Question & Answers

How far in advance should I book?
Booking early is recommended, especially if you want to lock in your date, during the summer months and on weekends we get very busy. We can take last minute bookings to do this please call us to check availability.

Do you take a deposit?
We take a £15 non refundable booking fee. A booking fee must be paid when your booking being made or your booking date will be made available to other clients. The website will allow you to pay be credit or debit card via a secure world pay site, if you wish to pay via BACS please contact us for details. Full balance is due 7 days before booking date or your date would be offered to another customer.

Do you have a minimum order value for bookings?
We do have a minimum order of only £45, we've kept our minimum order low to allow for those with small budgets to be able to book our items. The reason we have a minimum order is to cover the costs of the time taken out of the day delivering and collecting smaller orders.

How much room will I need for the inflatable?
The dimensions of each product are on the website, along with the set-up area required, when choosing the selected product or inflatable.

Do we provide generators?

NO, We don't provide generators, If your hire isn't near a power supply then you will need to arrange a generator, You can hire these from most tool hire businesses like Jewsons, Brandon Tool hire, Speedy and all similar businesses. The size of the generator will depend on the amount of services your have hired but normally it's one blower per inflatable but please check this with us when booking. Please have the generator set up ready for when we arrive and have enough fuel to last you the day. If the generator isn't set up ready for us to use then you could delay any deliveries after you and please just ask yourself how you would feel if your delivery was delayed and this is the reason we ask you to be ready. We operate to a tight delivery schedule during the busy months and a delay like that isn't going to help.

The min size generator you will need is.

How long do I get the inflatable for?
All bookings have a limit of an 7-hour hire, Our delivery times are between 7am and 12noon and collection times are between 5pm and 8pm, We can't guarantee a time for delivery as we work to a route which is the quickest. During quieter times we maybe able to agree to delivery times but during the busy months we can't commit to a time, We will provide you with a between time the night before your booking and you will get a text message when the driver leaves the booking before yours, However, additional hours can be added upon booking. Over night booking is also available for an additional cost. Over night does finish at 8am the next morning Although discounts are available on second day hires. Ask us about these.

What is included in the price?
The pricing includes the equipment, all safety mats, and blowers needed as well as delivery and collection.

What time will the bouncy castle/inflatables be delivered and collected?
Delivery and collection times will be sent to you a day before your hire. Our delivery times change throughout the year to account for daylight hours. Priority will be given to hall/venue bookings.

Do you set up the bouncy castle/inflatables?
We deliver and set up the bouncy castle/inflatables and safety mats ready for use.
We will have you read and sign a term and conditions form electronically which will be emailed to you as soon as you sign it so please make sure that you have entered correct email address when book8ng, This will state the terms and conditions of the hire.
The terms and conditions explain safety rules and regulations which we will go through with you before we leave. We will dismantle and collect all equipment at the end of your booking. Please do not deflate the equipment at the end of your booking, as we will need to inspect for any damage that may have appeared.

How long does it take to set up?
It takes us approximately 15 to 45 minutes to set up/collect our equipment depending on the ease of access and amount and size of equipment.

What happens if I leave the inflatable in a dirty condition or damaged?

As will be explained to you when we deliver the inflatable to you and go through the deliver document and T&C's, If you leave the inflatables in a dirty condition or break any of the T&C's, Like take food and drink onto the inflatables which causes a mess which is outside the normal dirty from getting on and off the inflatables then you can be charged a cleaning fee which starts at £40 but can rise depending on the condition things are left in and any damage caused. All damages will be repaired to make like for like and you will be charged for this, If the cleaning or damages take longer to rectify then you could also be charged a hire cost for each day that inflatable isn't able to be hired . Photos will be taken on drop off and pick up of all inflatables and remember that we do get you to check everything when delivery is made. Please treat our equipment as if it was your own and with respect at all times.

