for all of our menu items.
Whilst we take every reasonable precaution to minimise the risk of cross-contamination, our kitchen handles a variety of allergens and we cannot guarantee that any food or drink is completely free from allergens. To help us keep all visitors safe, we kindly ask that outside food and drink is not brought into the cafe.
You can read our full allergy and dietary information on our Before Your Visit page.
Planning a trip? Read our full visitor information — play space guidelines, illness policy, bookings and cancellations — on our Before Your Visit page. Anything else you'd like to know? Get in touch — we'd be delighted to help.
She believed
she could
so she did.
Northumberland Gazette
Read the full article"Becoming a parent can be the most beautiful thing ever but it can also be quite isolating at times. With my children, getting out the house and into play cafes can make a real difference. It gives me the chance to connect with other people, have conversations and just feel like myself again."
- Beth Larby, founder of The Willow Bean
Parking & Finding Us
We know parking matters when you've got little ones in tow.
We're lucky to have parking available to the rear of the property, with car parks just a short walk away too. We'll be sharing a quick video guide closer to opening to help you find us easily — because arriving should be the easy part.
8 Market Place, Bedlington, Northumberland, NE22 5TN
We'd love to hear from you
Whether you want to register your interest, ask a question, or just say hello, Beth and the team would love to connect. Drop us a message and we'll be in touch very soon.
Thank you for reaching out. Beth will be in touch soon — probably during a nap time!