Trust me, this is one chance not to jump at
The world’s biggest bouncy castle has opened in… Margate. The attraction, which has turrets higher than the Great Wall of China and requires filling with 1,143 cubic metres of air, has a play area bigger than most London flats. Dreamland is rightly proud of its creation, which can safely accommodate up to 100 people, but can you imagine being the poor person who has to oversee the sessions on it?
Last month, I foolishly volunteered to man the bouncy castle at the local fair. The thing was only really big enough to be used by four children at a time, and as long as we let them on it for three-minute sessions, all would be fine. Except… well, half way through it collapsed, meaning panicked parents had to leap on to save their children.
Once it was back up again, there was a brawl between two five-year-olds who had accused each other of bouncing “in their space” (how modern!). One stubborn child refused to get off, and we were so worn down by him that we decided to pretend he simply didn’t exist and hope that his parents came back soon (they did, after 30 minutes).
So imagine a bouncy castle that can take 100 children. Sorry, but the whole thing leaves me feeling ever so slightly… well, deflated.