How much are you willing to pay for activities like this?

[Ohdoleavemealone]

Last March we were meant to launch an inflatable theme park but thank to Covid it never opened.
We intend to open during the next half term but are having trouble deciding on a pricing structure.
For background, we have decided to use a school as our premises instead of a commercial property which means we have access only to the school hall and toilets. We can only fit in 10 tables to start with due to social distancing. This means we have to carefully balance the price to make sure we our making enough money and being good value. This is proving tricky.
Would people mind giving their honest opinion on the price structure below? If you haven't been to one of these, it is a bit like a trampoline park, but a giant bouncy castle instead.
For the prices below you will get :
1 hour bounce
A table allocated to your group (can mix 2 households) in full view of the only exit.
Table service
Everyone at the table is elligible to bounce, whether for 10 minutes or an hour.
Staff are instructed to play with and entertain the kids so the parents can drink their coffee in peace.

Numbers will also be quite low making it safer thna places like flip out.
Prices :
table of 2 - £20
table of 3 - £ 25
table of 4 - £30
table of 5 - £35
Table of 6 - 40

Would you pay these prices?
For comparison, local flip out charge £13.50 per person and £1 for spectators.
I appreciate comments.

[WhatWouldPhyllisCraneDo]

Is it just a "giant bouncy castle" as you previously stated? Or bouncy slides, climbing walls etc like the link?
It's too expensive either way. I wouldn't want to bounce (well I would but am far too fat to do so) but would have to pay anyway. My brother (who weighs even more than me) would bounce on the basis "I've paid to so I will."
Our local soft play used to let in 1 adult per child for free and charge 50p for additional adults.

[Floralnomad]

The place you linked to is £7.50 per child with no cost for adults so much more realistic . I assume they then make more money by people buying drinks / food , which is where you may be limited as I imagine you don’t have access to the school kitchen .

[Witchesbelazy]

What will you be offering at the cafe ? And what will your pricing be ?

[Thesearmsofmine]

I’d pay maybe £6 or £7 for my dc to bounce as a one off activity but I wouldn’t be paying to bounce myself. I also wouldn’t want my 5 year old playing on a bouncy castle with adults or teens jumping around so you would need to do it in age groups maybe but then that is difficult if like me your dc are varying ages. I would prefer a purpose built space over a school hall tbh.
I can just imagine people messing about and the resulting accidents. If you go ahead make sure you have good insurance set up.

[Babysharkdododont]

I'd pay £ for my 5 year old, and £4 for toddle in a specific toddler session. I wouldn't pay for adults.
Wed probably go very rarely, most soft plays have a wide variety of climbing / bouncing/ role play etc for the same price.

[Ohdoleavemealone]

@bumbledeedum On the contrary, I am defending the product not the price structure. I have been to many of these places like this and adults join in, with the kids and have a good time.
I am surprised so many people have concerns which makes me think they may not have been to one before.

[sunflowersandbuttercups]

All our local trampoline parks have age-restricted sessions (U5's, 6-10, 11-17 and then adults). Some do have family sessions as well, but again, things are very different to what you're describing.

They make you watch a safety video, have properly trained instructors to keep an eye on things, and only allow one person per "trampoline", even when all the bouncers are in the same age range.

Bouncy castles are different (and more dangerous in that respect) because there is no way of physically separating people at all. A bounce made at one end will impact everyone.

[titchy]

[quote Ohdoleavemealone]@flashylamp you haven't read that properly. The 10k was for painting and a brand new lighting structure inside the hall which required the whole thing to be rewired to allow for lights to be dimmed slightly as school halls are dazzling![/quote]
But you've invested in someone else's premises. That's madness - business invest in their own premises not other people's!

Ok get that covid is screwing things up at the moment, but you can't start a business on that basis. Generally new business start with really low offers to entice new customers, then put their prices up to normal. And I think most businesses at the moment are having to suck up the costs of covid, not pass them onto their costumers.

[Wowcherarestalkingme]

We have an inflatable place near us which is huge. Has about 20 enormous inflatables of varying size and difficulty. It currently £10 per child (increased because of Covid, usually £7.50) and that’s for the whole day. I like your idea but it’s way more than I would pay, especially for an hour.

[Ohdoleavemealone]

@WhatWouldPhyllisCraneDo

Is it just a "giant bouncy castle" as you previously stated? Or bouncy slides, climbing walls etc like the link?
It's too expensive either way. I wouldn't want to bounce (well I would but am far too fat to do so) but would have to pay anyway. My brother (who weighs even more than me) would bounce on the basis "I've paid to so I will."
Our local soft play used to let in 1 adult per child for free and charge 50p for additional adults.