Can we hire to some where with steps

Yes is the answer but the steps will occur a charge £1 per step so please be specific and these will be checked upon arrival. The unit are very heavy equipment and takes a lot of strain to get them up and down steps and our staff.

Do you hire castles overnight?
Yes, we do overnight hire but it must be in a secure garden i.e. minimum of 6ft high fences or hedges and a lockable gate. If you choose overnight and on the delivery of your inflatable the garden is not secure then overnight will not be allowed but full payment will still be charged. The overnight charge is £30 extra.

Do you hire castles for multiple days?
Yes, we do multi-day hire but it must be in a secure garden i.e. minimum of 6ft high fences or hedges and a lockable gate. If you choose multi-day and on the delivery of your inflatable the garden is not secure then multi-day will not be allowed but full payment will still be charged. For multi day prices please contact us.

What preparations should I make before taking delivery of the bouncy castle/inflatables?
Our bouncy castle/inflatables are delivered on a sack trolley and we require a minimum clear access which is listed on each inflatable page. Please let us know in advance of any stairs that we have to carry the inflatable up or down. Please avoid cutting your grass within a few days before hire, as this causes excessive dirt on the inflatables. The site where the inflatable is to be placed must be clear and reasonable level, make sure all stones, sharp objects and dog foul is removed.

Can you set the inflatable up in a hall?
All of our bouncy castle/inflatables are suitable for indoor use in halls. Always confirm the ceiling height and the size of the room with the hall you are booking to check the products will fit.

Can you set the bouncy castle/inflatables up outdoors on concrete?
We are sorry but we do not set up outside on concrete floors because this would involve having 163kg of weight on each anchor point which is 7 of our 25kg bags per anchor point which for our smallest castle would be 42 sand bags, the other option is drilling into the ground to secure to the floor and this requires us to fill the holes afterwards and so we took the decision not to hire our on hard floors outdoors for these reasons. We are sorry if this isn’t what you wanted to hear and we often get asked for this and told that another’s company did it last year but as we put safety before profit we feel it’s safer not to offer this and also if not secured properly it would also mean it’s not insured,

What happens if it rains?
Some of our castles are fitted with shower covers. In the event of bad weather before your booking, we will contact you to establish if it is safe to proceed with the hire. Sometimes if the forecast is not great a week before the booking, it maybe worth seeing if anywhere indoors is available that could accommodate your booking, If it rains during your booking the inflatable must be left up and not used under any circumstances. Please call us if you are not using the equipment so we can come to collect it.

Which areas do you deliver?
During peak season For party services we deliver to 15 miles of Truro (April - September) during non peak season (October- march) we can discuss further but there are areas we do not cover for access reasons.

Do you hire adult bouncy castles/inflatables?
Currently we do not have any inflatables suitable for adult use.

Do you offer bouncy castles/inflatables for hire for fairs and events?
Yes, we do hire bouncy castles/inflatables for fairs and events. For some events, for example charity events, We offer a percentage of our takings to the charity event total. Please contact us for more details or to discuss arrangements.

Do you have Public Liability Insurance?
Yes, we have Public Liability Insurance, which is subject to the terms and conditions of hire agreement, of which you will be required to read and sign on the day, as YOU, the hirer, are responsible for supervision at all times. We always have an electronic copy of the insurance we us and avaliable fo anyone to see. We know venues require to see this when you hire the venue and so if you either send us the email address and contact name for the venue or give them our email address (info@summertime-entertainment.co.uk) we can provide them with a copy. Some venues that we have already covered have a copy and so won’t require it again but if they ask we will send it.

Are you apart of any trade association?
Yes, we are part of TIPE (The Inflatable Play Enterprise), BCN (The Bouncy Castle Network), BIHA (Bouncy Castle Hirers Alliance).

