Thursday 21 November 2019

A Family Visit to the Newly Refurbished Inflata Nation Manchester - A Review

Last weekend we were invited along to Inflata Nation Manchester to take a look at the newly refurbished 'double decker' layout of their inflatable theme park arena. Inflata Nation has a number of sites around the UK, with each one offering plenty of fun for the whole family.

We had booked our session for Saturday morning and the journey from our home took around 45 minutes. It was really easy to find and the sat nav lead us there with no issues. We found that there was on site car parking, but due to it being peak time we were unable to grab a space as it was full by the time we arrived. However, there was plenty of nearby parking available on the surrounding roads, so we had no problem finding somewhere close, within very short walking distance. I noticed that there was also disabled parking bays at the front of the building, right by the main entrance.


As we entered I noticed a large table full of paper disclaimers, which all bouncers must fill in prior to taking part. Alternatively you can also complete these online, which we chose to do shortly after booking. I decided to do it this way as I felt it would speed up the process once we were there and would mean no paper forms, so this worked well for us. We then joined a short queue and made sure that we had our booking confirmation number ready to provide to the gentleman working on the arrivals desk. He was very friendly and welcoming and then explained where we needed to go and what rules we needed to read and listen to prior to bouncing. We were then shown where we could place our items in a locker and we excitedly joined the queue for the 11am group.

There is a non-refundable charge for the lockers which work on an automated system. The cost is £2 for up to 1.5 hours or £3 for 2 hours, so you may wish to factor in the price of this if budgeting for your visit. Alternatively there are some open shelves where items can be left, but this would be done at your own risk.


Our attention was drawn to the rules and safety videos which are in place around the arena and we were then given a safety briefing before being allowed to enter. It is really important to listen to the advice you are given, so if there is anything you are unsure of, then I would recommend asking a member of staff to provide you with the information again before taking part. As with any activity like this, there is an element of risk involved to participants, so by ensuring the rules are followed you can make your experience both fun and safe.

As our time slot began, guests quickly ran through the inflatable arena to take a good look around. My older children ran off in opposite directions, whilst I remained with Riley. The first activity he found was the Inflata Duel and quickly challenged me to a battle on the gladiator platform. He easily won as I couldn't balance very well and kept falling off, which he thought was hilarious.


Ben really enjoyed the large ball pool area and loved jumping from the large inflatables into the balls below. There were also some hoops for you to take aim and throw balls through, so we took part in a 'best out of 10' game to see who could hit the target the most. It was a close call as I was winning at one point, but it ended up being a draw as Ben's hand to eye coordination and bouncy balance skills saw him catch up.

Next to the Inflata Ball Pool was a really fun activity called the Tipping Slide. This slide moves, so as it lowers you need to try and run up the ramp to reach the top and then hold on tight as the slide raises higher. This definitely tests your skills and as it climbs you can't help but slide down.

There were also an incredible four other slides in the arena and I still think it is really clever how they have managed to fit this all in. Two of the slides have bumps, whilst the other two are near vertical drop slides, which are definitely not for the faint hearted. I'm not going to lie, I passed on these as my nerves couldn't cope, but my daughter loved them and went on several times.


Another superb new addition to the arena is the Inflata Freefall, which is sure to interest any thrillseeker. After navigating yourself to the raised platform, you get kitted out with a harness and are clipped onto a freefall device. It is then up to you to see if you a brave enough to step or jump off the six metre platform onto the bouncy floor below. I was really surprised when my son Ben tried this as he is usually quite nervous of heights, so I was very proud when he gave it a go. There was a member of staff assisting participants at the top and another at the bottom who would help customers to remove their harness.

I was very impressed by just how many staff there actually were on hand throughout the arena. Some were supervising the slides and other activities, whilst others were bouncing around the arena collecting stray balls or just simply ensuring that everyone was ok. I also liked the fact that there was a separate much smaller arena for little ones aged under 4. This is in an enclosed area at the very front called Inflata Tots and means that even the youngest of children can enjoy the experience, without having to share with the more active older children and adults in the main bouncing arena.

Other activities also included the Inflata Bubbles which make you bounce really high, an Inflata Race where you can compete against your friends and family, or even take a break from the bouncing and enjoy a moment on the inflatable cars. If you do get tired and need a rest or a drink then it is very easy to come and go off the inflatable arena as many times as you need to. As long as you have your wristband and your hand stamp, you can re-enter and enjoy all the fun whenever you are ready.


If you are not taking part in a bouncing session, then there is plenty of seating available in their large cafe, where you can purchase hot drinks, cold drinks, snacks, cakes, and even meals too. The food prices are really reasonable and some of the seats also offer a great view of the arena.

Overall we had a fantastic time and before we had even left the building my children were asking when we could return. There was plenty to enjoy and we thought that the new slides and the Inflata Drop added a whole new element to the fun. The arena is really big and well spaced out, so although it was busy, it never felt too crowded or unsafe and my kids had a fantastic time. I think the cost of £9.99 for an hour for guests aged 4+ is really reasonable and it is a great way to burn off some energy. If you have the stamina, then you can also add on an additional hour for an extra £7, but we found that one hour was just the right length of time for us. Under 4's cost a lower price of £5.99 for an hour with an additional cost of £3 for an extra hour. Booking in advance is also advised, in order to avoid any disappointment on arrival. It is safe to say that we will definitely be returning again in the future and we would recommend to others who are looking for a fun activity that can be enjoyed by all the family.

If you would like to find out more about Inflata Nation Manchester, or their other locations around the country, then you can visit their website or social media pages on the following channels:

Website - https://www.inflatanation.com/locations/manchester/ 
Facebook - facebook.com/inflatanationmanchester
Twitter - @InflataNation
YouTube - Inflata Nation YouTube Channel


*Disclaimer - We were invited to review Inflata Nation Manchester and were provided with a complimentary booking for the purpose of writing an honest review of our experience. All opinions are my own unless stated otherwise.

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