Sussex Zoo Announces Expansion With New Soft Play Venture

Drusillas Zoo Park has announced its expansion with a new soft play centre in Tunbridge Wells.

The park says it has acquired Minor Mania - a 'much-loved' soft play centre in Tunbridge Wells. The expansion marks a new chapter for the renowned zoo park, which they say will bring some 'Drusillas magic' to Tunbridge Wells. 

Minor Mania will soon become Amazon Adventure, the sister site to the park’s existing jungle-themed soft play.

Amazon Adventure is the second venture of the Smith Family, who acquired Drusillas in 1997.

With family roots in Tunbridge Wells, Laurence and Christine Smith, along with their children, Cassie Poland, Caroline Steer, and Ollie Smith, decided Minor Mania would be the 'perfect place' to begin their expansion and will be managed by the family’s youngest daughter, Caroline Steer.

As a regular visitor of Minor Mania, Caroline, they say, was the 'natural choice' to head up the new venture having worked in operations, events, and customer service at Drusillas Park for the past 10 years, while her two children, Clementine and Fleur, will act as her 'chief play testers and advisors' at the new centre.

Amazon Adventure Operations Director, Caroline Steer, said:

“As a regular visitor to Minor Mania I know just much it means to the local parenting community. A lifesaver on a rainy day, or that all important place to grab a coffee and keep the kids entertained so you can have a catch up with a friend, or enjoy a few minutes of breathing space! 

“We want to retain as many of the features that customers love as we can, along with some updates and maintenance that will make Amazon Adventure a really first-class experience for families.

“We’ll also be bringing in our expert catering team to give the food and drink offering a refresh, as well as modernising the booking system. Customers want to be able to book their day out as quickly and easily as possible, so we’ll introduce the same ticketing software we have at Drusillas. This will ensure visitors have a seamless, efficient experience from start to finish.“

This news may come as some relief to local families in Tunbridge Wells, who were advised that Minor Mania would be closing its doors this summer. 

Drusillas has now taken over the lease and will be reopening on July 20.

Drusillas Managing Director, Cassie Poland, said:

“This very exciting announcement marks our first foray into expanding the well-known Drusillas brand. We’re thrilled to be able to bring our years of experience in family-friendly attractions to create a unique and exhilarating soft play experience. 

“Our Drusillas Park site in Alfriston already boasts an extremely popular soft play area, so we know what works to keep children and their parents happy and engaged. We’ll be making some updates to the venue to keep it fresh and fun, and ensuring there are delicious snacks and great coffee on offer for parents.

"We understand what makes a day out to remember and creates a superior experience for the whole family. We can’t wait to open the doors of Amazon Adventure and to start a whole new chapter of Drusillas history!”