Frequently Asked Questions
General FAQ's
What information do I need to give on booking?
We will need to know your event date, time and location, name for booking, address for venue and address for billing. Any time restrictions for set up & packing up of equipment and any venue access details that may hinder set up times for parties or hires ie on street parking, staircases, narrow corridors. Please provide as much information as possible on booking.
When is payment due?
Deposit amounts vary depending on the service or product you are booking. Please check individual details. If a deposit is required this can be paid via the website or by bacs/ cheque in advance. Balance payments must be also paid in advance or cash on delivery.
Can you supply a risk assessment?
All activities are checked against a thorough risk assessment. 3rd party entertainers will be able to supply their own. Please request a copy if your venue or event requires to see this in advance.
Are you Insured with public liability?
We have £10m public liability insurance - see downloadable documents
Is your equipment PAT tested?
All electrical equipment is PAT tested - see downloadable documents.
Parties & Entertainment
How long does the party last?
Entertainment Parties last 2hrs with a 20-30 min break for food where your entertainer will be available to play background music and keep the party flowing. If a break is not required for food entertainment is provided for 1.5hrs.
Can you entertain for 3hrs or longer?
For birthday parties we recommend not breaking the 2hr golden party rule where you can have a great time and send the kids home happy. Over 2hrs risks overtired children. For some family events you may require longer than 2hrs for other reasons and we are happy do discuss individual requirements.
Can I book a joint party?
Absolutely! Sharing the cost of a party is a great idea. The disco packages are perfect for larger numbers, just make sure that you have a venue to suit if numbers creep up.
Are there restrictions on party numbers?
Yes for birthday parties with inflatables or sports parties, we will recommend that there is a maximum party number for safety, this will depend on your venue, age of children and the size of castle you book. For Disco parties we have put packages together for up to 20/ 30/ 40 and 50 children with additional price structures. Please check individual package detail.
I've booked a mascot/ face painter/ character appearance?
That's great we are happy to work with 3rd party entertainers or we can help to organise additional entertainment for you.
Is food or hall hire included in the cost?
No, we do not cater at the parties. Nor is hall hire included in the cost. However we have a great list of recommended halls and can give you an idea of prices.
What will the party include?
Please check individual party descriptions, all parties are different and tailored to suit venue, ages, numbers and any theme you may have in mind
Can you supply sweets for children with dietary requirements at the party?
Yes, please do mention any special requirements you have for sweets. We can supply vegetarian sweet options within the package and have these readily available at every party. If you have specific requirements ie HALAL or KOSHER sweets there would be an additional charge of £10-15 as we would need to buy in specially in advance. Alternatively we can host sweet free parties for a small supplement of £15.00 where all sweets are replaced with small prizes. Also guests are welcome to supply their own sweets if preferred. Please note we do not hand out lollies at parties due to safety
Inflatable Hire
Can the inflatables go on concrete or hard outdoor surface?
We can hire inflatables indoors and they are weighted with sandbags. Please note we do not hire outside on concrete or other hard surface as we do not have the facilities to drill and secure the units. Outdoor hires will need to be placed on grass and pegged at all anchor points.
How long does it take to set up?
Small inflatables will take 15-20 minutes to set up. Larger inflatables can take 30-40 minutes.
Set up time will also be effected ease of access to the venue, please do mention in advance any obstacles that my hinder set up.
Do I need to leave the blower running when in use?
Yes all inflatables require access to electricity and within 50mtrs of a socket. When in use they need to be running constantly.
Does your public liability cover me in the event of an accident?
No. Our Public liability insurance would only cover Shuffles Entertainment in the event of negligence on our behalf in set up. This is the same for all inflatable hire companies, unless you book staff to supervise the castle. If you are running a public event we recommend that you look into one day insurance cover for inflatables which can easily be obtained from as little as £12 per day. Check the Leisure Insure page here for details.
Soft Play Hire
Can soft play go outside?
Happy Hopperz - Yes
We have a no outdoor policy for the rest of our soft play in order to keep it in tip top condition for all hires with young children.
Why can't I book this online?
We may need to ask specific questions about soft play access and collection times. Please check with us directly to book.
Delivery Policy
The cost of delivering to a particular area will be revealed when you choose this area. We may be able to deliver outside the areas available on our website. If you are outside of the areas shown on our website, please contact us to see if we can help you out.
If we are unable to provide your delivery due to adverse weather, vehicle failure, illness or any other factor, we will inform you of this at the earliest possible opportunity. Delivery times can be arranged during the booking process.
Please ensure that there is adequate space for our products, that the location our products will be sited is accessible, and that you have cleared the area of mess and debris. We will be unable to provide a refund if we cannot deliver your product due to a lack of space or accessibility or due to an inappropriate location.