Low-cost party idea for 6 year old?

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My DS will be 6 on 1 Feb and I'm trying to think of something low cost we could do as he's expecting a party. We've done parties in church halls and pub back rooms before and they've always been quite expensive with the cost of catering and entertainment and the venue hire, plus all the hassle! Soft play parties are expensive too. We could do it at home but I am divorced so it would mean either me going to my ex's or him coming to mine which will be awkward. Obviously we will both want to be there. Any ideas please Mumsnetters?

Mcdonalds with a play area?

Thank you for replying but there's no way my ex would agree to McDonalds (he's too snobby lol), and there's none with a play area around here anyway (Sheffield)

Treasure hunt/Scavenger in the park? Could do hot dogs cooked on a camping stove? Works if it’s not tipping it down.

How many little guests are you thinking of OP? And do you have a rough budget in mind? I'm sure if you let us know then lots of posters will have ideas

Hire a church hall, do all your own food, andromeda’s friends into helping you do a traditional party - pass the parcel, pin the tail on the donkey etc.
Or tell DS he can take eight friends to something like bowling or the cheap cinema screenings

Cinema trip for a small group- esp to a kids viewing

Whereabouts in Sheffield? If N side, and people will travel, roller skating at Penistone Leisure Centre is very low cost, abd they have skates with wheels at each corner for beginners.

Have you looked at local sports centres or leisure centres? Ours does a package that includes use of goals and footballs, massive bouncy castle etc and then use of a room to do food. We make up individual party lunch boxes so all kids get the same - less waste and overall cheaper!

We've also done more of a day out treat so taken 5 friends to something, like bowling or climbing. Pizza Hut after. Cheaper than a big party and more memorable I think.

Our bowling alley does a Friday fiver deal

Or bring sandwiches crisps juice etc to the church hall and have a disco (could ask children to wear fancy dress)

I would just have it in one of your houses. If you are polite enough to both go to the party you should be fine being in his house for a couple of hours or he in yours. It is so much cheaper to just cook some food yourself, have a few party games and a disco or kick about with a football outside. If you really don't want to use your house you could hire a church hall and get cheaper food, oven chips, sausages and a cake. Or have a smaller party with just 2 or 3 close friends to the cinema or somewhere good. At six they just want something a bit out of the ordinary for their birthday. They don't expect an expensive event.

Yes, most.church halls are relatively inexpensive to hire. It's the cost of entertainers etc that mounts up. Old fashioned party games are still popular. Music for dancing and a few balloons and you'll be sorted.

When my dc was 6 we did cinema.....there were 6 in total and after we walked to the chippy who were brilliant and let us do birthday cake there!!

I have also known someone do cinema and managed hot dogs from a flask??? Thats pretty creative!!

We’re thinking of doing an escape room in our house, using lots of clues etc, would that work? You could be the one giving help when needed while your ex provides the food or the other way around?

My dc have been to a couple of parties here http://bounce-house.club
-it's called Bounce house (it's in Sheffield)
It's reasonably priced and my dc have always had a great time.

Church hall with lots of retro party games and disco

For my ds 6th birthday, he had a football party at local leisure centre. Football coach for an hour then party room with food included cost £150. Not sure if your local sports centre does similar?

Thanks for the ideas. I didn't want to do a whole-class party this time so was thinking about 10 kids? We live in south Sheffield so Penistone is out, want to do something more local. Bowling is a great idea thanks. Cinema is not possible as one of his best friend's has never been to cinema before and he doesn't like loud noises. I'm coming round to the idea of a small party at mine, I just had an idea of a pancake party! Though my ex and I will have to thrash it out about at whose house we will host it! I can make drop pancakes which are dead easy, and could make most stuff in advance and warm it up. Then provide different fruits ie blueberries, sliced strawberries, bananas, sprinkles, choc chips, cans of whipped cream (!) and they can make some faces on them maybe, could just make it a short party of 1.5 hours, then a game or two and some music. It will be messy but cheap! Does that sound a good idea do you think? Thought it would make a change from normal boring party food and then they can get creative as well! Does anyone have ideas of a couple of easy games to play at home? Or, if weather is ok I could get them out on trampoline or kicking a football as well. And crank up some party music.

We've just done our DC at Playmania (Sheff) ten kids, food and party bags included in the price. The staff put in a real effort for the 'party' bit and the kids had to be pulled away from the soft play at the end. I was dreading the final bill but it was so cheap in comparison to hiring/catering could have been elsewhere!

Tbh pancakes sound a bit too sophisticated for 6 year olds. What about putting their own toppings on pizza bases? And then toppings on ice creams if you want a dessert.
Much easier.

Why are pancakes sophisticated? I don't get that.

I think your idea sounds fab and would work well.

I'd have a few games up your sleeve in case there is a lull - musical statues/bumps etc.

We have had success in the past building a castle.and a network of tunnels from cardboard boxes (which I can get from work) - the the dc busy for ages.

I don't expect them to make them, just decorate and eat them! I thought all kids loved pancakes

Not in my experience. But maybe that's just me.

Pizza express do small parties, they teach kids to make their own pizzas, dough, toppings, bake, colour, eat easily an hour then ask if you can have a small area at the back for a game of pass the parcel and cutting/eating cake. 2 hour party done!!

Really interactive, plus hopefully xh will like the venue more