Play centre closures leaves families out of pocket

Families have been left in the lurch after two children's soft play centres in Berkshire and West Sussex suddenly shut down.

Jungle Mania confirmed in posts online that it had closed its venues in Woodley and Chichester with immediate effect.

Some customers said they had made bookings and paid deposits, which have not been refunded.

Alice Coulthard paid £168 to book the soft play for her daughter's birthday in July. She tried to contact Jungle Mania to get her money back after it announced its closure.

"I tried calling multiple times and it just either rang through or it says 'this number is not recognised anymore'," she said.

"I tried emailing and I also private messaged on Facebook. But I haven't received any communication at all," she said.

"It makes me feel really disappointed."

Coulthard is trying to get a refund through her bank but has been told she has to fill out several forms and wait up to eight weeks before receiving any money back.

Michaela Riley is the head of Spotlight UK, a charity that offers support to children affected by trauma, domestic abuse, disability, and terminal illness.

She booked Jungle Mania for a children's charity event later this month, including a five-year-old girl's birthday party.

"We've been desperately trying to find another alternative for the event because we're going to let down a load of children. It's a disappointment for children that are already affected by trauma that they now can't have this event," she said.

"It came up on one of the Facebook groups that the Jungle Mania had closed. But we haven't had any communication from them."

One man posting on Facebook said people were waiting outside the venue in Woodley on Saturday as they had not been informed by Jungle Mania that it had shut down.

"At least two parties were stood outside the premises this morning with no notice … lots of very unhappy children waiting for a party," he wrote in the post.

"These things happen with companies and [I] am sorry for those that have lost jobs… but for owners not to inform party bookers makes it even worse."

Records on Companies House show Jungle Mania Soft Play Ltd has been placed into compulsory liquidation.

Jungle Mania did not respond to the BBC's requests for comment.