DAYS before the Easter holidays are due to begin, a popular soft play centre has been forced to call in the receivers and make its staff redundant.
In a statement on its website, Winnersh Triangle-based Kids’n’Action Play and Party Centre said it had been unsuccessful in completing a successful sale of its business.
All booked parties have been cancelled and parents have had their deposits refunded.
The centre had been offering a wide range of activities for primary school aged children and toddlers since 2012, including dressing up areas, slides and parties. Up to 720 people could visit at any one time and, as many parents will testify, it was often packed at weekends.
Roni Zigner, Kids’n’Action director, said: “We have made every effort to sell the business as a going concern and endeavoured to avoid the closure of the centre.
“Whilst we have experienced a good response to marketing the business, sadly no offer has been forthcoming which has led to completion of a sale.
“Cashflow now precludes the business from continuing to trade and as a result it has been necessary to close, and all staff have been made redundant.
“We made every effort to honour all deposits for all parties booked with us. Where this was not possible the customer has already received a refund of their deposits. No member of the public will be out of pocket.”
Mr Zigner said that the business had been affected by the recent abnormal weather conditions over several years.
He stated: “The level of trading has always been dictated by the weather. Inclement weather has always been a positive to the business and increased custom.
“Our trading analysis shows that the mild winters and hot dry summers of the last three years have significantly affected the anticipated trade and the business was unable to maintain a consistent turnover to meet the fixed overheads without significantly affecting the quality of our services.”
“I am deeply saddened to let my committed and loyal team of staff go and to disappoint our customers by our closure.”
And the statement from Kids’n’Action also included information from the receivers.
Debi Harvey of Harvey Insolvency & Turnaround said: “Statute protects the rights of the employees. All employees have already been contacted and it is anticipated that they will be paid sum due in full. Other parties who are owed sums, who have not already heard from my office, should contact us.”
“The work I have undertaken causes me to concur with Roni Zigner’s reasons for closure and I would add that the combined significant costs of lease and rates arising in occupying leasehold premises in the Wokingham area is also a significant contributory factor in its closure.”
