Mugg & Bean @ Broadacres Lifestyle Centre, Fourways (JHB)

The Mugg & Bean brand can be found all over South Africa - you will spot it in most of the major centres, and with it comes the mark of a good quality meal and great coffee, at an affordable price.
It is not normally the type of establishment that would appear on Plebs with Kids, but this branch is one with a difference.
Read on...

Date last visited

June 2011

Location and Setting

Broadacres Lifestyle Centre is situated on the corner of Cedar and Valley Roads, Broadacres, Fourways, In Johannesburg.
It contains a variety of restaurants, shops and venues, one of which is the Mugg & Bean about which this post is being written.

You can view a map here.

For the kids...

Mugg & Bean is not usually all about the kids.
Sure, the new branch in Harrismith (at the Bergview Engen One-Stop) gives out crayons and drawings for the kids to colour in, but this is not common for the franchise, at least not in my experience.

Mugg & Bean Broadacres though, is totally kid-oriented.
Make your way through the inside area, and beyond lies an idyllic outdoor playground for the little ones.
Taking centre stage is the giant plastic jungle gym, with its twisty slides and giant ball pool.
There is also a really cool riding track that encircles the play area - ideal for kid-racers on plastic ride-on bikes.

Moving to the back of the playground, you will find an old favourite - the ever-popular jumping castle.
If that doesn't do it for the tots, then they can head over to the other side of the playground where there is a huge wooden jungle gym type structure.

Add some animals to this already successful mix, and it's all starting to look like a winner - there are some geese and rabbits who live near the playground in an animal enclosure, and they make for great entertainment for the kid who demands a lot from their Sunday outing :)

As for the kids menu, Mugg & Bean offers a great spread which will likely satisfy even the most fussy eaters - you can view their menu online here.

During our visit, the restaurant was setting up for a kids party in their own private party venue behind the playground - for details about hiring the venue, please contact them directly using the details at the bottom of this post.

Just as you walk out of the Mugg & Bean, be sure not to miss the kids fancy dress costume shop on your right.
Here you can get anything from a kids cowboy outfit to a fairy princess costume - they really do have a lot on offer, so be prepared to spend a good few minutes in there once your little ones realise what a goldmine they have just stumbled upon... :)

For the slightly older kids, there is also an awesome model shop just a few steps away from the Mugg & Bean, offering a wide variety of radio controlled toys.
Aircraft, helicopters, cars... I almost didn't get out of the shop myself... ;)

For the adults...

I tend to think with my stomach before all else - whenever we need a place to go to, I am thinking about the food and coffee offerings before we even set off :)

Mugg & Bean is great because their standards are consistently high - I cannot think of a time when I have had a bad meal at any of their branches, and the Broadacres branch is no exception.

From a great breakfast spread, to a decent menu for lunch and dinner options, to their extensive coffee menu, Mugg & Bean have a wide variety of meals to cater for just about anyone.
If you want to check out the menu right now, you can view it online here.

After a great meal, you can head out of the Mugg & Bean and take a walk around the Lifestyle Centre itself.

Outside you will find a well-stocked nursery, a large indoor Garden Shop (where you can buy gardening equipment, some novel kids outdoor toys, decorations and more) and several other restaurants (one of which also has a very nice kids play area of its own).

Walk a bit further and you will come across the beautifully manicured gardens of Buitengeluk - a traditional Cape Dutch style venue and restaurant - you can view their website here.
The Broadacres Lifestyle Centre also offers convenience, in that you can bring your shopping bags along and stock up on groceries at the Woolworths or Spar in the centre.

Finally, the Barnyard Theatre on the premises offers some evening entertainment options, that is if you still have enough energy after a day out with the kids :)

Anything else?

If you want to get in touch with the actual Lifestyle Centre for more information about the other stores and restaurants onsite, you can call them on (+27) 11 467 2070.

There are also child-minders on the playground, and a baby changing room at the Mugg & Bean - just 2 things less to think about :)

Final words

Sometimes you just want to go somewhere without having to second guess the kind of food you will get, or what condition the kids play area will be in. 

The Mugg & Bean in Broadacres is a great way to do this, with the added benefit of being within the Lifestyle Centre itself.

Getting in touch

Telephone:
(+27) 11 465 0155

Fax:
(+27) 11 465 9223

Website:
http://www.themugg.com

Read more...

Circus Allegria review, Park Meadows, Bedfordview (JHB)

This one is a little different from places that would normally appear on Plebs with Kids, but we feel that it deserves a spot here because of the obvious family and fun element that a circus brings with it.

Unfortunately this review comes a bit late, as the Circus Allegria has already moved on to Festival Mall in Kempton Park.
You can still catch up with them there until 22 May 2011.

Date last visited

May 2011

Location and Setting

For the past few months, the large multi-coloured circus big top of the Circus Allegria has dominated the parking lot at the Park Meadows Shopping Centre, opposite Eastgate Mall, in Bedfordview, Johannesburg.

As mentioned above though, that won't really help much as the circus is in Kempton Park now...:)
So if you decide to pay a visit to Circus Allegria, it is now at the following address until 22 May 2011:

Corner CR Swart Drive and Kelvin Street,
Kempton Park, 1619

You can view a map here.

