Leisure Supplies Show 2026 Review
Introduction
Last year I said the Leisure Supplies Show was the best we'd had in at least three years. I stand by that, but this year has gone one better. In fact, I think this was the best show I've attended in years, and I've been going to these things for quite some time now.
It had everything. Returning exhibitors we hadn't seen for years, new companies, new products, innovations, collaborations, improved quality, some very well-kept secrets and, perhaps most excitingly, some proper arcade equipment. Not somebody with a retro arcade machine tucked in the corner, but genuine commercial amusement machines that we've been wanting to see at these shows for years.
There was a real buzz about the place, and not just from the 150-odd fans Airquee had running.
I was particularly pleased to see Better-Bounce returning for a second consecutive year after their previous absence, alongside other familiar faces making a welcome return. It's encouraging to see suppliers recognising the value in being there.
I think the days of exhibitors taking up an entire hall are probably behind us, unless you're Airquee, obviously, who appear to regard the concept of available floor space as more of a personal challenge than a limitation.
But you don't need an enormous stand. Four or six units, a couple of new products and some good show deals can be enough. You're reminding customers that you exist, meeting new people, reconnecting with old ones and maintaining relationships that otherwise slowly disappear behind emails and Facebook messages.
The attendance was extraordinary. Aftab normally publishes his figures after the show, telling everyone that records have been broken and numbers were through the roof. I'm not suggesting he's making them up, but I've always taken these statistics with a pinch of salt. You've got eyes, you can see how busy it is, and exhibitors are usually pretty forthcoming about how well they've done.
This year, though, he could probably have published whatever number he liked and I'd have believed him.
Day one was absolutely rammed. Familiar faces, new operators and even people from Europe. Day two was quieter, but I'd go as far as saying there were probably more people there on the second day than I've seen on the first day of all previous shows.
That's obviously my own eyeball assessment, but it was busy. Really busy.
Maybe the unusually good weather helped, with operators finishing the season having made some decent money. Maybe it was the advertising, the broader range of exhibitors or the increasingly popular social side. Probably a combination of everything - Whatever it was, it worked.
Before I go any further, my usual disclaimer. I haven't managed to cover every exhibitor, and that's absolutely no reflection on anyone I've missed. It isn't political, it isn't a deliberate snub and it certainly doesn't mean their products weren't worth looking at - The problem is largely me.
I turn up intending to examine every stand, take photographs and have sensible conversations about products, and then end up spending an hour and a half talking non-sense to someone. Before I know it, the show's over and I've missed half the people I wanted to see.
So apologies to those I've missed, it isn’t on purpose.
Right, let's get into it.
Airquee
Website: www.airquee.com
At this point it's no longer a surprise when Airquee turn up and make a statement. It's expected.
They don't just go large. They go enormous, and then somehow find a way of going bigger again the following year.
This year they even had a huge inflatable outside the entrance, which might seem like a small detail in the context of everything else they brought, but it's exactly the sort of thing that makes the show feel like a proper event.
With more than 150 inflatables on display, there were obviously some familiar models in different themes. That's inevitable when you have such a vast catalogue, but the sheer variety was staggering.
What impressed me most this year, however, wasn't the quantity. It was how well they appear to understand where the market is heading.
I've been in this industry for thirteen years now, which I was reliably informed by someone far more experiencde that it still qualifies as an apprentice; but I've been around long enough to notice patterns.
The industry is cyclical. We've had recessions, financial crises, austerity, unemployment, Covid, cost-of-living pressures and all manner of other problems that affect what people are prepared to spend.
During difficult periods, operators often retreat towards garden parties, halls and smaller domestic bookings. When confidence returns, larger events, corporate work and more ambitious equipment become attractive again.
Personally, I think a sensible operator keeps a foot in both camps. You want to be able to change gears when the market changes.
Whoever at Airquee decided to bring so much of the bigger equipment this year has their finger firmly on the pulse.
There was a noticeable move towards what I'd describe as almost-showmen equipment. Not quite the enormous, intimidating attractions traditionally associated with the travelling fairground market, but equipment that bridges the gap between conventional hire stock and those much larger pieces.
It's a clever position to occupy.
Are Airquee predicting an emerging trend, responding to one they've already identified, or deliberately encouraging operators to move into this market? Probably a bit of all three.
Whatever the reasoning, I found it exciting.
For the first time, some of this equipment genuinely felt accessible to me, and I suspect a lot of other operators were having similar thoughts.
The large multi-part activity centres were particularly impressive. They had different designs, sizes and price points, ranging from what was essentially a very large bouncy castle with additional activities to equipment that looked like it belonged permanently installed in a soft play centre.
They all had one thing in common. They made you stop and say wow.
Surprisingly, they didn't look especially intimidating from a handling perspective either. Many were sectional, while others used netted sidewalls that made them look substantially bigger than the amount of material you'd actually be rolling up.
There are a few things I'd personally change.
The dinosaur activity centre had a rock-and-roller feature incorporated into the play bed. It looked brilliant and I'm sure children would love it, but I'm not particularly keen on that type of activity being integrated into the main bouncing area.
Another wide activity inflatable had a toddler slide incorporated into what was otherwise quite a conventional castle layout. I'd probably add some bobbled flooring or another activity feature to distinguish it further from a standard bouncy castle.
