FAQs

General Enquiries

  • CRATE Walthamstow is located on the 1st floor of the 17 & Central shopping centre.

    Head to the main entrance of the shopping centre and follow the directory or signs to Food, Drinks, and Soft Play.

    If you need further assistance, any staff member will be happy to help.

    Enjoy your visit!

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  • You can contact us by emailing hello@crate17.co.uk, or Play.central@crate17.co.uk for Play Central queries.

    Alternatively, feel free to visit us and speak to any of our friendly staff members.

  • Yes, most of our food vendors offer halal options.

    Please look for the halal symbol on the kiosks and feel free to ask our staff if you have any questions.

  • Yes, most of our food vendors offer vegetarian and vegan options.

    Please look for the vegetarian/vegan symbol on the menus, and don't hesitate to ask our staff if you have any questions.

  • Yes, some of our food vendors offer gluten-free options.

    Please look for the gluten-free symbol on the menus, or feel free to ask our staff if you have any questions.

  • Please make sure to check with the individual food vendors about allergens before placing your order.

    We want to ensure that you have all the information you need to make safe and enjoyable choices.

  • Please consult with the staff at the individual food operators, as opening and closing times may vary.

  • The last order at the bar is 30 minutes before closing.

    Please consult our staff, as closing times may vary throughout the week.

  • Yes, we have WiFi available at CRATE Walthamstow!

    It's a great space to work remotely with free WiFi (17&Central Free WiFi) and various food options.

    Enjoy a productive and comfortable environment while staying connected!

  • Yes, CRATE Walthamstow is wheelchair friendly!

    We strive to ensure that all of our visitors have a comfortable and enjoyable experience. If you need any assistance or have specific accessibility requirements, please let our staff know, and we'll be happy to help.

  • Yes, we have plug sockets and USB sockets available in certain locations, making it convenient to work remotely.

    Feel free to make use of them while enjoying our facilities!

  • For health and safety reasons, we do not have this facility inside the Soft Play area.

    However, you can use power sockets in the CRATE Food and Drinks space outside the Soft Play.

  • Yes, we have disabled toilets and baby changing facilities available. They are conveniently located next to the lifts on the same level as CRATE Walthamstow.

  • Unfortunately, we do not have toilets or baby changing facilities inside Play Central.

    However, there are toilets and baby changing facilities, including parent and child toilets, conveniently located just next to the lifts, not too far away.

  • We currently do not have gift vouchers available, but it's something we may introduce soon.

    Subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to find out when it happens.

  • Please check the job section of the 17 & Central website.

  • The soft play area, Play Central, is designed for the following age groups:

    • Baby and toddler: 0-2 years

    • Junior: 3-7 years

    Children outside this age range are not permitted to play. Adults or guardians accompanying children may be required to show proof of age (18+) upon entry.

  • Monday to Saturday

    9 am – 7 pm (last 90 minute session starts at 5.30 pm)

    Sunday

    10 am – 6.30 pm (last 90 minute session starts at 5 pm)

    Please note that the soft play area is closed on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day.

  • All our play sessions are 90 minutes, except for the last session of the day, which is an hour long and available at happy hour prices.

Bookings and Reservations

  • You can reserve a table at CRATE Walthamstow through our website.

  • Absolutely, large groups are welcome at CRATE Walthamstow! Secure your space in advance by reserving a table on our website.

    For an exclusive space for your party, we have two event spaces available for hire. Send us an enquiry through our website, or you can privately hire the Play Central space for kids' parties by booking a Private Hire on our website.

  • To book a soft play session at Play Central, simply visit our website.

    You'll find all the available time slots and can secure your spot online. If you encounter any issues or need assistance, feel free to email us at bookings@crate17.co.uk or speak to one of our staff members during your visit. Have fun!

  • Unfortunately, we cannot reserve or guarantee tables inside the soft play area. Therefore, we advise parties requiring a table for cake cutting and food to reserve a table in the CRATE food or bar area before or after the play session. You can request a table reservation on our website.

    For exclusive space, we also have private rooms available. You can enquire about them on our website.

  • To book a soft play session for a birthday party at Play Central, simply visit our website.

    Parties for 10 or more kids during public sessions can be booked through the party booking section on our website. You can also reserve a table in the food area through our website to continue the party after your play session.

