Boffy’s Play Café Brings New Family Destination to Pocklington High Street

When Beth Davies set out to create a welcoming café where parents and carers could relax while young children played safely, she wasn’t just opening a new business, she was creating a destination that is helping strengthen Pocklington’s high street.

Opened in February 2026, Boffy’s Play Café combines a high-quality café with an engaging indoor play environment, giving families a place to spend quality time together while encouraging visitors to stay longer in the town centre. The business is already attracting local families and visitors alike, contributing to the vibrancy of Pocklington’s independent retail offer.

Beth first engaged with the Invest East Yorkshire Business Support Service in November 2025 after identifying a gap in the market for a café designed specifically for parents, carers and young children.

Although Beth had an extensive background in marketing and her husband brought project management experience from the banking sector, running a food business was completely new to them.

Working closely with Business Advisor Stacey Middlewood, Beth received tailored one-to-one support to help transform her idea into a successful business. Through a Business Needs Analysis, Stacey guided Beth through the regulatory requirements of establishing a food business, supported the planning and management of the building refurbishment, and provided advice throughout the start-up journey.

Over more than 18 hours of business support between November 2025 and February 2026, Beth received guidance on business planning, funding applications, project management and preparing to launch the café, which successfully opened its doors on 23 February 2026. With support from Stacey, Beth successfully secured both a UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Capital Grant and a Start-Up Grant.

While Beth was confident presenting her business case to secure commercial finance, Stacey helped refine the grant applications to ensure they aligned with UKSPF priorities and met the programme requirements.

The Capital Grant enabled the purchase of:

• A commercial fridge and freezer
• A modern EPOS payment system
• A professional barista coffee machine

The Start-Up Grant supported investment in:

• Children’s play equipment
• Staff uniforms
• Essential kitchen equipment

These investments helped create the premium customer experience Beth had envisioned while providing the tools needed to operate efficiently from day one.

Since opening, Boffy’s Play Café has enjoyed a positive response from customers, with many of the play sessions fully booked. The café offers a simple but high-quality food and drink menu that complements its carefully designed play areas, creating a welcoming environment for families.

The business has also begun expanding its offer by hosting activities beyond its daytime sessions, including a successful pottery workshop. Following attendance at an Invest East Yorkshire social media workshop, Beth identified opportunities to use the café as a venue for evening workshops and networking events for local businesses, making even greater use of the town centre premises outside normal opening hours.

Like many first-time business owners, Beth encountered challenges during the refurbishment process. Unexpected contractor costs highlighted the importance of obtaining written quotations and managing supplier communications effectively.

With ongoing support from Stacey and the Business Support Service, Beth was able to overcome these challenges, gaining valuable knowledge that will help shape future business decisions.

Beth also attended an Invest East Yorkshire social media workshop, where she not only developed new ideas for promoting the business but also shared her own marketing expertise with fellow entrepreneurs, demonstrating the value of peer learning and local business networks.

Boffy’s Play Café is providing more than just a place to eat and play. The business has created a new reason for families to visit Pocklington town centre, encouraging longer stays and supporting neighbouring businesses.

As Pocklington continues to benefit from investment and support for its town centre, businesses like Boffy’s Play Café are helping create a more vibrant, diverse and resilient high street that meets the needs of modern communities.

If you are looking to grow your business or explore funding and support opportunities, visit:
www.investeastyorkshire.co.uk/business-support

This support was delivered through Invest East Yorkshire Business Support Services programmes designed to help local businesses innovate, invest and grow sustainably across East Yorkshire.