But that's one of the advantages of dealing with Airquee. They're perfectly happy to accommodate alterations and tailor equipment to individual requirements.
And to be fair, they're hardly newcomers to this type of product. They already have considerable experience supplying the static play market, and that was evident in the units on display.
One enormous unit had Velcro-protected steps, presumably because they're subjected to so much wear. Slides were generally positioned to avoid kids sliding off directly into bouncing areas, and tunnels and other activities were thoughtfully separated.
You could see the experience behind the designs.
There were plenty of smaller innovations too.
The basketball slam dunk game immediately caught my attention. It has a small air-mountain positioned in front of an elevated basketball hoop, with the idea being that you bounce upwards like Michael Jordan and dunk the ball.
It looks fantastic. You can understand the game almost instantly, which is always a good sign.
I did have some reservations, though.
The displayed maximum user height of 1.8 metres seemed optimistic to me, particularly considering how low the surrounding walls appeared at the point where users are actively encouraged to jump as high as possible.
I'm being quite particular here, but remember we're talking about one product amongst more than 150. Generally speaking, Airquee's attention to design and safety was excellent.
The enormous sectional assault course was another highlight.
I absolutely love the theme. It's become one of our preferred themes for our own hire stock, and we liked the assault course enough to buy one ourselves.
Thankfully, we'd pre-ordered and arranged collection at the show.
The complete exhibition version was an astonishing eight sections and approximately 200 feet long. We didn't go quite that far, but I personally know four other operators who ordered the entire thing.
That's 800 feet of assault course between four customers I happen to know personally, without anyone else who ordered one. I’d legit be interested in Airquee releasing a stat that said “xxxx feet of assault course was sold at the LSS”
If that isn't a sign that operators are becoming increasingly comfortable investing in bigger equipment, I don't know what is.
Away from the enormous attractions, there was still plenty to see. Inflatable Plinko, dual-lane ring-toss rodeo bull heads, new front-slide combinations, an attractive candy cane design, an enclosed climbing attraction with a central climbing cone, new monster themes, updated Didi car tracks and much more.
There were also excellent prices on the day-to-day stuff, including sack trucks, blowers and Didi cars. The new Rev Huwai blowers were just £99! - Airquee really have become something of a one-stop shop.
They occupied what felt like three-quarters of the exhibition space. It's easy to joke that the Leisure Supplies Show is actually the Airquee Show with some other suppliers invited along for decoration.
But I don't see it that way.
I see a company making an enormous commitment to supporting the event.
They could probably organise their own exhibition exclusively, demand different arrangements or insist on preferential positioning. Instead, they set themselves up at the back, meaning visitors have to walk past everyone else to reach them.
They need additional days to build their stand, but when you're bringing over 150 inflatables, some of which are the size of a small housing estate, that's hardly unreasonable.
They bring spectacle, attract visitors and contribute enormously to making the show what it is.
And for that, I think they deserve recognition.
Bouncy Castle Network / BCN
Exhibitor: Bouncy Castle Network
This is normally one of the hardest sections for me to write.
What can I say about BCN that I haven't already said a dozen times?
Market leader, constant innovation, excellent support, an enormous range of features and a platform that's become so comprehensive I can no longer confidently claim to know everything it does.
All of those things remain true, but they're hardly breaking news.
This year, however, I had a rather different experience.
I spent approximately an hour and a half sitting with Aftab, discussing where BCN is today, where it's heading and some of the challenges they're addressing.
It was incredibly indulgent of him.
He's at a trade show surrounded by potentially hundreds of customers. Exhibiting costs a fortune, the preparation is enormous and companies need to make the most of their investment.
Yet one of BCN's most senior people was willing to spend that much time talking to me.
Aftab knows I'm a bit of a technology nerd, so we got into some fairly detailed discussions about their infrastructure, code refactoring, load balancing, services, geographic separation and all sorts of things that would probably send most readers to sleep.
I'll spare you the technical lecture, partly because some of the information was shared in confidence and partly because I appreciate that not everybody finds software architecture as fascinating as I do.
The important point is that BCN is investing heavily in its future.
One of the changes discussed involves greater geographical separation of services. In simple terms, the UK will increasingly operate within its own environment, allowing changes intended for other markets, such as America, to be planned and deployed without unnecessarily affecting UK customers.
There will obviously still be updates that need to happen across the platform, particularly security-related changes, but the intention is to give different markets greater independence.
They're also embarking on a substantial two-year programme of modernising legacy parts of the software.
This should create opportunities for improved performance, faster loading, more efficient page rendering, greater AI integration and new features that would otherwise be more difficult to introduce.
There's a technology revolution happening, and BCN clearly intends to be ready for it.
But the most interesting part of our conversation wasn't actually about technology.
Aftab asked me a rather awkward question.
He wanted an honest assessment of how I thought the wider industry currently perceived BCN.
I told him.
I think most people still love BCN. The product is excellent, the support remains strong and the company is rightly regarded as one of the industry's leading technology providers.
But I also think some of the personal connection with the community has diminished over the years.
There was a time when BCN felt more involved in the industry socially, beyond marketing, branding and customer support.
I remember Eddy and Aftab attending a charity dinner my wife organised. They travelled hundreds of miles with their wives, stayed overnight at the hotel and genuinely supported something that mattered to us.