    If you prefer, we have two private rooms available for hire. Send us an enquiry through our website. Additionally, you can hire the entire soft play space, which can accommodate a maximum of 70 people by booking a private hire on our website.

    We're here to help make your child's birthday celebration special!

  • To book a party or private event with us, we kindly ask for a non-refundable deposit of at least 50%. The rest can be paid before your session begins! We’re a cashless venue, so please bring a suitable payment method when you arrive. Remember, all bookings depend on availability and are confirmed once full payment is received. If you’ve taken advantage of our party package for 10 or more children, you’ll still be charged for a minimum of 10, even if there are fewer guests. We’re excited to welcome you and ensure a fun, safe experience for everyone!

  • Yes, we offer a discount for group bookings of 20+ guests. Please refer to our booking page for detailed pricing information.

    If you’ve taken advantage of our 20+ guest party package, you’ll still be charged for a minimum of 10 children, even if there are fewer guests. We’re excited to welcome you and ensure a fun, safe experience for everyone!

  • We typically do not allow walk-ins and ask that you book online to ensure you're aware of the rules of Play before making a reservation.

    However, if you encounter an error while booking, please email bookings@crate17.co.uk with the error message. Alternatively, you can visit us in person, and one of our staff members will assist you in booking a session.

  • We are a cashless venue and request that all our guests book online.

    This ensures that you confirm your understanding of the Rules of Play on our website while booking. However, if you encounter an error during the booking process, please email bookings@crate17.co.uk with the error message.

    Alternatively, you can visit us in person, and one of our staff members will assist you in booking a session.

  • Typically, each booking accommodates up to two adults.

    You can add additional adults at £7.50 each subject to availability and capacity restrictions. Please remember to include all adults, including complimentary ones, in your count, as only the specified number will be granted entry to Play Central. Additional children or adults cannot be added to a reservation at the venue.

    Need to tweak your booking? No problem! You can easily view or adjust it in your Account Area on our website, also linked in you booking confirmation email. . Just log in with your last name and booking reference.

    You can modify your play session up to 3 hours before it starts.

  • For Party or group bookings we permit 1 complimentary adult for every paying child. You may add extra adults at a cost of £7.50 each, depending on availability and capacity limitation.

    Please remember to include all adults, including complimentary ones, in your count, as only the specified number will be granted entry to Play Central. Additional children or adults cannot be added to a reservation at the venue.

    Need to tweak your booking? No problem! You can easily view or adjust it in your Account Area on our website, also linked in you booking confirmation email. . Just log in with your last name and booking reference. ‍‍ ‍

    For group or party bookings, changes can be made up to 48 hours in advance. Private hire bookings require a bit more notice—please email us at Hello@crate17.co.uk at least 14 days ahead.

    ‍ ‍

  • To extend your play sessions, you will need to check if the next slot is available and book the next session on our website.

  • No refunds are provided for cancellations or no shows. If you need to cancel, you may reschedule your play session for another available time slot. Please do this at least 3 hours before the start time by adjusting your booking in the "My Account" section of our website, also linked in you booking confirmation email. Group/ Party booking can only be modified at least 48 hours in advance. Private hire bookings require a bit more notice—please email us at hello@crate17.co.uk at least 14 days ahead. Please note that rescheduling is subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed.

  • You may reschedule your play session for another available time slot. Please do this at least 3 hours before the start time by adjusting your booking in the "My Account" section of our website, also linked in your booking confirmation email. Group/ Party booking can only be modified at least 48 hours in advance. Private hire bookings require a bit more notice—please email us at hello@crate17.co.uk at least 14 days ahead. Please note that rescheduling is subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed.

  • You cannot modify a booking after the modification window has closed. For Play sessions, changes are allowed up to 3 hours before the session. For parties and group bookings, modifications can be made up to 48 hours before the session. To change a private hire booking, email hello@crate17.co.uk at least 14 days in advance.

  • We offer discounted 90-minute play sessions during off-peak hours, Monday to Friday (except during half term and holidays), for sessions that start at 12:00, 12:30, 1:00 and 1:30 pm.

    Please check our booking page for pricing details.

  • We offer 90 minutes of play during off-peak hours, with time slots available from Monday to Friday (except during Half-terms and Holidays), 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm.

