Frequently Asked Questions?

Below is a list of the most frequently asked questions, please take a read through of the page fully.

How do I book?
This website now allows online bookings, which means you can click the BOOK ONLINE button, select the date of your event and if we have availability you can then book online and your booking will automatically be entered into our diary system.
Please note that our equipment is subject to availability (viewable on this website) and is available to book via www.RascalsCastles.co.uk on a "first come first served" basis. We are unable to reserve any equipment and we are unable to guarantee availability of any equipment at the time of your booking when in email conversations.
For example, we could be in email conversation regarding a quote for a large scale event, with emails going backwards and forwards for days. At the time of the first email the equipment could be available, but a few days later, someone could book online and book before you.
For this reason, we would recommend booking via the website to guarantee the equipment is available

How much space is needed for the equipment?
You will need to allow a minimum of 5 feet at the front and rear of the inflatable bouncy castle and 2 feet either side. This is to allow access and the blower at the rear. For example, a 15ft by 15ft inflatable would require a minimum clear space of 20ft by 17ft.
Please ensure all garden items such as garden toys, swings, slides, dog mess, patio furniture, rubbish etc. are removed from the area where the castle is to be sited, also there should be no overhanging trees or bushes.
PLEASE NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure that there is enough space for us to unload and inflate our equipment in your chosen location. If we arrive and find that there is not enough space by using the diagram below the table, you will be required to pay the full price if you make incorrect calculations on space.
Rascals Castles staff are unable to give advice on whether your chosen bouncy castle will fit inside your chosen venue, over the phone without a site visit. It is your responsibility to ensure the equipment will be able to be setup in the venue and our vans will fit inside the car park barriers.
If you are unable to measure up, then we can offer a site visiting service, which can be booked here: https://www.rascalscastles.co.uk/category/all-items-for-hire/106/site-visit#BodyContent

The picture below shows how we work out how much space is required to inflate our equipment.

Please note that these guidelines should be followed by all good bouncy castle operators, not just Rascals Castles of Southampton. If you are unsure of anything give us a call on 02380 362 685.

How much does it cost to hire your inflatable equipment?
Our prices start at £55 per hire (We do charge a delivery fee to some areas). By hire, we mean an event between 1 hour and 5 hours, so you pay the same price whether you have the equipment for 1 hour or 5 hours. Please see the bouncy castle page for all prices, prices may vary depending on your intended use i.e. back garden / charity or distance from Southampton, Hampshire.

What's included in the price?
Any quotes given via email will be plus delivery. Any discounts or any packages advertised will be plus delivery. You can check delivery chares on our main page at www.RascalsCastles.co.uk
You will receive an electric blower/fan, 20m extension cable, and safety crash mats. Most of our Bouncy Castles come with sun / shower covers too.

Is there a minimum order value?
Yes £75 excluding delivery fees.

Why do you charge for delivery?
Rascals Castles are based in the Southampton area, but cover most areas of south Hampshire including Eastleigh, Southampton, Hedge End, Winchester, Romsey, New Forest, Portsmouth, Wickham, Waterlooville, Fareham, Whiteley, Havant, Hayling Island and anywhere in-between which means our vehicles rack up quite a lot of mileage and quite a hefty fuel bill each year.
To help cover our fuel costs we charge a delivery fee which covers the time it takes us to arrive at your home/venue, setup the equipment, return to base, return to your home/venue, dismantle the equipment and then return to base.
Example: From our base in Southampton to Southsea, Portsmouth is around 24 miles. Our delivery team will then usually return to base or continue with deliveries in the Southampton area, which would be around 24 miles return journey. Then we will need to go back to Southsea, Portsmouth to collect the equipment and then return to base with the equipment. That one hire would work out at almost 100 miles done in the van, and around 2.5hours of travelling in total. It is for this reason that we charge for delivery.

When are your bouncy castles available?
Our castles are available 7 days a week all year round including Bank Holidays, Christmas & Easter etc.

How long do I get the equipment for, Can I have it for longer?
All hires are based on five hours, with last collection at 6:30 PM with the addition to extend past this ,charged at £20 per hour.

What do we need to do to the garden/field/hall/car park etc before the inflatable arrives?
Please clear the driveway / side passage so that we can get clear access to the garden. Please make sure the grass is not too long (NOT CUT THE SAME DAY) and that it is clear of any sharp objects, branches, twigs, stones or animal mess.
We can not setup on dry/dusty/wet mud, loose stones, gravel, shingle or animal mess - please make sure the garden is clean and tidy before we arrive.

The proposed operating site for the equipment must be clear of any obstacles that may prove to be a hazard for the safe operation of the equipment and clear of any underground services (gas/electricity /water). Rascals Castles cannot be held responsible for any damage caused to underground services by the erection of any supplied equipment.

What vehicles do you deliver the equipment in?
We deliver our bouncy castles and inflatables etc in long wheel base, high top transit style vans, which are unable to get through height restriction barriers. If the car park at your venue has a height restriction barrier in place, please ensure this is removed before we arrive to deliver AND before we collect your equipment. We may be unable to make your delivery if there is a height restriction barrier in place on the car park at your venue.

