WonderWorld Group has secured a major funding package from Bank of Scotland to support growth in England and upgrades to its Scottish sites.
The Glasgow-headquartered company, which operates 13 family entertainment centres, has opened a new venue in Southampton, creating 30 jobs and marking a key step in its UK expansion.
Narinder Singh Baryah, managing director of WonderWorld, said: “We’ve gone from one site in Falkirk to 13 venues across the UK and we’re just getting started.
“Glasgow will always be our head office, and it’s where our culture of ambition, community and care was born.
“Opening in Southampton is a big step for us.
“It’s our first dedicated soft play venue in England and, thanks to support from Bank of Scotland, we’ve been able to deliver something really special while continuing to invest in our Scottish sites too.
“What makes me proudest, though, is the people.
“So many of our team started out supervising play areas and now they’re running the business.
“That sort of growth is what we’re all about and we’re already looking at where we’re going next.”
The new Southampton venue, located in a converted bingo hall, features a multi-level play arena, interactive football pitch, volcano slide, sensory room, and free go-karts.
It also includes a café serving barista coffee, homemade cakes, and hot meals.
The funding will also support improvements across WonderWorld’s Scottish sites, including those in Glasgow, East Kilbride, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Kirkcaldy, and Perth.
These locations house some of the UK’s largest soft play, inflatable, and trampoline parks, with facilities up to 75,000 square feet.
The company plans to add new features such as launch slides, role play villages, and sensory equipment to cater to visitors of all ages.
Founded in Falkirk in 2013, WonderWorld has expanded across Scotland’s central belt and now operates three entertainment brands: WonderWorld Soft Play, AirThrill Inflatable and Trampoline Parks, and Electric Thrill Arcade and Adventure Golf.
These venues offer activities for toddlers, teens, and adults alike.
The company’s previous expansion into England began with an AirThrill site in Catford, London, in 2019.
The Southampton launch is its first dedicated WonderWorld location in England.
WonderWorld now employs nearly 400 people across the UK, including a 12-person head office team in Glasgow covering finance, operations, and marketing.
Many senior staff began their careers in frontline roles at the company’s play centres.
Kyle Gibson, relationship manager at Bank of Scotland, said: “WonderWorld is a brilliant example of a Scottish business that’s grown with heart and purpose.
“They’ve built something fun and inclusive, and it’s great to be helping them bring that vision to more communities across the UK.”
The company is also known for its charitable work.
WonderWorld has been the headline sponsor of Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity for the past four years, regularly hosting exclusive soft play sessions for young patients at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
The partnership also supports fundraising for vital equipment and family accommodation at the hospital.
