'I'll sell everything before closing my soft play'

Looking out over nearly empty soft play equipment that should be packed full of sticky fingers and laughing children, Tim Dallison says the sight of his struggling business makes him "panic and lose sleep at night".

The 42-year-old is the managing director of Robin Hood Entertainment and Soft Play in Newark, Nottinghamshire, which has just celebrated its fourth birthday.

Mr Dallison opened the business to satisfy his love of entertaining, after a 20-year career touring as a Robbie Williams tribute act.

But four years on, the unseasonably warm weather and increases in business rates, combined with a rise in the cost of living, has left the business on the brink of closure.

Mr Dallison invested his house deposit and small loans from friends and family to buy the business in 2021.

He said he could not afford to pay rent, so spent the first two years running it homeless.

"The reality is, I just bought a mattress and put it on the floor of the office," he said.

"I couldn't afford to pay staff at the time so I'd work big days and then get my head down here.

"I've made so many sacrifices, but it's not guaranteed that we'll still be here next year. I'll sell everything I have and borrow before I admit defeat though."

This spring is ranking as the driest in over a century, according to the Met Office.

For many families, that has meant more time outside, but for Mr Dallison's business, it has contributed towards him running at a loss since March.

"I live in a house with five kids so I do understand it, if the sun comes out we're in the fields or swinging from trees, but wow," he said.

"Last year, March and April were my best months, but this year, because summer started in March they're my worst.

"We're down 40% on where we were this time last year and my overall costs have gone up a minimum of 20% because business rates have almost doubled, minimum wage has gone up and so has National Insurance."

From 6 April, National Insurance contributions for employers went up from 13.8% to 15%, there was a reduction in business rate discount and an increase in the minimum wage.

Since 2020, businesses like cafes, bars and retail units have had a 75% discount on business rates - capped at £110,000 per business - but that also expired at the start of the new financial year.

"I lose a lot of sleep knowing I have to put the prices up and face my customers," Mr Dallison said.

"I'm not trying to get a bigger house or a bigger car. I'm taking more and making less."

Molly Harrison is a stay-at-home mum to her two-year-old daughter.

The 26-year-old, from Newark, said the rising cost of living has meant she is visiting soft play centres less.

"Since she turned two, the price of coming to places like this has almost doubled," she said.

"And then there's the food. For entry and then coffee for me it costs around £15. I try and budget around £30 for extra bits each week so that's half of that.

"I have to think is this the best way to keep her entertained when I could take her to a park for free?"

It is the same for 30-year-old mum Amy Dey, from Warsop.

She works as a veterinary nurse and has had to pick up extra hours to make ends meet.

"Everything's just so expensive," she said. "We're having to cut back on the things we do with him that cost money because we have to be a bit more careful.

"They still have a great childhood, but we're doing lots more stuff at home."

Robin Hood Entertainment and Soft Play is not alone in its struggles, according to the Association of Indoor Play.

The organisation has said it does not have precise data to show how many indoor venues have shut over the past year, but that evidence suggests about 10% of the industry has closed.

Gordon Forster is on the executive board and also own Safari play venues.

He described the situation as "heart wrenching".

"During Covid, we were in exactly the same position and I had to borrow six figure numbers just to survive.

"But for some business owners, this period will be worse because during the pandemic you could switch off a lot of your costs and there was help.

"Now, the costs keep coming. Rent keeps coming. Wages, energy, you've got to keep the building open."

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