Hire terms and conditions

At Elliott’s Castles and Ice Creams Ltd, we aim to provide safe, reliable inflatable hire across Northamptonshire and surrounding areas. Please read these Terms & Conditions before booking. They apply to bookings made from 9 November 2026; earlier bookings remain subject to the terms agreed at the time and applicable law. Your booking confirmation identifies the equipment, venue, hire date, price and arrangements.

1. General Safety & Responsibility

Follow the age, height, weight and capacity limits on the specific unit and at handover. Children’s equipment is for children only. Keep larger users separate from smaller users.
For unstaffed hires, you must provide a suitably instructed adult aged 18 or over to supervise continuously. For staffed hires, we will identify which equipment our team supervises. Stop use whenever supervision is unavailable.
Follow the written instructions and demonstration. Keep entrances and mats clear. Stop rough play, flips, climbing and use by anyone impaired by alcohol or drugs. Observe all health restrictions given for the item.
If the blower stops, pressure drops, an anchor loosens or the equipment appears damaged, clear all users immediately, prevent re-entry and call us. Resume only when safe and authorised.

2. Booking & Agreement

Booking confirmation: We provide these terms before you commit. A booking is confirmed when we accept it and issue confirmation. The confirmation identifies the item, venue, hire date, agreed price and any agreed delivery or collection arrangements.
Correct item is your responsibility: Before booking, select the inflatable suitable for your event, intended users and venue. Check the item description, age/height restrictions, published dimensions and any stated space requirements. If you order the wrong item or change your mind about the item you selected, tell us immediately. A change is subject to our written agreement, availability and any agreed price difference; we cannot guarantee a replacement on the day.
Check your details: Check the address, postcode, date, item, contact telephone number, access instructions and any special requirements in your confirmation, and notify us promptly of mistakes. If our confirmation differs from what we agreed or our information was incorrect, we will correct our mistake without charge.
Tell us about special requirements: Before booking, tell us about venue deadlines, limited access, power supply distance, long cable runs, unusual setup requirements, stairs, narrow entrances and other relevant restrictions. Requirements are not agreed unless we confirm them in writing.
Ownership and care: The equipment remains ours. Take reasonable care of it from handover until collection. We will seek permission before using identifiable images of guests for publicity.

3. Delivery, Setup & Collection

Hall hires. Hall delivery is available from 9am. Collection up to and including 7pm carries no extra time charge. Collection after 7pm costs an extra £40 per booking. Postcode delivery fees still apply. Allow at least 30 minutes before and after the party for setup and pack-down.

Measure before booking: You are responsible for checking that the selected inflatable will fit in the actual usable garden or venue space, including the full inflated dimensions, the blower, access and the safety clearance stated on the product listing or provided by us. Do not rely on the inflatable dimensions alone as the total space needed may be greater. Measure the narrowest gates, doorways, corners and passages along the delivery route, not just the garden.
Check height and hazards: For indoor hires, confirm usable ceiling height beneath beams, lights, sprinklers and other fixtures. For all hires, identify slopes, uneven ground, overhanging trees, overhead cables, obstacles, steps, long carries and other restrictions. The site must be clear and accessible, with enough room for safe anchoring, the blower, cables, mats and supervision.
Suitable ground and permission: You must obtain the venue or landowner’s permission and arrange lawful parking, loading access and a suitable installation area. Our standard outdoor installation requires suitable natural grass for pegging; we do not install on artificial grass, decking, gravel or hardstanding. Tell us about known buried pipes, cables, irrigation and other underground hazards before our team arrives.
Electricity and longer extension leads: You must provide an accessible, suitable working power supply at the venue and tell us BEFORE the hire if the power point is unusually far from the proposed setup area, if a longer extension lead is needed or if there is no mains power. Provide the approximate distance and route. We will confirm whether we can safely supply suitable additional cabling or an agreed generator and whether any extra charge applies. Do not assume that a longer lead or generator will be available on arrival, and do not connect your own unapproved extension leads to our equipment.
Be present and ready: You must ensure a responsible adult aged 18 or over is present, contactable on the telephone number supplied, and able to provide access during the agreed delivery/setup window and collection arrangements. Unlock gates and halls, obtain keys and permission, move vehicles and clear the route and installation area in advance. If you cannot attend, arrange another responsible adult and tell us their contact details before delivery.
Missed delivery or inaccessible venue: If our team arrives within the agreed delivery window but cannot gain access, cannot reach the named contact after reasonable attempts, or cannot install because of a customer-controlled issue, we may be unable to wait or return because of other scheduled hires. We are not obliged to make a second visit or disrupt other customers’ bookings. We will record the attempted arrival and contact efforts where practical. Any later return is entirely subject to our availability, safe working arrangements and your agreement to any additional reasonable charge.
Wrong size, item or site information: If the item you chose cannot be safely installed because the space, access, surface, power or other customer-supplied details were incorrect or essential preparations were not made, we may refuse installation for safety reasons. We will consider a practical alternative if one is available, but we cannot promise an alternative item, location, or same-day return. Customer-caused unsuccessful deliveries and cancellations are handled under sections 8 and 9; any amount retained must reflect our reasonable net loss, not an automatic forfeiture.
Our safety checks remain essential: We make the final safety decision on installation and will not install or operate an inflatable where our assessment or the manufacturer’s instructions make it unsafe. Your responsibility to check and disclose venue details does not remove our responsibility to provide accurate equipment information and exercise reasonable care and skill.
Delivery and collection timing: Delivery and collection windows are estimates unless we expressly agree that a particular time is essential. Allow at least 30 minutes for setup and again for collection, longer for large items. We will tell you about significant delays and take reasonable steps to reduce them. If our delay materially reduces the service, we will agree a fair price reduction; if we miss an agreed essential deadline or our delay defeats the event’s purpose, you may decline delivery and receive a full refund for the affected hire.
Ask before paying: If you are unsure about any dimensions, access, ground type, electricity or timing, send us measurements and photographs before paying. We can advise on the information supplied, but any final installation remains subject to our on-site safety assessment.

