HOORAY! IT’S RAINING!

Posted on April 27, 2022

HOORAY! IT’S RAINING!

Emily Martin presents top tips for weather-proof play…

INDOOR PLAYGROUNDS are a guaranteed crowd pleaser. Pic. Hendra

In 2021, temperatures hit an unseasonable 24 degrees Celsius in March, followed by the wettest every May on record. In 2020 (or as we call it, ‘the year we do not mention’) we had the wettest February ever recorded followed by a gloriously sunny spring. There’s nothing more unpredictable than a British summer and with extreme weather becoming increasingly the norm, savvy holiday parks are advised to be ready for anything.

Unpredictable weather can sometimes a deterrent for holidaymakers who don’t want to waste their precious annual leave (or money) on a holiday that might be a wash-out. But for cunning holiday park owners, when it comes to indoor play there are ways you can reassure prospective bookers and stand out from the crowd. “British weather can be unpredictable, so it’s really important to provide plenty of indoor entertainment, as well as opportunities to eat and dine in the same area,” advises Helen Scott a Director at Cofton Holidays where indoor play is held in high regard.

ALL-YEAR ROUND

“We’re proud to be an all year round, all-weather holiday destination in South Devon. Come rain or shine, there’s always something to keep families entertained and we’ve worked hard to provide a rich and varied range of indoor entertainment experiences, mixing activities and play so there’s always something for the whole family to enjoy.”

Cofton have indoor play covered or the children and the adults too as Helen explains: “Our indoor play offering includes a heated indoor swimming pool with hydrotherapy loungers, bubbling water jets and splash pad area, sauna, steam room and gym. “Also fitness and cycling studios, a bowling alley an amusement arcade and soft play area. Having all our indoor play facilities in one central complex works really well for our guests,” says Helen.

“When it’s raining, you don’t want to be running from one end of the site to the other, ducking from the wet weather.” Helen continues: “Our indoor pool is perfectly located next to our café so guests can enjoy a morning swim and recharge afterwards with a fresh coffee and fluffy slice of cake. Many of our guests regularly spend half of their day in our indoor complex.” The Cofton Holidays indoor play facilities have been carefully chosen so that they meet the needs of all age groups.

Helen says: “The soft play area is aimed at children under the age of eight, and has been carefully located with plenty of seating nearby, so that adults can keep an eye on their young ones, while they enjoy light refreshments.” Helen flags up: “Something that we have adopted recently is a pre booking system for our indoor pool. This is something we introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure we complied with social distancing rules, but it has worked really well for us.

“Our indoor pool is incredibly popular and can get busy, particularly during the school holidays, so we have decided to keep this booking system in place for the foreseeable future. It allows us to control how busy the pool gets without disappointing customers so it is definitely something I would recommend other park owners think about.” Tony Clish, is the Director at Park Holidays UK. We asked him about indoor play facilities and how important the planning and preparation of those areas are to a Park Holidays site. Tony says: “As a family-focussed holiday parks group, we recognise the importance of providing play facilities for all ages – and in all weathers.

“That’s why many of our 40-plus parks make provision for indoor play areas suitable for toddler-age upwards, with the obvious provision that parental supervision is required at all times in the case of smaller children. Tony continues: “Soft play areas are especially popular as they provide a safe environment in which youngsters can let off steam for an hour or two – and, of course, give mum and dad a breather. “Seating and café areas are often located nearby which give parents an opportunity to view their children at play, and park staff keep a regular eye open to check on aspects such as cleanliness and the number of youngsters using the amenity.

“Children are also well provided for in other indoor areas such as swimming pools where smaller slides and other water features mean that all ages can make use of the facility. Customer comments from younger families often pay tribute to our indoor play zones, and they represent a significant part of the investment we make in activities at our parks.” Whether you’re singing in the rain or walking on sunshine, having plenty to do inside and undercover is a must if you want to ensure happy guests and consistent income all your round.

ADVICE ON TAP

For those who incorporate a gaming, play or adventure zone within your visitor attraction within your resort, the InterFun Expo is a great opportunity to find out about the latest product innovations and learn about current trends and new tech to help you drive more visitors to your attraction. The InterFun Expo will take place on 26-27 April, 2022, at New Dock Hall in the Royal Armouries complex in Leeds. The opening hours are 10am-5pm on 26 April and 10am – 4pm on 27 April. A huge range of products will be represented:

• Aerial adventure
• Soft play
• Arcade games
• Edutainment
• Mini sports
• Inflatables
• Family and kiddie rides
• Playground equipment
• Laser tag & paintball
• Table games

The exhibition is supported by an eye-catching seminar timetable that are all free to attend and do not have to be pre-booked; you simply drop in and out of those of interest to you and your organisation. Michael Harrison kicks off the schedule with a look at Trends In the UK Leisure Sector with other subjects including Attracting Visitors Through Mixed Marketing Techniques, The Soft Play Sector Post Covid and Immersive Tech – turning Visitors Into Players. Simply register to attend and you will gain access to the exhibition and seminars via www.interfunexpo.com

Get Out Of Jail – Indoor Play

Posted on January 16, 2020

Get Out Of Jail - Indoor Play

ABOVE: Indoor play is a vital ingredient to weather proof holiday park appeal. Pic Brean.