There wasn't a marketing opportunity in it. They weren't there for social media photographs or publicity.
They came because they cared.
I've never forgotten that.
Now, I'm not suggesting BCN should be expected to attend every charity event in the country. That would be ridiculous and completely unsustainable.
But I'd love to see more of that personal engagement again.
Come out for Christmas drinks. Organise an end-of-year party. Join people at industry gatherings. Maybe even Blackpool, although on reflection perhaps not Blackpool, because that place was a shithole.
Just be around more.
What impressed me was Aftab's reaction.
He didn't become defensive or try to convince me I was wrong. In fact, I suspect he already knew what I was going to say – Which is why he asked.
He acknowledged the situation, expressed his own disappointment and made it clear that he wants BCN to reconnect with the industry in a more authentic way.
That's encouraging.
Later, we shared a cigar outside and continued talking.
For me, that was genuinely one of the highlights of the entire show.
I know Aftab cares. I've seen it personally. And I'd really like more people to see that side of BCN again.
There's certainly no shortage of social opportunities throughout the year, and the door is genuinely open to anyone who wants to join in. Within reason, obviously.
I have a feeling we'll be seeing quite a bit more of BCN in the future, and I'm looking forward to it.
AI Inflatables
Exhibitor: AI Inflatables
This is probably one of the easiest sections I've had to write.
AI Inflatables is a new offering from Inflatable World Leisure, and for those who've been around long enough, there's an interesting bit of history here.
Years ago, IWL owned and operated Air Inflatables, a sister company importing Chinese-manufactured equipment built to IWL specifications.
They were enormously popular.
You got much of the design philosophy, materials and construction associated with IWL, but without the bespoke manufacturing and endless customisation. Instead, they concentrated on producing a relatively small range of established models and themes in volume.
The result was excellent equipment at very competitive prices.
You still see plenty of those units in circulation today.
That range disappeared several years ago, but AI Inflatables feels very reminiscent of it.
Except this time, I think they've gone one better.
The inflatable market has increasingly felt divided between cheaper imported equipment and more expensive premium products.
There are obviously suppliers operating somewhere in the middle, but the distinction is often quite noticeable.
AI Inflatables has potentially turned that arrangement on its head.
The units I examined had the design quality and construction details I'd normally associate with IWL, but at prices much closer to the budget end of the market.
And the 3D designs were fantastic.
I'm not talking about somebody manufacturing a flower or a character separately and sewing it onto an otherwise normal inflatable.
These were properly integrated 3D designs, with intricate shapes, multiple elements and genuine thought behind the construction.
They weren't simply copying another manufacturer's popular model either, they are making them their own and I find that refreshing.
There are so many suppliers producing variations of the same themes and structures that it's becoming increasingly difficult to buy something distinctive.
AI Inflatables felt different.
The familiar IWL influence was everywhere. Webbing, zips, anchor points, structural design and those slightly higher slide platforms.
If you'd shown me one of these units without any branding, I'd probably have assumed it was an IWL product.
But there was one thing I really wanted to know.
How heavy were they?
Anyone familiar with IWL equipment will understand why I'm asking.
Their inflatables are excellent, but they're not exactly famous for being light, flexible or particularly easy to roll!
Some of them need a year or two of use before they finally accept that being rolled is what they’re supposed to do! So I was a little suspicious.
The material on the AI units felt different. Not the heavy, stiff material associated with some premium inflatables, but equally not the horrible thin stuff you sometimes encounter on cheap imports, where you can see the weave embossed through the surface.
But feeling it and actually rolling it are two different things.
So I asked whether I could deflate one of the display units and roll it myself.
To their credit, they agreed.
My friend Richard Wilkinson from the Bouncy Castle Exchange joined me, and we prepared to tackle it together.
Except we didn't need to.
It became immediately obvious that the unit was perfectly manageable, so we ended up rolling it with just one person.
This was a brand-new inflatable that had never previously been rolled.
It was no more difficult than any other enclosed front-slide combo I've handled, with no significant difference in weight that I could tell.
That genuinely impressed me.
The launch was excellent. The products looked fantastic, the construction was reassuring, the designs were distinctive and the pricing was extremely competitive.
I think AI Inflatables has identified a gap in the market and positioned itself beautifully.
If they continue developing the range, I can see this becoming a very familiar name over the next few years.
They absolutely smashed it.
[AI Inflatables photographs, including the roll-up test]
Better-Bounce
Exhibitor: Better-Bounce — LSS exhibitor directory
I was extremely pleased to see Better-Bounce returning again this year.
After being absent from the show for several years, they made a welcome return last time, and it's encouraging to see them committing to exhibiting again.
They didn't have an enormous stand, but they certainly made the most of the space available.
Everything they brought seemed to be selling, with stock being changed and products rotated through the stand throughout the exhibition. - That's exactly the sort of thing I like to see.
There was a strong emphasis on seasonal equipment, including a very attractive inflatable snow globe displayed in a Halloween theme that could also be changed for Christmas.
Whether Better-Bounce originally invented interchangeable artwork is beside the point. They certainly popularised the concept across the industry, so it seems quite fitting that they're continuing to apply it to different types of equipment.
