Frequently Asked Questions

Do you deliver, set up, dismantle and collect the Castle or other inflatables?
Yes, and it's all included in the price. We may make a small fuel charge for deliveries outside our normal areas. (See below.)

Which areas do you deliver to?
We deliver to West Edinburgh and West Lothian free of charge. Area's outwith these boundaries may incur a small delivery charge, but please ask.

On what days can I hire a Castle?
Out inflatables are available seven days a week, including bank holidays. We are of course closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

What if it rains?
All of our castles have shower covers (Except Monster truck). However if your hire date is very wet and you no longer wish to have the castle, you may cancel on the day before 10am, or one hour before arranged deliver time, whichever is the earliest. We are afraid that if high winds/stormy weather is forecast, we may have to cancel the hire for safety and insurance reasons. We will of course contact you to discuss it further.

When will the castle arrive?
We will call you the night before the hire to finalise arrangements and give you a delivery time. We aim to get all hires delivered and set up before lunchtime at the latest. On busy days we start deliveries from 7am. Castles are collected from 5pm onwards unless earlier is stated. We do allow later collections times for all day bookings (9pm latest). 
 

Can I keep the castle overnight?
We currently do not do overnight hires for children's castles, as in the past, this has proven that overnight hire = adults using them. We do of course allow our adult use inflatable items to be hired overnight for an additional charge. Please note, this only applies to secure gardens, you must pay a returnable deposit of £100 and accept full responsibility for the safekeeping of the inflatable and also remove the electrics and fan to an indoor location overnight.

How much is the booking deposit and do I get it back if I cancel?
We do not charge a booking deposit on our inflatables except for overnight hires. You may cancel at any point giving us as much notice as possible. However, if you cancel within 1 hour of the arranged delivery time (other than in bad weather) you will be required to pay the full amount previously agreed.

How late can I leave it to book?
Bookings can get very busy, especially in the summer months so to avoid disappointment, please book as far in advance as possible. However, please contact us even on the day as we may have availability.

Why do I need ID?
Two forms of ID are required, one showing your address (e.g. a recent utility bill) and another showing your name and signature (such as a driving licence), this is required by our insurers. Unfortunately if you fail to produce valid ID on the hire day, we will be unable to proceed with the hire.

What preparations is needed before you arrive?
Please make sure that any hallways, side passages, or any other access for your garden/venue are clear of obstacles etc. We require a 4ft wide access. Ensure that the bouncer site is free of any sharp objects, excessive mud and dog mess. we will need access to an electricity power point within 25m or we can hire you a petrol generator for an additional £25 charge (fuel is extra). If the site is unsuitable we reserve the right to cancel the booking.

How much space is needed for a bouncer?
The equipment sizes quoted on this website are outside measurements. You need to allow a minimum space of 6ft at the back and front of the castle and 3ft at each side. This is to allow for access, and to protect users in the unlikely event that they fall from the castle walls onto foreign objects or the blower at the rear (Note: Children should NEVER climb on the walls of any castle!). There must not be overhanging branches within 1 metre of the castle. If there are, they must be pruned off.

Can you set up a bouncy castle on a slope?
Only very slight slopes are ok. This would also determine the way the bouncer faces. (Opening would have to be up slope.)

Can you set up a bouncy castle indoors?
Yes. We do lots of indoor hires. Some people don't want to take the risk of having to cancel a party due to bad weather, so they generally hire a hall. We can provide a list of local indoor venues suitable for parties for you to choose from. Please ensure that the ceiling height are measured and suitable.

Do you have insurance?
We have full Public Liability Insurance covering accidents and injuries caused by equipment failure and improper installation. You, the hirer, are responsible for ensuring proper adult supervision of the castle and the safety of the children using the equipment. You absolve us from any responsibility for accidents and injuries other than those directly caused by faults in our equipment or improper installation. Beware of companies who do not have insurance. You should ask to see a copy of their policy.

Can you provide someone to supervise the castle?
Yes, we can provide supervision of the bouncy castle or inflatable, we charge per hour per person for supervision. Please contact us for a quote if this is required.

Do you provide safety instructions?
Yes. We do provide safe operating instructions as part of the Hire Agreement, Which you must read and sign before the hire can commence.

What sort of surface do you need for the inflatable?
Inflatables situated outdoors ideally need to be setup on a flat grassy area to ensure that the unit can be staked down. It must be clear of sharp objects such as rocks, glass etc, not muddy or covered in dog's mess. We reserve the right to cancel the booking and not install our equipment on unsuitable ground.We can of course put up an inflatable on a hard surface, but this requires securing using extensive weights. If you require this, please advise upon booking as these wheights are not carried on board the delivery vans unless previously requested.

What if I need to cancel?
No problem, just give us a call. However, we would appreciate as much notice as possible. If you cancel on the doorstep or whilst we are en-route, we will have to charge the full amount previously agreed.

How much does the unit cost to run?
An average unit only costs approximately 50p to £1 in electricity for a days use.

Do I need to keep the blower going?
Yes the blower must be kept going constantly while the castle is in use.If there is a long period of the equipment not being used i.e. teatime, then just have a responsible adult switch the equipment off at the plug, then back on again when needed. In the event of high winds occurring, for your childrens safety, switch off and let the bouncer deflate.

How long does it take to set up?
An average bouncer takes approximately 10 - 15 minutes to set-up and about 30 minutes to pack away.

Can I rely on you?
Oh Yes. We have kids and wouldn't want them let down and so we won't let yours down. Our reputation is what keeps us in business.We have on more and more occasions over the last few years saved childrens parties, who have castles booked elsewhere only for them not to turn up. We will continue to do all we can to help in these occasions, so if you've been let down, just give us a call. If we're able to help we will!

Can I collect the castle?
Sorry, but for insurance and safety purposes, we must deliver and install the bouncer, without exception.

How safe is it?
All our bouncers have an annual safety test or are less than one year old. As are our electrical equipment. Upon delivery your site will be inspected and you will be advised of any potential safety hazards, thus allowing safe bouncing for your children. If the site is inherently unsafe, we reserve the right to cancel and not install the bouncer. You, the hirer, are responsible for ensuring proper adult supervision of the castle and the safety of the children using the equipment. You absolve us of any responsibility for accidents and injuries other than those directly caused by faults in our equipment or improper installation....Safety first - always!

Why can't adults use the bouncers?
Unfortunately our insurers will not allow anybody over the age of 14 on any of our bouncy castles, which in turn means they are designed and built with that age limit in mind. If we find anybody over that age is or has been using the inflatable we will have to send it off for safety testing, this costs approximately £80. The hirer will be held responsible and will be expected to pay for all costs and losses incurred through not being able to hire the inflatable out. Adults can of course hire any of the other inflatable items for their use i.e. Bungee run, bouncy boxing, superhero wrestling etc. Discounts can be arranged if hiring more than one piece of equipment from us at the same time.

Can we move the bouncer?
No, once erected the inflatable must not be moved under any circumstance, even if it rains.

Are you members of any recognized organization?
Yes, we are members of the BIHA (British Inflatable Hirers Alliance). The BIHA promoted good practice, safety etc. You can look at the BIHA website for further details at www.biha.org.uk. We are also the only inflatable hirer in the area who is a member of the West Lothian Chamber of Commerce.

How do I pay for a hire?
Payment is by cash when the inflatable is delivered on the day of hire, or by cheque, only when paid 7 working days in advance of hire to allow funds to clear.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at sir.bouncealot@yahoo.co.uk