Jobs lost as indoor play centre forced to close its doors

An indoor play centre in Trafford Park has ceased trading after the business was hit by last summer’s heatwaves and competition from new rival venues in the area.

Insolvency practitioner Steven Wiseglass, a director of Inquesta, has been appointed liquidator of Trafford Tots Ltd, which traded as Land of Play.

All ten employees of Land of Play have lost their jobs.

The centre, which opened in 2009, was on Trafford Moss Road on the Astra Business Park.

Its facilities included a go-kart track, football pitch and baby and toddler area.

Land of Play was initially the only facility of its kind in the area but a host of rival attractions opened over subsequent years.

These included trampoline parks, the Total Ninja climbing centre and the £2m Play Factore near the Trafford Centre, which is Europe’s largest indoor play centre.

Mr Wiseglass said the increased competition had an impact on the business, while the hot summers of 2017 and 2018 compounded its problems by further affecting footfall as parents took to the outdoors with their children.

He said: “The business needed to modernise to entice customers but cash flow became a major issue.

“Although money was invested to support the business, it had too many factors weighing against it.

“Sadly, due to high running costs and a lack of consistent trade, the business suffered continuing losses and became unsustainable to the point where it has now been placed in liquidation.”