Frequently Asked Questions

View our handy video below to see how easy it is to book online using our 'Check Availability & Book Online' tool located in the red bar at the top of our homepage.

Q. How do I book?
A. The quickest way to book is using our online booking service, simply click on the equipment or package you required, then look for the green 'Book Online' button, it looks like this.

Q. How do I check availability?
A. The quickest way to check availability of equipment / packages is through our website. Simply click on the equipment or package you required, then look for the red 'Check Availability' button, it looks like this.

Or located on our website homepage is the handy 'Check Availability & Book Online', Simply choose your delivery postcode > then your booking date > and a category from the drop down list your interested in > then click search. Your see all our items from that category free on the date you selected. Cant find it? it looks like this.

Q. How much notice do I need to give to hire a castle or the soft play?
A. You can book as close as two days before your event/party via our website, however, we get very busy during the school holidays and hot spells so please book as early as possible to avoid disappointment. Alternatively, you can contact us on the day, as we may have availability.

Q. When are bouncy castles and soft play available?
A. Our castles and soft play are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week all year round including Bank Holidays. Please note that there are extra fees for late collections or special occasions such as Christmas.

Q. What do the prices include?
A. All booking prices include set-up and collection of equipment along with all accessories required to inflate and make your booking extra safe.

Q. How long do I get the equipment for?
A. We deliver garden bookings between 7:00am – 11.00am and collect between 5.00pm – 8:00pm. The times you enter will be a guide when planning our route, but not guaranteed. If you would like to hire past these time select overnight option and we will collect the next morning, but there is an extra charge for this. Why not get in touch and we discuss your needs.

Q. How do I pay?
A. We accept most major credit/debit cards (see below) when checking out on our website. You can either just pay the deposit or the full balance. If you have a balance to pay on the day of your party, we only accept cash on arrival, our drivers do not accept cheques or card payments upon arrival. Please ensure all cash payments are the correct amount, we don't carry change and cant be held reliable for money transactions once we have left.

Q. Do I have to pay a booking fee?
A. Yes a £25.00 booking fee is required for all orders. Booking fees are non-refundable.

***Please note the £25.00 booking fee is deducted from the final payment to be made on the day of your party. If you're paying in full during the checkout process, no worries, you're completely done.

YOUR BOOKING IS NOT CONFIRMED UNTIL THE DEPOSIT HAS BEEN PAID.

Q. Can I pay for overnight hires?
A. Yes of course, prices start from £30.00 per item / package. Once you have selected your item, simply select the green 'Book Online' button and follow the on screen instructions. Look out for the 'Access Details' box on the booking form and select the collection time as 'Overnight (£30)'. Confused? see below.

***Please note that all overnight hires are collected by 10:00am the next morning. This overnight charge does not include the next days hire.***

Q. Can I pay for later collections?
A. We will collect the equipment between 5pm-8pm. If you want the equipment past this time please select the overnight option (see above). If the product can't be left overnight please get in touch and we can look at availability to collect later, but chages will apply.

Q. How long does it take to set up?
A. The equipment takes between 20 – 40 minutes to set up / pack away. However, this is only an estimate, times may vary depending on what you hire and the ease of access to the proposed site.

Q. Can the bouncy castle / soft play be used indoors / outdoors?
A. Yes, our bouncy castles / soft play can be used indoors and outdoors. Remember to check the 'Suitability Tab' located to the side of the pictures to see what surfaces are applicable for your choose asset / package, please note you may need to scroll down to see the 'Not Suitable' surfaces. - - See image below for an example.

Q. How can I read more about the equipment / package I want to hire?
A. Once you have see something you like, click the 'Details' and 'Additional Info' tab, your find some handy descriptions of the item / package you wish to hire as well as useful links and important information. - - See image below for an example.

Q. What size is my inflatable & what access is required?
A. You can obtain sizing of each inflatable from the 'Size' tab, located to the right on the images within the asset. This also shows the required space and access width required. - See image below for an example.