Finding the recipe for success on indoor play will reap significant rewards…

The UK’s notoriously unpredictable weather means that indoor play facilities can be a real get out of a jail card for holiday parks and leisure venues. Whether it’s a soft play zone or an adventure course, parks that offer exciting indoor entertainment are sure to stand out from the crowd. The unpredictability of our country’s weather, coupled with the limited activities that are available to children indoors, means that soft play centres play a massive role in attracting customers to a venue. Of course, retaining those customers is a different challenge. This can be achieved by providing good customer service and a warm and inviting environment. Offering good range of quality food and refreshments is also a must. Based in South Yorkshire, House of Play provides a consultancy, design, manufacture, installation and after service package for all aspects of soft play. With over 20 years’ experience in the industry, the company is the only soft play equipment manufacturer in the UK to both own and operate a soft play facility – giving them a unique insight into the operational aspects from a management point of view. “The biggest issue we see in the holiday park sector is the lack of maintenance on the play equipment or the lack of servicing by competent, trusted suppliers. Our advice is that you have made the big investment, now protect it,” advises Shaun. House of Play suggest that regular routine maintenance of play equipment should be performed to ensure that minor issues can be dealt with whilst they are minor, and to keep the yearly costs down to a minimum. As a rule of thumb, a minimum of six maintenance visits per month are recommended by House of Play, plus a daily cleaning routine and they also suggest refreshing the equipment every five years to keep it current. Shaun explains: “Ongoing maintenance for play equipment does not cost very much but it will protect your investment and prolong its lifespan. Plus it doesn’t matter who installed the equipment originally - we can still service it for customers. “Similarly, the refreshers do not need to cost the earth and we can work with customers to deliver very cost effective solutions and maximise impact.” Generally price points are dependent upon the scale of the play area, the location of the site and the offering as a whole. Shaun adds: “The majority of holiday parks that install small token play areas don’t tend to charge directly for the use of the play equipment. The larger sites can charge anything between £1 and £5 for admission and then of course there is the secondary spend in the café. “Ultimately, the scale and offering as a whole needs to be right if you are to maximise your profit potential.”

CLEAR VISION

Brean Play has managed to get the balance just right, with a typical site in Brean Leisure Park in Somerset. Owned and managed by Holiday Resort Unity, the £2 million soft play attraction provides another reason for guests to visit the leisure park for the day, or to come for a holiday and stay at the resort. “Since we opened we have seen a lot of customers using the play centre on a regular basis,” says park director Kieran Spottiswoode. “We offer an annual membership scheme and this has proved popular, and we also offer a number of birthday party packages as we have 5 party rooms on the mezzanine floor. The soft play equipment for Brean Play was supplied by Cheer Europe and features three distinct areas for babies, toddlers and children up to the age of 11 with a large play frame, slides, trampolines, and a cannon ball zone. The Mezzanine floor also features five party rooms available for hire all year round. Kieran comments: “Before undertaking any new soft play project, it’s important to do your research. Be clear on what you want to offer and what age groups you are offering it to. It’s also worth looking at other operators, visit their facilities, talk to them about what works for them and what doesn’t. “It’s easy to get carried away with what other people or the suppliers say, but if you have done your research correctly you’ll be fine – stick to your vision.” Kieran also advises other holiday parks to look at the bigger picture and think about other aspects that will add to the play offering. Allowing a large enough area for spectator seating and tables is crucial, as is getting the food and beverage options right. Brean Play offer a varied menu in the cafeteria, and brew Starbucks coffee and frappuccinos. “Take your time, don’t rush the design phase. Getting this bit right is key to the whole project. We got two companies to pitch for the project initially but from the first time we sat down with the team from Cheer Europe there was a good understanding between us, which helped push the creativity forward.”

Thinking Outside The Box

Posted on February 16, 2017

Imagination Playground is a mobile play system made up of big blue blocks in many unique shapes and sizes.

Thinking Outside The Box

Imagination Playground is an ideal solution for leisure venues with limited space. It is a unique mobile play system designed to unlock the creative powers of children through open-ended, unstructured play.

The portable playground comes in two storage-friendly carts that can be wheeled through a standard sized door and then packed away easily after use. Think of a giant-sized construction game, with soft, lightweight blue blocks in a variety of shapes and sizes. The blocks can be stacked, connected, channelled or just lined up - all to make children’s ideas a reality.

“The driving force behind Imagination Playground is to provide a way to encourage children to do what they do best - to be creative and to use their imaginations,” says David Rockwell, CEO of Rockwell Group and designer of Imagination Playground. “Researchers have long known that playing with blocks helps children develop cognitive and social skills. Unstructured, child-directed play is a critical component of healthy, social, emotional and intellectual development.”

Available from HAGS, the Classic 105 Big Block Set features 75 biodegradable blue blocks and parts, 15 noodles, 15 plastic balls and two weather resistant carts for simple storage.

Suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, Imagination Playground is currently priced at just £4,499* including delivery. Quote LEISURE-JAN17 when ordering.* *Offer price available from 1st Jan 2017 to 31st March 2017. Price excludes VAT. Price includes delivery to Mainland UK only, excludes Scottish Highlands.

Holiday Park Scene Magazine