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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Soft play costs and charging adults

113 replies

Rupiduti · 09/02/2023 20:26

A fairly local garden centre to me have recently installed a soft play, they previously had one pre covid and as far as I'm aware, it was a cheap and cheerful couple of pounds entry which was a nice added bonus to the garden centre. It's a nice garden centre and I'll often pop along at Christmas time to see their displays, look at the pet store there, purchase some Christmas presents and buy some lunch. Spending plenty of money in store. As do many people.
Their new soft play charges are extortionate at £8.50 1- 4 , £9.50 for 5+ and a charge for under ones. Plus £2 per adult (plus it's more during weekends and school holidays). This caused a huge backlash on their fb page and people are saying it's unaffordable etc...
Anyway, the main point of my post. Do you think it's reasonable for soft plays to charge for adults, especially given most will purchase a drink or cake or something ! I guess my thinking is, a 3 year old can't go alone! This isnt specifically regarding this soft play btw, im noticing it happening in others too.

YABU - it's fine for them to charge for adults

YANBU - they shouldn't charge for adults.

Also interested to hear people's views on what soft plays should cost!

OP posts:
onelife22 · 09/02/2023 21:30

This is also my local garden centre and I haven't personally been in to see it. Another local-ish soft play is also quite expensive but people say it's bigger so it's fine, but it has 3 separate areas and the age appropriate areas for younger children aren't huge. Plus they charge for adults.

On a side note, since then changed from Costa to the patisserie and changed the restaurant, the prices went insane. It cost me & friend £50 for 2 coffees, drinks for the kids and cakes to share in the patisserie and we haven't been back since...

mackthepony · 09/02/2023 21:31

Pram charge? £1.50?

Wtf

Johnnysgirl · 09/02/2023 21:32

mackthepony · 09/02/2023 21:31

Pram charge? £1.50?

Wtf

A pram park uses space they could use for other things

Oysterbabe · 09/02/2023 21:34

They've calculated how much they need to charge to make a decent profit. If they didn't charge adults they'd just increase the cost for the kids.

babymidgetgem · 09/02/2023 21:35

I think I know exactly where you mean, and read the many comments on their page! They really have shot themselves in the foot there, especially considering the fact they have also gotten rid of the craft shop, made the pet bit smaller, and there is a cheaper, bigger soft play next door! Certainly won't be hurrying back.

Blagdoon · 09/02/2023 21:40

I won’t go if they charge for adults. They don’t charge you to go into a coffee shop and buy a coffee, so how is it logical to charge you to go into a soft play cafe? We often go to soft play specifically so we can have a coffee in peace while the kids are entertained, and this would put us off going together because it would cost double.

Tohaveandtohold · 09/02/2023 21:58

One soft play around here charges £7 for 6 months old to 2 years and £12.50 for 3 years and above. They also charge £2.50 per adult. To make it worse, you’re only allowed to stay for 1.5 hours at peak periods ( so basically after sch hrs, weekends and school holidays). I’ve stopped going there. Literally people only go there for maybe birthdays now

UraWizard · 09/02/2023 22:04

Can’t believe some of these prices our local one is £5.95 that includes free entry for under 1s and Costa Coffee for adult. No charge for additional adult!

superking · 09/02/2023 22:15

This used to get my back up (DC now past soft play age). But actually they have to make a certain profit margin to survive, and if they didn't charge for adults they would just have to charge more for children/ make food and drink more expensive. Just like how budget airlines seem really cheap when you look at the initial ticket price but once you've added on all the extras they're often more expensive than the main carriers.

It's better to look at the overall cost of a visit - ticket price for adult(s) plus child(ren) plus whatever refreshments and decide whether that is a price you're willing to pay. The value for money of one soft play versus another will depend on your family make up (ie how many adults/ kids) and how much food and drink you buy when you're there.

LadyWithLapdog · 09/02/2023 22:29

I can understand why they charge even for babies: nappies need changing, changing rooms cleaning, bins collection, adequate warm temperature in the building.

