The Premier Play Cafe & Family Fitness Hub in South Warrington
Experience the perfect balance for parents. Downstairs, unwind with locally sourced, home-cooked food while your little ones explore our soft play and role-play zones. Upstairs, prioritize your health with expert-led postnatal fitness, HIIT, Pilates, and Barre classes designed for every stage of your journey. All under one roof in the heart of Stockton Heath.
Z is the place in Warrington where parents can exercise without worrying about childcare – babies join you in Baby & Me, toddlers play in the studio during Mini & Me, and children aged 4+ train alongside you in Family Fitness. We welcome families from Stockton Heath, Appleton, Grappenhall, Lymm, Walton, Thelwall and across Warrington.
Soft play designed specifically for 0-5 year olds! Large enough to explore, climb and make
friends whilst staying in
sight!
After mastering the slides, rollers and ball pit, kids can head over to the role play village and
do their shopping
whilst dressed as a princess, fire fighter or police officer!
We’ve got you covered for breakfast, lunch and dinner 7 days a week!
Our home cooked menu is made using locally sourced ingredients and there are extensive options
for adults and children
of all ages including weaning babies.
We are proud to serve Two Brothers
Coffee, roasted in Warrington! We also offer a range of teas, Matcha, Ube as well as
cold drinks including our in house created shakes and coolers.
Fitness Classes in Stockton Heath That Fit Around Family Life
At Z, we believe fitness should fit around family life, not the other way around. Whether you're looking for postnatal fitness classes, postnatal Pilates, HIIT, Barre, Pilates, or fun family fitness classes in Warrington, our timetable is designed to support every stage of your journey.
Our flexible schedule means you can continue exercising whether you're recovering after pregnancy, working around a young family or simply looking for a welcoming fitness community in Stockton Heath – and you never need to arrange childcare to do it.
Why choose Z?
Ask our members what keeps them coming back and the same things come up again and again:
A welcoming atmosphere
No judgement, whatever your level
Coaches who know everyone's name
Classes suitable for complete beginners
A supportive community
A premium studio
Flexible memberships
Exercise without worrying about childcare
Who are our classes for?
New mums
Busy parents
Beginners
Returning to exercise
Experienced gym-goers
Adults over 50
Class guides
Find out more about each type of class, who it's for and what to expect:
Fitness exclusively for adults, with teenagers also welcome to train alongside their parents.
Our timetable includes HIIT, Glutecamp, Kettlebells, Barre and Pilates, with morning and evening classes available throughout the week. Every session can be adapted to suit your experience, goals and fitness level, making it ideal whether you're just getting started or looking to challenge yourself.
Baby & Me – Postnatal Fitness in Warrington
Our postnatal fitness classes are designed specifically for new mums who want to rebuild strength while keeping their pre-walking baby by their side.
If you've been searching for postnatal fitness near me, mum and baby exercise classes, or postnatal Pilates in Warrington, our Baby & Me programme offers a supportive environment led by experienced coaches.
Our three specialist classes each focus on a different stage of recovery:
Reconnect (Monday) – gentle postnatal recovery, mobility and core restoration.
Reignite (Wednesday) – rebuilding strength and confidence after birth.
Postnatal Pilates (Thursday) – improve posture, strengthen your core and pelvic floor, and develop long-term movement quality.
Every class is designed to help you recover safely, regain confidence and enjoy exercising without needing childcare. Read our full guide to postnatal fitness in Warrington, including returning to exercise after a C-section and pelvic floor recovery.
"I've honestly had the best time in these classes during maternity leave. I could barely keep up with the first class and had DOMS for days, but now I leave feeling strong after every class. They have saved my sanity, entertained my baby and helped me rebuild strength all at the same time, plus we've made Mum friends. Now it's time to graduate to Mini-and-Me!"
— Louise
Mini & Me – Toddler-Friendly Fitness Classes
Perfect for parents with toddlers.
Enjoy a full workout while your little one plays safely in our dedicated play area on the other side of the studio. It's an ideal way to prioritise your health without sacrificing valuable family time.
