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Fair play: Lego cafe for adults opens in Dublin

Gemma Sherlock plays with Lego as she stops for a coffee at the cafe
Gemma Sherlock plays with Lego as she stops for a coffee at the cafe

The world's first experimental Lego Brick Cafe for adults has opened in Dublin.

Launched during World Mental Health Month, the cafe is designed as a space where adults can experience the mental health benefits that play can bring.

The Lego Brick Cafe is initially being trialled at Hen's Teeth, Blackpitts, Dublin, for two days.

At the cafe, guests will be able to choose from a selection of Lego sets and bricks, which they can play with on-site.

Karleen Smyth of Boys + Girls and EXP arranges models of Dublin pubs at the cafe

At the cafe, guests can take part in facilitated workshops that demonstrate the multitude of creative uses Lego bricks can have, such as stop-motion animation builds, mindfulness builds, expressive mosaic builds and open-canvas self-expression.

The experiment is the result of a collaboration between the Lego Lead User Lab and Boys+Girls creative agency.

Genevieve Capa Cruz, audience marketing strategist at Lego, said: "We know there are many adults around the world who are also keen to experience the joy of building with Lego bricks yet are unsure where to start.

"With this new type of open innovation experiment, we want to explore fun and engaging new ways for adults to start experiencing the joyful focus of building with Lego bricks through new channels we haven’t explored before."

Kris Clarkin, creative director at Dublin-based creative agency, Boys+Girls, said: "Play is fundamental to life. It can help improve memory, increase creativity and reduce stress. As Lego fans we knew Lego was the perfect brand to encourage more adults to play.

"The biggest barrier was coming up with a setting that wouldn’t be perceived as a place for kids.

"The intention for the Lego Brick Cafe experiment was to design an inspiration space where like-minded people can meet and play, while sharing ideas. I’m excited to see how people interact and respond to building with bricks in a setting like this one."