Do you allow face paint on your products?
No, we do not allow face paint on any of our products. Certain face paints stain inflatables if any face paint marks are found on our equipment after your hire, there will be a replacement charge applied plus a charge for the loss of business while the castle is out service. This is for a like for like replacement at the cost of a new castle. We will not be claiming on our insurance for facepaint damage as this is against our terms or use and so therefore is the clients responsibility to ensure no facepaints are on the castles. All castles will be inspected with you as part of the safety check and all marks will be noted on the form before you sign it and so any marks that are noted on collection, You will be charged for these.

Are your inflatables tested?
Yes, all of our inflatables are tested to EN14960:2013, this means that all our equipment has been cleared for commercial use. All of our inflatables are tested under the PIPA Inspection Scheme, these inflatables will have a tag number which you can ask to see.

How old do I have to be to make a booking?
You must be 18 years or older to make a booking. Also an adult is required to be present when delivery and collection is made and adult supervision is required at all times.

What is your cancellation policy?
Cancellation by Us
The booking fee is non-refundable unless we cancel the booking. It is very rare for us to have to cancel a booking but as we are open to a large amount of issues that are beyond our control sometimes this may happen.
Cancellations due to reasons beyond our control will be issued a full refund of any monies or booking fee paid. e.g. vehicle breakdown, equipment breakdown, staff shortage or any other reason.

We will NOT issue refunds for lack of space, wrong surface type, no electric point available or land that is not owned by you, as these are confirmed before booking and are down to you to check and confirm.

Cancellation by You
Any cancelled orders under £500 are subject to the following cancellation charges:

* More than 7 days prior to the event date, you will lose your booking fee of £15.
* Within 7 days of the event date, 50% of the total booking must be paid.
* Up to 5pm on the day the day before the event date, 75% of the booking total must be paid.
* On day of the event, 100% of the booking total must be paid.

Any cancelled orders over £500 are subject to the following cancellation charges:

* More than 4 weeks prior to the event date, you will lose your booking fee.
* Within 4 weeks prior to the event date, 50% of the of the total booking must be paid.
* Within 2 weeks prior to the event date, 100% of the of the total booking must be paid.

If you are cancelling due to bad weather for outdoor events providing that you re-book your event for a later date (subject to availability), none of the above cancellation charges will need to be paid and we will allocate any payments already made to the new booking. (You must rebook your inflatable for a date within 6 months of your original booking date).

How do I make a booking?
You can book via our website, email, phone or our online enquiry form. The easiest way to book is via the website by selecting the product and clicking the book now button below the product information. You will also have the option to add more services to your booking before paying the booking fee.
Please note no bookings are confirmed until we receive the booking fee of £15.00 which will be taken off the total left to pay.

When is payment due?
A deposit of £15.00 is required when booking to secure your booking and this amount shall be taken off the total balance left to pay, The remaining balance is due 7 days before your booking date and you shall be sent an email with a online payment link when this is due. You can pay the total balance upon booking if you wish. You can also pay the booking fee of £15.00 and then arrange a regular payment up till 7 days before the booking date. To do the regular payment option, Please message us after you have booked and paid the £15.00 deposit and tell us the dates and amounts you wish to pay and we can arrange the system to send the online payment links by email on the dates you state, you can also pay by BACS for the remaining balance if easier, But all deposits must be paid on the website to secure the booking,

Do your offer sugar free syrup for the slush machine?

Yes we can offer sugar free syrup for the slush machine. The flavours offered are reduced on the sugar free menu. These will be listed in the write up for the Double Slushie Machine. Please note that for last minute bookings, We may not be able to offer sugar free options if we haven't got it in stock or the supplier can't get it to us in time. Please book as far in advance as possible to make sure we can supply you with the flavours you require and sugar free if required.

Can we mix alcohol with the slush?

We are not licenced to serve alcohol and therefore we could not mix alcohol with the slush. Also no alcohol is to be added to the machine after we deliver it. Should you wish to have alcohol in your slush you must mix this in the cup when you add your slush. We understand that some of you will want this and this is the only way for us to accommodate you having alcohol in your slush. It is also the responsibility of the hirer to ensure that anyone mixing the slush with alcohol in the cup is over 18 years of age.