Orchid Group is making an assault on the family market with the support of a posse of alien invaders.
The Fuzzoids are a gang of friendly monsters who will feature in Fuzzy Ed's Fun House, a new play centre concept which will be launched at around 20 Orchid sites this year.
With a multi million investment planned over the next three years to refurbish more than 50 of its mid-market sites, Orchid expects the Fuzzy Ed's Fun House concept to have a strong appeal to families. The first four sites will be up and running this month, with a further 15 planned before the end of the year.
The state-of-the-art play equipment has been developed to get the most out of children's sense of adventure, search for knowledge and ability to have fun, with ball pools, slides and ariel swings.
Simon Dodd, commercial director of Orchid Group, said: "The Fuzzy Ed's Fun House is a play centre revolution, developed on the back of intensive research. It aims to educate and stimulate children through entertainment and provides parents with the opportunity to enjoy a well-deserved break and relax whilst dining out with their family."
While the children run around in the company of the aliens, the grown-ups can lounge on relaxing chairs and choose from a selection of snacks and drinks as well as a range of magazines. The family are then brought safely back to Earth with food in a range of settings.
These include lounge-style seating for extended dining; poser-style tables for quick bites or drinks; as well as the more typical restaurant-style seated table dining areas.