Gincase is coming back: play barn and café at Mawbray get the go-ahead Plans approved to bring the former Gincase farm park at Mawbray back as a play barn and café
Marra Mode is how your mate would tell you down the pub over a pint. Switch it off for the straight version.
Remember Gincase? The council's said yes to turning the buildings at Mawbray Hayrigg into a play barn, café and shop. Café first, then soft play, with the animals and campsite maybe later.
If you grew up round the Solway, or took your own kids to Gincase, you'll like this one.
The council has said yes to bringing the old Gincase farm park at Mawbray Hayrigg, near Silloth, back. The application, FUL/2026/0058, got the nod from planning officers on 30 October with conditions. It means the farm buildings can become a play barn with a café, a shop bit and visitor facilities, plus parking. There's a pedal go-kart area in the plans too, and they want the café to be field-to-fork.
The new owners, business partners Sarah Glaister-Mackereth and Gareth Watson, have said the café opens first, then indoor soft play, and the campsite and animals might come back later on.
Sixty-six letters backed it and ten objected. The supporters reckon it's good for tourism, jobs and the countryside economy. The objectors were worried about traffic, the state of the roads, noise, wildlife and spoiling the rural feel. The transport report worked on a busy day of 120 to 150 visitors, the car park takes about 60 cars, and highways said it'd be fine safety-wise.
Gincase was started in 2002 by John and Val Natrass, who switched from dairy farming after foot-and-mouth in 2001. At its best it was getting around 40,000 visitors a year.
So what can you do? There's no opening date yet. If you want the detail, look up FUL/2026/0058 on the council's planning register under Allerdale. We'll let you know when the doors open.
Cumberland Council has granted permission to turn buildings at Mawbray Hayrigg, home of the former Gincase farm park near Silloth, into a play barn, café, shop and visitor facilities with parking. The new owners plan to reopen the café first, then indoor soft play.
This is for families along the Solway coast and across West Cumbria who remember the Gincase, and for anyone looking for somewhere new to take the children on a wet day.
Cumberland Council has approved plans to bring the former Gincase farm park at Mawbray Hayrigg, near Silloth, back to life. Application FUL/2026/0058, decided by officers on 30 October and granted with conditions, allows ancillary buildings at the working farm to become a play barn with a café, retail area and visitor facilities, together with parking. The plans also include a pedal go-kart area, and the café is meant to have a field-to-fork identity.
The site was bought by business partners Sarah Glaister-Mackereth and Gareth Watson, who have said they will reopen the café first, followed by indoor soft play. They have said the campsite and animals could return later.
The application drew 66 letters of support and 10 objections. Supporters pointed to benefits for tourism, jobs and the rural economy; objectors raised traffic, road conditions, noise, wildlife and the area's rural character. A transport assessment looked at a peak day of around 120 to 150 visitors, with the existing car park holding about 60 vehicles, and the Highway Authority concluded the scheme would not have an unacceptable impact on road safety.
Gincase was set up in 2002 by John and Val Natrass, who diversified from dairy farming after the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak. At its height it welcomed around 40,000 visitors a year.
What you can do: no reopening date has been announced yet. You can read the decision under reference FUL/2026/0058 on Cumberland Council's planning register (Allerdale area), and Marra News will follow up when the owners set an opening date.