A brand new Inflata Nation attraction has opened in Southport, welcoming hundreds of families through its doors during the October half-term holidays.
The new 15,000 sq ft inflatable centre opened at Ocean Plaza Leisure Park on Wednesday 28 October, with more than 350 bookings made in its first 24 hours.
Located in the former Evans Cycles unit on the first floor above Everlast Gym, the attraction is the 12th Inflata Nation venue to open in the UK and has created 20 new jobs.
The centre is owned by Southport couple Michelle and Matt Ball, who previously ran Inflata Nation sessions at Stanley High School before the Covid pandemic.
The couple have been searching for a permanent home for the attraction in their hometown for several years and have been delighted by the response from local families.
Michelle and Matt said:
“We are overjoyed to have opened our new Inflata Nation right here in our home town in Southport!
“We have been searching for a permanent space in Southport for a long time and this is perfect.
“We’ve been thrilled by the excellent response from our first visitors, with plenty of positive feedback!
“Lots of families who have booked in for one session have loved it so much they have extended and booked on for follow-up sessions straight away.
“We have received over 350 bookings in just the first day of being open, which shows the huge desire among families for something new.”
The new Inflata Nation features giant slides, ball pits, a tipping slide, dedicated play areas and a separate area for children under four.
There is also a café serving hot and cold drinks, with plans to expand the offering in response to customer feedback.
The attraction is the sister venue to Footy Nation, which opened at Ocean Plaza earlier this year and is also operated by Michelle and Matt.
The couple are continuing to develop Footy Nation, with a new e-gaming section set to be introduced soon.
Both venues are available for birthday parties, private bookings and general admission.
For Michelle and Matt, who live in Southport with their two sons, aged seven and 13, the opening is a dream come true.
They launched their first Inflata Nation attraction at Trafford Park in Manchester in 2017, before expanding the concept across the UK.
They said:
“We have wanted to open at Ocean Plaza Leisure for a long time. We originally looked at this site before Evans Cycles moved in, so we were pleased when it became available again.
“Since we left Stanley High School, so many families have been asking us when we’re coming back to Southport!
“Our intention has always been to open somewhere on our own doorstep, in our home town, which we love so much.
“Southport deserves its own permanent Inflata Nation!”
The couple have also introduced a new off-peak monthly offer, allowing families to enjoy unlimited eligible weekday visits, including after school, for £14.99 per month.
They say the offer is an industry first and has been designed to make the attraction more affordable for families.
Michelle and Matt added:
“We wanted to create an offer that was affordable for families; these are challenging times for many people.
“While our prime market is children who are of primary school age, we will also look to host sessions which are exclusively for teenagers or for adults.
“That seems to be a very popular idea among the parents we’ve spoken with so far!”
One-hour bounce sessions at Inflata Nation Southport cost £6.99 for children under four and £13.99 for everyone else.
The new centre is managed by Zack North and is now welcoming visitors at Ocean Plaza Leisure Park.
For more information or to book a session, visit the website.
