GFC Leisure – Terms and Conditions of Hire

Please read these Terms and Conditions carefully before making a booking.

These Terms and Conditions apply to all equipment hired from GFC Leisure, including bouncy castles, inflatable slides, obstacle courses, inflatable games, soft play, ball ponds, garden games, arcade machines, tables, chairs and other party or event equipment.

By confirming a booking, the hirer agrees to these Terms and Conditions and accepts responsibility for ensuring that the equipment is used safely and that all relevant instructions are followed.

GFC Leisure reserves the right to refuse installation, suspend use or cancel a hire where safety requirements cannot be met.

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions affects your statutory rights.

1. Bookings and General Conditions

1.1. The person making the booking must be aged 18 years or over. Proof of age may be requested where appropriate.

1.2. Bookings made through our website are automatically confirmed once the booking process has been successfully completed and accepted by our booking system.

1.3. The hirer is responsible for ensuring that all booking information, including the event date, address, contact details, selected equipment and delivery area, is correct.

1.4. The hirer must ensure that the equipment selected is suitable for the intended users, location and available space.

1.5. Equipment dimensions and required setup space are provided on the relevant product pages. Customers must check these measurements carefully, including sufficient clearance around and above the equipment.

1.6. If you are unsure whether equipment will fit or be suitable for your location, please contact GFC Leisure before booking. We are happy to provide advice.

1.7. All hired equipment remains the property of GFC Leisure throughout the hire period.

1.8. Equipment must not be moved, relocated, altered, dismantled or tampered with by the hirer.

1.9. GFC Leisure reserves the right to refuse or stop a hire where equipment cannot be installed or operated safely.

2. Outdoor and Indoor Hire

2.1. Outdoor inflatable hire is generally available from March until the end of October, subject to suitable weather conditions and availability.

2.2. Outdoor bookings during March and October are particularly weather-dependent. GFC Leisure may restrict or decline outdoor hires during these months where conditions are unsuitable.

2.3. From November to February, inflatable hire is available at suitable indoor venues only.

2.4. Soft play, ball ponds and toddler play equipment are available for indoor hire throughout the year, subject to individual product requirements.

2.5. Certain products are designated indoor-only or outdoor-only. These restrictions are specified on the relevant product pages and must be followed.

2.6. Outdoor inflatables must be installed on suitable natural grass where secure ground anchoring is possible.

2.7. Artificial grass or AstroTurf may be accepted where the inflatable can be safely anchored using stakes through the surface and into suitable ground beneath.

2.8. We cannot install an inflatable on artificial grass where staking is not permitted or where suitable anchoring cannot be achieved.

2.9. GFC Leisure reserves the right to refuse installation where ground conditions, access, available space, overhead clearance or other site conditions make installation unsafe or unsuitable.

3. Site Requirements and Access

3.1. The hirer must ensure that sufficient space is available for the equipment, including all required safety clearances.

3.2. The setup area must be reasonably level, suitable for the equipment and free from sharp objects, animal waste, debris and other hazards.

3.3. The hirer must advise GFC Leisure in advance of restricted access, narrow gateways, steps, steep slopes, difficult parking, long access routes or any other obstacles that may affect delivery or collection.

3.4. Customers must ensure that access routes are sufficiently wide and clear to allow the equipment to be transported safely.

3.5. For indoor bookings, the hirer is responsible for confirming that the venue permits the equipment and provides adequate ceiling height, floor space, access and suitable electrical facilities.

3.6. The hirer must arrange sufficient venue access time for GFC Leisure to deliver, install, inspect and remove equipment safely.

3.7. If the installation cannot proceed because of inaccurate information, inadequate space, unsuitable access or other customer-controlled site conditions, reasonable cancellation or wasted-visit charges may apply, reflecting our actual losses and costs.

3.8. GFC Leisure cannot guarantee installation where site conditions differ materially from those described when the booking was made.

4. Electricity and Petrol Fans

4.1. Where equipment requires electricity, a suitable power supply must normally be available within approximately 30 metres (100 feet) of the setup area.

4.2. The hirer must ensure that the power supply is safe, accessible and suitable for the equipment being hired.

4.3. Only extension leads, electrical connections and other power equipment supplied or approved by GFC Leisure may be used with our hire equipment.

4.4. Where mains electricity is unavailable, petrol-powered inflatable fans may be available at an additional charge.

4.5. Petrol fans are charged at £30 each, including a full tank of fuel.

4.6. A full tank will usually provide approximately 3–4 hours of operation, depending on the inflatable and operating conditions. This running time is an estimate and cannot be guaranteed.

