It’s official… private members’ clubs aren’t just exclusive haunts for the elite and mostly child-free hipsters… the past few years has seen a trend for luxury family members clubs… think soft play but clean and aesthetic; a restaurant but the food is good quality and tasty; there’s baby food and but there’s also barista style coffee… and of course wine. The staff know you and your child and you feel safe and welcome.
I’ve become quiet au fait with the world of luxury family clubs over the years and honestly they are quite a saving grace for parents especially those on maternity / paternity leave. I was delighted to be offered the chance to try Jesse’s House (through a three month PR membership) and I was really excited to bring Oscar and Noah there to play.
What is Jesse’s House
Jesse’s House is part of the Little Houses group which currently includes sister club Jaego’s House and opening soon, Orly’s House. Founder Charlie Gardiner wanted to create spaces that catered for both parents and children and to build a community that is also a home away from home, a place that makes the parenting juggle easier. The clubs are actually named after his children with Jesse’s opening in Parson’s Green after the success of Jaego’s House in Kensal Rise.
There are two types of membership; general access give you full club access with credits towards classes and the creche. All-inclusive membership gives unlimited access to classes and creche and both give extra perks such as discounts on birthday parties, swimming lessons and access to holiday club. All the classes and clubs can be easily booked through a web portal. Pricing depends on the number of adults and children on the membership, you can also add another ‘named’ adult such as a nanny or grandparent. The club recently changed their policy and you are now allowed to bring three guests.
Design
I’ve been to a fair few family clubs and I can say that Jesse’s is hands down the most aesthetic that I’ve been to. It’s absolutely my vibe. There’s a Mediterranean theme with marble table tops, different textures and tiles, neutral colours, Scandi-style sofas (sage greens, terracottas, pastel accents) large playful artworks. It’s appealing to an adult’s eye but engaging for children and also comfortable and practical. Jesse’s House is very much a multi-functional space (gym, work space, cafe, soft play, playground, swimming pool) but is one that still feel cohesive and flexible.
The courtyard is the central space containing the playground with all the other zones located around it. We were lucky enough to have our membership over summer at which time the courtyard was completely sun-drenched with sunloungers, a bar and ice cream cart. The relaxed and sunny feels give absolute holiday vibes and I said to Mr S, it’s like being a day guest at a fancy hotel. But of course this is the UK so there are plenty of indoor spaces but the club has been designed to maximise fluidity between indoor and outdoor to cater for every eventuality.
Children’s Spaces
Of prime importance in the family members club are the dedicated children’s space.
1.Jungle Gym and Soft Play – this is often our first port of call. There are actually two soft play areas, one intended for 0 – 3s and another for age 3 plus. Quite honestly these are the most aesthetic prettiest and most importantly cleanest soft plays that I’ve ever seen. The pastel colours are pleasing to the parents eyes but of course the kids are more concerned with climbing, the ball pit, the slide! It’s a very spacious soft play with a high ceiling but I can still sit comfortably on the side and watch my children without having to follow them through tunnels! I know they are totally safe and I don’t need to worry.
My usual time to visit Jesse’s House was weekday mornings with Noah and at that time the soft play is very quiet and often only a few other families.
The two soft plays are divided by a cafe where I can pick up my coffee and any other necessary snacks!
2. Another hit for us is the playground. If I’m honest, I still get nervous about taking Oscar and Noah to the playground as I fear them running off in opposite directions! So a lovely enclosed playground like this is the perfect place to take my two children. There’s climbing frames, slides, rope bridges plus free toys all suitable for both toddlers and older kids.
Adjacent to the playground is the Multi-Use Games Area or the MUGA pitch where kids can play sports like football, basket ball or running games. There are lots of classes hosted here too.
Relaxed daybed fringing the MUGA pitch are the perfect location for parents to watch their children enjoy a classes whilst the only thing they have to lift is their glass of aperol.