Do you hire overnight?
Some of our equipment is available to hire overnight at a charge of £85 - we would collect the next morning from 8am.
Inflatables must be clean before we return to collect the equipment the next morning. We ask the inflatable be left running as if it rains it causes us a headache to try and get it dry and all the water out from inside.

How do I pay?
• Credit or debit card using our online Square payments / Bank Transfer
• Invoice - By prior agreement or with purchase order number only deposit is still required to secure your booking.

Do I have to pay a deposit?
50% booking fee is required at time of booking or within 24hours of your booking being made online. The booking fee is deducted from the total cost of your booking. For example, a £100 bouncy castle hire you would pay 50% booking fee to secure your booking, which would leave an outstanding balance of £50 to be paid upon delivery, or you could pay the total balance of £100 online now and pay £0 on delivery. If you choose to cancel your booking for any reason then your booking fee will NOT be refunded.

Force Majeure - While every effort will be made by the company to carry out any order accepted, the full performance of it is subject to variation or cancellation by the company consequent upon Acts of God, War, Strikes, Riots, Lockouts or any other disturbances .Covid 19 Fire, Flood, Storm, Gale or Tempest restrictions on the use of Transport, Fuel or Power. Requisitioning Storage of material or transport or labour or any other cause beyond the control of the Company.

What if I need to cancel or postpone my event?
You can either secure your booking by 50% fee or full payment. If you cancel or postpone your booking for any reason you will be billed 50% of the total booking costs if you cancel up to 14 days prior to the event. If you cancel or postpone your event for any reason within 7 days of the event start date you will be charged 100% of the total booking costs, which will be payable at time of cancellation. By booking Rascals Castles entertainment services, you are not automatically entitled to a cooling off period under Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations December 2013 - Catering and Leisure Supplies. ( https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/429300/bis-13-1368-consumer-contracts-information-cancellation-and-additional-payments-regulations-guidance.pdf )

Force Majeure - While every effort will be made by the company to carry out any order accepted, the full performance of it is subject to variation or cancellation by the company consequent upon Acts of God, War, Strikes, Riots, Lockouts or any other disturbances. Fire, Flood, Storm, Gale or Tempest restrictions on the use of Transport, Fuel or Power. Requisitioning Storage of material or transport or labour or any other cause beyond the control of the Company.

Weather conditions

Although most of our inflatables come with-in rain covers, making them usable in wet conditions, it is crucial to note that wet equipment becomes, increasing the risk of injury to users. In such cases, the equipment must NOT be used, and any injuries or consequences resulting from use will be sole responsibility of the customer.

In the event of winds or adverse weather conditions, all users should be removed from the inflatable. industry standard advises a maximum speed of Force 5 on the Beaufort scale (19-24 mph). If wind reach Force (19-24 mph), all users must vacate the inflatable, and a responsible adult must turn off all electrical equipment at the mains.

We reserve the right to cancel any booking if weather conditions are deemed unsafe. If we decide to cancel the hire due to excessive rain, we will recommend sourcing an indoor venue (please contact our team to discuss timing before booking any indoor venue, offer to reschedule your booking for another date of your choice,(Subject to availability.) or provide a 50% refund or 100% credit to use within 6 months.

What if the inflatables get dirty?

You must ensure that all Rascals Castles event hire equipment including bouncy castles, gladiator joust, sumo suits, soft play etc are clean and dry before we arrive to collect the equipment from your event. If the equipment is returned in an unclean state then you will be liable to pay a cleaning charge. You must NOT use party poppers, silly string or any similar products on or near our inflatables. Please ensure the equipment is clean at the end of your event. You will be liable for a £40 (minimum) cleaning charge if the equipment is returned in a dirty state and needs cleaning before the next hire.

Do you hire outside in the wet winter months?

No

Can the bouncy castle, gladiator joust or inflatable slide be set up on a slope?

No, this is not possible however if it is a very, very slight slope it may be ok, you will need to discuss this with us prior to making the booking.

How long does it take to set up/inflate/deflate/pack up the inflatable?

The bouncy castles take approximately 30 minutes to set up and 30 minutes to pack up. However this is only an estimate, times may vary depending on which bouncy castle or package you hire, for example an Adult Bouncy Castle takes longer to pack away than a Children's Bouncy Castle, and a Bouncy Castle used outdoors takes longer to pack away than a Bouncy Castle used Indoors.

You must collect all ball pit balls back into the storage back BEFORE we return to collect the equipment.

20. How much notice do I need to give for a booking?
We need three full days notice to book online, You can book anytime, however, we get very busy over the summer period so please book as early as possible to avoid disappointment. We welcome last minute bookings these will generally need to be done via email or telephone.

