Jesse’s House: The Family Club That Became My Second Home

Disclosure: Jesse’s House provided me with a complimentary three-month membership for the purpose of this review. This article reflects my own experience and opinions.

Behind the Jesse’s House polished appearance is at it’s core, a family club and space - every second woman is breastfeeding, babies are crying somewhere in the background and parents are negotiating with very strong-willed tiny people. Yet, the whole place manages to look and feel more ‘Soho’ than soft play.

Part of the OurHouse group, Jesse’s House opened in Parsons Green in August 2024 with a rather seductive proposition for families: bring together everything parents and children could possibly need under one roof. Think swimming pools, exciting play areas, classes, childcare, a cinema room, co-working spaces, a gym, places to eat and somewhere to put your feet up with a coffee or wine if it’s been one of those days.

Having already heard great things about the place, I signed up for a three-month membership expecting to be impressed. At first, it was the novelty of it all: we were hanging out at a very bougie kids' club. But what surprised me was that Jesse’s House felt like a home from home for both me and my daughter.

Every parent knows that you get an overwhelming sense of relief when you arrive somewhere where everyone understands what it is like to have a small child. Your toddler has a meltdown? Fine. A whole bowl of chips ends up on the floor? It happens. Nobody looks at you as though you've ruined their day, and the staff expect the chaos that comes with children while keeping the environment calm and remarkably clean, no tutting or eye-rolling in sight.

A space for parents and children in London

One of the things I loved most was that Jesse’s House works equally well whether you want to pop in for an hour or stay for an entire day.

There were plenty of occasions when I would go in simply because I needed to get out of the house. On one particularly difficult morning, I was stressed, my daughter was restless and I had absolutely no idea what to do with her. So I took her to Jesse’s House for some soft play. We ended up staying for the entire day.

She could play, we could eat, she could burn off some energy and I could actually take a breather. When she needed to sleep, there were places where she could nap while I got on with some work. There was always something else to do when one activity had run its course. That flexibility makes a huge difference when you're parenting a young child. You don't have to plan the perfect outing; you can simply turn up and everything you need is in one place.

The spaces themselves never felt overstimulating or noisy, which I appreciated. Equally, if your child needs to let off some steam there are plenty of areas for them to run wild and free. The jungle gym is great for older children. I found the milk stations dotted around the club particularly useful for my daughter, who seems to be single-handedly keeping the dairy industry afloat. There is also a buggy park outside with some cover. It can get busy, but I could usually find a spot.

The OurHouse Clubs app makes booking classes and activities straightforward. My daughter really enjoyed the dance class for under-twos. There are also plenty of opportunities to fill a rainy day without having to drag yourself to three separate locations for activities.

The food at Jesse’s House

For me, the restaurant is one of the biggest selling points. It’s family-friendly but still a treat for you too. You can arrive with an unruly toddler and not feel as though you need to hunker down in the corner out of sight. The whole atmosphere is relaxed enough that children are clearly expected to be there - there’s even a mini soft play area inside.

It was refreshing to see a flexible kids' menu with plenty of protein and vegetable choices, not just your standard cheesy pasta or chicken and chips (although those options are also available for fussy eaters).

It was also in the restaurant that Jesse’s House started to feel less like a facility and more like a community. I don't think I ever visited without striking up a conversation with another family. You can absolutely keep to yourself if that's what you want, but if you're parenting solo all day, it can get lonely. Having somewhere where conversation with other parents happens naturally is welcome on those days. I made friends there, and that was something I hadn't really expected from joining the club.

Is Jesse’s house worth the money?

Of course, all of this comes at a cost. A membership at Jesse’s House sits at the premium end of the scale. It starts to make financial sense if you actually use all the facilities, rather than an occasional soft-play venue. If you're visiting a couple of times a week, making use of the free kids’ classes, taking advantage of the crèche and using the co-working facilities and the gym, the maths looks much more appealing.

You also need to factor in the less obvious expenses. There isn't a car park, and road parking around the club is restricted and can be expensive. I found myself spending quite a lot on food simply because we were there for so long. But if you're using it as somewhere to work, socialise, exercise, eat, entertain your child and occasionally get some breathing space, that’s when it become a ano-brainer for a London parent.

I can also imagine the value increasing as your family grows. Being able to give an older child more independence within the club while you sit nearby with a baby or get on with some work would naturally save money on childcare, particularly during school holidays.

Jesse’s House - closing thoughts

When I first joined Jesse’s House, I thought the appeal would be the beautiful interiors, the impressive facilities and the novelty of being somewhere that felt a little bit more glamorous than your average toddler soft play in London - those things certainly did impress me.

But after three months in review, it was the unglamorous things I valued most: somewhere to go when I'd had a difficult morning, somewhere my daughter could play while I answered a few emails, somewhere I could talk to another parent without having to arrange a playdate three weeks in advance.

By the end of my membership, I was gutted to leave. Would I have extended? Absolutely. The only thing that really held me back was the commute. Which is why I'm particularly excited that a new OurHouse club is coming to my hometown, Chiswick, in West London. I'm already on the waiting list for membership.

Perhaps that tells you everything you need to know about whether Jesse’s House lived up to the hype.