The new indoor play area at Tong Garden Centre has created 39 new jobs for local people.

Grass Hoppers indoor play has recruited 26 permanent and 13 seasonal team members to work in the state of the art 15,000 square feet indoor play area and the new 200 seater Woody's Kitchen.

The indoor play roles include receptionists, queue management assistants, party assistants, a party supervisor and a play supervisor. 15 of the 39 have been recruited to work in Woody's Kitchen that serves a selection of freshly made pizzas, paninis, barista made coffee and 40 flavours of ice cream. 

Of the appointments, Tong's newly appointed head of people and culture, Neil Barwise said: "We are thrilled that our latest investment in making Tong one of the north's leading garden centres has created 39 new jobs for local people and we're delighted with the calibre of people that we have attracted. We wish them all a long, happy and fulfilling career at Tong."

Tong's owners have invested more than £2 million to create the new indoor play area that includes a large pre-school soft play area, a role play zone, new party rooms, a play frame and a sports court. The new indoor play adjoins the outdoor Grass Hoppers adventure playground that has been visited by over a quarter of a million children since it opened in 2016.

Grass Hoppers is a 60,000 square feet indoor and outdoor play area at Tong Garden Centre's Tong Lane site.