What The Play Company does

The Play Company International Ltd is a UK-based, privately held manufacturer and installer of commercial indoor play equipment, founded in 1998 and headquartered in South Devon (Plymouth). The company designs, manufactures, and installs soft play structures, trampoline parks, inflatable parks, ninja courses, sensory and toddler areas, themed play environments, and its proprietary Strike Arena — an interactive, gamified climbing attraction with light/sound/timer/scoring components (including sub-products Cyber Chase, Robo Run, Trailblazer, High Nines, and PowrPlay/AeroStrike sports pitches). All design, manufacturing, and installation is handled in-house, with no third-party handoffs, and the company holds compliance with multiple international safety standards including EN1176, ISO 23659, ASTM F1918/F1487/F2970, ADA, the International Building Code, and US CPSC guidelines.

The company monetises through project-based one-time sales ranging from £15,000 entry-level installations to £250,000+ premium multi-zone builds, supplemented by recurring maintenance/repair services and retrofit/upgrade work that lets operators add revenue-generating attractions (notably Strike Arenas) without full replacement. Pricing is bespoke, determined after a free design consultation that includes 3D visualisation. Go-to-market is consultative direct sales targeting leisure centres, holiday parks, family entertainment centres, farm/rural attractions, garden centres, and indoor play chains across the UK, Europe, and the USA. Named enterprise customers include GLL/Better Leisure (multiple UK sites including the world's largest 120-pod Strike Arena at GLL Sobell), Urban Air (12+ US locations), Altitude Trampoline Parks, Freedog, Clip 'n Climb, KoJump, Longleat Safari Park, and Beekse Bergen Safari Park (Netherlands). The company reports 200+ indoor play spaces delivered globally and 100+ businesses as customers, with 11–50 employees.

A sub-brand, The Plastic Company, supplies recycled-plastic outdoor furniture/decking/fencing. In February 2025, the company raised approximately $633,475 from The FSE Group, representing its first disclosed external funding round. The business is profitable in operating appearance (actively taking on projects) and founder/management-controlled with no identified parent company or external PE/VC backing beyond the recent FSE facility.

Name

The Play Company

Legal name

The Play Company International Ltd

Website

https://theplaycompany.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Play Company International Ltd is a UK-based manufacturer and installer of commercial indoor play equipment (soft play, trampoline parks, Strike Arena), serving leisure centres, holiday parks, and family entertainment venues in the UK, Europe, and USA since 1998.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indoor Play Equipment Manufacturing

NAICS

Doll, Toy, and Game Manufacturing (33993)

SIC

Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944)

akta.pro primary industry

Early Childhood & Playground Equipment (Play Structures, Soft Play, Safety Surfacing) (EDAEAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Trampoline & Active Play Parks (Trampoline, Ninja/Obstacle, Indoor Active Parks) (THAJAEAJ)

Keywords

• Indoor play equipment
• Soft play manufacturer
• Trampoline park design
• Commercial play installation
• Interactive climbing attraction

Headquarters

HQ city

East Allington

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Design, Manufacturing & Installation: End-to-end project delivery for indoor play equipment including soft play areas, trampoline parks, ninja courses, inflatable parks, sensory areas, and themed play structures. Projects range from £15,000 to £250,000+. Revenue is project-based, one-time with potential for follow-on maintenance and retrofit work.
2. Maintenance & Repair Services: Ongoing maintenance, cleaning, and repair services for existing play areas. Includes spare parts supply with video guides for operators to identify replacement components.
3. Retrofit & Upgrade Services: Regeneration of existing play spaces including adding Strike Arenas, upgrading trampoline parks, and modernising tired structures. Enables operators to add revenue-generating attractions without full replacement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Play Company designs, manufactures, installs, and maintains commercial indoor and outdoor play equipment for leisure operators. Its portfolio includes soft play areas, trampoline parks, inflatable parks, ninja courses, sensory and toddler areas, themed play environments, interactive sports pitches, and the proprietary Strike Arena climbing attraction. End-to-end in-house delivery covers concept, 3D design, UK manufacturing, installation, retrofit, and ongoing maintenance, with projects priced between £15,000 and £250,000+.

Product overview

The Play Company is a UK-based indoor play equipment manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of physical play products and services. Their core offering includes soft play structures, trampoline parks, inflatable parks, ninja courses, sensory areas, and their proprietary Strike Arena climbing attraction. The company provides end-to-end services from design through manufacturing and installation, serving leisure centres, holiday parks, family entertainment centres, garden centres, and farm attractions. Their product range spans both indoor and outdoor equipment, with interactive products like sports pitches, High Nines, and Trailblazer adding gamification to play experiences. The company operates internationally with installations across Europe, the USA, and beyond.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Plastic Company: Operated in conjunction to supply outdoor furniture, decking and fencing products made from 100% recycled plastic.

