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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that soft play shouldn't charge for adults?

47 replies

KenAdams · 17/07/2013 12:40

When child's prices are between £6 and £9? They charge £3 for adults.

That's about £24 for a family of 4 to go!

OP posts:
Ginocchio · 17/07/2013 12:52

That's crazy! Do they have any free facilities (refreshments etc) that might explain it?

And TBH the children's price seems pretty high too, but maybe our local ones are just cheap...

flipchart · 17/07/2013 12:54

Sounds standard tbh.

I have to pay £3.00 when I go into the Ice Arena to pick the kids up from skating lessons whether I stay for the 2 hours or just have 10 mins.

At least in soft play it is warm!

livinginwonderland · 17/07/2013 12:55

they're a business, of course they're going to charge!

goldenlula · 17/07/2013 12:58

I have been to lots of soft play places, none charge for adults and their entry prices have been a lot cheaper than that!

Burmobasher · 17/07/2013 13:00

Don't know where you live but round here it's always free for adults and about £3 for children. On certain days its completely free for everybody including the kids.
Yanbu

JollyShortGiant · 17/07/2013 13:01

None of the ones round here charge for adults.

freddiefrog · 17/07/2013 13:03

YANBU

No soft play I've ever been to has charged for adults, and I wouldn't darken the door of one that did

Our local one is a lot cheaper for kids too, about £4 a head

3birthdaybunnies · 17/07/2013 13:03

Unless it is dh who feels the need to make sure ds 'is ok'

MiaowTheCat · 17/07/2013 13:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sleep404 · 17/07/2013 13:07

I agree. Our local is only £1.50, but I begrudge paying it especially as I normally have lunch or at least a hot drink there.

On the other hand I think they should charge £1 or so for babies. I took DS there yesterday as he has just started crawling and it's nice for him to have free reign in a safe and soft environment. He was free but I would happily have paid for him instead of paying for myself.

Solo · 17/07/2013 13:28

Ours tried charging adults, but seem to have stopped. It wasn't popular.
I think as they sell refreshments that most adults buy, that they should not charge entry. If I had to pay to get in, I would make a point of not buying anything extra at all.
YANBU!!!

Solo · 17/07/2013 13:30

and children are £7 each to get in.

MarmaladeTwatkins · 17/07/2013 13:30

"they're a business, of course they're going to charge!"

But charge for what? If you're going to charge it has to be for something. You charge the children in for the obvious reasons. What are they charging adults for?

umpti67 · 17/07/2013 13:39

One of ours charges for adults which I think is shocking. Particularly as the prices for coffees and food are high and the entrance fee for the dc is high. I go to the other one here that doesn't charge for adults and is around £3 cheaper per dc. My dc only spend an hour in these places before wanting to go - paying £24 is too much for that. Just seems like daylight robbery to me.

bearleftmonkeyright · 17/07/2013 14:17

Yanbu, they don't charge for adults here. I have paid as an adult to go into Chatsworth adventure playground and found that annoying as well, because I'd paid for three kids and parking. I don't really understand what I was being charged for.

katese11 · 17/07/2013 14:20

OP, is this one in Central London....? If not, it sounds similar!

Justforlaughs · 17/07/2013 14:24

"Jump" charge for adults during busy periods, and the price goes up for children as well. Hence, I only go in term time during school hours, and when DD starts full time school in September I won't be taking her again! I suppose that if they can get away with it, they will. It's no different really to Alton Towers charging for people who won't be using the rides (mainly parents again).

flipchart · 17/07/2013 14:30

what are they charging for?

Heat, lighting, staff wages, public liability insurance etc.
It's all got to be paid for somehow.

Even if you go and sit and read a book for an hour or so as some people do you are using a facility.( I know, I know, it's not you
MN's you all too busy watching your kids like hawks but some people like to relax while their kids play)

ElizabethHornswoggle · 17/07/2013 14:32

YANBU, and I stay away from ones that charge the adults!
They cost enough as it is without charging the adults as well. The adults spend enough in there anyway on teas, coffees, snacks or lunch when they're in there anyway, so it's really cheeky to charge them entrance fees on top.
I mean, it's not like they're going to actually GO on the equipment, is it? Actually, I might try that, and if they say anything about me going down the slide shouting "wheeee" I can retort " well, I have paid to come in and play!" Grin

LadyBryan · 17/07/2013 14:33

Wow I'm quite surprised soft play charges for adults! I cannot think of one around here that does. The last one I went to was £4.50 then free drinks for children until 3pm.

The only place I have been charged was at a farm with a play barn. They charge adults £1 if you want to go on the equipment Grin

sarahtigh · 17/07/2013 14:35

locally £3 in term time unlimited £4 for 2 hours at weekends and holidays (2 hours enforced if busy but let go if quiet) no charge for adults children under 2 cheaper, cafe reasonably priced too we are in Scotland

JedwardScissorhands · 17/07/2013 14:36

It's up to them if they charge, just like it's up to you if you go. Simples.

Thurlow · 17/07/2013 14:37

Blimey. Around us, if they charge for adults its something like £1 for adults and £3 for children, or if they don't charge for adults its then £4 for children. But then kids under 1 are free, so the £1 for adults was a sort of token gesture to get some money out of parents with babies.

Most parents buy a coffee or something, don't they? I always imagined that was how they made their money on free adults...

MarmaladeTwatkins · 17/07/2013 14:38

Hmm, well £4-7 a kid should cover all expenses and then there's the money you spend on overpriced coffee etc whilst there.

One near us charges £3 an adult! As I pointed out to the owner "It's not like it's an option is it? We HAVE to go and supervise our children!" Cafes don't charge you £3 to sit at their tables and buy their drinks.

flanbase · 17/07/2013 14:40

I'd never pay to go to one of these places