4.7. If the hire or event is expected to last longer than the initial fuel supply, the hirer is responsible for providing suitable additional fuel unless otherwise agreed in advance.

4.8. Petrol fans must only be operated outdoors in suitable, well-ventilated locations, away from enclosed spaces and areas where exhaust fumes could accumulate.

4.9. Petrol fans must be switched off and allowed to cool before refuelling. Fuel must be stored and handled safely, and any refuelling must follow the instructions supplied.

4.10. Customers unsure of their power requirements or the number of petrol fans needed should contact GFC Leisure before booking.

5. Payment and Additional Charges

5.1. A minimum equipment hire value of £70, excluding delivery charges, applies to all bookings.

5.2. Delivery charges depend on the selected delivery area and are displayed during the booking process.

5.3. Where payment by bank transfer has been agreed, payment must be received by the last working day of the week before the booking, unless otherwise agreed.

5.4. Where payment on delivery has been agreed, payment must be made to GFC Leisure staff upon delivery.

5.5. Schools, community events, corporate events and larger organised bookings may require a booking fee or advance payment. Any such arrangement will be explained before the booking is agreed.

5.6. Additional charges for petrol fans, overnight hire, delivery or other agreed services will be confirmed as part of the booking.

5.7. The hirer is responsible for the reasonable repair, replacement or cleaning costs arising from damage, loss, negligence or misuse of equipment during the hire period.

5.8. Equipment returned excessively dirty or contaminated may incur a £35 cleaning charge, where justified by the additional cleaning required.

5.9. Where a ball pond is hired, all balls must be collected and bagged ready for collection. Failure to do so may result in an additional £20 collection charge.

5.10. Missing or damaged equipment, including garden game components and accessories, may be charged for at a reasonable repair or replacement cost.

5.11. Normal wear and tear resulting from appropriate use will not be treated as customer damage.

6. Cancellations and Adverse Weather

6.1 Customer Cancellations

6.1.1. Customers wishing to cancel a booking must contact GFC Leisure as soon as possible by telephone on 01279 432567.

6.1.2. We ask that cancellations are made at least 48 hours before the day of the event wherever possible.

6.1.3. Cancellations made with less than 48 hours' notice may incur a cancellation charge of up to 50% of the booking value where justified by our reasonable losses.

6.1.4. Any cancellation charge will take account of costs already incurred, costs saved and any reasonable opportunity to accept an alternative booking.

6.1.5. We will consider the circumstances of each cancellation and will not apply charges that are disproportionate to the losses reasonably incurred.

6.1.6. If you wish to rearrange your booking, please contact us as soon as possible. We will try to accommodate an alternative date, subject to availability.

6.2 General Adverse Weather Policy

6.2.1. Outdoor inflatable hire is subject to suitable weather conditions, including wind speeds, wind gusts, rain and ground conditions.

6.2.2. Outdoor play inflatables must not be operated in winds exceeding 24mph (38km/h) or any lower maximum specified by the equipment manufacturer.

6.2.3. Where forecast or actual conditions indicate that equipment cannot be operated safely, GFC Leisure reserves the right not to proceed with installation or to suspend the hire.

6.2.4. We may contact customers in advance where adverse weather is forecast.

6.2.5. Actual conditions at the location may also be assessed before installation. Forecasts do not guarantee that the equipment will be suitable for use on the day.

6.2.6. GFC Leisure will not install or operate equipment where we reasonably consider the conditions to present an unacceptable safety risk.

6.3 Private Parties and Domestic Bookings

6.3.1. Where GFC Leisure cancels a private hire booking before installation because of unsafe or unsuitable weather, we will offer to rearrange the booking for another available date at no additional charge.

6.3.2. If rearranging is not possible or the customer does not wish to rearrange, no hire charge will be made.

6.3.3. If payment has already been received for the cancelled private hire, the customer will receive a full refund.

6.3.4. Customers must not attempt to operate inflatable equipment where conditions have been declared unsafe.

6.4 Schools, Fetes and Organised Events

6.4.1. Outdoor inflatable hire is subject to safe weather conditions. Where forecast or actual conditions indicate that equipment cannot be operated safely in accordance with HSE guidance and manufacturer restrictions, GFC Leisure reserves the right not to proceed with the hire.

6.4.2. For school fetes, community events and other organised functions, a booking fee of 20% of the agreed booking value is normally required to secure the booking.

6.4.3. If the hire cannot proceed due to unsafe weather, we will offer to transfer the booking fee in full to an alternative available date.

6.4.4. Where a replacement date is agreed, the booking fee will be credited towards the rescheduled event.

6.4.5. Where rearrangement is not possible, any refund or retention of the booking fee will be determined by the agreed event contract, any reasonable costs already incurred and applicable law.

