How Far in Advance Should I Book?

Booking in advance helps make sure you get the right equipment for your event and gives us time to plan delivery and setup properly. How far ahead you should book depends on the time of year, the type of event, and what equipment you need.

Birthday parties and small private events

For birthday parties and small family events, we recommend booking as soon as you have a date and venue confirmed. During quieter periods, there is sometimes short-notice availability, but popular items such as themed inflatables and soft play sets are often booked weeks in advance.

If you’re hiring from our Soft Play Hire range or choosing a popular bouncy castle from Bouncy Castles, booking early helps secure the exact item you want rather than a similar alternative.

School events and term-time bookings

School fun days, reward days and PTA events usually require more planning. These dates tend to fall around the end of term or just before holidays, when demand is higher. We advise schools to book several weeks in advance, especially if multiple inflatables or additional services are required.

Larger items such as obstacle courses from our Obstacle Courses range and support services like Staff Supervisors are limited in availability, so early booking is important.

Community, council and public events

For community fun days, council events and public celebrations, booking should be done as early as possible. These events often need risk assessments, site planning and coordination with other suppliers.

Early booking also allows time to arrange essentials such as Generator hire, Event Gazebos and staffing, which are commonly needed for larger outdoor setups.

Seasonal and peak periods

Certain times of year are much busier than others. Summer weekends, school holidays and December are our busiest periods. Christmas bookings, including inflatables and grottos from our Christmas Parties and Winter Wonderlands ranges, are often reserved months in advance.

If you are planning an event during these peak times, we strongly recommend booking as soon as your date is confirmed to avoid missing out.

If you’re unsure

If you’re not certain how far ahead to book, or if your plans are still taking shape, it’s worth getting in touch early. We can talk through your options, check provisional availability and advise on what works best for your event.

For availability checks or booking advice, please visit our Contact Us page or take a look at our FAQs.