Our Family Fitness sessions are designed for adults and children aged 4+, creating a fun, energetic environment where everyone can get active together. They're perfect for encouraging healthy habits while spending quality time as a family.
Why together? Because children copy what they see. A child who watches their parents move, laugh and try hard learns that exercise is a normal, enjoyable part of life rather than a chore. And for parents who struggle to find an activity everyone genuinely enjoys, it's one session where the whole family gets active – no childcare, no juggling. Find out more about Family Fitness.
Expert Coaching
Every class is delivered by fully qualified coaches with experience in adapting sessions to suit individual abilities and life stages, including pregnancy and postnatal recovery.
Whether you're joining an energetic HIIT workout, a strengthening Kettlebell session, or a restorative Pilates or Barre class, you'll receive expert guidance in a welcoming, supportive environment.
Flexible Memberships
Family life doesn't always go to plan, so we've made our memberships flexible too.
Classes start from just £8 per session and can be booked using individual class credits, credit bundles or unlimited monthly memberships, allowing you to choose the option that works best for your lifestyle.
We welcome members from Stockton Heath, Appleton, Grappenhall, Lymm, Walton, Thelwall and across Warrington.
Celebrate your special day in style with private use of the soft
play and café, creating a relaxed and intimate setting for your event. Perfect
for birthdays, christenings, special occasions or simply get-togethers with large
groups of friends. Special, stress free times with your nearest & dearest.
Includes:
Exclusive use of the full venue
Dedicated team of waiters
Freshly prepared cold children’s party buffet (upgrades available)
Complimentary welcome drink for 2 party organisers
Unlimited cordial / water for children
Complimentary ice cream for the birthday child
Available 3.30pm onwards Saturday & Sunday
£300 exclusive hire fee · no minimum number of children
required · maximum 30 children
Availability for exclusive hire outside
of the Saturday / Sunday 3.30–5.30pm slots is extremely limited & is charged at
a greater cost. Email events@zzz.site
for a quote.
The Z Playdate Package
£18 per child
Shared Experience
A relaxed and joyful celebration held during opening hours, perfect
for smaller gatherings who love a lively atmosphere. Enjoy your party within the
café while your little guests play and explore alongside others.
Includes:
Reserved party booths in the cafe
Table service for food & drinks
Freshly prepared cold children’s party buffet (upgrades available)
Unlimited cordial / water for children
Complimentary ice cream for the birthday child
Available any day & time Mon - Sun
£18 per child · no minimum number of children required
· maximum 12 children
Food Upgrades
The Little Feast Upgrade
£6 per child
Hot food for children
A warm, comforting option to the children’s
buffet—perfect for heartier appetites.
Includes:
Mini margarita pizzas
Chicken / fish / meat free goujons
Chips
Seasonal fruit & vegetable selection
Yoghurt pouches
Unlimited water / cordial
Available for private hire & shared play options
The Grown Up Feast Upgrade
£10 per adult
A beautifully styled sharing table for adults
Let your adult guests relax, enjoy some hot, freshly prepared food
& catch up whilst the children are entertained during your private play
experience.
Includes:
Freshly prepared hot wraps
Burgers
Pizzas
Freshly prepared sharing salad
Chips
Nachos
Seasonal fruit platter
Available for private hire only. Adults on the Playdate Shared
Experience package can order & pay individually for food on the day, or you may set
a tab for food / drink for your adult guests.
"We recently celebrated our daughter's birthday here, and I honestly couldn't recommend this place enough!
From the very beginning, the team was incredibly helpful in organising everything, and the whole day ran so smoothly. Every detail was taken care of, which meant we could just relax and enjoy the party."
— Laura
"The team were super friendly and made everything feel really easy and stress-free. Organising Rapunzel to come along was an amazing extra touch — it made the party really special and our little one was over the moon!"
— Beth
"We recently had our son's 3rd birthday party here and it was brilliantly organised, we didn't have to do a thing. Liv looked after us brilliantly."
