Weather & Outdoor Booking Policy

A bouncy castle can't be used outside in winds above 24mph, in heavy or constant rain, or in thunder and lightning. If we have to cancel because of the weather, you choose between a new date and a full refund, admin fee included. Indoor bookings go ahead whatever the weather.

How windy is too windy?

Wind is the main thing we watch. The HSE guidance says no inflatable should be used in winds above 24mph, and we follow BS EN 14960, the safety standard for inflatables. We go by the gusts, not the average wind speed.

• Gusts forecast over 30mph: we may cancel the night before.
• Gusts forecast between 24mph and 30mph: we'll come out and take a wind reading where the castle is going before we set up.

The forecast is only a guide – what counts is the wind where the castle is going. Trees and buildings slow the wind down, so in a built-up area it's often well under the forecast, while in an open field it can be just as strong as forecast or worse. We've had forecasts of 30mph where the wind in a garden in town was under 24mph on the day. That's why we measure on the spot with an anemometer rather than trusting a phone forecast, and if it's under 24mph where the castle goes, it goes up. Our windy weather post goes through how we check.

What about rain?

Light rain or a passing shower is usually fine. Nearly all our castles have a shower cover over the top, like the one on the Happy Birthday Bounce, so a passing shower doesn't stop play. Heavy or constant rain, or water pooling on the castle, can make it unsafe, and then we either won't set up or may need to take it down early.

The electrical equipment we supply is IP24 rated or above, so it's fine outside in light rain when it's used properly.

Thunder, lightning and weather warnings

Inflatables can't be used in a thunderstorm, when there's lightning, or under a severe weather warning. If one starts during your hire, the castle needs to be let down straight away.

And gazebos?

Our gazebos have their own limits. They can stay up in winds up to 30mph when they're pegged into grass, or 20mph when they're held down with weights on a hard surface. They're fine in heavy rain, and the ground needs to be flat.

Indoor bookings

If the party's inside, the weather doesn't affect it – it goes ahead as planned unless it isn't safe to get to the venue. A hall is the best backup when the weather's unsettled, and our where to party pages show what fits in halls we've set up in.

Who decides, and when?

We do, because we're responsible for putting the equipment up safely, we have to follow the manufacturers' and insurers' rules, and we have a duty of care to everyone using it. We never cancel lightly – if we do, it's because it isn't safe, not because it's awkward.

We start looking at the forecast from the Wednesday before your party and keep checking. Forecasts change, so if it's borderline we may wait until nearer the day, and sometimes the call is made the night before or on the morning. We'll tell you as soon as we know.

What happens if we cancel?

You choose: move to another date we're free, or a full refund, including the £25 admin fee. If you've got a hall available, we may also be able to move the party inside or swap to equipment that copes with the wind better.

A few things work differently:

• If the weather turns after we've set up, there's no refund, because the time and set-up have already happened.
• If you cancel because you're worried about the forecast but it turns out safe, our normal cancellation terms apply.
• Waterlogged ground counts as a problem with the space rather than the weather, because you can see it before we arrive – so it's treated like any other space we can't set up on.

What we ask of you

Please make sure the area is level and we can get to it, follow the safety instructions we give you when we set up, and don't use the equipment if we've said not to. Anything used against our instructions is at your own risk. Our safety first guarantee explains the rest of how we keep things safe.

If you're not sure about the forecast or want to talk through your options, give Luke a call on 07761 907472.