The Christmas grottos were particularly attractive, with two noticeably different approaches to construction. One was more conventional bouncy castle material, while the other used a lighter nylon-style construction.
They also had some competitively priced 3D combi castles, alongside plenty of smaller products and accessories.
Blowers were another highlight, with their own Pro-Flow fan available at a show price of just £99 – The £100 price mark being what most are trying to aim for.
It's becoming increasingly difficult to walk around a trade show without somebody trying to sell you a blower, but at that price it's hard to argue.
What impressed me was the breadth of the offering. Castles, grottos, game boards, pop-up stands, blowers and various accessories.
You could realistically source a substantial proportion of everything needed to establish a hire business from Better-Bounce alone.
The two young ladies running the stand were also exceptionally friendly, approachable and happy to spend time answering questions.
A smaller stand, excellent deals, plenty of customers and a very welcoming atmosphere.
PowerFans Direct, Wobbly Wot Notz and Premier Inflate
Exhibitors: Official LSS directory
This was an interesting arrangement.
Although presented and advertised as a single exhibition presence, the space effectively brought together three businesses: PowrFans Direct, Wobbly Wot Notz and Premier Inflate.
Premier Inflate had a more clearly defined area, while PowrFans and Wobbly Wot Notz felt more integrated, but they were all positioned together and operating as a shared presence.
Whatever the precise commercial arrangement, it worked well.
Jimmy and Mark had the new Mark II fans available to take away.
Considering how recently the original fans entered the market, it was impressive to see an updated version appearing so quickly.
Unfortunately, I missed the demonstration, but I was assured the revised design delivers noticeably quieter operation while maintaining the pressure performance of the original.
I'll reserve judgement on the actual performance until I've had an opportunity to test one properly, but it's encouraging to see such rapid development.
They also had a completely new 1hp fan, which looked noticeably different from the 1.5hp models.
That's a good thing. Being able to distinguish between different blower specifications at a glance is genuinely useful.
Rather than immediately selling the new model, they were distributing a small number to testers for evaluation before a wider launch.
There were also plenty of mats available, and almost every time I walked past somebody seemed to be helping customers carry enormous piles of them back to their vans.
The prices certainly helped.
Wobbly Wot Notz had a larger soft play offering than last year, with more themes and products available.
Material costs have increased, particularly foam, and that has inevitably influenced pricing. But even allowing for the increases, their prices remain amongst the very lowest I've encountered.
I genuinely struggle to understand how they're producing printed soft play so cheaply.
Foam, PVC, printing and labour aren't getting any less expensive, yet they're still managing to offer complete sets at prices that are difficult to believe.
It's clearly a growing area of the business, and one they're doing very well in.
Premier Inflate was another pleasant surprise.
In fact, I thought the inflatables they displayed this year were the best I've seen from them.
An industry friend who knows considerably more about manufacturing than I do pointed out some particularly interesting improvements in the 3D construction.
Rather than simply sewing flat-backed decorative pieces onto the inflatable, the 3D elements had been constructed more like soft play shapes, producing a cleaner and more properly integrated appearance.
It's a more involved manufacturing approach, but the results speak for themselves.
They've also clearly been paying attention to emerging themes.
Teddy bears and first-birthday designs featured prominently, alongside a noticeable move towards cowboy themes.
Apparently we're now living in a world where girly cowboy parties are becoming a thing, and I sincerely hope it takes off because I'm absolutely sick to death of unicorns.
I suspect the new Toy Story 5 movie may be influencing some of the enthusiasm, but whatever the reason, it's nice to see something different.
The prices were extraordinary too.
Some of these inflatables cost less than complete soft play packages, which makes them an interesting option for operators wanting to test an unfamiliar theme without investing heavily.
I wouldn't necessarily expect equipment aimed primarily at younger children to experience the same wear as something designed for much older users, so there's potentially a sensible commercial argument here.
Overall, I was impressed.
It's been interesting watching Premier Inflate develop from a relatively new exhibitor into a regular presence whose products continue improving.
The effort is evident, and they deserve credit for it.
Aztec Coin Equipment
Website: www.azteccoin.co.uk
Now this was exciting.
We've seen arcade-style equipment at these shows before. Occasionally somebody brings a retro arcade cabinet, a novelty game or something vaguely resembling an amusement machine.
But we've never really had a proper commercial arcade equipment exhibitor displaying the sort of products you'd expect to find in an amusement arcade.
Until now.
Aztec Coin Equipment brought punching machines, coin pushers, grabber machines and a selection of other genuine commercial amusement equipment.
And they fitted in beautifully.
Their stand attracted enormous interest from visitors and other exhibitors, particularly the punching machine, which seemed to have a permanent queue of people wanting a go.
The cheeky fuckers hadn't even set it to free play.
They were actually making money from people visiting their stand to look at the products.
I don't know whether to admire the business model or be annoyed that I didn't think of it first.
Either way, if you want a demonstration of how commercially appealing this equipment can be, there it is.
They brought a sensible selection of different machines, representing the main categories without overcrowding the stand.
What impressed me was how mature the products felt.
The controls were positioned appropriately for the intended age groups, the games were immediately understandable and the staff clearly knew their market.
Some machines appealed to almost everyone, while others were clearly designed for particular age groups.
They were also happy to offer advice and discuss the commercial applications.