For the kids...

The circus is always a barrel of laughs and all round fun for the kids, and Circus Allegria pretty much brings it all.

From jugglers to clowns with crazy antics, from magic acts that will keep the little ones guessing, to colourful costumes and fire acts that will amaze them - there really is a lot going on here that the kids will get a kick out of.

The important thing to remember though, is that the Circus Allegria prides itself on being "animal-free", so you won't see tigers, monkeys or any other kind of animal live on stage, and knowing how animals in circuses have been treated historically, this is a good thing!

If it's animals that the little ones want to see, rather head on over to the JHB Zoo :)

The cast of the show also make you feel very much at home - upon leaving the tent after the show, all the artistes lined up outside in 2 lines, and you could meet them in person.

This is very cool for the kids (and adults :), and something which you probably wouldn't get at one of the larger international circuses.

For the adults...

Personally I always enjoy a trip to the circus, but maybe I haven't grown up quite enough just yet :)

Watching humans pushing themselves to their physical limits though, in the form of acrobatics, strength acts, contortion and other wow-inducing feats, is something that pretty much everybody can enjoy and appreciate.

I also found myself laughing out loudly at the antics of Macaroni the clown - he is one funny guy, and that Italian accent just adds a whole lot to his already silly character :)

In terms of eats and drinks, this being a circus and all, there is only really a snacks and drinks kiosk onsite where you can grab a quick bite before the show or during the interval.

In the specific case of Park Meadows, there were of course several choices of restaurants in the mall itself where you could get a meal before or after the show.

Anything else?

Ticket prices:

- Ringside seats - R 100 + R 5 booking fee per seat
- Unreserved seats (13+ years old) - R 80 + R 5 booking fee per seat
- Unreserved seats kids (3 - 12 years old) - R 60 + R 5 booking fee per seat

You can book online via the website, or you can book before the show - allow at least half an hour before the show starts though.

Also, bring your camera - Circus Allegria does not mind photography at all.

You can also buy red clown noses and flashing glowsticks for the kids at the circus, just to add to the already festive atmosphere :)

Final words

Circus Allegria is well worth an afternoon outing. It is well-priced, fun for young and old, and it is certainly something quite out of the ordinary. I mean, how often is the circus in town?

Sure you can spend several hundred ZAR per ticket on a large international production, but for the price you pay, Circus Allegria really is great value for money.
It's a fun-filled 2 hour show with a short interval, and you will leave with smiles all round.

Getting in touch

Telephone:

(+27) 0 76 343 3858

Fax:

(+27) 0 86 570 7075

Email:

info@circusallegria.co.za

Website:

http://www.circusallegria.co.za

Read more...

Jingle Jangle Tea Garden review, Moreleta Park (Pretoria)

Credit: Luschka van Onselen

Luschka has been at it again, scouring Pretoria for kid-friendly places where she can get a great coffee at the same time. Thanks Luschka!

Jingle Jangle is my favourite place in Pretoria. It ticks all the boxes I need when we need some time out of the house, it's peaceful and has great coffee.

Date last visited

March 2011

Location and Setting

Jingle Jangle is located in Moreleta Park in Pretoria East. It's accessible from all major routes and pretty easy to find – there's a map here.

Jingle Jangle is set in a large area with beautiful bluegum trees and loads of activities for children. It's a perfect afternoon out, and even on the hottest of days, there's a cool breeze under those trees.

For the kids...

Credit: Luschka van Onselen

For the kids there's a costume shop and a stage for fancy dress – an additional fee applies for this. There are plastic 'motorbikes' and quad bikes (also additionally charged) on the riding circuit for older kids. There's also a play area with two climbing frames, a pole for sliding, a tunnel to climb through, a 'horse' to ride, a sandpit and swings.

Jingle Jangle's play equipment includes a trampoline and a bouncy castle as well as ride on toys such as dinosaurs, a Flintstone-style car and so on.

As with many other places in Pretoria, there's an animal farm, although it's really more of an enclosure than a farm :)

The children's menu has nice foods on it, and their chocolate and vanilla milkshakes are very yummy. 

There are pony-rides on weekends and public holidays too.

For the adults...

I think about Jingle Jangle, and I feel relaxed. 

I'm not kidding...For adults, there's really just the tea room – and if you don't want to be surrounded by children, there's a lovely separate enclosure too. 

I love the outdoors area though. Shaded by bluegum trees, able to keep an eye on the little ones, and have a bite to eat, there's not much missing. 

Credit: Luschka van Onselen

Their fruit juices are fantastic, as is the coffee.

Anything else?

There's plenty of parking and a car guard on duty. 

The toilets are lovely and there's a small baby-change area. You can book the area for private parties, or bring your own cake, but for that there's a 'corkage' fee.

Final words

As I said, I love this place, and it's my favourite in Pretoria. 

It's one of the most relaxing spots I've found and if you visit, you're likely to find me there!

Getting in touch

Address:

Wekker street
Plot 54
Kimiad Estate
Moreleta Park

Pretoria 

Credit: Luschka van Onselen

Telephone:

012 997 0134

Fax:
0866 924 724

Email:
jinglejangle@vodamail.co.za

Website:

http://www.jinglejangle.co.za/

Read more...