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Gable Business Finance is a UK-based finance broker specialising in asset and equipment finance for the soft play sector. We help operators, venue owners and leisure investors secure bespoke funding for soft play areas, sensory spaces, play equipment, refurbishment and expansions — quickly and with transparent terms.
Soft play installations are capital-intensive. Whether you are fitting a compact sensory corner in a café or fitting a multi-level soft play centre for a leisure park, upfront procurement, installation and safety certification costs can be substantial. Financing lets you:
Gable Business Finance works with high-street banks, specialist asset lenders and equipment providers to create packages that match the cash flows of the soft play business model.
We offer a range of finance products tailored to the sector and your circumstances:
We will explain the pros and cons of each option in plain English, then match you to lenders who understand the cash flows of soft play operations.
We arrange finance for a wide range of businesses in the soft play space, including:
Our experience means we can advise on small one-off purchases through to multi-site roll-outs and franchisor programmes.
Specialist S.E.N. soft play requires carefully selected equipment, sensory panels, calming zones and safe surfacing. Funding often covers bespoke design, acoustic treatment and trained staffing during launch. We find lenders who understand the longer-term social value and potential public-sector support for S.E.N. provision.
Retail and transport hubs increasingly provide family-friendly play facilities to improve dwell time. Lenders appreciate stable footfall metrics and can underwrite equipment leases against reliable rental contracts and footfall forecasts.
Hotels add soft play to attract family bookings and extend guest stays. We structure finance to reflect seasonal demand and peak trading periods, often allowing interest-only options during quieter months.
Nurseries need robust, safe equipment and easy-clean materials. Asset finance spreads cost while aligning payments with income from parental fees or local authority funding.
Cafés and family restaurants benefit from integrated play areas that increase dwell time and average spend. We advise on compact play structures and fit-out finance so you can open quickly with limited upfront expense.
Large parks require scalable solutions: modular play structures, safety surfacing and multisensory attractions. We provide project finance, phased funding and bridging options while long-term commercial mortgages are arranged.
Trampoline parks frequently add toddler soft play sections to broaden their customer base. Asset finance can cover partitioning, dedicated flooring and specialist padding while preserving cash for operations.
Museums and interactive attractions add play zones to increase family engagement. We work with lenders who consider the combined visitor income and educational grants that support exhibit finance.
Cruise operators require bespoke marine-grade equipment and certified installation. Our lenders understand specialist shipping warranties and can underwrite finance with consideration for long asset lives and maintenance contracts.
Typical decision times vary by product — simple asset finance can be approved within a few days; larger, bespoke projects may take several weeks. We focus on speed without sacrificing compliance or due diligence.
Choosing the right finance product can improve your commercial outcome:
Soft play equipment must meet strict safety regulations (BS EN standards and local guidance). Typical borrower responsibilities include:
We help you plan for compliance-related costs and include contingencies in finance proposals to avoid unexpected shortfalls during the project lifecycle.
Overview: A family entertainment centre in Greater London wanted to add a multi-level soft play module, a sensory corner and new café seating. The total project cost was £225,000.
Solution: Gable Business Finance arranged an asset finance package combining hire purchase for the play module and a short-term refurbishment loan for the café fit-out. The equipment supplier was paid on delivery and the refurbishment funds released in stages.
Outcome: The centre opened the new area in time for the school holiday season. Increased footfall lifted turnover by 18% in the first quarter and the loan was repaid on schedule. The client maintained working capital for marketing and staffing.
Overview: A nursery operator sought to standardise soft play and sensory suites across three sites to support early years curricula. Project cost per site averaged £45,000.
Solution: We structured a multi-site asset finance facility with a single agreement and staged drawdowns. The lender accepted a mix of fixed charge (on installed equipment at the lead site) and a floating charge over working capital as security.
Outcome: The roll-out completed in three months, with consistent equipment delivering improved parent satisfaction scores and higher occupancy rates. The lender appreciated the recurring revenue model of the nurseries and offered competitive terms for future expansions.
Overview: A coastal hotel needed a compact soft play area to attract family bookings. They wanted flexible payments during off-peak months.
Solution: We negotiated an operating lease with seasonal payment flexibility and an option to buy at the end of the lease. Interest-only months were scheduled during quieter winter months.
Outcome: The hotel reported higher family occupancy on weekends and breakfast package uptake. The flexible payment structure reduced cash flow pressure during low season.
Overview: A regional shopping centre commissioned a branded soft play hub to increase dwell time. Capital cost: £160,000 (play equipment, flooring, branding, installation).
Solution: Gable arranged a finance lease with staged payments tied to installation milestones and a short-term marketing loan for launch campaigns.
Outcome: The centre saw a measurable increase in dwell time and incremental retailer sales. The finance structure allowed all project work to be completed ahead of the key trading period.
While each application is judged individually, typical industry expectations include:
We provide an upfront checklist so you know exactly what lenders will ask for — removing surprises and speeding approval.
We take pride in being straightforward and commercially minded — helping your soft play business succeed while protecting your long-term interests.
A: Hire purchase typically leads to ownership at the end of the term once final payment is made. Leases (operating lease) usually provide rental access for a term and the equipment is returned at end-of-lease unless there is an option to buy. Tax and accounting treatment differs; seek your accountant’s guidance.
A: Small to medium asset finance deals can often be approved within a few days; larger bespoke projects typically take 2–6 weeks depending on valuations and lender due diligence.
A: Under hire purchase you typically become the owner after the final payment. For finance leases and operating leases the lender or lessor legally owns the equipment while you have the right to use it under agreed terms.
A: Lenders sometimes request directors’ personal guarantees, particularly for small businesses or where commercial security is limited. We negotiate terms to keep director risk to a minimum where possible.
A: Maintenance and warranty remain your responsibility unless covered by separate service contracts. We can include recommendations for service agreements and, where appropriate, factor maintenance costs into the finance package.
A: VAT treatment differs by product. With hire purchase the VAT is often payable upfront; with certain lease products VAT can be recovered or paid as part of monthly rentals. Discuss VAT with your accountant and we will explain VAT options for each lender.
A: Yes. Most lenders will include installation, delivery and related fit-out costs in the finance proposal so the project is fully funded.
A: Many lenders offer seasonal repayment profiles or interest-only periods to accommodate lower-revenue months. We build cashflow models to present to lenders showing seasonal performance.
A: Yes. Refinancing can lower costs, extend terms or consolidate multiple agreements. We regularly arrange refinance to improve monthly cashflow or to fund further expansion.
Gable Business Finance provides experienced, industry-specific advice and access to competitive lenders. Contact us today for a no-obligation review of your project, indicative rates and a step-by-step finance plan.