Age is no obstacle at inflatable arena
A20,000 sq ft inflatable activity centre is opening in Cardiff this month. The Inflatable Arena, which will be on the Jubilee Trading Estate, will feature inflatable vertical drop slides, rope swings, mountain climbs and tunnels.
The centre will also have an onsite cafe and will create 15 parttime and four full-time jobs in total. The letting deal was brokered by leading property consultancy JLL.
Business partners Phil Baker and Mike Bevan, who are behind the inflatable adventure park, were inspired to create The Inflatable Arena after seeing how popular similar enterprises were in Australia, as well as by a birthday party Mr Baker threw for his son in his garden, which “went down a treat with both adults and children”.
Mr Baker said: “We’re really excited to be bringing The Inflatable Arena to the city and hope to encourage families, friends and colleagues alike to have some fun, challenge one another and enjoy a new type of adventure.
“Close to the centre of Cardiff and with great public transport links, the light and spacious unit at the Jubilee Trading Estate fits the bill for our arena and now we’re just counting down the days until we throw open our doors and welcome people to the activity centre.”
The pair plan for the venue to be used for groups, birthday parties and corporate team-building exercises, as well as hosting adult-only sessions and offering familyfriendly discounts.
Mr Baker, who lives in Cardiff, said: “We’ll have sessions for different ages. There will be a session for under eight, kids aged eight to 16 and a session for adults only.
“We’ve made it more challenging than others as well. There will be parts designed just for youngsters, but we have a 6m mountain climb, vertical drop slides, assault course and a Total Wipeout-style sweeper so it’s more challenging for older children and teenagers.
“We’ve had all the equipment specially made with that in mind so it can withstand the use.”
The course has been designed by Airquee, a Cwmbran-based company that has helped create other inflatable parks across the UK.
Heather Lawrence, associate in industrial and logistics for JLL, said: “We are seeing an increasing number of alternative-use occupiers coming into the market. Traditional industrial estates, which are close to the city centre, are increasingly attractive to leisure occupiers due to proximity to residential, retail and public transport links.”
Kulwant Ojla, of the Trustees of The KSJ Knitwear Ltd Retirement Benefit Scheme, which owns the estate, added: “In terms of the tenant, it’s great to assist a new company that brings diversity to the range of long-term tenants we already have, namely Howdens, Heating & Plumbing Warehouse, and Global Tiles.
“In an area where housing has grown considerably in the past 10 years, it’s also going to be a real bonus for the community.”