Terms and conditions for a soft play centre

Soft play is sold to parents as a break, and children play in it with little regard for the rules. The terms have to say who is supervising, which zones are for which ages, what happens when a child is hurt, when a family may be asked to leave, and how a party booking works. I draft those terms for a fixed fee of £995, delivered in five working days.

Who this is for

Soft play centres, indoor play cafés and family entertainment venues in England and Wales offering sessions, memberships and party bookings to parents and carers, with a café and sometimes a party room.

What matters in soft play terms

Parental supervision throughout

The terms should say plainly that children remain the responsibility of the accompanying adult at all times, that the adult must stay on the premises and supervise, and that staff supervise the facility, not the children. That single term, displayed and accepted at entry, is what stops a centre being treated as a childminder.

Age zones, socks and equipment rules

The terms should set the age and height rules for each area, the requirement for socks, the ban on shoes, food and drink in the play areas, and the prohibition on adults using equipment designed for children. Equipment must be used as intended, and the terms should say that staff may stop any use that is unsafe.

Injury, first aid and what cannot be excluded

Bumps and scrapes are part of soft play, and the terms can say that play carries an inherent risk of minor injury and that the adult accepts it. They cannot exclude liability for injury caused by your own negligence, such as defective equipment or an unsafe layout, which the Consumer Rights Act 2015 does not permit against a consumer, and as occupier you owe every visitor the common duty of care under the Occupiers' Liability Act 1957; the terms describe your inspection and cleaning regime and require incidents to be reported before leaving.

Behaviour, exclusion and other families

The terms should give staff the right to ask a child, adult or family to leave without refund where behaviour is unsafe, aggressive or disruptive, and should say that bullying and rough play are dealt with by the accompanying adult first and by staff if needed. Adults who are abusive to staff or other customers may be excluded from future sessions.

Parties, food and bookings

Party bookings need a deposit, a cut-off for numbers, the party room hours, what food is included, whether outside food and a cake are allowed and on what conditions, and the organiser's responsibility for the guests. A booking for a specific date is excluded from the fourteen-day cancellation right by regulation 28 of the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, so your cancellation policy applies and must be fair. Allergen information for your own food must be given under the Food Information Regulations 2014, and the terms should ask for requirements in advance.

What it costs

Customer or supplier terms and conditions, £995. One set of terms, customer-facing or supplier-facing, drafted for your business. Five working days.

Review of your existing terms, £495. You already have terms and want them checked and brought up to date. Returned marked up with my amendments and an explanation of the changes. Three working days.

Email me at geoffrey@caesar.co.uk with what you need and any documents, and I will confirm the scope and the fee in writing, usually the same working day.

What you get

• A full set of bespoke terms drafted for your business, reflecting the legal requirements that apply to your business and sector
• A note in plain English explaining the terms I have drafted for you
• Liability, payment, termination and IP provisions that protect your position and are drafted to withstand scrutiny from the other side
• Guidance on how to incorporate the terms properly
• Your questions and comments answered by email or phone
• One round of amendments to finalise the terms ready for use

What is not included

• Negotiating your terms with individual customers (I am happy to quote for this as an additional service if required)
• Sector-specific regulatory compliance beyond the contract terms themselves
• Website privacy notice and cookie compliance, which I quote separately
• Terms governed by the law of another country
• Tax advice

Questions I am often asked

A child was hurt while the parent was in the café. Am I liable?

If the equipment was sound, inspected and used as intended, and the terms made the parent responsible for supervision, the injury is the risk of play rather than your negligence. If the equipment was defective or unsafe, you are liable regardless of the term.

Can I ask a family to leave?

The terms should give staff the right to remove anyone whose behaviour is unsafe or disruptive, without refund, and to exclude repeat offenders. A stated policy at entry is what makes the decision defensible.

Can parents bring their own party food?

The terms can allow it on conditions, typically a cake yes and other food no, with the organiser responsible for the safety and allergens of anything brought in.

Related guidance and services

• Terms and conditions drafting, £995, the service this page describes
• Contract review, £495
• Terms and conditions for a trampoline park

This page is general guidance for businesses in England and Wales, not advice on your own circumstances. Last reviewed: September 2026. Email geoffrey@caesar.co.uk.