If fitness isn’t your thing, don’t worry - we’ve still got plenty of weekly activities & special
events to
keep you & your family entertained. More than ‘just that kids soft play’, Z aims to offer a
diverse range of
fun classes that can also support your child’s development socially, emotionally & physically.
Enjoy our activities & events on a pay as you go or membership basis.
All class attendees are welcome to enjoy a complimentary soft play session before or after your
activity, so
you can really make a morning / afternoon of it!
Take a look at our busy activities and events timetable below - we hope to welcome you to one of
our sessions
soon!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the opening times?
8:00am - 5:00pm - Monday
8:00am - 5:00pm - Tuesday
8:00am - 7:00pm - Wednesday
8:00am - 5:00pm - Thursday
8:00am - 5:00pm - Friday
8:00am - 5:00pm - Saturday
8:00am - 5:00pm - Sunday
What activities and events do you offer?
We offer a diverse range of fun classes that can support your child’s development socially,
emotionally &
physically. Please refer to our activities and events timetable for more details.
Where can I find Z?
We are located at No 1 The Forge, Stockton Heath, WA4 6HW. We are right at the front of The
Forge
shopping centre facing onto London Road, next to Clarks Shoes, a 2 minute walk from Marks &
Spencers
Food Hall.
Where can I park?
We have a carpark just a 2 minute walk from our door! Search on your maps for The Forge Car
Park, WA4
6HW. It is free on Sundays, but operates on an hourly basis Monday-Saturday. There is a
machine to pay
cash or card in the car park, but the easiest thing to do is download RingGo car parking app
before
visiting us, then you can pay via the app on arrival all from the comfort of your car.
Can I do anything else whilst in Stockton Heath?
Absolutely, we are so proud of our beautiful village. Stockton Heath is awash with fantastic
independent
shops and restaurants including Juniper, Lemon Tree & All That Jazz (our
personal
favourite, selling anything from home furnishings to cleaning products!). Equally, we have
some great
nature walks on our door step too, so why not make a day of it with a visit to Z, followed
by a spot of
shopping and a walk to Walton Hall and Gardens!
Is Z buggy friendly?
Yes of course! We have a buggy park near our main reception.
Do you charge for adults?
Nope, as many adults as you like welcome free of charge.
Can kids aged 6+ come to Z?
We love to see older children visit with their families. They are not permitted to go onto
the soft play equipment, but can absolutely join for free as ‘adults’ to enjoy
food / drink with their family.
Do you have baby changers / disabled toilets?
Yes, of course - we even stock some essentials such as wipes free of charge - just in case
you're caught
short!
Is there a lift?
Unfortunately not. The main soft play & cafe is on the ground floor, but our studio for
fitness classes &
events is upstairs. However, we always have a member of staff on hand to assist in getting
you up the
stairs, or you can leave your buggy in the buggy park downstairs to make things easier for
you if you
are attending a class / event upstairs.
Is there a time limit on my play session?
Nope. We loosely say we may need the table back after 2 hours if we are busy, but if we are
able to
(subject to availability) you can stay for as long as you like with no extra charge - life
is stressful
enough!
Do I have to pay upfront / is there a cancellation charge for a play session?
Nope. Simply reserve your table online & pay upon arrival. Again, life is stressful enough!
Can I stay for a soft play session or eat in the cafe before / after a class?
Absolutely, your ticket to any fitness or activity class / event gives you complimentary
access to our
soft play and cafe before or after your class (subject to availability on the day,
albeit we always
try to reserve space for our class attendees as best we can).
Fitness classes
Can I bring my baby to a class?
Yes. Our Baby & Me postnatal classes – Reconnect (Monday), Reignite (Wednesday) and Postnatal Pilates (Thursday) – are designed for new mums who want to rebuild strength while keeping their pre-walking baby by their side.
Can my toddler stay with me?
Yes. Mini & Me classes – HIIT on Wednesdays and Fridays and Barre on Thursdays – let you enjoy a full workout while your little one plays safely in our dedicated play area on the other side of the studio.
Do I need childcare to come to a class?