  • The last admission for a 90 minutes play session at Play Central is at 5:30 pm from Monday to Saturday, and at 5 pm on Sunday.

  • The last session is one hour to accommodate late-day visitors. It offers a shorter playtime at a reduced rate, subject to capacity availability.

    Please refer to our booking page for detailed pricing information.

  • If the desired time slot is grayed out, it is likely that the session is already full, or all the time slots for that day are fully booked.

  • For future bookings, please email bookings@crate17.co.uk with proof of payment, along with your name and the date and time of the booking. For same-day bookings, please visit the location and speak to one of our staff members.

  • We charge for infants as well as they are included in the headcount, which limits our capacity due to fire safety regulations.

  • All children must be supervised by an adult or guardian at all times. The required adult-to-child ratios are as follows:

    • Under 2 years old: One adult to three children

    • 2-3 years old: One adult to four children

    • 4-7 years old: One adult to six children

  • At this time, we do not offer memberships. However, we encourage you to follow us on social media or sign up for our newsletter to be informed as soon as memberships become available.

  • Currently, we do not offer special festive holiday sessions.

    Please follow us on social media or sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on any future offerings.

  • Generally, the soft play area tends to be quieter from Monday to Friday, between 12 pm and 3 pm.

  • At present, we do not offer discounts for childminders. However, please follow us on social media or subscribe to our newsletter to be among the first to know about any future promotions.

  • We are unable to add adults to your booking at the venue. To add additional adults to your booking, visit the "My Account" section of our website, also linked in your booking confirmation email. Please do this at least 3 hours before the start time for a play session booking. Group/ Party booking can only be modified up to 48 hours in advance, subject to availability. It is important to note that we allow a maximum of two adults for each play session booking and one adult per paying child for party bookings at no extra charge. You can add additional adults at £7.50 each subject to availability and capacity restrictions. Please ensure that all adults are included in your booking, even those who are free, as we will only accommodate the total number of adults indicated on the booking. Be sure to check the necessary adult-to-child ratio.

  • To add additional children to your booking, visit the "My Account" section of our website, also linked in your booking confirmation email. Please do this at least 3 hours before the start time for a play session booking. Group/ Party booking can only be modified up to 48 hours in advance, subject to availability. Be sure to check the necessary adult-to-child ratio.

  • To ensure that all children don’t miss playtime, our host will prioritize admitting guests first and will also make sure that guests who are leaving have signed out. Due to this busy period, we may not have the capacity to assist with editing or rescheduling sessions. Additionally sessions tend to fill up quickly and the venue may not have the capacity to accommodate additional guest.

House Rules and Health & Safety Policies

  • We do not allow outside food in the CRATE space.

    This space is dedicated to our street food vendors who offer a variety of food options that can be ordered à la carte or in advance.

    Some vendors also have special catering menus specifically designed for parties.

    Orders need to be placed directly with the respective food vendors.

    You can download their catering menu, which also includes their contact details.

  • Yes, children are allowed in the bar area until 8 PM if they are accompanied by a supervising adult.

    In the food area, children are allowed until closing time.

  • We do not allow candles in Play Central however if you have booked one of our private rooms or a reserved a table, you are welcome to bring your own cake and candles. Please hand over the birthday cake and candles to our host on arrival, and they will bring it to you when you are ready.

    For fire safety, we request that you allow our host to light the candle and supervise to ensure it is extinguished safely. Thank you for your understanding.

  • Play Central

    Unfortunately, we do not allow decorations inside Play Central unless the space is hired exclusively as a Private Hire.

    However, we do not allow any decorations on the walls except for pre-discussed decorations in the private rooms. Only free-standing decorations, subject to space availability, are allowed in the food/bar and soft play area.

    Private rooms
    If you've hired one of our private rooms, please discuss the details of the decoration and the do's and don'ts with our staff before confirming your booking.

    We kindly request that you remove your decorations at the end of the reservation for the comfort of the next guests and leave the private rooms/ Play Central in the same condition as received within the booking time.

    Table Reservations

    Guest are also welcome to dress the reserved table in the food/bar area and bring in balloons with weights

    Confetti, party poppers, piñatas, streamers, and indoor fireworks are strictly prohibited in all Play Central and CRATE/17 & Central spaces. Thank you for your understanding.