Products and services

• Soft Play Areas Multi-level foam and vinyl-covered play structures for commercial operators featuring slides, climbing elements, ball pools, and interactive play shapes, designed to maximize dwell time and repeat visits at leisure venues.
• Trampoline Parks Commercial trampoline installations built for safety, throughput, and revenue generation in family entertainment centres and leisure facilities.
• Inflatable Parks Indoor inflatable attractions featuring bouncy castles, slides, and interactive bashing areas for children, for family entertainment venues.
• Ninja Courses Obstacle courses for older children featuring climbing walls, rope swings, and challenging physical barriers designed to keep kids engaged and returning.
• Sensory Areas Specialized play zones with sensory panels and interactive elements for babies and toddlers, designed to stimulate sensory development.
• Strike Arena Proprietary competitive climbing attraction featuring interactive climbing pods and walls with gamification elements (lights, sounds, timers, and scoring), positioned as a revenue-generating ticketed attraction for leisure venues.
• Interactive Sports Pitches Interactive football and basketball pitches with technology-enabled scoring, lights, and sound effects (PowrPlay targets, AeroStrike basketball units) for family entertainment venues.
• Themed Soft Play Immersive themed play environments including Tiny Towns, woodland themes, pirate themes, and custom designs that create memorable experiences for children in commercial venues.
• Toddler Areas Dedicated play spaces for babies and toddlers featuring age-appropriate equipment, soft play shapes, and sensory elements.
• Outdoor Play Equipment Outdoor playground structures made from wood and metal requiring minimal maintenance, designed for garden centres, holiday parks, and rural attractions.
• Retrofit Service Regeneration and modernization of existing play spaces, including conversion of trampoline parks to Strike Arenas and refurbishment of aging soft play installations, enabling operators to add revenue-generating attractions without full replacement.
• Maintenance Services Ongoing maintenance, cleaning, repair, and inspection services for installed play equipment to ensure longevity and safety, including spare parts supply with video guides.
• Design Services In-house design capabilities including 3D visualizations, themed concept development, and space planning to help clients envision their play area before construction.
• Installation Services Full in-house installation team handling all play equipment installations from concept through completion with certified safety sign-off.
• High Nines Competitive game featuring illuminated pods where players test speed and reactions by hitting targets, available in solo and head-to-head (High-9 Duo) modes with durable indestructible body-shell and replaceable LED pods.
• Trailblazer Interactive climbing challenge with vibrant lights, digital scoreboard, and audio commands, designed as an immersive experience with customisable graphics to match venue branding.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trusted by 100+ businesses now operating highly profitable play areas
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• GLL (Better Leisure)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor UK leisure operator and repeat customer. Multiple completed projects including GLL Sobell Leisure Centre (world's largest Strike Arena), GLL Sutton, GLL Barking, GLL Talacre, GLL Liskeard, GLL Newham, and GLL Penylan installations.
• KoJumpcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndoor play operator that provided testimonial praising The Play Company's professional project management and smooth collaboration from start to finish.
• Altitude Trampoline ParkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS-based trampoline park chain with multiple installations including Rochester NY location with soft play and Strike Arena retrofit.
• Urban Air Trampoline ParkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor US trampoline park operator with installations at multiple locations including Gilbert, Sicklerville, Buford, Fullerton, Westlake, Trexeltown, Murfreesboro, Lancaster, Livonia, Colorado Springs, Sunset Hills, and Coppell.
• FreedogcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK urban playground operator with Strike Arena upgrade at Swindon location, adding competitive climbing to existing trampoline facilities.
• Clip 'n ClimbcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational climbing wall operator with Gloucester installation combining climbing attractions with soft play elements.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Soft Play LLC: US-headquartered specialist in designing and manufacturing commercial indoor soft contained play equipment for entertainment, healthcare, and retail venues. Most direct peer to The Play Company's core soft play areas, toddler zones, and themed structures business.
• Imagination Play: UK manufacturer of bespoke indoor play equipment, soft play structures, and themed environments for commercial venues. Direct UK peer with comparable product range and customer base of family entertainment operators and holiday parks.
• Wicksteed Leisure: Long-established UK designer and manufacturer of playground and leisure equipment serving commercial operators, local authorities, and schools. Comparable because of broad play equipment portfolio and end-to-end design/install/maintain model.
• Playdale Playgrounds: UK-based manufacturer of indoor and outdoor playground equipment with custom design and installation services for commercial operators. Comparable in providing bespoke commercial play structures to leisure venues and holiday parks.
• Lappset Group: Finnish manufacturer of active play equipment, trampoline parks, ninja courses, and themed play environments for commercial venues. Highly comparable given direct overlap in trampoline parks, ninja courses, and immersive play attractions.
• Walltopia: Bulgarian-founded global manufacturer of climbing walls and active entertainment attractions for family entertainment centres and trampoline parks. Comparable given direct competition in climbing/active play products and shared enterprise leisure customers.

Broad incumbents

• PlayPower: Global manufacturer of playground, recreational, and fitness equipment serving commercial and institutional customers across multiple continents. Comparable as a larger established peer in commercial play equipment manufacturing.
• HAGS: Global commercial playground and outdoor fitness equipment manufacturer with installations across municipal, education, and leisure segments. Comparable as an established European peer in commercial play equipment, though broader in scope.
• Kompan: Danish-headquartered global leader in playground, outdoor fitness, and urban play equipment with deep commercial and municipal presence. Relevant as a broad incumbent in commercial play equipment manufacturing.
• Proludic: France-based designer-manufacturer of playground, sports, and outdoor fitness equipment serving commercial and municipal markets worldwide. Comparable as an established peer in play equipment manufacturing with similar design-and-install capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-play-company-1

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Play Company