6.4.6. Individually negotiated commercial event contracts may contain specific cancellation, preparation-cost or rescheduling arrangements, provided these have been agreed in advance and comply with applicable law.

6.5 Weather Changes During Hire

6.5.1. Weather conditions may change after equipment has been installed.

6.5.2. The responsible supervising adult must monitor conditions and stop use immediately if the equipment becomes unsafe.

6.5.3. Any instruction from GFC Leisure to stop using equipment because of safety concerns must be followed immediately.

6.5.4. Where weather affects a hire that has already commenced, any refund or adjustment will be assessed according to the circumstances, services already provided and applicable legal rights.

7. Delivery and Collection

7.1. Delivery and collection arrangements depend on the location, equipment hired and the number of bookings scheduled for the day.

7.2. For garden hires, we typically deliver between 8:30am and 11:45am, with collection after 5pm.

7.3. These are our usual operating times and should not be treated as guaranteed arrival or collection appointments unless specifically agreed.

7.4. Customers requiring an earlier collection or particular timing arrangements must inform us when booking. We will do our best to accommodate reasonable requests.

7.5. For indoor and venue bookings, we arrange delivery and collection around venue access times wherever possible.

7.6. Customers must provide accurate access, party start, party finish and venue exit times when booking.

7.7. If your delivery postcode is not listed on our website, please contact us. We may still be able to accommodate the booking, depending on distance, availability and equipment requirements.

7.8. If GFC Leisure is unable to fulfil a booking due to unforeseen circumstances, including vehicle failure or illness, we will inform the customer as soon as reasonably possible and explain the available options and any refund due.

7.9. Only authorised GFC Leisure staff may collect or remove hired equipment unless expressly agreed otherwise.

7.10. Equipment must not be handed over to anyone claiming to represent GFC Leisure where their identity is uncertain. Please contact us on 01279 432567 if you have any concerns.

8. Overnight Hire

8.1. Overnight hire is available for selected equipment only and must be arranged in advance.

8.2. Overnight inflatable hires must take place in a suitably secure private garden or other location specifically approved by GFC Leisure.

8.3. GFC Leisure reserves the right to refuse an overnight hire where security, weather conditions, access or other circumstances make the arrangement unsuitable.

8.4. Overnight hire charges vary by equipment and will be confirmed during booking.

8.5. The hirer remains responsible for the security and reasonable care of the equipment throughout the agreed hire period.

8.6. Equipment must not be used without appropriate adult supervision, including during an overnight hire.

8.7. Equipment must remain in the agreed location and must not be moved or altered.

9. Inflatable Safety and Supervision

9.1. Unless GFC Leisure has expressly agreed to provide supervision, the hirer must ensure that a responsible adult aged 18 years or over supervises the inflatable continuously whenever it is in use.

9.2. The supervising adult must remain attentive, be capable of controlling users and ensure that all safety instructions are followed.

9.3. Children must never be left to supervise an inflatable.

9.4. Only users within the equipment's permitted age, height, weight and capacity limits may use it.

9.5. The maximum number of users must never be exceeded.

9.6. Larger and more boisterous users must be kept separate from smaller or less confident users where appropriate.

9.7. Shoes, spectacles, jewellery, badges and sharp or potentially dangerous objects must be removed before entering an inflatable.

9.8. No food, drinks, chewing gum, smoking or vaping are permitted on inflatables.

9.9. Silly string, confetti, party poppers, streamers and other materials likely to cause staining or damage must not be used on or near the equipment.

9.10. Users must not climb, sit or hang on external walls, roofs, safety netting or other areas not intended for play.

9.11. Users must not bounce on entrance steps or attempt to climb over the sides of an inflatable.

9.12. Rough play, fighting, pushing, somersaults and other dangerous activities are prohibited.

9.13. Users of inflatable slides and obstacle courses must follow the intended direction of travel.

9.14. Running up slides, jumping from slides or climbing onto roof sections is prohibited.

9.15. Water pistols, hosepipes, sprinklers and other sources of water must not be directed onto inflatables unless the equipment has been specifically supplied for that purpose.

9.16. Under no circumstances should hosepipes be placed down inflatable slides or other equipment not designed for water use.

9.17. Equipment must not be disconnected from its approved blower arrangement, moved or altered by the hirer.

9.18. If an inflatable loses pressure, develops a fault or behaves abnormally, all users must leave immediately. The equipment must not be used again until it has been checked and confirmed safe.

9.19. Any accident, damage or equipment fault must be reported to GFC Leisure as soon as reasonably possible.

9.20. Anyone whose behaviour or condition makes safe participation unlikely, including anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs, must not be permitted to use the equipment.

