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The temporary VAT reduction on eligible indoor play admissions ended on 1 September 2026, returning the standard rate to 20%. The Association of Indoor Play is petitioning for a permanent zero rate from April 2027; its petition is nearing 60% of the 10,000 signatures needed for a Government response.
The temporary VAT cut on eligible indoor play admissions ended on 1 September 2026, restoring the standard 20% rate, as the Association of Indoor Play (AIP) campaigns to make the tax rate zero permanently. Its Parliamentary petition is nearing 60% of the 10,000 signatures needed to prompt a Government response.
The reduced rate ran from 25 June to 1 September 2026 under the Great British Summer Savings scheme. The AIP is asking for general admission for children and accompanying adults at qualifying indoor play facilities to be zero-rated from 1 April 2027. No permanent change has been made, so the standard rate applies again.
The AIP says a £12 admission price including VAT at 20% could fall to £10 if the tax saving were passed on in full. That is an illustration, not a promised price: venues set their own admission charges, and the proposal concerns VAT on qualifying admissions.
In an AIP survey of operators, 84% of responding venues said they reduced prices in some form during the temporary cut, and 67% said they passed on all or part of the admission saving. These are survey findings reported by the organisation; the source does not specify the number of responses.
What a Zero Rate Could Mean
A permanent zero rate could reduce the VAT included in qualifying admission prices, but the amount families actually pay would depend on whether venues pass any saving on. The temporary cut survey suggests some operators lowered prices, though it does not establish how every centre responded or what prices would be under a permanent policy.
For families, indoor play can offer children a place to be active and socialise whatever the weather. The AIP argues that lower prices could make those venues accessible to more children. That is the campaign’s case for the change; no decision has been announced by the Government.
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The Summer VAT Trial
The summer reduction lowered VAT on eligible indoor play admissions from 20% to 5% for a little over two months. The standard rate returned when the scheme ended on 1 September. The AIP says the temporary change gave venues a chance to offer better value, citing its operator survey as evidence that many respondents reduced prices.
The AIP commissioned child development specialist Dr Amanda Gummer and FUNdamentally Children to review research on indoor play earlier in 2026. The review found that indoor play venues can support physical activity and skills such as problem-solving, managing risk and social development. The report provides context for the campaign’s claims about children’s access and development; it does not itself change the tax treatment.
“This summer’s VAT reduction gave indoor play venues the opportunity to offer families better value, and our survey shows that many responding operators did exactly that.”
— Maria Cantarella, CEO of the Association of Indoor Play
Prices and Policy Still Unsettled
There is no permanent VAT change in place, and the source does not report a Government commitment to adopt the proposal. Even if the rate were changed, it is not clear how much individual venues would pass on to customers. The AIP’s £12-to-£10 example assumes the full saving reaches families.
The AIP estimates the proposed zero rate would have a gross annual cost of about £51 million, but says the estimate remains subject to validation with HMRC. The source does not provide the survey’s sample size, so the findings should be read as reported responses rather than a measure of all indoor play operators.
Petition and April Proposal
The petition is approaching the 10,000-signature threshold for a Government response. At 100,000 signatures, a petition is considered for debate in Parliament, though that does not guarantee a debate. The AIP is seeking a permanent zero rate from 1 April 2027; whether the Government will consider or introduce it remains unknown.
Until a policy change is announced, eligible admissions are subject to the standard 20% VAT rate and venues continue to set their own prices. Families should check admission charges directly with their local centre.
Key Questions
When did the summer VAT cut on indoor play end?
The temporary reduction ended on 1 September 2026. VAT on eligible indoor play admissions returned to the standard 20% rate.
Will soft play prices automatically fall if VAT is scrapped?
No automatic price reduction has been announced. Venues set their own prices, and the AIP’s £12-to-£10 example assumes the full VAT saving is passed on.
What change is the campaign seeking?
The AIP is seeking a permanent zero VAT rate for general admission for children and accompanying adults at qualifying indoor play facilities, starting 1 April 2027.
How many signatures does the petition need?
It needs 10,000 signatures to trigger a Government response. At 100,000 signatures, it is considered for debate in Parliament.
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