Similarly, how about amusement parks where they charge for children to go on rides, but they can’t go on rides without an adult, and the adult also needs to pay. That’s a bit outrageous too.

happyfishcoco · 09/02/2023 22:33

where I am, they charge £10 for 1+ years, and £5 for adults.
very unreasonable to charge an adult. one adult should be free with one child.

Blondeshavemorefun · 09/02/2023 22:48

piggijg · 09/02/2023 21:23

Ours even charges £1.50 to bring in your pushchair.

Wow at prem charge. That's cheeky

2Bornot · 09/02/2023 22:57

Covid + cost of living crisis + market forces = massive inflation

I don’t have a problem with their prices, I think it’s nice that soft plays are reopening again.

BogRollBOGOF · 09/02/2023 23:00

There were a couple that charged for adults when my 12yo was a baby. I tended to swerve those where possible and avoid paying extra on top for the cafe as a point of principle.

I was only there to supervise my child. I certainly wasn't there for my own enjoyment!

TheGoogleMum · 09/02/2023 23:26

Local one charges £1 for adults but kid price isn't too bad. We don't go often. Probably go to ones at farm parks more often (so a lot more money but you also get the farm animal experience)

justgettingthroughtheday · 10/02/2023 01:20

Local one to my friend tried to charge the parents £5 per adult to enter the soft play to pick their kids up from a party a few weeks ago!

Utter madness! They relented in the end when all the parents refused and the party child's parents started walking them out!

hailer · 10/02/2023 01:36

I'm Covid they had to charge more to shut down and clean between sessions. So was understandable. Before used to pay a few quid for toddler to stay all day so bought loads of drinks and food. Now I don't go as a Saturday with 3 kids, stay longer than 2 hours so want to buy lunch you can spend 60plus quid that isn't worth it at all.

poppetposieandfun · 10/02/2023 04:20

There are some near me that charge the same for adults as they do a child! Totally ridiculous! I guess I can understand a quid or two, I agree they likely have costs in some way, but even that feels like a bit of a reach.

Funkyblues101 · 10/02/2023 05:25

Realistically lots of people won't buy anything at the garden centre except a coffee but will clog up the parking, use the loos etc.
Regardless, soft play can charge whatever they want and you can vote with your feet. Soft play didn't exist when mine were young so I value (free) outside playgrounds and fresh air more. Toddlers used to have waterproof rompers and wellies and had a great time.

Mumoffairy · 10/02/2023 06:02

Rupiduti · 09/02/2023 20:39

I get your point but I'd say 95% of soft play customers buy a drink.
We don't go to a cafe and pay entry before purchasing a drink do we?

Show quote history

Lots of people sneak in their own drinks.
The soft play near me charges entrance fee for adults, but you get a drink voucher for it.
I think thats a great solution.

Intrepidescape · 10/02/2023 06:28

If you can’t afford it then don’t go. It’s a business that can charge whatever they want.

BendingSpoons · 10/02/2023 06:37

The 'standard' soft plays near me allow 1 adult free and charge for extra adults, which I think is understandable. Annoyingly our local one is 1 hour slots now for £7.50.

The more fancy soft plays with go-karts etc charge for adults too, up to £5.50 in peak times. I annoys me but then farms etc charge for adults, so I guess it's more like that. They encourage parents to have a go for the price!

Wine4whine · 10/02/2023 06:44

Our soft play used to charge that upon reopening from COVID (fair enough) a few months ago they put the prices up again and it would now cost £18.50 total for me to take my dd5 to the place! We no longer go there as it's too expensive.

For reference this is in the South East, on an industrial estate (an inexpensive one) and the soft play isn't anything particularly remarkable although is large

WhatNoRaisins · 10/02/2023 06:50

When I worked in hospitals the bane of the nurses existence were those families where large groups of unnecessary adults all turned up en mass and sat around taking up space. These people were more often than not intimidating and unsavoury characters.

If you don't have an adult charge at soft play you're going to get those families where one toddler has both parents, at least 3 grandparents and an aunt and uncle or two trailing after them for the cheap hot drinks.

willingtolearn · 10/02/2023 06:51

The problem is that if you don't charge adults you will end up with 1 child and 10 adults which will mean there is no seating available. Also would it be okay to allow adults in without children?