Play Away
Liverpool
Product
Funding use
Sector
Amount
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Summary
The opportunity
Play Away Children’s Playcentre has been a fixture of community life near Aintree Racecourse since 2013. Operating from a 10,000 sq ft site with soft play, trampolines, a ninja assault course, and party rooms, it serves children aged 18 months to seven years, seven days a week. When founders Geoff and Lesley Fallows decided to retire, the business was profitable, well-staffed, and trusted by local families — it just needed the right buyers to carry it forward.
The management team
Luke Fitzsimmons, Ryan Nevols, and Ian Milner came to the acquisition with complementary backgrounds across financial services, law, and construction. Between them they had managed high-value client portfolios, led complex projects, and navigated regulated environments. The incoming team were clear from the outset: the 12-strong team, including two senior managers who have been with Play Away since its launch, would all remain in post.
The investment
River Capital provided a six-figure loan through the North West Business Growth Loan Fund to support the £200,000 purchase price. The facility also funds a programme of improvements across the venue — an upgraded café, refreshed play facilities, new marketing activity, and the introduction of themed events and toddler sessions. Three additional members of staff are planned within the first year.
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“Play Away is already a well-loved part of the local community. Families trust it, and the staff know the business inside out. Our job is to build on that — improve the experience, introduce some new ideas, and make it somewhere parents genuinely want to spend time, not just drop their kids off. We’re grateful to River Capital for backing us on this; it’s exactly the kind of support that makes a deal like this possible.”
Luke Fitzsimmons, Director — Play Away Children’s Playcentre
