UK Hospitality launches a new Leisure Committee chaired by AIP's Tom Filer

A new Indoor Leisure Committee has been set up by UKHospitality, recognising the importance of indoor leisure businesses to Britain’s hospitality offering.

This diverse sector comprises a range of different businesses and established bodies from the industry - including indoor play, escape rooms, bowling, indoor golf, trampoline parks, amusement machines, competitive socialising and a range other indoor leisure venues.

The new committee, which has met for the first time, will be helping to represent the sector to share current issues affecting businesses, such as rates and planning, share best practice and highlight the economic impact the sector has been experiencing.

It is chaired by Tom Filer, the owner of Family Adventurers group of indoor playcentres and nurseries. Tom is also a member of the Association of Indoor Play’s Executive Committee.

UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said: “Indoor leisure have been staples for families for decades, and now we’re seeing other innovations like escape rooms and indoor golf establish themselves in the market.

“I’m really pleased we’ve been able to set up this new committee that will ensure indoor leisure has a strong voice within UKHospitality and I’m looking forward to working with Tom in his role as chair.”

Mr Filer said: “I’m really excited to be chairing UKHospitality’s first indoor leisure committee. For too long the sector has not received the focus it deserves and I am looking forward to working with UKHospitality to better raise the profile of the industry within Westminster.

“The last few years have been challenging to say the least for all of hospitality and leisure, and the current outlook in the near term has its challenges too. I hope that this committee can effectively raise the industry-specific issues the sector is facing.”

 

 

The Association of Indoor Play (AIP) is the Trade Association for the indoor play sector in the United Kingdom. We are a not for profit organisation set up to be the voice of the Indoor Play Sector.

The Association was formed in at the start of the COVID pandemic by a group of seasoned national indoor softplay providers with over 150 years of combined indoor play experience between them with the aim of creating a specific and targeted vehicle to represent the smaller operators in this specialised sector.

AIP are Members of UK Hospitality, with whom we act to advise on government legislation for indoor play.


Tom Filer is a Chartered Accountant with an MBA in Management. Tom is owner of the multi-site, award-winning Family Adventures Group comprising of 2 indoor play sites (and a 3rd coming soon!) and 6 day nurseries in the South West of England. Tom is also a founding Committee Member of the Association of Indoor Play and keynote speaker.

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