No longer will tweens throng the upper level of this Lower Parel mill, sucking down sodas and knocking down pins. There will be no more air hockey or soggy fries, the incessant beeping of video games. But still, there will be play.
Bowling Company at Phoenix Mills has been replaced by Brit-based Hamleys, one of the most popular toy stores in the world. This is their first Indian outlet, and an awesome place to spend the afternoon at, for kids young and old.
Walk in the Ark
We went eagerly to the opening this past Saturday, hoping to be reunited with a life-size stuffed giraffe that one of us Scouters had decided to adopt while visiting the London flagship at age 7, and who had been ultimately abandoned due to relentless parental disapproval. We didn’t find him, but made acquaintances with various other animals, including countless species of bear (bean, brown, band), snakes, monkeys and a seriously irresistible snowy owl.
Also available were in-house stationary packs, craft kits and board games, in the midst of which a magnificently mustachioed man showed a bunch of enthralled kids magic tricks. Nearby at the Barbie Salon, little girls sat in pink chairs getting their hair done.
Travel Tuck
If, like the other half of our Scouter duo, you’re not “a soft toy person”, check out the cool poker sets (Rs 1,000), 3d puzzles and miles of miniature cars from tiny hot wheels to a kid-sized Porsche, which will set you back by a cool Rs 30,000. There’s also a racing track for remote controlled cars and seriously useful travel versions of games such as mahjong and backgammon (Rs 349).
Pay Fur Head
If opening weekend is anything to go by, Reliance Retail, Hamleys India partner, has quite a hit on its hands. Not only because the toys offered here are more varied and of better quality than usually seen, but also because they are priced surprisingly reasonably. A large bean bear, for instance, was for Rs 1,000, and the above mentioned owl bore a price tag of Rs 199. These are significantly lower than international rates – a quick check showed that none of the soft toys offered through Hamleys online store are less than 7 Quid, or Rs 476.
One thing’s for sure: with Hamelys in town, you’ll never sleep alone again.
Getting there: Hamleys, Phoenix Mills Compound, S.B. Marg, Lower Parel, Rs 199 for a stuffed owl.
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