To think this is actually reasonable value for a child’s party?

[neverplaywithasmoo]

I am paying £750 to exclusively hire a soft play for two and a half hours.

Included in that is obviously use of the facilities for an hour and a half then an hour with all food and drink (including the cake) napkins balloons etc with a theme we want. (DD wants princesses of course but there are others available.)

All guests also get a free return visit to the soft play and party bags are included too.

I can’t see how we’d do it much cheaper really.

I wouldn't pay that much but I can see how it could cost that much if you are having a lot of guests as average per head cost here for most party venues is about 25 quid with food and probably more with party bags

Similar here @yorkshiretoffee . I do think this is the impression I’m getting; those with children who are now in their teens or even older primary are taken aback by the prices but those with younger children are more inclined to say ‘that sounds about right.’

I would feel really awkward inviting people to the park for a party because I don’t own the park; it isn’t mine to announce a party on. It probably is a me issue as I’ve been to a couple and they were nice enough but it wasn’t a party, just a picnic with a cake.

We spend our lives at various parks come rain or shine but a party in a park in December would be one I would be making an excuse not to go to 🤣 it’s also not really a party. Often see them in a lovely park we visit in the summer months, and I agree with OP it’s not their park to host a party.- take up a good section of it and exclude overs from using that area.

Could you also imagine the parents that drop and run and you are in a massive park, freezing cold, with various unsupervised children?! I hosted a party for 4 year olds and parents left…… I’d pay £750 to avoid that fresh hell any day 🤣

Mine are “country kids” too but there’s so way I’m being in charge of 30 kids in the winter in a park! It’s muddy too so food would be a nightmare.

like you I’d pay to avoid that!! Sounds super stressful and I’m not sure it’s much of a party. I think it’s different in the summer when you can have picnic blankets and set up some games, bubble machines and areas with stuff so it’s a bit more contained.

everyone has different preferences but I’ve not seen a winter park party for that many kids. I think contained kids having fun with it all included sounds fun. May be manufactured but most kids still love it!!

you can still go to the park after and kids can still enjoy both indoor and outdoor activities.

Our village hall in naice south east commuter belt would be about £50/60.

You can do 30 hot dogs in buns for a pound or two a head. Couple of hundred quid for bouncy castle hire.

No i would not pay £750.

Yes definitely wine offered to parents round our way at anything after 11am. Or more likely prosecco. I went to one party that had bacon butties for all the adults!!

Yeah … I don’t think not liking the park in winter is anything to do with whether you are urban or rural! Actually, being rural makes it trickier as you’re more spread out so then you’re asking people to drive miles to a wet park - nope, would be the responses 😂

Why do you think that parties for infant-age children need structure? I would think the last thing small children want at a party (or in life!) is structure. I've always found most are happy with mini disco music, a dance floor full of balloons and footballs.

We're lucky that the hall by us charges £90 for hire inclusive of their own bouncy castle, sound/light system and fully equipped kitchen. Couple of frozen pizzas, crisps and punnets of random fruit and it's sorted. I think £750 is more than I've spent on all my childrens' parties combined.

I think there needs to be a start time and an end time and some food; I think that’s a fairly normal expectation for parties.

Yeah and you can’t just keep an eye on the weather and hope for the best. The weather changes constantly and it would be a nightmare planning the food.

That’s where the party bags come in. Off you go - thank you very much 😂

Well yeah, but I can’t really do that if they are all charging around a farm as one poster decided I should ‘do that!’

The farm parties here are still organised so I think that's why some of us were confused. There's a set start and finish time, food in a designated area and cake/party bags at the end. If yours aren't like that then fair enough!

I don’t think anyone was confused; I casually mentioned that prices had gone up and gave a farm example and then had a poster urging me to pay for thirty kids to go to said farm.

Apart from anything else at a cost of £7 a head for adults and children that are would cost £420 just to get everyone in and that’s without food etc. And it is a day out, not a party.

Obviously, I'm not an idiot....my point was that it's a huge amount of money for a couple of hours at soft play

Ridiculous amount of money. By the time you add on DCs presents etc you’re at over £1k for a kiddies birthday. I repeat, ridiculous!

Well yes, it is a lot of money but the thing you suggested is also a lot of money, but four year olds wouldn’t enjoy it, whereas they will enjoy softplay.

But fairly standard I think @Jamesblonde2 , if you’re having a ‘big’ party. I really don’t think there is a way to avoid it.

It wasnt a suggestion, I was pointing out that I got a full weekend away for less than half the price of 2hrs soft play...but if you are happy spending that, crack on, I still think it's crazy money for a 4yo party🤷🏻‍♀️

sounds brilliant and value for money considering everything is included, hope your daughter has a lovely time!

But is your weekend away for 30 kids? If not then it’s not a comparison

It does seem an awful lot!

Depends on the age of the child, but for a Gdd’s 5th last year (and she’d invited the whole class) dd hired a church hall which seemed incredibly cheap - no more than about £50 - and since it was used for a playgroup there were masses of ‘wheelie’ toys they were allowed to use. Plus a kitchen thrown in, with all the mugs, kettle etc. for the parents.
Of course all the food, paper cups and plates etc. had to be provided, and games to be organised, but to me it seemed like exceptional value.