Now, obviously these machines aren't going to suit every bouncy castle hire company.
If your entire business revolves around garden parties and children's birthday celebrations, there may not be much demand for a coin pusher.
But the industry has moved well beyond that.
We have operators supplying corporate events, product launches, permanent entertainment venues, indoor play centres, soft play cafés and all manner of other environments where this type of equipment makes perfect sense.
And that's precisely why I'm so pleased Aztec attended.
Attracting established arcade equipment suppliers to the show can't be easy, and Luke deserves credit for getting them there.
I genuinely hope they had a successful exhibition and decide to return.
They've certainly got at least one future customer.
Me.
Retro Carnival Games
Website: www.retrocarnivalgames.co.uk
Retro Carnival Games returned with their familiar range of beautifully presented traditional carnival games, alongside a couple of new additions and some very attractive show deals.
I've spoken positively about these products before, and nothing I saw this year gave me any reason to change my opinion.
They're well-made, attractive and suitable for a surprisingly broad range of events, from school fêtes and community gatherings to weddings and corporate functions.
There wasn't a dramatic reinvention of the range this year, but there didn't need to be.
Sometimes it's perfectly acceptable to turn up with established products, offer customers a decent deal and get on with selling them.
Retro Carnival Games continues to do exactly that.
BIHA
Exhibitor: BIHA — LSS exhibitor directory
It was good to see Mark and the BIHA returning to the show after several years away.
I spent some time talking to Mark about what the BIHA actually represents today, because I think that's a perfectly reasonable question.
The organisation has been undergoing something of a transformation for several years.
Historically, the BIHA positioned itself as a representative body for the inflatable industry, although I've always regarded that representation as somewhat self-appointed.
More recently, its services have increasingly focused on helping operators improve their online visibility.
Mark was very enthusiastic about the direction they're now taking, describing something that feels very much like BIHA 2.0.
And with the organisation reaching approximately 25 years since its original launch, the timing seems rather appropriate.
The newer direction concentrates on services intended to help operators generate more enquiries and bookings.
SEO audits, reviews, backlinks, AI assistants and other technical integrations all form part of the offering.
It's quite a different proposition from the BIHA many older operators will remember.
Personally, I think having a clearer identity and service offering is a positive development.
Mark certainly seemed enthusiastic about the future, and I was pleased to see the organisation back engaging directly with operators.
It'll be interesting to see how BIHA 2.0 develops.
Next Level Growth Club
Exhibitor: Next Level Growth Club
Jenette is always interesting to talk to.
Next Level Growth Club offers something quite different from the growing number of businesses promising to improve your Google rankings or generate more website traffic.
Their focus is on helping you actually run and grow your business.
Marketing plans, pricing, systems, processes, profitability and strategic direction all form part of the conversation.
Jenette and her partner have experience operating successful businesses, including within our own industry, so they're not simply repeating theories from a business textbook.
There's genuine experience behind what they're offering.
And I think this is probably one of the hardest services to sell in our industry.
Let's face it, we have some enormous characters and egos to match.
Getting somebody to admit they might benefit from advice is difficult enough in ordinary circumstances, never mind in the occasionally macho world of bouncy castle hire.
And I suspect being a woman offering business advice in a predominantly male industry creates an additional challenge for Jenette.
But she's still here.
She's continuing to develop the business, grow her audience and build respect, while also operating her own successful hire company.
That deserves recognition.
I think there's a natural reluctance to pay for business coaching.
You worry that signing up somehow means admitting you're not very good at running your own business, or that you've become one of those gullible idiots paying somebody thousands of pounds for a handful of magic beans.
But that's not necessarily the case.
Sometimes an experienced outsider can identify problems you've stopped noticing, challenge assumptions you've become comfortable with and help you see opportunities you've overlooked.
This isn't exclusively aimed at newcomers either.
Established operators looking to grow, improve profitability or restructure their businesses could potentially benefit just as much.
You don't have to know everything.
And perhaps being confident enough to admit that is a strength rather than a weakness.
Euro-Matic
Exhibitor: Euro-Matic — LSS exhibitor directory
What can I possibly say about balls that I haven't already said?
Euro-Matic continues to supply what I regard as the best commercial-grade soft play balls available, with CE-marked products, excellent show deals and thousands upon thousands of balls sold at every exhibition.
There was a new colour this year.
I'm not entirely sure how much more innovation people are expecting from a plastic ball, but they've certainly got the fundamentals right.
Great products, great prices and genuinely good people.
Sometimes that's all you need.
Gibbons
Exhibitor: Gibbons Fan Products — LSS exhibitor directory
Gibbons is something of an institution in this industry.
For as long as most operators can remember, their blowers have been the standard against which everything else is measured.
Everybody knows the classic metal-cased Gibbons blower and the familiar black plastic models.
They've become almost synonymous with inflatable fans.
Last year, Gibbons introduced the GX range, sometimes referred to as the X-Series, with models including the GX-900, GX-1250 and GX-1650.
These broadly occupy the familiar 1hp, 1.5hp and 2hp categories, although there's an important distinction worth discussing.
We're all guilty of referring to blowers by horsepower. I do it myself constantly.
But horsepower alone isn't particularly useful when comparing modern blowers.
It describes motor power rather than telling you directly how much air a blower moves, what pressure it can sustain or how efficiently it operates.
