Association of Indoor Play

2026 Play Industry Awards Finalists!

The finalists for the 2026 AIP Play Industry Awards have now been revealed — and what an incredible shortlist it is! 🎉

A huge congratulations to everyone who made it through. The standard this year has been outstanding and truly reflects the passion, innovation and resilience across our sector.

Now we look ahead to the Play Industry Dinner in Leeds on 4 June, where the winners will be announced… we can’t wait to celebrate with you all! 🏆✨

Good luck to all our finalists — see you in Leeds!

Tickets here -> https://ecom.roller.app/associationofindoorplay/booktickets/en/products

** What's On 4 Kids Awards**

We’re delighted to be sponsoring the "Most Loved Indoor Play Centre or Venue" at this year’s What’s On 4 Kids National Children’s Activities Awards! 🎉

Now’s the perfect time to show some love to your favourite indoor play centre, the places that keep little ones active, entertained, and smiling all year round.

⏰ Nominations close on Wednesday 1st April, so don’t miss your chance to give them the recognition they truly deserve!

👉 Nominate here: https://whatson4kids.co.uk/awards
Let’s celebrate the venues that make a real difference for families 💛

Delighted to meet Greg Smith MP who listened to us about how families are being priced out of play - despite it being essential for their health and wellbeing. Pictured here with DJ's Play Zone DJ's Play Jungle DJ's Play Park owner and Committee Member Mark Whittington.

Our ask is simple - business rate relief and zero VAT on children’s admission. He is one of dozens of MPs we met and who have pledged to support our industry.

Thank you Josh Newbury MP for organising this session.

Great to also have UKHospitality for attending and Teddy Mountain UK for making the afternoon fun!

See you in Westminster?

The AIP Committee will be at Portcullis House next Wednesday with Josh Newbury MP. If you are an MP - look out for your invitation and pop in to make a teddy and grab a goody bag 🧸

But this is more than just a bit of fun. It’s a chance to shine a light on the indoor play sector and how it supports families, provides safe spaces for children to play and develop, and contributes to local economies and high streets across the UK.

We’ll also be talking about the very real challenges operators are facing right now—from rising costs and business rates to insurance and workforce pressures—and why the sector needs recognition and support.

If you’re an MP, keep an eye out for your invitation. We’d love you to drop in, say hello, and hear your thoughts.

Thank you to our industry suppliers - Teddy Mountain UK for our activity and Rollover Hotdogs Henbrandt Ltd Johnson Reed Soft Brick Company Ltd. for our goodie bags!

That’s a wrap on our Midlands Regional 👏

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday for our indoor play operators meeting. It was fantastic to see such a strong turnout and, more importantly, such a brilliant mix of operators from across the sector. From new sites to long-established businesses, that diversity is exactly what makes these regional events so valuable.
A very special thank you to Valentina and Ellis for once again opening the doors at Riverside Hub. Your generosity in sharing your space, your journey and your thinking is exactly what this community is all about.

A big thank you as well to our speakers and contributors:
• Citation Ltd for leading the Employment Rights discussion supported by Gordon of Safari Adventure Play and Party Venue Peterborough
• Eden Utilities for insights on the AIP energy basket initiative
• Russ of Smart Safety Solutions, Lee Waters and Paul David J Miller Insurance Brokers for an honest and practical Health & Safety panel

We had a great representation of trade partners showcasing their products and service (see below)

And finally, to our awesome AIP Exec Committee all business owners in their own right and all giving their time to support and strengthen this industry.

These days only work because people show up, share openly and support one another and that’s exactly what happened.

Thank you all 🙏

Andersons Wholesale
BIG Design & Print
Citation Ltd
David J Miller Insurance Brokers
DKMD Role Play Villages
Eden Utilities
FuseMetrix
Henbrandt Ltd
House of Play
Johnson Reed
Rollover Hotdogs
Safepay Empowered by Dojo
Safesmart
Smart Safety Solutions
Teddy Mountain UKMountain
The Play Company
Soft Brick Company Ltd.
Zone Technology

Scottish Play Industry Meeting - it’s a wrap!

Thank you to everyone who attended last week, to Innoflate Livingston for hosting, to Clare of Kiltoonies for helping to organise and Andrew of Snakes and Ladders, Brentford for chairing. And of course to our supportive trade members - Teddy Mountain UK Soft Brick Company Ltd. House of Play Regency Purchasing Group Safepay and Eden Utilities, Citation Ltd and UKHospitality Scotland for updates for our members.
This is what AIP is all about!

🏆✨ Celebrating the Best of the Best ✨🏆

Huge congratulations to all of our 2024 and 2025 Award Winners 👏
You’ve raised the bar, set new standards, and shown exactly what excellence in our industry looks like — innovation, resilience, leadership and heart 💛

These awards aren’t just trophies. They’re proof of what’s possible when passion meets professionalism, and when businesses are brave enough to do things better, not just bigger 🚀

So here’s the real question…

👀 Will you join the Industry Awards Hall of Fame in 2026?

⏰ Closing date: 5th March
👉 Apply here: https://www.associationofindoorplay.org/entertheawards.php

Because the next chapter is being written right now — and it could have your name on it 🌟

💫

We’re absolutely delighted to have Teddy Mountain UK on board as the generous sponsors of the Best Indoor Play Awards (10,000–20,000 sqft) category 🧸✨

Last year, the brilliant Hobbledown in Epsom took the crown 👑👏

So… who’s going to battle it out for the top spot this year? 💥

If you think your centre has what it takes, don’t sit on the sidelines — entries are open until 5th March ⏳

Go on… throw your hat in the ring. 🏆

->>> https://form.jotform.com/260083302154344

Best Coffee & Cake Award – judged by a true coffee aficionado ☕️✨

We’re delighted to announce that Ian Noble of Dancing Goat Coffee will be the judge for our Best Coffee & Cake Play Industry Award 🍰🏆

Ian isn’t just someone who likes coffee — he lives it, breathes it, and knows exactly when a cup has been crafted with care… or simply phoned in ☕️👀 From bean to brew, nothing slips past a genuine coffee aficionado, and when cake enters the equation? Expectations are sky-high 🍰📈

This award just got very real. Time to bring your A-game — crumbs, crema and all 😏✨ Will 2025 winners Playtrain be defending their title?

ENTER HERE by 5 March -> https://form.jotform.com/260083921480353

Right then — this is your last shout 📣

MIDLANDS PLAY INDUSTRY REGIONAL MEET UP

If you’re an indoor play operator and you’re still sitting on the fence, now’s the moment to jump. We’re heading to Riverside Hub on March 17th, and this one’s shaping up to be a proper get-together of people who actually get the realities of running play centres.
Come and meet fellow playcentre owners and operators, swap notes, share war stories, steal a few good ideas (we all do it), and enjoy a full tour of Riverside Hub to see how they’re doing things on the ground. We'll be talking HR, H&S, Energy and more!

Confirmed exhibitors include…

Andersons Wholesale
BIG Design & Print
Citation Ltd
David J Miller Insurance Brokers
DKMD Role Play Villages (The Play Village Ashbourne)
Eden Utilities
FuseMetrixx
Henbrandt Ltd
House of Play
Johnson Reed
Safepay (powered by Dojo)
Teddy Mountain UK
The Play Company
Soft Brick Company Ltd.
Zone Technology

BOOK HERE - https://www.associationofindoorplay.org/book/memberships/operator-membership/28