Soft Play Hire Insurance
Compare Quotes from UK Specialist Brokers
Compare soft play insurance quotes from specialist UK brokers. Public liability, equipment cover and legal expenses for soft play hire, mobile soft play and combined inflatable businesses. One quick form, multiple quotes.
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Compare quotes from specialist soft play insurance brokers
Quotes are provided by a panel of specialist insurance brokers. All providers are FCA regulated.
GET MULTIPLE QUOTES →How to Compare Soft Play Insurance
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Soft Play Insurance Made Simple
Compare quotes from insurers who understand play centres and mobile hire.
- Compare multiple quotes from specialist insurers in minutes
- Cover from £1m to £10m public liability
- For mobile hire and fixed play centres alike
- FCA-regulated brokers only
- 100% free, no obligation to buy
Why Compare Soft Play Insurance with MultiQuoteTime?
Soft play venues bring together large numbers of children, so liability risk is real, and insurers price it differently depending on your footfall, equipment, and whether you’re mobile or fixed.
MultiQuoteTime gives you access to a panel of specialist brokers who quote specifically for play centres and mobile hire, so you compare tailored options rather than settling for one insurer’s view. If you only need cover for a single event, compare short-term public liability insurance instead.
Guide To UK Soft Play Insurance?
Soft play insurance provides protection against claims from users of the indoor soft play facility. These claims can include injury claims or property damage claims. If the owner of an indoor or outdoor play centre is found to be responsible, they will be liable for injury claims, which can be substantial. So whilst this type of insurance is not a legal requirement, it will protect your business should any third party make a claim that you are subsequently found liable for. It is also important to note that these types of venues can attract that small minority of people that set out to make false claims to try and enrich themselves.
How Much Does Soft Play Insurance Cost?
Soft play insurance costs vary significantly depending on your business type, revenue, location, and coverage requirements. As a general guide, mobile soft play hire businesses may see quotes from around £150 annually, whilst larger indoor play centres with higher footfall may see quotes from £800 upwards. The actual cost will depend on your specific circumstances and the insurer’s assessment of your risk profile.
Please note: The figures shown below are indicative examples only to illustrate typical cost ranges. Your actual insurance premium will vary based on your specific business circumstances, coverage requirements, and individual insurer assessments. Always obtain personalised quotes for accurate pricing.
Typical Soft Play Insurance Cost Examples
Mobile Soft Play Hire
Example cost range: £150-£500 per year*
Typical coverage: £1-2 million public liability
Suited for: Part-time mobile operations, event hire
Indoor Play Centre
Example cost range: £800-£3,000+ per year*
Typical coverage: £5-10 million public liability
Suited for: Permanent facilities with regular customers
*Example costs are for illustration purposes only. Actual premiums can vary significantly based on individual circumstances including business size, revenue, claims history, location, and specific coverage requirements. These figures should not be relied upon for budgeting purposes.
What Factors Can Affect Soft Play Insurance Costs?
- Number of children using facilities daily/weekly
- Mobile hire vs fixed indoor centre location
- Your annual business revenue and turnover
- Level of public liability cover required (£1m to £10m)
- Your claims history and years operating
- Equipment maintenance records and safety certifications
- Your business location and operating areas
What Type of Insurance Do You Need for a Soft Play Business?
Owners of a soft play business should consider public liability insurance (PL). This type of cover will protect the business in the event of claims by a third party whilst using the facilities or on the business property. PL insurance is available at different levels of cover, typically ranging from £1,000,000 to £10,000,000, with £2 million public liability cover a common choice for mobile and smaller soft play setups. Please see the table below.
| Public Liability (PL) Options | Levels of Cover Available |
|---|---|
| PL | £1,000,000 |
| PL | £2,000,000 |
| PL | £5,000,000 |
| PL | £10,000,000 |
Do You Legally Need Insurance For A Soft Play Business?
Insurance for an indoor or outdoor play centre is not a legal requirement, but having it may be mandated by event organisers. Before being accepted to any outdoor or indoor event, the organisers will most certainly ask to see the level of liability cover that your business has in place.
Eamonn’s Take
Eamonn Turley · Commercial Insurance Editor, MultiQuoteTime
Don’t just check whether cover is required, check the level. Many event organisers and venues set a specific minimum, often £2 million or £5 million, in their contract terms. Buying a lower level of cover than they actually require can leave you turned away on the day, so confirm the figure in writing before you buy rather than relying on general guidance.
Is Soft Play A Good Business Venture?
Opening a soft play facility can be a good business if it is situated in a location with a high population of children and parents who have a disposable income. An indoor play facility will enable parents to get their children away from the computer screen and encourage them to be active.
Indoor soft play centres are popular in the UK because of the high number of rainy days, making it difficult for kids to play outside. For the business to be successful, you will need to consider the number of children in the area and the disposable income of their parents.
Parents are important and must also be considered while their kids are playing. Most play centres will have a relaxation area for parents where they can sip coffee, have a snack, chat with other parents, and relax.
Focus On Attracting And Retaining Customers
Make the play centre a go-to family location, with facilities for both young and old. Ideas include a coffee shop, snack food, or even a restaurant. Other ideas include a gym for those that like to stay trim and healthy. So whilst the kids play, the parents workout or sip a latte.
Watch The Competition
A successful soft play business will attract competition, so always try to stand out from the crowd and be one step ahead. For example, offer lifetime memberships and try to build a moat that makes it difficult for another business to compete.
What Types Of Insurance Do Soft Play Owners Need?
There is no specific outdoor or indoor play insurance policy as such; rather, it is made up of different elements. Below, we have outlined the available options that can help safeguard your business from financial risks.
Public Liability Coverage
This is financial and legal protection if a claim is made against you by a third party, for example a member of the public who is hurt when using your play equipment. During the quote process, you will be prompted to choose a level of public liability coverage, but this can be changed later based on advice from your preferred insurance provider, depending on the typical level of claims awarded to the public.
Property Damage & Theft Insurance
Play equipment and inflatables can be expensive and can be the target of theft or damage when on hire. This type of cover will cover damage in storage or when on hire.
Business Interruption
Business interruption cover will protect you if you are unable to continue your daily business due to an insured event, for example theft of equipment or damage by fire. The cover is normally for a fixed time period to enable you to get back on your feet and continue normal business activities.
Employer’s Liability Insurance
For any business with staff, this is the type of coverage that protects the owner if an employee makes any type of claim against the business or the owner. This is a requirement under UK law for any business, including soft play owners, who have at least a part-time employee working for them.
In addition to soft play liability insurance, you may wish to consider including additional cover. Please note that employer’s liability is the only one that is a legal requirement. If you have employees, you must by UK law have the correct level of employer’s liability insurance to operate within the law. The most common request is currently for bouncy castle insurance, followed by inflatable bar and fly insurance.
What You Need To Get Quotes At MultiQuoteTime.co.uk
Have this ready and you’ll be comparing quotes in minutes
- Soft play details: your business type, size, number of employees (if any), and years in operation
- Personal details: your name and contact details
- Cover requirements: how much public liability cover you need, and whether you need product liability cover and to what level, these can be changed later
All soft play facilities must comply with Health and Safety Executive guidelines on managing play safety and ensure equipment meets BS EN 1176 and BS EN 1177 standards, published by the British Standards Institution.
Softplay Business FAQS
Safety Standards & Compliance
All soft play facilities must comply with Health and Safety Executive guidelines and ensure equipment meets BS EN 1176 and BS EN 1177 standards for maximum safety and compliance.
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