# Indoor soft play centres struggling to stay open

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/indoor-soft-play-centres-struggling-to-stay-open/
- Published: 2026-11-09T06:10:03+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-09T07:38:46+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC Business (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm4g11exqqwvo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Business

## Key points

- A hot summer left some centres with very few visitors.
- Rising bills are squeezing soft play businesses.
- The Kidz Barn plans to close in January 2026.

## Summary

Soft play centre owners in Shropshire and Worcestershire say a hot summer and rising operating costs are making it harder to keep their businesses open. One owner warned her centre could close if customers do not return, highlighting the pressure on venues that depend on families visiting throughout the year.

Jessica Harvey, who bought Whitchurch’s 17-year-old Funzone in October 2025, said it sometimes saw just 10 to 15 visitors in an entire summer week; she has used a soft play trailer at events to make up lost income. In Kidderminster, Wacky Playland’s owners reported electricity costs of £9,756.42 over three months and annual building insurance of £6,410.47, alongside a quarterly service charge of £5,837.33. They said the business was covering its bills but finances were tight, while another Kidderminster centre, The Kidz Barn, plans to close in January 2026 and go up for sale.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.