Gibbons' naming convention reflects a move towards describing performance more meaningfully.
Unfortunately, the rest of the industry hasn't quite caught up.
Anyway, this year Gibbons launched something particularly interesting.
A premium blower range - I think that's a significant development.
Most blower manufacturers produce a standard range and compete primarily on performance and price.
Gibbons appears to be taking a different approach with the premium blowers.
The GX range offers a competitive mainstream product, while the new premium range concentrates on higher-grade components, improved engineering, efficiency and durability.
That's my interpretation of the positioning rather than an official explanation of their strategy, but it certainly makes sense to me.
They had the blowers opened up on the stand, allowing visitors to inspect the internal construction.
There was no attempt to hide the components or discourage people from looking closely.
And perhaps most impressively, they were offering an extraordinary five-year warranty. Five years!
That's a serious commitment for a product operating in the conditions we work in.
Of course, a warranty and an impressive list of components don't automatically prove that a blower outperforms everything else on the market.
But they certainly demonstrate confidence in the product.
Gibbons has an established reputation to protect, and it's encouraging to see them continuing to invest in developing their range rather than relying entirely on that reputation.
The premium blowers were one of the more interesting technical launches at the show, and I suspect they'll generate plenty of discussion over the coming months.
Leisure Activities
Exhibitor: Leisure Activities — LSS exhibitor directory
Leisure Activities has been exhibiting for several years now, and it's been interesting watching their attempts to establish themselves more firmly in the UK and European markets.
Historically, I've had some reservations about their equipment.
Some of the units displayed at previous shows came frustratingly close to meeting the requirements of BS EN 14960 but appeared to fall short in certain areas.
Not necessarily by enormous margins, but enough to concern me.
This year was different.
Everything I saw looked considerably more appropriate for the UK market, and I didn't identify the sort of obvious issues that had concerned me previously.
That's obviously only a cursory visual assessment, not a formal inspection or declaration of compliance, but it was a very encouraging improvement.
I was particularly pleased to see them return with the same pirate activity inflatable they'd displayed previously.
Rather than simply replacing it with something different, they'd made adjustments and obtained a PIPA tag for the unit.
I thought that made a statement.
It demonstrated that they were taking the requirements seriously and were prepared to make changes rather than simply hoping customers wouldn't notice.
The designs had improved too.
One of the occasional problems with imported equipment is artwork that doesn't quite translate to the UK market.
Cultural differences can produce some genuinely peculiar results.
I've seen oddly sexualised mermaids, characters that look more suited to anime than children's parties and a rhino that somehow looked Chinese.
How the fuck do you make a rhino look Chinese?
Thankfully, there was none of that here.
The artwork was attractive, the characters were cute and the designs felt much better suited to the intended audience.
I particularly liked the jungle activity inflatable, which incorporated different bish-bash elements and foot hoops.
Technically, it was still relatively close to a conventional castle, but the additional features pushed it towards the lower end of the activity-centre market.
And that's another example of the broader trend we saw throughout the exhibition.
Manufacturers increasingly appear to believe there's growing demand for more substantial, activity-focused inflatables.
Leisure Activities has made real progress.
After several years of coming close, I think they're now a supplier worth taking seriously.
Little Big Shapes
Website: www.littlebig-shapes.co.uk
Little Big Shapes just keeps getting better.
They've grown year after year, and I still regard them as my own go-to supplier for soft play.
The reasons are fairly simple - The quality is excellent, the value for money is outstanding and Keiran doesn't bullshit you. If he says something, I trust him.
That might sound like a fairly basic requirement when buying equipment, but anyone who's been in this industry long enough will understand just how valuable that can be.
I rarely hear complaints about Little Big Shapes, and my own experiences have consistently been positive.
This year's stand was another strong showing.
There were excellent show deals, a growing range of products and plenty of customers leaving with trolley loads of soft play.
I was genuinely pleased to see it. They deserve every success.
The artwork continues to be one of their strengths.
There were new teddy bear, berry and cowboy themes, alongside the more established designs that remain popular year after year.
And while some of their artwork uses AI, they also develop their own assets and themes.
That's important - With so many suppliers offering variations of the same designs, having something distinctive can make a real difference.
There were also some interesting new products.
The mini game mats particularly caught my attention.
They're small, relatively inexpensive and could be incorporated into an operator's existing soft play packages with very little effort.
They're also easy to transport, which makes them a potentially useful way of increasing average booking value without adding much work.
There were new stackable products and a particularly large foam ball pit too, offering further variety.
It's been a pleasure watching Little Big Shapes develop.
And I'm still very interested to see what happens if they expand more seriously into inflatable manufacturing.
Based on what they've achieved with soft play, I have a feeling they could become a very interesting name in that market.
One to watch.
PIPA
Website: www.pipa.org.uk
I think it's important that organisations such as PIPA attend industry trade shows.
If you're involved in setting standards, providing inspection schemes or promoting safety, you need to be accessible to the people actually operating the equipment.
PIPA has demonstrated a consistent commitment to exhibiting, and I think that deserves recognition.
I spent around 15/20 minutes talking with Craig about what PIPA wanted to communicate to operators and end users.
There were two main areas of discussion.
The first was training.
PIPA already offers various courses, including operator training, and is developing additional online learning opportunities, including attendant and inspector training.