4. Use of Equipment

No food, drink, chewing gum, face paints, glitter, party poppers, silly string, confetti or sharp objects are allowed on or near inflatables.
Shoes, glasses, jewellery, and badges must be removed before use. Socks must be worn.
Do not climb, sit or hang on walls, beams or safety steps.
Smoking, barbecues, and open flames are strictly prohibited near equipment.
Do not attempt to move or reposition the inflatable once set up.
Ball pits: all balls must be returned at the end of hire. Missing balls may incur a charge.

5. Weather Conditions

We assess the hire location, forecast, ground conditions and the instructions for the equipment. Contact us if you are concerned. A forecast of showers or a preference for cooler weather does not by itself cancel the booking.
Clear the equipment during heavy rain, thunderstorms or lightning, or whenever the surface is wet or slippery. A shower cover does not make wet play safe. Follow our shutdown instructions and resume only when the equipment is dry and conditions are safe.
Our outdoor inflatable hire cut-off is above 28°C at the site. We may stop sooner if the surface is too hot to touch comfortably, the manufacturer specifies a lower limit or conditions otherwise make play unsafe. Tell the supervisor immediately if a surface feels hot.
For overnight hires, secure the site and follow the handover instructions. Never reinflate for drying if conditions are unsafe. Keep everyone off during inflation and deflation.

6. Wind Speed Safety & Cancellations (Important – Please Read)

For outdoor play inflatables the upper wind limit is 24 mph, including gusts, or the manufacturer’s lower limit. Stop use and clear the unit as the limit is reached or sooner if conditions are unsafe. Follow the shutdown procedure given at handover.

We use forecasts to plan. The person operating the unit must measure and record local wind at setup and regularly during use with an anemometer. A weather app is insufficient. Do not operate outside without a suitable meter. Follow the pressure checks and other monitoring instructions for the specific unit.

If we cancel an outdoor inflatable hire before handover because high winds (including gusts) or extreme heat make it unsafe to install or operate, we will offer you a choice: (1) a 50% refund of the amount you have paid for the affected hire, or (2) a free rebooking, transferring 100% of the amount paid to an alternative available date within 12 months of the original hire date. A replacement date is subject to availability and written confirmation, with no rebooking administration fee.

7. Liability & Damages

Tell us promptly about loss, damage, theft or injury and stop using affected equipment. You are responsible for foreseeable loss caused by your failure to take reasonable care or follow the agreed instructions. Normal wear, existing damage and faults caused by us are our responsibility.
We charge reasonable, evidenced repair costs or, if repair is uneconomic, the item’s reasonable replacement value allowing for age and condition. For exceptional cleaning caused by prohibited substances, we charge the reasonable additional cost up to £100. We can provide photographs and a breakdown.
Tell us about cables, pipes, irrigation and other hidden hazards before setup. Obtain the landowner’s guidance if uncertain. We may decline to stake where safety cannot be established. Pegging grass leaves holes. We take reasonable care when installing, moving and collecting equipment.
We are responsible for foreseeable loss caused by our breach or negligence. Nothing excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or any other liability the law does not allow us to exclude.

