Play industry welcomes VAT cut on soft play and children’s activities

The play industry has welcomed the government’s decision to cut VAT on family leisure activities over the summer period.

Ticket prices for families at soft play centres, adventure parks and other family-focused attractions will be lower thanks to a temporary reduction in VAT from 20% to 5%. The cut applies for the period from when schools break up in Scotland at the end of June until children return to classrooms in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on 1 September.

The discount, which will be up to businesses to pass on to customers, will also apply to children’s meals in restaurants and cafés. The VAT cut – part of a series of government policy announcements designed to tackle cost-of-living pressures – has been seen as the government recognising the importance of play and has been universally welcomed by the play sector.

Tom Hayes MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliament Group (APPG) on Play, told PlayNation: “This is a really positive step and one that will help families over the summer holidays. Reducing the cost of soft play creates more opportunities for children to play, be active and spend time together as families.

The Association of Indoor Play (AIP) also welcomed the move.

Maria Cantarella, CEO of AIP, said: “This is an important win for the indoor play industry.”