How Early Should You Book a Bouncy Castle?

One of the most common questions we are asked is how early you should book your bouncy castle or inflatable. The simple answer is: as early as possible. Like every other hire company, we work on a first come first served basis, so the sooner you reserve your chosen inflatable, the more choice you will have for your date, time slot and theme.

Why early booking is important

Popular dates such as summer weekends, bank holidays and school event days fill up very quickly. Items from our main Bouncy Castles range, as well as themed inflatables and party favourites, are often reserved weeks or months in advance. Early booking gives you a better chance of securing the exact castle or inflatable you want, rather than choosing from what is left nearer the time.

How far in advance should you book?

For standard weekend birthday parties, we recommend booking at least four to six weeks ahead where possible. For larger events such as school fairs, corporate days or community fun days using bigger inflatables like our Assault Courses, it is sensible to reserve your equipment as soon as you know your date. For peak periods such as the summer holidays or Christmas, many regular customers book even earlier.

What about last minute bookings?

We understand that not every event is planned months in advance. Sometimes dates change or a party comes together at short notice. If you need a bouncy castle at the last minute, you are always welcome to contact us. If we have availability, we will do our best to accommodate your request, whether you need a simple castle, a Bounce & Slide Bouncy Castle Combo or an indoor item from our Indoor Low Height Inflatables selection.

Availability for last minute bookings depends entirely on what is already reserved. Because we operate a strict first come first served system, we cannot guarantee that specific products will be free close to the date, but we will always try to find a suitable alternative if your first choice is taken.

It is also important to note that we load our vans each morning before we begin our delivery runs. Once the vans are packed and the team are on the road, we cannot add extra inflatables to the day’s schedule. For this reason, same-day hire is almost never possible, even if a castle appears to be free on the website. Planning ahead gives you the best chance of securing the inflatable you want.

If you do contact us on the day of your event, we can still check the system for cancellations or gaps, but availability is very limited once the vans have left our base. Booking in advance ensures everything is prepared properly and that your inflatable is scheduled safely within our delivery route.

Special dates and busy seasons

Some dates are much busier than others. Warm Saturdays, school sports days, summer fairs and local community events all create high demand. Seasonal items, such as discos, games and Inflatable Games, are particularly popular at the end of term or during themed days. If your event falls on one of these busy dates, it is especially important to book early.

Planning for different types of events

Smaller garden parties for young children using items from our Just For Tots Under 6's range often only require a single inflatable, which can sometimes be fitted in at shorter notice. Larger events that use multiple inflatables, or that combine castles with slides, assault courses and games, need more planning time to make sure everything is available and scheduled correctly.

Our booking process

Booking early with us is straightforward. You can browse our website, choose the inflatable you like, select your date and complete the online booking form. We will confirm your booking and arrange delivery to your area, whether you are in Nottingham, Derby, Leicester or Sheffield. Once booked, your inflatable is reserved for you and will not be offered to anyone else for that time slot.

If you are unsure, just ask

If you are not sure whether you are booking early enough, or if you would like to check availability before making a decision, you can use our contact us page to reach the team. We can tell you which inflatables are free on your chosen date and advise you on other options if your first choice has already been taken.

In summary, it is always best to book your bouncy castle as early as you can, especially for busy dates and larger events. However, if your plans change or you need something at short notice, we will always do our best to help.