8. Payments & Charges

Your booking fee is part of the hire price. For orders over £400 an advance of up to 50% may be requested at booking. Section 9 explains what we may keep following cancellation.
For bookings over £180, the balance is due 14 days before hire, or when booking if closer than 14 days. For other bookings, pay by delivery unless a different payment arrangement is agreed. Use the payment method agreed in your confirmation.
If an incorrect address, late access or another customer-caused delay results in extra staff time, we may charge up to £25 per necessary staff member per hour, pro rata for actual additional time. We explain the charge and seek agreement before optional waiting, redelivery or extra travel. We do not charge twice for the same loss.
Customer-caused failed delivery: Where an agreed delivery is prevented by incorrect booking details, unsuitable or inaccessible premises, missing electricity, missing permissions or nobody being available, we may seek our reasonable net losses under section 9, including evidenced travel, staff and lost booking opportunity, less costs saved and any replacement booking income. We do not impose an automatic non-refundable 100% charge.

Late Payments

If a payment is overdue, we will try to contact you and give a reasonable opportunity to pay in the time available. We may withhold handover while a payment due remains unpaid. If the hire cannot proceed for this reason, section 9 applies.

9. Cancellations & Refunds

Rain Cancellations

If you wish to postpone because of a forecast, rain, wind, heat or a venue decision while we can safely supply the agreed hire, contact us before cancelling. We will normally offer to transfer the amount paid to another available date within 12 months of the original hire date, subject to written confirmation. This is a rebooking offer, not an automatic entitlement to a 50% or other partial weather refund. If you instead cancel, the reasonable cancellation charges below apply; we will refund any amount that cannot lawfully be retained. If you believe conditions are unsafe, contact us so we can assess them.
A move indoors needs our written agreement, a suitable venue and available staff and equipment. The original venue remains booked unless we confirm the change.
Where we cancel an outdoor inflatable hire before handover because of high winds (including gusts) or extreme heat, we offer you a choice of either a 50% refund of the amount already paid for the affected hire or a free rebooking that transfers 100% of the amount paid to another available date within 12 months of the original hire date. There is no administration fee for this weather rebooking, but the new date must be available and confirmed in writing.
If conditions deteriorate after handover, stop use and call us. A brief weather pause does not automatically entitle you to a refund for the whole hire. If we end the hire early for safety, we assess the usable hire and refund the fair value of the part we cannot supply. Your rights if equipment or service is faulty still apply.

Rearrangements

With at least 28 days’ notice you may request one transfer of your booking fee to an available date within six months of the original hire. Closer to the hire we may be unable to transfer the booking. We will explain any price difference before you agree.
Asking about a date does not reserve it or cancel the existing hire. A replacement date is booked when both sides agree the date, venue and equipment and we confirm in writing. Tell us explicitly if you wish to release the original date.

Standard Cancellations

Email or WhatsApp us with the lead name, hire date and booking reference or venue. Notice counts when we receive it, including outside office hours. We will acknowledge it. Keep your message and call if you have not heard back. Notice periods count back from the agreed hire start.

More than 28 days before the hire starts — up to the booking fee shown when you booked.
From 7 days to 28 days inclusive — up to 25% of the affected hire price.
From 24 hours to less than 7 days — up to 50%.
Less than 24 hours, including refusal on arrival — up to 100%.

These figures are ceilings. We take reasonable steps to rehire the equipment and charge only the direct loss we reasonably incur, including any lost profit, after deducting costs saved and income from a replacement booking for the same slot. We count your deposit towards the charge, explain the calculation on request and refund any excess, including if we later fill the slot.

Incorrect bookings, venue problems and missed delivery. If you select the wrong inflatable, fail to measure the available space or access, do not disclose the need for a longer approved power lead, provide an unsuitable or inaccessible venue, or are unavailable during the agreed delivery window, we will try to contact you and consider any practical solution. If the agreed hire cannot go ahead because of these customer-controlled matters, this is treated as a customer-caused cancellation or failed delivery, not a cancellation by us. We are not required to make a second journey when other deliveries prevent it. The cancellation charges below are maximums only: we may retain or recover only reasonable net loss directly resulting from the issue, after allowing for savings and reasonable mitigation. No blanket no-refund term overrides your statutory rights.

These rules also apply if your venue independently cancels, you refuse a safe delivery or a customer-caused site problem prevents setup. If we cannot supply for a reason on our side before handover, you may choose a full refund for the affected hire or an agreed alternative. See our cancellations page.

10. Legal Notes

Where the booking is a service related to a leisure activity on a specific date or for a specific period, the usual 14-day distance-booking cancellation right does not apply under regulation 28(1)(h) of the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. Any statutory cancellation right that applies to your particular booking is preserved.
We may suspend or end hire for a serious safety breach, violence or threats to staff. Where safe and practical, we will give you the opportunity to put the problem right. Charges for customer-caused termination are limited to the service provided and reasonable net loss under section 9.
Your legal rights to equipment of satisfactory quality and a service carried out with reasonable care and skill are unaffected. Report problems promptly so we can investigate and, where possible, put them right during the event.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Terms & Conditions, please contact us before booking.

📞 Phone: 07900 084 999
📧 Email: elliottscastles@gmail.com