Please note: It is the responsibility of the client / bookie or hirer to check the space required for their chosen inflatable / single soft play item or package. This includes the ceiling height or the lowest part of an indoor venue / space. All sizes are clearly marked and shown on each inflatable / single hire item via the 'size tab' (shown above) located to the right of each asset picture. On delivery, if the inflatable will not fit in the space provided the client / bookie or hirer will still be charged the total outstanding amount of the hire. We cannot be held responsible or liable if the inflatable / single soft play item or package does not fit.

Q. Who can use the equipment? Adults or Children?
A. User height of each inflatable / soft play package or soft play item is located on the 'Users' tab, located to the right of the asset images once selected. - See image below for an example. This information will also be shown on the front of every inflatable.

Q. Is the equipment tested?
A. Yes all equipment is annually tested by PIPA, resisted and approved by HSE as an approved testing body within the inflatable industry. You can click on the blue link to be directed to print or view the safety certificate. - See image below for an example. All our electrical equipment are portable appliance tested (PAT) from cables to castle blowers.

Q. When I hire a castle / soft play is there anything I need to provide?
A. All you will need to provide is a mains power supply (a normal domestic indoor socket) within 25 meters of every inflatable hired. Just like the one below.

Please note: If power is not available on the day for whatever reason full payment will still be taken. If you require generators or extra extensions leads these can be supplied with prior arrangement. Each inflatable requires one suitable plug socket.

Q. How should the area be upon arrival / set up?
A. Please ensure that the proposed site for the castle / soft play is free from debris/garden furniture/children’s toys and most importantly dog / cat mess.

Q. What should I do before you arrive / set up?
A. Our equipment is delivered on a sack barrow so we need clear access (at least 3ft) but shown on individual assets via the 'size tab'. Make sure paths and access to your garden are free of obstacles.

Q. Are we insured?
A. Yes,we have £5 million PLI (Public Liability Insurance). This covers against injury caused by inappropriate or unsafe set-up, or faulty equipment. However, it doesn't cover against loss, damage or injury caused through either negligent use of the equipment, altering any aspect of the set-up after delivery, or through normal use where accidents may occur. We also hold £10 million employee insurance. To see our incarnate details click here.

Q. What are the earliest/latest collection times?
A. During summer, hot weather and holidays, we maybe with you as early as 6:00am, even if you have selected a later delivery. Again we could collect as late as 11:00pm during these busy times. Please be ready for early deliveries and late pick ups. We aim to give you as much notice as possible for unsocial visits.

Q. What events do we cover?
A. We cover child's party, nursery play days, corporate events, school fairs and fetes and festivals with our dedicated under 5's play area. Cant see your event listed? not to worry, simply contact us, I'm sure we can help out.

Q. What is a safe wind speed?
A. Inflatables are not to used in high winds. Inflatables are to be turned off if wind speeds including gusts become greater than 24mph. This is for your own safety.

Q. What if it rains during my event?
A. In the event of rain please remove children from the inflatables/s and place a table or similar object over the blower/s to prevent water from being blown inside the inflatable/s. do not switch the blower/s off. Once the rain has stopped, please ensure that the entrance, exit, and bounce area are dried with a towel before children are allowed back on as they become slippery and wet.

Soft play must be placed under cover in the event of rain, e.g. in a house or under tarpaulin.

Q. Do I pay cancellation fees (Non wet weather / High Winds policy)?
A. Yes we do retain the £25.00 booking fee as a minimum , but it could be more, this is dependant on the date of the cancellation and actual party / event date. Please view our full Terms and Conditions for our non wet weather cancellation policy.

Q. Do I pay cancellation fees (Wet weather / High Winds policy)?
A. No, in the case of bad weather, we do offer the booking fee to be transferred to an alternative booking date. Please note that bad weather is defined / decided by SoSoft Play, not by yourself. If we are happy to deliver but you don't want the equipment, we default back to the non wet weather / high winds policy.

