Indoor soft play centres struggling to stay open

The owner of a soft play area in north Shropshire said it is in danger of closure as the hot summer has meant centres like hers have struggled to get people through the doors.

Jessica Harvey has run Funzone in Whitchurch for over a year, and said the industry is seasonal, with there being occasions when she was the only one at the centre all day.

"Over the summer, there has definitely been [times] where we probably had 10 to 15 people in all week, which just isn't sustainable", she said.

Funzone, which has existed as a soft play centre in Whitchurch for 17 years, was sold two years ago. But the company that bought it went into liquidation, meaning Harvey was able to buy the firm in October 2025.

She said her first hot summer has been extremely challenging.

"It has been a bit demoralising. We have tried so hard to bring things back, and obviously when you are investing heavily, but not only just investing, a lot of our time has gone into it too.

"I'm talking getting up at six o'clock in the morning, being there for four hours before opening, and then not leaving the place until 12 at night because you're painting or building."

He added their aircon and the 5% VAT relief helped them keep their business going through the summer.

However, Galbraith said the business could still pay the bills but it was "really tight."

"If costs keep going higher and higher then it does kind of question where we can be because, I'm sure any business owner knows, that we have a lease as a 10-year lease and as goes up incrementally." Galbraith said.

"If, as years go by, our rent is going to go higher and if, in this world how it's looking things are going to get more expensive, then it kind of makes you scared, like where is it going to be."

Last month, the owners of The Kidz Barn, also in Kidderminster, announced their soft play centre would be closing its doors in January 2026, and would be put up for sale.

In a social media post, the centre said it "was not a decision that was made lightly."

"We weathered some incredibly difficult times. During COVID, there were moments when we genuinely didn't know if we would ever reopen our doors.

"Somehow, we got through those hardest months, and being able to welcome you all back was something we will never forget."