A new outdoor inflatable park has opened in Greater Manchester in time for the Easter school holidays.
With 14 huge inflatables including bouncy castles, slides and obstacle courses, Open Air Bounce is on farmland in Bolton and can be seen from the nearby M61.
Former soap star Brooke Vincent was there to cut the ribbon and officially open the park on Saturday morning and enjoyed a play on the equipment with toddler sons Mexx and Monroe.
Read more: Things to do with the family at Easter 2023 across Greater Manchester
For little ones there's a separate area for under fours, but if they want they can make their way around all of it - with or without an adult - including a 100ft obstacle course, two 40ft slides and a 60ft slide and bouncy castle combination.
Brooke, known for her portrayal of Sophie Webster on Coronation Street, said it's the perfect place to bring her boys, as well as older kids.
“This for me now, as a parent, this is heaven," she said. "There is something for everyone, they can go off, run around, it’s fresh air and it is really good.
“I like the fact it is local and a small business with all the coffee stands about and it is just lovely. You are forever looking for new places to take the kids and the fact this is outdoors is another tick. Because when the sun is shining and you want to go out, the parks are really busy and this is something different.
“The fact that the kids can run around safely and burn off energy - within the secure area - is nice. The fact they have a little under fours bit and a sand pit, as well as food and drinks, makes it a really nice day."
The 30-year-old is already planning to return for another of the sessions, which run daily from 10am to 12pm, 1pm to 3pm and 4pm to 6pm.
The place will be open throughout the Easter holidays, from April 1 to April 16 and it will then open on the May Bank Holiday weekend, from April 29 to May 1; May half term from May 27 to June 4; and in the main summer holidays from July 22 until September 3.
Brooke added: "I will definitely come back. I have already put it on Instagram and so many people have already asked 'where is this we need to go’.
“For me, it doesn’t matter if you’ve got a five-year-old, a 10-year-old, or you’ve got multiple kids, it’s a really nice set up. It is fresh air, it is outside, and it’s not too expensive, it’s local and ticks a lot of boxes.
“They’ve got a lot of different style slides and even when it gets busier I don’t think you’ll be waiting a lot. That is another perk as I feel you could get a little centre then the kids can go off and play.”
The attraction is the brainchild of Leighton Mills who, alongside his dad Darren, wife Sarah and step-mum Paula, wanted to put their 68 acres of land at Umberton Farm, in Over Hulton, to good use.
“We bought the land here at Umberton Farm about 18 months ago and we wanted to utilise some land and give back to the community," said Leighton.
"There is stuff to do indoors in the Bolton area, but in terms of outdoors we don’t think there is a lot and this was a gap in the market.
“We thought we would try this and see where we end up with it. It has gone to a bigger scale than we set out, but it looks amazing."
They were inspired to follow through with the idea after going to an indoor bounce park in Trafford and wanted to put their own outdoor spin on it.
“This is completely different to our day to day business in traffic control, but I have a showman background,” Leighton continued. “So we ran fairgrounds, the family is showmen and it’s in the blood but I’ve not done it for 24 years.
“To do this takes a lot and there has been a year of planning. We said if we’re doing it we can do it properly, there is no point just putting three or four bouncy castles up.
“We wanted to use up the whole land and give different things for different areas. We have been overwhelmed with the support from the community.
“We didn’t expect it to boom and take off like it has. It is on a farm, it’s unique, we’re not surrounded by houses, it is all just views and scenery.
“We don’t do live cattle, we’re not from a farm background, we bought it for the family to live on. We can go bigger, it all depends on how well it goes but we have space to grow.
“If we venture to different towns and people want us to then we will do that. The biggest reason why we’ve done it, because we’re a big family with a lot of kids looking for things to do.”
Tickets for the attraction have already been selling fast and they've had some group bookings from those wanting either parties or private use.
It costs £9.95 for ages one to four and £12.50 for ages five and above, including adults. Under 12 months go free and adults who aren't bouncing pay £2.50 entry. Book online.
If sessions are cancelled due to the weather, families will be given a voucher to book on for an alternative date.
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