The second was the launch of their safety charter, intended as a long-term commitment to promoting better practices around weather conditions, maintenance, supervision and other important safety considerations.
I was particularly interested in supervision - I was quite frank about my concerns.
My worry was that promoting attendant and supervisor courses could eventually lead to local authorities insisting on formally trained supervisors for ordinary hires.
That would be an enormous change for the industry.
Hundreds of businesses rely on hiring inflatables to customers who provide their own responsible adult supervision, and introducing mandatory paid attendants for every booking could make large parts of that market commercially unviable.
Craig was reassuring.
He explained that PIPA isn't trying to create that situation.
The intention is to reinforce the importance of supervision and make sure the requirements are communicated clearly.
Parents, teachers, PTA volunteers and other suitable adults can supervise where appropriate, rather than every hire automatically requiring a commercially trained attendant.
Obviously, particular events, insurers or venues may have additional requirements, but it was encouraging to hear PIPA's position explained directly.
We also had a slightly nerdier conversation.
I suggested that PIPA consider making its API publicly accessible.
For those who don't know what an API is, it's essentially a way for other software and websites to access information from a system automatically.
PIPA already has an API with controlled access, but opening it more broadly could create interesting opportunities.
Website providers could integrate PIPA information directly into their platforms. Developers could create applications, automate checks or build services that make better use of the available data.
There are plenty of possibilities.
Craig was very receptive to the suggestion and said it wasn't something anyone had previously raised with him.
That doesn't mean PIPA has committed to doing it, but the willingness to consider the idea was encouraging.
I enjoyed the conversation.
Craig was approachable, knowledgeable and willing to discuss concerns without becoming defensive.
Exactly what I want to see from an organisation representing an important part of our industry's safety infrastructure.
Rodeo Sales
Website: www.rodeosales.co.uk
Rodeo Sales consistently has one of the best stands at these exhibitions.
Everything looks so polished, sleek and professional.
Their products have that premium corporate appearance that can genuinely elevate the presentation of a hire company, and I think their presence helps elevate the show itself.
Kym is an absolute pleasure to speak with.
She's naturally warm, kind and approachable, but don't let that fool you into thinking she's anything other than a very serious businesswoman who knows exactly what she's talking about.
I had a conversation with her this year about something I've personally been struggling with.
I won't go into the details, but I was completely honest about the situation and put my ego to one side.
She gave me some very solid advice, which I took seriously.
That's one of the reasons I hold Rodeo Sales in such high regard.
They're not simply selling equipment. They understand the market, the commercial opportunities and the practical realities of operating these products.
Their corporate hire attractions are exceptional.
The unicorn rodeo attachment was particularly entertaining, but the real strength is their ability to fabricate almost anything.
If you need a bespoke attachment for a product launch, corporate promotion or unusual event, they have the expertise to make it happen.
And while Kym was generously wasting her time talking to me, somebody else on the stand was repairing a customer's control box.
That's another thing worth recognising.
The technical expertise is in-house.
They understand the engineering, electronics, fabrication and operational requirements of the equipment they supply.
I've honestly lost track of which products are new and which have been around for a while, although I'm reasonably confident I spotted at least two new additions.
Fortunately, I took plenty of photographs.
Rodeo Sales continues to impress me, not simply because of the quality of their products, but because of the expertise and professionalism behind them.
A genuinely excellent company.
[Rodeo Sales photographs]
Wibble Jelly Games
Website: www.wibblejelly.co.uk
This one is entirely my own fault.
I always enjoy visiting Wibble Jelly Games and talking to Nick, but this year I simply didn't manage to give the stand the attention it deserved.
And I regret that.
Nick's games have interested me for several years because they offer a relatively affordable way of expanding into a market I'd personally like to become more involved in.
They're distinctive, practical and potentially very useful additions to an operator's hire catalogue.
One thing I did notice was that the games on display were finished products, rather than some of the work-in-progress demonstration units we've seen at previous exhibitions.
That's encouraging progress.
Unfortunately, I didn't spend enough time examining them to give a meaningful assessment of the individual products.
I did manage to take some photographs, which I've included below.
This is absolutely not a stand I'd recommend overlooking.
I just wish I'd followed my own advice.
[Wibble Jelly Games photographs]
A Little Experiment With Blowers
Now, before we get to the conclusion, I have something slightly different to share...
There's been a growing amount of discussion about blowers over the last few years.
Everybody has an opinion about which is best.
Some people swear by Gibbons, others prefer newer manufacturers, and there are endless claims about pressure, noise, reliability and electrical consumption.
We've all seen the demonstrations.
Videos of blowers being thrown out of windows, placed in controlled showers, subjected to questionable pressure tests and generally abused in ways that probably weren't included in the manufacturer's original design brief.
But where's the genuinely independent comparison?
Where's the evidence?
Being the industry's self-appointed nerd and insufferable boring twat, I've decided to do something about it.
While attending the show, I purchased brand-new, boxed examples of the major blower models currently available in the most common 1.5hp category, including models from manufacturers who weren't exhibiting. – I literally have them boxed up sitting in my living room.
The collection includes the traditional metal-cased Gibbons, GX-1250, new Gibbons premium blower, newer orange-and-black Rev Huwaii and yellow-and-black models, the Mark II CiCi fan, the older metal-cased PowrFan and the Better-Bounce Pro-Flow.