  • We are not responsible for lost or stolen items. Please ensure that you keep your belongings secure.

  • Buggies, pushchairs, bikes and scooters are not allowed inside the soft play area due to space constraints and fire safety restrictions.

    However, you can park them in the buggy park right outside Play Central.

    Please do not leave any valuables inside the buggies. Play Central is not responsible for the loss of personal items including pushchair/buggy/scooter/bikes.

  • Unfortunately, buggies and pushchairs are not allowed inside the soft play area. This is to ensure everyone's safety and to maintain a comfortable space for all our little ones to enjoy. Thank you for your understanding!

  • Sessions start promptly to ensure that everyone gets their full playtime.

    Due to limited space capacity, late arrivals will lose playtime, and no refund will be provided. This also helps us start the next session on time for our guests.

  • Due to space capacity constraints, entry into the soft play area is strictly limited to your designated booking time.

  • Yes, supervision is necessary. Play Central does not provide supervision, and it is the responsibility of the parent or accompanying adult to ensure the health and safety of their children while on the premises.

  • Yes, adults may swap supervision responsibilities with one another. However, it is essential to ensure that children are always under appropriate supervision. Please ensure the supervising adult is wearing a wrist band.

  • We allow a maximum of two adults for each play session booking and one adult per paying child for party bookings at no extra charge. Additional adults can be added for £7.50 each, subject to availability and capacity limits. Please ensure that all adults are included in your booking, even those who are free, as we will only accommodate the total number of adults indicated on the booking. Be sure to check the necessary adult-to-child ratio.

  • We are not responsible for any injury, loss, or damage that occurs during the session. It is the parent or guardian's responsibility to ensure that the rules of play are followed.

  • No, if a parent or guardian needs to leave the Soft Play area, the child must remain under the accompanying responsible adults supervision and cannot be left unattended.

  • For the safeguarding of the children in the soft play area, we request that entry and exit gates are not opened by parents or children. Please wait for our host to let you out.

  • For the comfort of all our guests, we kindly ask that nappies are only changed in the toilets or baby changing facilities within 17 & Central. Unfortunately, nappy changes are not allowed inside Play Central. Thank you for your understanding.

  • You can eat while sitting on the chairs and tables inside Play Central, but not inside the play area itself.

    Please ensure that drinks are in plastic cups, not glass, and that the Food & Drinks are purchased from CRATE Walthamstow vendors.

    Food purchased from outside except baby food, water & milk is not permitted.

  • We only permit food and beverages purchased from within CRATE to be consumed inside the soft play area.

    Guests with little young babies can bring baby food & milk. For safety reasons, please request takeaway cups or glasses, as glass containers are prohibited. Should you have any questions, kindly consult our staff.

  • For the comfort of all our guests, we kindly ask that kids' potties are only used in the toilets or baby changing facilities within 17 & Central.

    Unfortunately, they are not allowed inside Play Central or anywhere else in the centre. Thank you for your understanding.

  • At Play Central we reserve the right to refuse entry to anyone exhibiting signs of illness to ensure the health and safety of all our guests.

  • To ensure a smooth transition between sessions, we recommend that you begin packing up at least 5 to 10 minutes before your scheduled exit time. This allows you to exit on time, ensuring that the customers in the following session can start promptly.

  • Aggressive or disruptive behaviour will not be tolerated. We reserve the right to ask anyone engaging in such behaviour to leave the premises. This also includes anyone who has paid for a play session, and the amount paid will not be refunded.

  • We appreciate your understanding!

    While our staff is dedicated to providing a safe and enjoyable environment, it’s important to note that they are not there for supervision.

    It is the responsibility of parents or accompanying adults to supervise their children at all times. Thank you for your cooperation!

  • Guests are welcome to purchase food and beverages from our vendors in CRATE and enjoy them at tables within Play Central.

    However, it is the responsibility of the parent or accompanying adult to verify allergen information with the vendors and to remain vigilant if their child has allergies, as we do not restrict allergen consumption in the space.

  • Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed at CRATE Walthamstow. We understand how important your furry friends are to you, and we wish we could accommodate them.

    Thank you for your understanding. If you have any other questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out.

  • The buggy area is exclusively reserved for guests of Play Central.