More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
An Aylesford soft play centre owner has warned of further closures in his industry, as the country enters a second national lockdown.
In April six indoor play areas from west Kent wrote to the government, calling for urgent assistance and predicting many casualties to the industry if extra help was not given.
Now, only two are still running, Adventure Kidz in Aylesford and Clip 'n Climb in Tonbridge . Others said it just wasn't financially viable to keep going with the current coronavirus restrictions and the guidelines they were given in order to run safely.
Before a second lockdown was announced, last week Adventure Kidz owner Andrew Moody said the government needed to offer a specific rescue package to businesses like his, or more businesses could fold.
Now, he says the situation is even worse.
"The outcome is there's probably one more nail in the coffin to go now, our section is in absolute rack and ruin. There will be more closures after this announcement."
"We are in same position again, bills are coming in and we have got to pay the running costs."
Soft play centres closed in March when national lockdown was introduced in and weren't allowed to reopen until the end of August, and that was with a string of government conditions.
The Quarry Wood centre's capacity was slashed by 25%, making it impossible for the business to turn a profit, despite very high demand.
The £25,000 business grant at the start of lockdown, although appreciated, has not been enough to cover the huge overheads.
Mr Moody said: "People have not been open long enough to start earning enough money. We have now got another month with no revenue."
He added that soft play centres rely on money made during the winter months to see them through the summer where kids are more likely to play outside.
The furlough scheme has been extended and businesses forced to close in the coming weeks will be eligible for grants between £1,334 and £3,000 per month, depending on the property's rateable value.
The grants have been made available by the government through councils but despite this Mr Moody still predicts tough times ahead.
He questioned why schools were able to stay open for children but indoor play centres could not, when they needed exercise and the weather is poor.
At Clip 'n Climb in Morley Road, manager Guy Bignell says this year it's just a "question of survival".
Clip 'n Climb is part of an organisation called Entre-Prises and there are also establishments in Dover and Sittingbourne.
The business falls under a different sector to Adventure Kidz, which is categorised as leisure, and so could open a month sooner.
The Tonbridge site hasn't "suffered the hardship" of soft play centres which have been placed under more stringent restrictions before this second lockdown, he says.
However capacity was still reduced and thanks to the rule of six parties couldn't go ahead either, and Mr Bignell says that on "every level" the operation has changed.
"I think the government support has been very good, we qualified for a grant and furlough, we have a sympathetic landlord," he added.
He is glad the second lockdown came now rather than during half term or in the Christmas holidays, when business would have been hit harder, but admits it is hard to keep staff moral up as their work dries up once again.
"We have managed, it's just a question of survival this year, you're not going to make much and you have just got to survive."