Not for Baby & Me, Mini & Me or Family Fitness – your child comes with you. Our adult classes are exclusively for adults, with teenagers welcome to train alongside their parents.
When can I start postnatal exercise?
The usual NHS advice is to wait until after your postnatal check (around six to eight weeks) and to speak to your GP or midwife before returning to structured exercise. Our Reconnect class focuses on gentle postnatal recovery, mobility and core restoration, so it's the natural first step back. Read more in our postnatal fitness guide.
Can I attend after a C-section?
Yes, once you've had your postnatal check and your GP has given you the go-ahead. Let your coach know at your first class and every exercise will be adapted for you.
I'm completely new to fitness – can I still join?
Absolutely. Every session can be adapted to suit your experience, goals and fitness level, making our classes ideal whether you're just getting started or looking to challenge yourself.
Can grandparents attend?
Family Fitness sessions are designed for adults and children aged 4+, so grandparents and carers are welcome alongside parents. Grandparents are equally welcome in our adult classes.
Comfortable clothes you can move in, trainers for HIIT and Family Fitness, and a water bottle. For Baby & Me, bring whatever your baby usually needs – there's a buggy park by reception and baby changing facilities downstairs.
Are memberships flexible?
Yes. Classes start from £8 per session and can be booked using individual class credits, credit bundles or unlimited monthly memberships, so you can choose the option that works best for your lifestyle. See our memberships.
Z was founded by local parents, Olivia and Dan, who felt that Stockton Heath needed a space designed specifically for
families to play, dine, party and enjoy fitness classes together.
“We want to create a lifelong love of movement within a welcoming community, where families can stay active, play
together, and socialise whilst enjoying locally sourced, home cooked meals“
Why Stockton Heath needed Z
Olivia and Dan felt Stockton Heath needed one place where families could do it all: a soft play designed specifically for 0–5 year olds that's large enough to explore but keeps little ones in sight, a café serving home-cooked food made with locally sourced ingredients, and a studio upstairs where parents can exercise without needing childcare. All in the heart of the village at The Forge, facing onto London Road and a two-minute walk from the car park.
Why family fitness matters
We believe fitness should fit around family life, not the other way around. Too many parents put their own health on hold for years because there's never a gap in the day, never a babysitter, never the energy left over.
Our timetable is built for every stage of that journey: Baby & Me for new mums with pre-walking babies, Mini & Me for parents with toddlers, Family Fitness for adults and children aged 4+, and adult classes where teenagers are welcome to train alongside their parents. Whatever stage you're at, there's a class where you belong – and no childcare to arrange.
Why movement after pregnancy matters
The months after having a baby are some of the hardest on a body, and often some of the least supported. Rebuilding your core and pelvic floor, regaining the strength that lifting and carrying a growing baby demands, and simply having an hour that's about you – these things matter enormously for how you feel, physically and mentally.
Our postnatal classes – Reconnect, Reignite and Postnatal Pilates – were created to give new mums a safe, supportive route back to exercise, led by coaches experienced in adapting sessions for pregnancy and postnatal recovery, in a room full of other mums who understand.
Why children need to see active parents
Children copy what they see. A child who grows up watching their parents move, sweat, laugh and try hard learns that exercise is a normal, enjoyable part of life rather than a chore. That's why so much of what we do at Z is designed to be done together – from toddlers playing in the studio while a parent does HIIT or Barre, to Family Fitness sessions where grown-ups and kids get active side by side. A lifelong love of movement starts young.
Everything under one roof
Play downstairs, dine downstairs, train upstairs. Every class ticket includes complimentary access to the soft play and café before or after your session, so a workout can turn into a whole morning. Birthday parties, a menu with options for weaning babies, Two Brothers Coffee roasted in Warrington, a buggy park by reception – all under one roof in the heart of Stockton Heath.
We welcome families from Stockton Heath, Appleton, Grappenhall, Lymm, Walton, Thelwall and across Warrington, and we're proud that our members keep telling us the same things: that it's welcoming, that nobody is judged, and that the coaches know everyone's name.
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