Dear Editor, I have been driving past the Crown Inn for over 7 years and I have always thought it to be a striking building with lots of potential. Such a shame to see it boarded up. My husband and I have paid a deposit on the Crown Inn and have submitted a planning application for change of usage from a public house to an under 5’s children’s ‘playing and learning together’ centre. The residential aspect to the first floor and rear will remain, as we plan to transform it into our family home.
A little about myself, my family and my business… I set my business up 12 years ago at the Barn on Hodgson Avenue in Werrington when the Youth Business Trust provided me with a loan and Happy Faces was born. In October 1999 I secured a rental agreement on premises in Skaters Way in Werrington. My business grew and within 3 years I had the maximum number of children in every session and had long waiting list. Fantastic I thought, however, one should never become complacent in business and 3 years ago, I saw a steady decline in numbers and an increase in outgoings such as rent and rates put a big strain on finances.
Happy Faces provides parents and carer’s of children under 5 with the opportunity to learn through playing together at organised weekly play sessions. I offer 3 daily sessions of 1hr 15mins Monday to Friday. The sessions provide quality educational wooden toys, water and sand play, craft activities, singing, refreshments, musical instruments, games and bubbles. Adults and children can meet up to socialise, learn and have lots of fun. Each play session involves play with quality educational toys rarely available in shops. As parents and carers remain with their children, they are more relaxed and happy with familiar faces around them, therefore they are more likely to enjoy their play, interact and subsequently learn more. Happy faces will also give parents the ‘play’ ideas to use at other times with their children. The sessions will also help children and parents alike to meet others and make friends, all sharing the same commitment to development and having fun with their children. Children also really enjoy making something to take home during the craft part of the session. Refreshments and nibbles are included in each session with the singing time and parachute games bringing each session to a close.
Now happily married to Jason, we live in Bourne with my son Oliver 15 and step daughter Emily 11. Oliver had chosen to do his ‘A’ levels at AMVC before any developments on the Crown became apparent. Emily also lives in the AMVC catchment area with her mum, so will also be starting at AMVC in September. A great coincidence to have both our children at the local school.
If we have our planning permission accepted we will get started on the refurbishment straight away with new uPVC windows to match the leaded style currently fitted, landscaping of the frontage with a low picket fence, gravel and soft planting, the repositioning of the crown sign, which we would love to keep and finally, re-landscape the rear garden and large expanse to tarmac. The area around the Crown is very busy during the morning and afternoon school runs and the Happy Faces business will not increase the congestion at that time of day because my first session starts at 9.15 am and the last one finishes at 2.45pm.
I hope the villagers of Glinton can also see our vision for the Crown Inn as a positive one. I would like to start advertising Happy Faces but will obviously make it clear at this stage it is very much subject to the planning application. If you would like any more information please do contact Jason or myself on 01733 324851
Claire & Jason Thomas
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