All Star Bounce NI • Local listings checked 10 November 2026
A parent’s guide to birthday party venues and toddler groups in Bangor and Newtownards
Before you put a deposit on a hall, find out two things. Does the venue allow the castle you want, and how high is the lowest light above the spot where it will go? Our 12 ft Blue Party A Frame needs 14 ft of clear height. A room can look huge from the doorway and still have a light fitting right where the castle roof would be.
In Bangor, Kilcooley Community Centre accepts a standard-size bouncy castle. In Newtownards, West Winds Community Centre allows a small one. If you’ve already booked a different room, the measurements below will help you narrow down your options. We’ve also included three local groups for anyone looking for somewhere to take their wee one during the week.
Which birthday party venues allow bouncy castles?
Kilcooley Community Centre
50 Owenroe Drive, Bangor
The council allows a standard-size castle. The main hall is upstairs and there’s a lift. Ask about lift dimensions and the route in with the equipment. Kilcooley hall details
West Winds Community Centre
Dakota Avenue, Newtownards
The council allows a small castle in the multi-use hall. Send us your castle choice before booking so we can check it against the room. West Winds hall details
Skipperstone Community Centre
99A Skipperstone Road, Bangor
Birthday parties are welcome, but the council rules out bouncy castles here. If you want floor-based soft play, ask the hall which items it permits. Skipperstone hall details
Donaghadee Community Centre
12a Railway Street, Donaghadee
If family are coming down the coast, this is another option. The centre allows bouncy castles and has several halls, so ask which room you’d get. Donaghadee hall details
How much does the hall cost?
All four council venues list £45 for a three-hour birthday party booking. Setup and pack-down come out of that time. The council’s terms allow one inflatable per booking and ask for the form at least ten working days ahead. For dates and the current rate, ring the Community Halls team on 028 9182 4018. Council booking details and terms
What to measure at your hall viewing
Stand where you’d put the birthday cake and picture the room full. Where will the adults sit? Can a buggy get past the food table? Once you’ve marked out those spots, use this checklist for the play area.
1. Clear floor space. Ask for the usable length and width after tables, chairs and the cake table are in place. Keep the route to the toilets and exits clear.
2. Lowest overhead point. Ask the caretaker for the height beneath lights, beams or basketball hoops in the play area. A photo taken from the far corner helps us see anything that hangs down.
3. Narrowest point on the way in. Measure door openings and tell us about steps, tight turns and lifts. The castle needs to reach the room while it’s still rolled up.
4. The booking window. Ask when the doors open for delivery, where the power sockets are and when the hall must be empty. Give us those times before printing the invitations.
Two indoor party setups and the space they need
Clear floor area 14 ft × 14 ft
Clear height 14 ft
Access width 3 ft
Clear floor area 17 ft × 17 ft
Clear height 8 ft
Access width 3 ft 6 in
These are the required spaces on the product pages. Our general hall guide starts at 14 ft of ceiling height for a castle party. If your hall is lower, send us its measurements so we can check the specific low-roof option and the venue’s rules together.
Say you have 18 ft of clear floor in both directions and 10 ft below the lights. The blue castle is too tall. The low-roof package is worth checking with us once you know the width of the doorway.
For a class birthday party
The Blue Party A Frame measures 12 ft square. That extra 2 ft in each overall floor dimension is why you need the second set of numbers above. If your child wants friends from school and younger cousins at the same party, plan separate bouncing turns for children of different sizes. View photos of the Blue Party A Frame
For a toddler birthday party
The Balloons package gives little guests a ball pit, soft shapes and a rocker as well as a low-roof castle. Its soft play is for children aged five and under. It needs less headroom than the blue castle but more floor space. If the room is tight, tell us how much room you have and ask about soft play on its own. View photos of the Balloons package
Are there mother and toddler groups near me?
If you live in Bangor or Newtownards and want a regular morning out with a baby or preschooler, try one of these parent and toddler groups. The churches below run their own sessions. Check the organiser’s page before your first visit, especially around school holidays.
Tuesday in Bangor • Kids & Co
Kings Church, 196 Seacliff Road. Tuesdays, 10.00–11.30 am during term time. The church says families can drop in without booking. There’s ramp access for buggies, space to play and a snack for the children. A handy one if getting out the door with a baby makes it hard to commit in advance. Kids & Co session details
Thursday in Bangor • Bethany Tots
Bethany Baptist Church, 23–27 Gransha Road. Thursdays, 10.00–11.30 am during term time. Children can play with toys, sing and try instruments in the sports hall. The organisers also welcome grandparents and childminders, so Granny or Granda can take a turn on a Thursday morning. Bethany Tots session details
Alternate Fridays in Newtownards • Tot Spot
Newtownards Baptist Church, 47–51 Frances Street. Every other Friday, 10.00–11.30 am during term time. Babies and toddlers have different play areas, with crafts and snacks during the morning. The group meets upstairs. Check the church’s update for the next Friday before heading over. Tot Spot dates and details
Planning a special morning for your toddler group?
For a Christmas get-together or an end-of-term stay and play, start with what the children already enjoy. If most are crawling or finding their feet, a few soft shapes and a ball pit leave space for grown-ups to sit alongside them. Older preschoolers might enjoy a low-roof castle, with a quieter spot for the babies.
Tell us how many families usually come, the children’s ages and which hall you use. If several families arrive straight after the school run, build delivery time in before you open the doors. Explore indoor soft play hire
Common questions about indoor birthday parties
What should I budget for a hall and a bouncy castle?
As a starting point, a £45 council hall booking plus our Blue Party A Frame from £70 comes to £115 before food, decorations or any delivery charge. That’s an example for a hall that approves the castle. Confirm the venue, date and delivery postcode with us for your own total. Check the current castle hire price
Which comes first, the hall or the castle?
Shortlist a hall and ask whether it’s free on your date. While you have them on the phone, get the room name and the time you can get in. Then check the equipment with us before you pay for either booking. It’s much easier to switch castles at this point than to move a party after the invitations have gone out.
Can a first birthday work without a bouncy castle?
Yes. For a first birthday, soft play hire on its own can give crawlers somewhere to explore, with a ball pit or soft shapes for children who are already on their feet. Leave room for an adult beside the play area and put the food table somewhere that a little one can’t reach from the mats. Browse soft play options
Who supervises the bouncy castle during the party?
Agree this before your guests arrive. A suitably trained person needs to supervise the inflatable throughout use and follow its user limits. If you’re the person handing out cake, arrange for another suitably trained adult to take over before you step away. Read the HSE’s inflatable play guidance
Got a hall in mind? Send us the details
For indoor bouncy castle hire or soft play hire in Bangor, Newtownards, Comber, Donaghadee and the surrounding area, call or WhatsApp 07916 208438. A photo of the hall is a great start. Here’s a message you can copy while you’re there.
“Hi, we’re planning a party at [hall and town] on [date]. We can get in at [time] and need to be out by [time]. We’re expecting [number] children aged [ages]. The clear floor area is [size] and the lowest light or beam is [height]. Here’s a photo. What would you recommend?”
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