The owners of a soft play centre have asked customers to wear warm clothing when visiting as they can't afford to constantly heat the place.
With energy bills rocketing, Playkidds Play Centre in Swinton, Salford, has been honest with customers about the struggles it is facing.
Owners put a message out on social media explaining the situation to families and asking for their support.
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Reluctant to hike entry prices when families are also struggling, they've decided to cut back on heating instead.
"We are very much aware that we all face a difficult winter with ever increasing bills," the post says. "Playkidds has already seen an increase in energy bills.
"We know that children get benefits both with their physical and mental health from soft play, which can be seen as exercise in disguise. It is for that reason that we will try our best not to increase our entry prices.
"To do this we will need to look where we can make savings on our bills. What this may mean is that the centre may not always be as warm as you would like, which is where we would like your support.
"If you are coming to Playkidds, can you consider having warm clothing with you?"
The post goes on to explain that the toddler area will be kept warm, but not the main structure, where older children tend to get warm from climbing and running around.
Some customers welcomed the moved, describing it as 'admirable' to be so 'open and honest about the decision, when other companies would just leave it off without telling customers'.
"This is so kindly worded," said one. "In what world are we choosing between heating for our kids and keeping local business going?! Posts like this break my heart. Always been a big fan of Playkidds, I hope everyone can dress warmly and continue to have fun."
But others complained the place is already too cold and this will make it worse.
"I’ll gladly pay higher entrance price for my child to be able to play in a nice warm play centre, especially if I’m coming there with a baby too," said one.
"I don’t think I’d like to sit there freezing cold, considering I’m there with my shoes off most of the time, was quite cold anyway."
Playkidds bosses told us that despite huge investment in the Moorside Road centre over recent years, 'we do have to accept that like many other play centres the infrastructure of the building is effectively a factory and can be draughty'.
In 2019 they spent in excess of £20,000 on new technology, which included state-of-the-art infrared heating that 'warms the individual rather than the atmosphere'.
They said they chose the system because it provided solar power technology alongside heating and was supposed to keep parents and guardians comfortable, while allowing children to play without overheating.
However, they say it didn't work 'as families were still suggesting it was cold', yet it led to an increase in their electricity bill from around £300 a month to more than £1,100 a month.
Manager Matthew O'Neill told the Manchester Evening News: "I genuinely hope that our customers will understand our decision and support what we are trying to do.
"It is not easy for us and we are fully aware that it will not be easy for our customers as the bills start to land on their doorsteps.
"Our hope is that managing our bills and keeping our prices as low as possible will allow families to provide some kind of normality in the difficult period that lies ahead."
Matthew and his father Greg, a director at Playkidds, say they are aware some customers would be happy to pay an increased entry fee, but believe that if they don't manage their overheads, they, like many others, 'may not survive this difficult period'.
The fact that a price increase would prevent some families being able to access the 'exercise in disguise', is another reason they are reluctant to increase fees.
Playkidds is also a childcare setting, providing a Wrap Around School Club, but that is unaffected as it's in a different part of the building which is kept at a constant temperature.
The toddler play area is also kept warm and they will be installing additional curtain heaters and 'doing more work to insulate the premises'.
In reaching their decision, Matthew said they felt 'it would be easier to wear a coat than it would be to dig deeper into your wallet'.
What do you think about the request for parents to wear warm clothes? Would you rather that than pay extra to use the centre? Is your business struggling because of rising energy bills? Let us know your views in the comments here.
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