I've also invested in measuring equipment specifically for the exercise.
At some point in December, I'll be spending an entire day conducting a series of controlled tests.
I'll be measuring running current, running wattage, start-up current, start-up power, amp readings, noise levels and pressure readings.
The tests will be performed across five different inflatables, including castles, slides and larger activity equipment.
Each blower will be tested individually, using consistent procedures and conditions as far as reasonably possible.
I'll also be opening the blowers to examine the internal components and construction, taking photos and videos.
I've made it clear to every supplier I've purchased from exactly what I'm planning to do.
This isn't sponsored, it isn't being conducted on behalf of any manufacturer and nobody will have an opportunity to influence the results.
I won't be able to establish long-term reliability from a day's testing. That would require extended use over months or years.
But I should be able to provide meaningful comparative measurements, supported by recorded data, and explain what the results do and don't demonstrate.
I want to understand the differences, establish which products perform best in particular categories and give operators some useful information when deciding where to spend their money.
And frankly, I want to know for myself.
Expect a separate, detailed write-up in December.
It should be interesting.
Or more likely - Spectacularly boring, depending on how much you like blowers.
Conclusion
I came away from this year's Leisure Supplies Show feeling more optimistic about the industry shows than I have in a very long time.
There was genuine innovation, serious investment, returning exhibitors, new companies and a level of enthusiasm that felt infectious.
People were spending money, suppliers were taking orders and there was a sense that operators were looking towards the future with confidence.
But the show has also become about much more than the equipment.
The social side has grown into something genuinely special.
It's important to recognise where that started.
Richard Wilkinson was responsible for starting the original unofficial after-show gatherings, initially bringing together a relatively small group of friends and industry colleagues.
Over time, those gatherings grew, eventually filling sections of pubs and welcoming an increasingly broad group of people.
Richard helped establish and found something that has become an important part of the show's culture, and I don't think that should be forgotten.
More recently, Phil Donovan has built on this legacy and grown it into something larger.
This was the second of Phil's larger organised dinners, and the latest one was even better than the last.
It was effectively a sell-out event, with set menus, entertainment and enough people attending to make it feel like a wedding reception – With people legit trying to get better seats and be on “table number 1”.
The atmosphere was fantastic.
And for anyone who's ever considered attending but worried that they don't know enough people, might feel excluded or that these things inevitably descend into drunken arguments, I really would encourage you to reconsider.
It's genuinely welcoming.
People sit down, have a proper meal, enjoy themselves and generally behave like civilised adults.
You can have competing exhibitors such as Chobble and BCN sitting opposite one another and getting along perfectly well.
Better-Bounce can end up singing karaoke with Airquee.
Occasionally you'll even witness the Northern family sharing a meal with a Southern family without a single drop of gravy or liquor being exchanged.
But seriously, these gatherings create genuine friendships.
Not the horrible, artificial corporate networking where people exchange business cards, pretend to be interested in one another and spend the evening calculating what they can get out of the relationship. I hate those weaselly, slimy sort of exchanges that just don’t feel real.
Real friendships are made and reinforced here.
People helping each other, supporting one another and enjoying being part of the same industry.
And the evening wasn't entirely without professional significance either.
The RPII Technical Director (Nigel Davis) attended, apparently bringing a wallet with no intention of allowing it to remain closed.
He was buying drinks for anyone who approached him throughout the evening, which was enormously generous and probably contributed to a few sore heads the following morning.
The RPII also used the occasion to share some significant forthcoming developments.
New online courses, updates, CPD opportunities and a new inflatable inspection website are being targeted for release before the end of the year.
Further information regarding UKAS accreditation is expected in due course, alongside updates about HSG175 and the RPII's work supporting the guidance as it continues to mature.
There's clearly plenty happening behind the scenes, and I'm looking forward to seeing those developments.
Of course, no review would be complete without at least one complaint.
And this year, mine is the food.
Again.
The catering lorry looked suspicious from the moment it arrived, largely because it appeared to have been designed without any obvious serving hatches or openings.
Unfortunately, the food itself was dreadful.
Cold, expensive, poor service and tasted like shit.
There's really no point dressing that up.
If the biggest complaint I can make about the Leisure Supplies Show is the catering, then things are going pretty well.
I'd much rather be moaning about an overpriced cold meal than complaining about the exhibitors, attendance or organisation.
And that brings me to Luke.
I genuinely think Luke and his family deserve enormous credit for what they've achieved.
This was, in my opinion, the best Leisure Supplies Show to date.
Not simply because it was busy, although it certainly was, but because it felt like everything had come together.
The exhibitors were diverse, the products were interesting, the atmosphere was excellent and the wider industry appeared genuinely pleased to be there.
It's been wonderful seeing Luke and his family doing well, looking happy and continuing to develop something that has become such an important part of our industry.
There was a real sense of optimism from exhibitors and visitors alike.
And perhaps that's what we needed most.
I genuinely believe the future looks bright. - Last year I left hoping the next show would be even better. This year I'm leaving with the expectation. And that's a very different feeling.
Well done, Luke. Well done to the exhibitors, and thank you to everyone who made the show such an enjoyable experience.
See you next year.
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