3. Swimming Pools – Any fellow London mum will know a nice swimming pool suitable for children is like gold dust in central London and Jesse’s House has both an indoor and an outdoor pool. We have really enjoyed making the most of the outdoor pool during the summer. I booked hour long slots on the portal but they were pretty flexible and when it was quiet we could just stay as long as we wanted. I did find the changing area a little disorganised though and the floor was often wet and we had to wait for towels.
Both of them are heated which is a major tick and the indoor pool is 0.9 metres making it suitable for small children. The club also has a swim school.
4. Indoor Spaces
A kids cinema room is a great chill out area for littles, we keep screen time to a minimum but if you’re desperate to make a quick call or grab a coffee, the cinema room’s location off the club lounge area is very handy. Compared to other clubs I’ve been to Jesse’s has a lot less screens around which is a huge thumbs up for me.
The Den is more for slightly older kids with toys, books, arcade games and board games.
The kids studios hosts classes for kids of all ages, we loved the drama class we attended but there’s also sports, dance, games and during the school break there’s holiday camps. As well as classes, there are weekend pop-up events, parties and barbecues.
5. Creche and Kids Club
I was quite nervous about putting Noah in the creche as he’s such a velcro baby … I procrastinated so much before putting him the first time that I ended up with only about half an hour of my slot left! But when I did pick him up he was jumping up and down and laughing having had a great time! The creche is for babies under the age of 4 and then they graduate to kids club! You can feel like your children are safe in the capable hands of the kids club staff who run sessions based around imaginative play and storytelling. Best of all you don’t pay extra for the creche! If you have all inclusive membership you can have as many creche sessions as you want!
Adult Spaces
Where Jesse’s House differs from some other family clubs is the extensive adult spaces.
1. Gym and Fitness Studio – Jesse’s House features a state of the art gym (which admittedly, I’ve never used!) There’s weights, machine, treadmills and all sorts and a vast timetable of fitness classes which can be booked concurrently with the creche for some perfect me time.
2. Reformer Pilates Studio – Reformer is a speciality at Jesse’s and there’s lots of options for classes at varying difficulty levels.
3. The Study – the adult only coworking space equipped with sofas and desk space plus quiet booths for private phone calls is the perfect place to get through some emails whilst your child is safely in the creche.
Lots of these spaces can be used for birthday parties for children including for non-members. Adults can also hold events at the club.
For Both
Lucy’s Restaurant (named after the owner’s wife) is the main restaurant space. It’s beautifully designed and the sun drenched terrace is perfect for Friday wine time while children play in the playground. The art work on the wall is a bespoke commission by a young artist.
However, it’s been designed very much with children in mind too. There’s a imaginative play space, a book nook, colouring sheets, high chairs for all ages and child-friendly crockery and cutlery. Of course there’s a children’s menu but there’s even a baby menu! And the quality of the food for adults isn’t compromised as I’ve experienced in other children’s clubs; there’s salads, grills and seasonal specials. Any parent will agree it’s ideal to go somewhere like this, feed your child and then straight home and ready for bed! Best of all there’s a wine list… Whispering Angel anyone?
The Living Room is the club’s cosiest space and is the perfect place to flop and relax with kids. There’s plenty of toys and books – fun for kids and coffee for adults. Next to the Living Room is the grab and go where I like to grab a freshly made sandwich or pastry for an easy win with Oscar or Noah. There’s even baby supplies and pouches should they be needed.
The design of the spaces really allows for free flow between inside and outside and between adult and children giving overall cohesion to the space. Children’s spaces are never too far from adult spaces so that parents can check on their children or watch them as they play. Flexiblity is important too and the studios are multi-use and the restaurant feels high end but caters for children both it terms of food and play.
My one major gripe about the club is that several of the areas close at 6pm though Lucy’s is open until 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays. This makes it quite hard to bring an older child after school especially if they have clubs but this is something the club is currently working on.
Final Thoughts
There’s something really special about Jesse’s House – it’s not just a building it’s a whole community with a strong feeling of welcoming and belonging for both adults and children. For London parents it strikes the perfect balance of somewhere that is stylish and luxurious but practical and fun for kids. In true SilverSpoon style, it’s about the best of both worlds.
PIN IT
