Price of 5 yo party?

[booklover164]

I am trying to set up a savings pot for my son's 5th birthday party and I have absolutely no idea where to start. We have always had small family parties at home which have totalled about £100. This year I think he'd like to invite his class and I think we'd include the following:

Hall hire at a local leisure centre or church
Bouncy castle
Food for children and maybe something for adults
Face painter
Party games

I have no idea if this is too much or too little.

We are in the East Midlands. I know the cost will vary massively up and down the country but if I could get a rough idea then I could work out where to begin with the savings.

Thanks

Hall big enough for a bouncy castle would be about £120 for the afternoon, bouncy castle is around £100, face painting I would do yourselves and a normal buffet, allow £100 for the food and face paints. Cake if from supermarket £20, party bags £1-2 a head

Agree £300-500. My kids are older now so used to be around £300 10 years ago.

Also bouncy castle people will insist that no child with face paints be allowed to use it. Or you'll be dumped with an additional cleaning fee.

Just booked ours,
Private hire of gym studio £160
Food/ snacks £50
Party bags £40

So £250 for 30 kids.

I've been looking at entertainers for a similar party and they're all over £200 for an hours entertainment (give or take).

Then hall hire, food and party bags on top.

I don't begrudge them the money but I can afford that so am looking at alternatives and massively scaling back the party.

Christ. Doesn’t anyone hanker after the 1980s when you maybe had one friend round for tea and your mum made a cake and that was it? £500 is such a lot of money for something that they won’t really remember that much. I’m guilty of doing this when mine were younger (10 years ago, teens now, but used to spent £200 ish) and it seems a total waste of money now as they don’t even remember it!

TBC it will be on the only whole class party my child will have. When I was younger I had a full class party every year- whereas now not many kids I know even have a party every year, it quickly becomes just the girls or boys and then just a few friends.

"Christ. Doesn’t anyone hanker after the 1980s when you maybe had one friend round for tea and your mum made a cake and that was it?"

In the 80s I had whole class plus family and neighbours parties at the youth club and a social club function room. Most kids had big parties.

When I was older 7/8/9 I would get to choose 12 friends to go on the party train at McDonald's!

So no. Having it in the 80s would make no difference.

Are children’s party entertainers usually any good? They’re really expensive which has always put me off.

IME 5 year olds just tear around the place so just a bouncy castle is fine, as long as you don’t mind it being carnage!

Kindly, if you have set up a savings pot, please don't go for all you have outlined. A hall and bouncy castle is more than enough. Simple food you can provide. Tea and coffee for parents.

We're doing a soft play party for DS 5th birthday. Exclusive hire for £150. I'll do a sweet cone and cupcake for party bags. Expecting to spend £250 maximum including food.

Omg I’ve just looked to check the price on the soft play I’ve used in the past (last time 4 years ago) the prices has doubled 😬 The village hall I’ve used in the past has also more than doubled.

5yo parties I’ve done for mine:

Village hall £30 - now £65
Entertainer - £300 - now £264
own food, party bags, cake (home made) approx £100 30plus kids and adults.

Following year we did the hall, no entertainer, bought activities like spinning plats, inflatable toys & a decent face paint set. Far cheaper but full on entertaining 30plus kids.

Soft play area £150 for up-to 30 kids now £299 plus cake and party bags. Party bags are actually supplied but I like to go ott on them and enjoy making them.

Last year
Home party free
bouncy castle £120
food, party bags and cake approx £100 12 kids plus adults

I was looking at a soft play party this year (6yo) but I’m not so sure with price increases.

If you have a bouncy castle in a hall with a bunch of kids in a standard 2hr party you don’t need additional entertainment, lots of balloons and party music with spot prizes is definitely enough.

Our local council run sports centre do parties with soft play equipment, bouncy castle and party room (no food) for £50 for 1.5 hours. The local soft play is £299 for a whole class party including foo. Prices vary so much it really pays to do your research for your local area.

My daughter’s last year was roughly-
£35 village hall
£40 food ex. Cake
£150 entertainment

I don’t know if you have one near you, but I hired a brilliant thing could pop up play village (not an ad!) it’s basically play stations that are set up around the hall… we had a cafe, a vets, a doll and baby area and a construction site. It worked really well for a whole class party

*called Pop up Play Village

Wow thanks so much for all these brilliant ideas. It's really helped.