Recently, my two children and I were invited to attend a pop-up event at Southampton's Westquay Shopping Centre, in the form of a Sensory Garden featuring a Gin Bar (I was sold at this point...), a range of workshops and masterclasses, and an array of visual and interactive delights for both parent and child. Enticing to say the very least, and as a bonus, this would be the very first event my children had been invited to attend with me, for which they were extremely grateful as they have both been very keen to follow in Mommy's footsteps and start their social media and blogging accounts. Find them over at @torynandbraydenwinters on Instagram.
Situated on Westquays Esplanade, The Sensory Garden features a 'Tea Garden' hosted by the Garden Society, and mobile bars - Jim & Tonic and Tap It. Plenty, in fact, to keep the grown ups happy. Meanwhile, the children can explore a variety of instagram-worthy set ups, tailor made for beautiful photos aplenty. A flower-adorned greenhouse filled with an edible mist of indeterminate flavour is strewn with beanbags, outside this sits a bed frame wrapped in yet more flowers, serving no particular function other than visual appeal, and a cracking backdrop for yet more photos for the 'gram. Step across from here into the 'Fairy Garden', lined with teepees and filled with edible bubbles (possibly strawberry...), this was most definitely a highlight for my two boys, who spent 99% of their time there, chasing bubbles around the entire garden, mouths open and arms outstretched (making for some utterly hilarious out-take photos).
The boys and I happened to attend just as an open air performance of 'Little Women' was taking place, so we sat and watched some of it... I say watched, as this was all we were able to do...listening was not an option unless, I would hasten a guess, you were sat directly in front of the performers and no more than five paces away. The costumes and facial expressions were fabulous however, so this killed at least 20mins and gave me an opportunity to sit and enjoy a G&T.
We rounded off our experience with the boys running through the water fountains (not part of the sensory garden, these are a permanent fixture at the Esplanade) which were too much of a temptation for my children to bear and defying all odds...did not result in them soaked through to the skin, more of a 'lightly moist'.
All in all we had a fantastic time and look forward to see more pop ups on the Esplanade, head down and check them out when you get the chance.
Emma-Louise
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