Sarah grew up in a large, close-knit family, where love, laughter and spending time together were at the heart of family life. She feels incredibly lucky to have had that throughout her childhood – but becoming a parent herself made her realise that not everyone has the same experience.

And that realisation became the inspiration for Elliott’s.

“I’ve always known how important it is to have people around you who make you feel loved and accepted. Growing up in a big family, that sense of belonging was something I was incredibly lucky to experience every day.

“When I became a mum myself, I realised just how different that experience can be. There were times when I felt isolated and struggled to find the help and reassurance I needed, and it made me think about how many other parents might be feeling the same way.

“I wanted to create the kind of place that I would have wanted to walk into on those difficult days – somewhere you can come exactly as you are, without judgement, where your children can have fun and you can simply be around other people. That’s the heart of Elliott’s.”

Sarah’s vision is to create a space where everyone is welcome – somewhere families can come to play, take a breath, meet new people and feel that they belong.

The café’s ethos is centred around creating a safe, accessible and inclusive environment for all, recognising that while becoming a parent can be one of life’s most rewarding experiences, it can also be incredibly hard.

“Becoming a parent is hard enough. Knowing there’s somewhere you can go makes all the difference.”