Indoor soft play centres face closure due to low summer attendance

Jessica Harvey, owner of a soft play centre called Funzone in Whitchurch, north Shropshire, told the BBC that the hot summer has severely impacted visitor numbers, with some days seeing no customers at all.

Harvey said the industry is seasonal but this summer was particularly challenging, with weeks where only 10 to 15 people visited, which she described as unsustainable for the business.

Funzone has been a soft play centre for 17 years and was sold two years ago, but after the previous company went into liquidation, Harvey bought it in October 2025.

She described the experience as demoralising, noting the heavy investment of time and effort, including early mornings and late nights spent maintaining and improving the centre.

To offset losses, Harvey built a soft play trailer for events, which helped generate income, but she expressed concern about the upcoming colder weather and its impact on business.