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09
Feb
'We need £30,000 or we'll close', warn owners of Wild West-themed soft play business
A Harrogate soft play centre says rising costs and an imminent sharp increase in business rates could force it to close unless it secures £30,000 to relocate.
World of Their Own, based on Hornbeam Park, has launched a crowdfunding appeal to customers and local businesses after warning that new business rates coming into force in April would make it financially impossible to continue operating at its current site.
The Wild West-themed play town, which has been open for eight years, was originally introduced as part of Grass Roots Garden Centre, situated between Ripon and Harrogate.
Owners Lee and Crista Webber were forced to move after just 18 months when the garden centre suddenly closed, leaving them scrambling to find a new venue and transport all their equipment.
They opened at Hornbeam Park in January 2020, only for covid restrictions to begin a few months later. Over the following 18 months, the business was closed on and off, amounting to roughly a year of lost trading.
Despite those challenges, the Webbers say the business recovered strongly after the pandemic, with turnover increasing year on year at a time when many similar venues closed.
In a blog written on the World of their Own website, Lee Webber said that rising costs have now created a new threat.
He said:
Rent, business rates, energy bills, staffing, food, consumables and insurance have all soared over the last couple of years, with no Government support or relief.
Although our reputation and turnover has grown year on year, our overall costs have increased by 35%, and when the new business rates bite in April, our bill will triple.
Sheriff Lee in the wild west themed play town
Rather than increasing entry prices, the couple decided to look for an alternative venue. They have identified another unit on Hornbeam Park which is all on one level, has higher ceilings and more parking.
The current venue is split across two floors, with the upper level rarely used due to safety concerns for younger children. The new space would allow the play centre to expand vertically, redesign the layout, and effectively halve the overhead costs.
In his blog post, Mr Webber added:
We’ve listened to your feedback, and this single level building has a better layout, improving the Wild West experience for all our guests.
The £30,000 appeal is aimed at covering the cost of dismantling the existing play town, fitting out the new venue, relocating and rebuilding equipment, expanding the play offer, replacing costumes and props, and completing safety and hygiene inspections, including a post-installation inspection by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.
Children having fun at World of their Own
The crowdfunding appeal has two parts. Customers can purchase advance vouchers for sessions at the new venue, which the owners hope will be ready by August 31.
Local businesses can also sponsor World of their Own and get their branding used as part of the décor of the new site.
Around £3,000 has been raised in the first week, primarily through customer support.
The Webbers have also confirmed that some local businesses are interested in sponsoring the soft play centre, which would greatly help them to reach their £30,000 goal.
Crista Webber said the level of community support following the appeal has been incredible:
We'd like to thank everyone who has supported us so far, whether that's through purchasing a voucher, sharing our posts or sending us lovely messages of encouragement and offers of help.
World of their Own would not be the special place it is today without all the lovely families and friends that visit us.
If the move is successful, the couple say they have longer-term ambitions to open more themed play towns elsewhere in the future.
They hope to reach their £30,000 target by the end of March, when the current site will close ahead of its relocation and refurbishment.
To purchase a voucher for the new venue, click here.
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