21. When I hire the castle is there anything I need to provide?
You will need to provide a standard household plug socket (240v) within 20meters. You will also need to provide 2 forms of I.D. i.e. Drivers Licence, Utility Bill etc. this forms part of the hire agreement. We supply all the hardware you will need for the castle including mats, anchor pegs and ground sheets etc. If there is no power within 20meters we can supply a Generator Hire (NOT required if you have a plug socket within 25m) for an additional charge.

22. Is there any preparation work required before the equipment arrives ?
Please inform us of any major events or road closures near your venue on the day of your event that may impact the delivery times such as carnivals, cricket matches, football matches or music festivals etc or road closures and diversion routes.

Please make sure that any hallways, side passages, or any other access to your garden/venue are clear of obstacles etc. We require a minimum 3-foot width access depending on the size of the unit hired. Ensure that the area where you plan to use the bouncy castle is clear of any sharp objects, leaves, excessive mud and animal foul. If your bouncy castle is going on grass please double check for animal mess - we do not set up on or near animal mess. We will need access to a standard household (13a) plug socket or an outdoor (16a) plug socket within 20m of the rear of the bouncy castle. If our delivery driver is caused to wait while you prepare the site, you may be charged for this time, if the site is unsuitable (e.g you book an inflatable for grass, but then we arrive and it's on concrete or artificial grass or the area is covered in animal foul) then we reserve the right to cancel the booking with no refund.

Do you supply safety instructions?
Yes, we give spoken safety advice with every hire, we can also provide risk assessments, operating procedures, a method statement and risk assessment upon request.

Is there a risk of injury using any of the equipment supplied by Rascals Castles?
Yes, there is a risk of injury when using our equipment, just like there is a risk in carrying out every activity you do every day.
Please ensure you understand the risks before hiring equipment from us and take out your own insurance if you are planning a fun day/corporate event etc.
Please contact us if you require assistance with this.

How do you secure your inflatables to the ground?

For grass surfaces, we use 18 inch ribbed ground stakes.

Is there an age limit for children using the Bouncy Castles?

All our children's castles have a maximum age of 11yrs, castles above this age can be found in "inflatables suitable for all ages"

All age limitations can be found on each castle page.

What if the equipment gets dirty while in use?
All equipment MUST be returned in a clean state, this means you MUST clean/wipe down any debris and dirty marks including facepaint before the delivery driver arrives to collect the equipment, failure to comply with this will result in a £40 cleaning charge.

Do you have Public Liability Insurance?
Yes, we are covered by £10 million pounds Public Liability Insurance (£10m PLI) and £10 million pounds Employers Liability Insurance. The insurance certificate can be seen on request.

Can the bouncy castle or other inflatables etc go through the house to get to the garden?

We would much prefer to take the inflatables via a side gate. We can usually take most of our inflatables etc through the house, but you must ensure there is a clear way for our delivery team to get through to the setup location. If there is not a clear route through then we may not be able to deliver your inflatable. We can not be held responsible for any damage to the floors/walls/doors or anything else that may arise from transporting the equipment through the house.

Do you use PIPA?
All of our bouncy castles are manufactured in the UK to British Standards (BS EN 14960). Some of our bouncy castles have manufacturer's certificate, some have Rpii and some have PIPA certificates. Please mention any requirements at time of booking.

Can you provide a bouncy castle for our public event?
We provide many bouncy castles and inflatables for public events every year including fetes, fun days, galas, pub fun garden fun days, street parties and shopping centres.

35. Is Rascals Castles electrical equipment PAT Tested?

All of our electrical equipment is regularly inspected for electrical safety (PAT Tested) by Southampton PAT Testing ( www.SouthamptonPATtesting.co.uk) NAT PAT Southern (www.NatPatSouthern.co.uk) Surgey PAT Testing (www.SurgeryPATtesting.co.uk)

Delivery Policy

The cost of delivery, setup and collection to your postcode will be revealed to you when you select your postcode from the drop down menu on the check availability or book online page. We may be able to deliver to surrounding villages not listed on our website, just email us for a delivery quote.

If we are unable to deliver the equipment for your event due to adverse weather, vehicle failure, illness or any other factor, we will inform you of this at the earliest possible opportunity and provide a full refund. You will have the opportunity to enter your delivery time requirements during the booking process via our website. The company can give no guarantee to attend the venue address at the time stated in the booking agreement due to any circumstances that are out of the company's control, e.g adverse weather conditions, heavy traffic, road closure etc. Best attempts will always be made by the company to deliver the services at the time stated.

Before you book you must ensure that there is adequate space and the area you plan to use the equipment is suitable for our products, that the location our products will be sited is accessible, and that you have cleared the area of mess and debris. We are sorry, but will be unable to provide a refund if we cannot deliver your product due to a lack of space or accessibility or due to an inappropriate location.

Refund Policy

Although we will make every possible effort to ensure that we deliver the equipment booked with us, unfortunately, there may be a time when we will be unable to do so. Refunds are given when we are unable to deliver your equipment due to, vehicle failure, total equipment failure, staff illness or any other factor NOT weather related.

Any booking amendments must be done via email, amendments may be chargeable.

For more info, please feel free to contact us at any time on 02380 362 685.