Build a Bear Workshop

Now i do have a little issue with cuddly toys, it happened somewhere between adolescence and being made to watch Chuckie at a house party. (I shivered then) But after popping in here after some seriously boring ‘work clothes’ shopping, i was pleasantly surprised that these toys are not so freaky but sweet and cute and all of a sudden i had a warm glow in tummy.
At first i thought everyone in here was on acid, no one can be that happy and ‘into’ toys but after a mere few minutes i found myself beaming and giggling and yes… i even talked to a stuffed monkey.
The fact you can buy these toys little outfits was the icing on the weird cake for me! How brilliant. I wasn’t fussed on making my toy speak so i opted for a mute but you can record a personal message if the toy is a gift.
The heart area is where the magic really happens, you pick a heart, give it a snog then make a wish as it gets put in the bear! cute or what?
Then the worst thing possible happens, after you’ve made, bonded and really fallen in love with your bear, at the counter you get an adoption certificate which made me want to burst with joy, then the bitch behind the counter puts your new friend in a box! A BOX, i say! OK, there’s breathing holes but seriously, cruel or what?
Anyway, a lovely way to sepnd twenty minutes and you’ll come out a lot happier than when you went in!

Build a Bear workshop can successfully make you look silly. When you are in there buying a stuffed toy for who ever you want, the sales team are happy and delightful people who are there to help you build your bear every step of the way. I had no idea what kind of shop I was entering when purchasing a bear for my girlfriend. I’m pretty sure I looked silly though, as my friend keeps reminding me.
I do like the personal service you receive in this store, when I chose a bear out of all the many options of bear you could choose I took it to get it stuffed, the lady at the stuffing machine was very kind and friendly giving the bear the stuffing he needed. Once that was done I had to go to what I like to call ‘the heart area’. This is where you choose a heart for your bear. What made me look completely silly was I had to clutch the heart in my hand, kiss it and make a wish. The embarrassment continued for days. But it was all in good fun and you could tell the staff members were having fun. You can even choose some clothing for your bear. The choices are endless! I look back smiling at this store because it has a feeling of fun and enjoyment when you enter.
If you are stuck for a present to get for someone and they like stuffed animals then visit this place for the amazing service you will get and a top quality bear that will last forever. I know this because my girlfriend has had hers ever since.

I love the idea of their being a shop where the bears are made and you can choose and wait for yours there and then. It must be a cool job. Every time I go in the shop the bears and their clothes and accessories are just so cute it is unbearable not to go in.
A friend of mine brought me one once as a Christmas present, it was such a nice surprise even whilst being a teenager. I love and treasure it for life, especially since you can personalize it to make it your own. You can even name it and have it Christened with a unique certificate.
I have had mine called Evelyn Marie Rose after the main character in the Novel that I am writing called Her Mystic Rose Trilogy; Love So Tender: Book One. My bear is large; light brown, and a little fluffy, and she sits on the top of my cushions on my bed with all the rest of my several soft toys that I still treasure and keep, despite in being an adult.
However, I do particularly recommend it for all children…

I have a couple of bears from here but I have to admit that the fun is in being there, picking your bear and getting it made to your ideal snugibility! Plus then there’s customising your bears outfit or getting a voice recorded message stuffed inside it (try it, its weird!).
The bears are lovely and soft and there’s always new ones to get, but generally if you just want to buy something for someone as a gift you’d be just as well of buying a bear from another store.
Staff are great though and encourage your inner child to come out. They laugh at the stupid name you chose to register your bear and I will never forget the embarrassment of being made to kiss the heart they put inside it!
After you’ve done it once the excitement wears off, so maybe I will just have to find someone else to take.

As someone who’s in her twenties it’s perhaps a little worrying how much I love this store! In my defence my first experience of The Build a Bear Workshop was in Hamleys when I was eleven (which isn’t quite as bad), and ever since then I’ve been a bit of a fan of this place.
If you have young children (or perhaps big kids) I guarantee that they will absolutely love this place. At build a bear workshop you or your child gets to pick a soft toy (a variety of teddy bears and animals are available) and then watch it being stuffed and sewn together. This is surprisingly good fun, and you can even record your own voice or noise to go in your chosen toy.
Be warned however, this place aint cheap! It’s all very well spending £15 on the chosen soft toy, but I guarantee that your little darlings will also want to buy outfits for said soft toy. Now whilst theses outfits are all rather nice (my cousin loved the ballet outfit), they don’t come cheap, my dad likes to joke that they’re actually more expensive than real clothes (which isn’t far off the mark).
Whilst these soft toys make excellent gifts, bear in mind that due to the nature of Build a Bear Workshop, the real fun is in the actual making process, so perhaps it’s worth if possible bring the recipient with you.

I love Build a Bear — even though it is a tad pricey once you have bought everything. Build a bear is located in Saint Davids Shopping centre in Cardiff high street and is quite a decent sized shop and well staffed. When you first arrive to the shop you will see the special offers they have that week in the glasses boxes and then you continue to go and pick the bear that you would like to become yours, there is a whide selection of around 20 bears to choose from. Once you have your bear the staff ‘stuff them’ and ask if you want them quite thin or really big (i always go for the big!) Once your bear is stitched up you go to brush your bear to get all the fluff off him from the stuffing stage. You can go to pick the outfits and have many to choose from, you then make a birth certificate, including what you want to call the bear, what day he is born, whether it is a girl or boy and who is it for and who made the bear. You then continue to pay for your bear which they then put your bear in a house style box and looks fantatsic, and everywhere knows where you have been! An awesome time everytime you go in there.

I recently took my children here to spend some of their Christmas money. We had so much fun! Firstly you choose your bear (ranging from £8.50-£15), then you go to the ‘stuffing station, where you can help the friendly assistant stuff your bear (from squidgy to very stuffed depending on preference). Next you choose a heart, warm it, kiss it and give it a wish. This then goes into the bear and it’s sewn up.
The next stop is to blow air and brush your bear. You can then choose an outfit (sets of tops and trouser/​skirt are about £10, shoes are between £5-£6 and other accessories can be bought — clothing and accessories, however, are optional).
The next stop is to make a birth certificate. Once this is done, your bear is boxed and presented with a birth certificate.
The whole expereince took us about an hour with ‘agonising’ decisions to be made on bears, outfits, names etc etc! It was great fun!!!
The store offers childrens parties from £8 per head.
The website gives a clear idea on choices and prices, it might be wise to check this out before you go.
Well worth a visit!