Q. Can equipment be brought though houses / buildings?
A. Yes, but its not advised that equipment is carried or moved through buildings. Its down to the owners discretion, SoSoft Play can not be held liable for damages or loss.

Q. Are petrol generators supplied as standard?
A. No, as standard we run off mains power (please see above), we currently do not supply generators. If you have no power on site we can not set up inflatables. We can however set up softplay and other equipment that do not require power.

Q. Can we set up on mud?
A. Strictly speaking no, it really depends on how muddy it is and if the hired equipment will be dirty. We can supply ground sheets but this has to be pre arranged and approved. Of course we can set up on grass if you have a grass area available.

Q. Do we give a safety briefing?
A. Of course, after setting up, your be given a full walk around of the equipment, your safety talk will happen while your signing the Term of Conditions and inspecting the equipment.

Q. Do we offer a manning service?
A.Currently we can no longer offer manning services.

Q. What sort of surface do you need for the inflatables?
A. Inflatables placed outside are to be on a reasonably flat grass based area, small inclines or slopes are OK, please contact us if you are worried about your garden. Inflatables cant go under low trees and the area must be free if sharp objects and excessive mud. We may refuse to set up if these rules are not complied with or take to long upon arrival.

Q. Am I the only job of the day?
A. No, we could have up to 15 jobs or more in a day, we have very strict time slots and routes booked for each day, if you miss this time slot allocated or your venue differs from the booking form, such as access, surface or power supplies, we may be forced to leave without setting up. We can accommodate most things but some planning may need to be done before and good communication from the hirer is key to make the party a success. If we have to leave without setting up, we maybe able to re deliver at a later time, this may incur a re delivery fee of £10.00 mileage, this service is subject to SoSoft Plays discretion and subject to availability.

Q. Can a inflatable go on hard standing ground (patio / drive way/ road / playground / car park or alike)?
A. No, H/S requires 160kg of weight on EACH anchor point - this would mean we needed to carry half a ton of sandbags for every hard standing job. If we arrive at a job that requires hard standing, we will have to leave without setting up. All monies revived will be non refundable or transferable. H/S requires we peg all anchor points to the ground via a grass area.

Q. Can a inflatable go on astro turf ground.
A. No for the same reasons above, unless you sign permission to peg through your astro turf, please note this will leave six big holes once removed and is subject to refusal as we cant tell what the surface type is below the astro turf.

Q. Can soft play go on hard standing ground (patio / drive way / astro turf / playground / car park or alike)?
A. Yes, soft play is not required to be pegged down so can be placed on any flat none sharp surface.

Q. Do I need to keep the fan on all the time?
A.Yes, the fan is required to be running all the time, this costs around 0.80p / day on average.

Q. Can we move the bouncy castle?
A. No, for insurance and H/S reasons, once the castle has been set up, approved & signed off, it can only be moved by a trained member of staff. They must not be moved under any circumstance by the hirer, general public or members of the event.

Q. Are safety mats provided?
A. Yes, where applicable, you just ensure all mats supplied with the equipment remain where they are positioned during installation.

Q. Do we supply adult equipment?
A. Yes we have a few castles that are rated for adult use, please get in contact to find out more.

Q. What power requirements are needed for fans?
A. Here is a quick spec list of the fans we use, They run off standard power from a house, so no need to worry. If you are supplying a generator please ensure the specifications match the below for per fan you require.

Q. When do I have to pay?
A. Payment can be made in variety of ways, There is a minimum of a £25.00 booking fee upon completion of your order via electronic payment on our website.
Balances can be paid via a payment link within your conformation email and Balance payment email sent a few days before the start of your party or as cash on delivery. Please note, if your paying via cash on delivery, no cheques are accepted and payment must be the correct balance, our drivers do not carry cash or change on deliveries / hires.