10. Wind, Rain and Changing Weather Conditions

10.1. Outdoor inflatables must not be operated in unsafe wind conditions.

10.2. The responsible supervising adult must follow the wind-monitoring instructions supplied, including the use of a suitable anemometer and regular wind-speed checks where required.

10.3. If wind speeds or gusts reach the equipment's maximum permitted operating limit, all users must leave immediately and use must stop.

10.4. Inflatables must not be used during thunderstorms, severe weather or other conditions that make operation unsafe.

10.5. Wet surfaces, entrance steps and safety mats may become slippery. Use must stop where conditions create a slipping or other safety hazard.

10.6. During heavy rain or other hazardous conditions, customers must follow the safety and blower instructions provided by GFC Leisure.

10.7. Blowers and electrical equipment must not be operated where doing so would create an electrical or other safety hazard.

10.8. Equipment may only be brought back into use when conditions are safe and the operating instructions have been satisfied.

10.9. GFC Leisure reserves the right to arrange early collection or require equipment to remain out of use where necessary for safety.

11. Soft Play, Ball Ponds and Other Equipment

11.1. Soft play, ball ponds and toddler play equipment must only be used by children within the age and suitability limits specified for the equipment.

11.2. Children using soft play and ball ponds must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times.

11.3. Shoes, food, drinks, chewing gum and sharp objects are not permitted within soft play and ball pond areas.

11.4. Soft play equipment must not be moved outside the designated setup area or used in a manner for which it was not intended.

11.5. Ball pond balls must be collected and bagged ready for collection.

11.6. Arcade machines, garden games, tables, chairs and other equipment must be used appropriately and in accordance with any instructions supplied.

11.7. Equipment intended for indoor use must not be taken outdoors.

11.8. The hirer is responsible for preventing avoidable damage, misuse or loss of equipment throughout the hire period.

12. Equipment Care, Damage and Collection

12.1. The hirer must take reasonable care of all hired equipment.

12.2. Equipment must not be deliberately damaged, altered, tampered with or used contrary to the instructions supplied.

12.3. Damage or loss caused by negligence, misuse or deliberate acts may result in reasonable repair or replacement charges.

12.4. Excessive cleaning requirements may result in additional charges as described in Section 5.

12.5. Normal wear and tear resulting from appropriate use will not be treated as customer damage.

12.6. Where safe to do so, inflatables must remain inflated until GFC Leisure staff arrive for collection so that they can be inspected.

12.7. Where safety conditions require deflation or shutdown, the relevant safety instructions take priority.

12.8. Equipment must not be handed over to unauthorised persons.

13. Liability and Insurance

13.1. GFC Leisure maintains public liability insurance for its business activities, subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions of its insurance policy.

13.2. The hirer is responsible for ensuring that equipment is used in accordance with the operating instructions and that appropriate supervision is provided unless GFC Leisure has specifically agreed to supply supervision.

13.3. The hirer may be responsible for loss, damage or injury caused by their negligence, misuse of equipment, inadequate supervision or failure to follow reasonable safety instructions, to the extent permitted by law.

13.4. GFC Leisure remains responsible for its own legal duties, including the exercise of reasonable care and skill when supplying, installing and maintaining hire equipment.

13.5. Nothing in these Terms and Conditions excludes or restricts liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or any other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or restricted.

13.6. The hirer must not permit equipment to be used in unsafe circumstances or by anyone whose behaviour or condition may compromise safety.

13.7. The hirer must immediately stop unsafe use and take reasonable steps to protect users.

13.8. For schools, corporate functions, fetes and organised events, the event organiser is responsible for arranging any additional event-wide insurance, permissions and supervision required for their activities.

13.9. Hirers and event organisers may wish to obtain their own liability insurance where appropriate to cover their responsibilities.

14. Acceptance of Terms and Conditions

By confirming a booking with GFC Leisure, the hirer acknowledges that they have read, understood and agree to these Terms and Conditions.

The hirer agrees to:

• Provide accurate booking, contact and site information.
• Ensure that suitable access and sufficient setup space are available.
• Follow all relevant safety and operating instructions.
• Provide responsible adult supervision where required.
• Take reasonable care of all equipment during the hire period.
• Report equipment faults, damage or safety concerns promptly.
• Ensure that equipment remains available for collection at the agreed time.
• Pay any properly incurred and agreed charges associated with the booking.

Where an electronic or handwritten signature is requested, this confirms the hirer's acceptance of the hire agreement and the responsibilities described above.

Nothing in this agreement limits the customer's statutory rights.