Just like the link which is why I called it an inflatable theme park but people had a problem with that too.

[Mama1980]

I have definitely been to a similar place before but it's been a very different set up to the one you're describing. My concerns are dbs and insurance - but ultimately it's too expensive as your prices at the moment for me anyway. I'm sorry.

[OuiOuiKitty]

A pet farm near us has one of those ginormous bouncy castles. They charge something like 40 for entry for a family but it is a pet farm too and you can stay however long you want. It's always really busy but I suspect it is mainly locals like us that pay 100 a year for an annual pass.

The kids loved the bouncy castle when they were smaller but dress it us as whatever you like it is still just a really big bouncy castle at the end of the day. For an hour I would probably pay 6quid each for the kids and wouldn't be thrilled at paying anything for adults.

[sunflowersandbuttercups]

I am surprised so many people have concerns which makes me think they may not have been to one before.

Yes, I've been to plenty. They have all, without fail, had separate 'sessions' based on age. No parents have ever been allowed to bounce on the castle at the same time as the DC. They may be allowed on to supervise small children but with the proviso that it's just supervision, not bouncing.

[Whythesadface]

So say you have it Friday night, Saturdays and Sundays. 10k.
Plus 10k for Castle and Cafe expenses.

So 100 ish days trading, a year.
You will need £200 a day to break even.
How many staff? What about your wages?
I think you could email groups in your area , scouts, guides play groups and offer group bookings.
Hens and stags, might find it fun and be willing to hire the late afternoon slots.

[Ohdoleavemealone]

@sunflowersandbuttercups

All our local trampoline parks have age-restricted sessions (U5's, 6-10, 11-17 and then adults). Some do have family sessions as well, but again, things are very different to what you're describing.

They make you watch a safety video, have properly trained instructors to keep an eye on things, and only allow one person per "trampoline", even when all the bouncers are in the same age range.

Bouncy castles are different (and more dangerous in that respect) because there is no way of physically separating people at all. A bounce made at one end will impact everyone.

It isn't just people jumping up and down. It has an obstacle course, slide, climbing wall etc. It really isn't dangerous.

[titchy]

Do you have insurance? Is your insurer aware that adults and children will be using the inflatable at the same time?

[titchy]

It really isn't dangerous.

Say that to the five year old with the broken neck caused by a 15 stone man sliding down an inflatable slide and landing on her...

[SimonJT]

@sunflowersandbuttercups

I am surprised so many people have concerns which makes me think they may not have been to one before.

Yes, I've been to plenty. They have all, without fail, had separate 'sessions' based on age. No parents have ever been allowed to bounce on the castle at the same time as the DC. They may be allowed on to supervise small children but with the proviso that it's just supervision, not bouncing.

We’ve been to one before as well, you had to attend age group based sessions and adults weren’t allowed to do any form of bouncing etc, they could only carefully supervise their child.

[Cindy87]

Just a thought, from June you won't have Covid restrictions - if I were you I would wait 5 weeks and make it much easier to charge less. Scrap the table idea and charge per child.

[Ohdoleavemealone]

@titchy

Do you have insurance? Is your insurer aware that adults and children will be using the inflatable at the same time?

YEs we have insurance. They are fine with adults. I have never been to one where adults haven't been on. In fact one place has more over 15's than under!

[therearenogoodusernamesleft]

OP, did you write a business plan before investing in all of this?

[Witchesbelazy]

Surely in a business like this you should know it can be dangerous. Not just claim it isn’t at all. That sort of attitude endangers people and the business

[sunflowersandbuttercups]

What happens when a 30 year old dad slides down something or bounces too hard and knocks a toddler flying?

[Ohdoleavemealone]

@therearenogoodusernamesleft

OP, did you write a business plan before investing in all of this?

Yes, of course.

@Witchesbelazy Like every activity it is about the users. We have people all around the inflatable arena ensuring people aren't being stupid. If anyone is acting dangerously, they will be warned and if they continue, asked to leave.
We are halfing the numbers recommended by the manufacturers.
A school have agreed to the project and are really excited for it to open. If they were concerned they wouldn't allow it.

[Ohdoleavemealone]

@sunflowersandbuttercups

What happens when a 30 year old dad slides down something or bounces too hard and knocks a toddler flying?

Toddlers will be supervised by parents (plus there is a bit sectioned off for toddlers). Staff will be in relevant places to "supervise" activities and make sure people are not putting others at risk with poor behaviour.