Children’s soft play centre forced to apologise over gruesome and realistic Halloween decoration
A children’s soft play centre has apologised and removed realistic body bag Halloween decorations after parents complained.
Rugrats and Halfpints in Cirencester, Gloucestershire displayed black bin bags – tied upside down to look like human bodies – from poles behind the play area netting.
Some of the makeshift body bags were wrapped with tape marked ‘Caution’ and ‘Danger’ to appear more authentic.
The disturbing decorations were located at the back of the soft play area, visible only to children inside and not from the café.
Parents expressed shock at the Halloween display.
“When I saw them I did a double take – surely that can’t be what I think it is? I just didn’t want to have to explain to my kid what they were,” one mother told Sky News.
She added that other parents were equally surprised by the decorations’ appropriateness.
Another concerned parent said: “I spoke to some other parents after who were as shocked as I was that it was deemed appropriate.
“It’s a great soft play, but that did shock me a bit”.
A spokesperson for Rugrats and Halfpints said: “This is the first time someone has brought it to our attention so of course due to this we will take them down immediately”.
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The centre apologised: “It wasn’t to cause distress and we apologise this is how they have felt”.
Rugrats and Halfpints’ website claims it is “committed to providing a safe, clean and stimulating environment, with the emphasis on fun”.
The centre, which won the Travellers Choice Award 2022, offers various play areas and entertainment for children, with prices ranging from £5.75 to £11.75 per child.
In Liverpool, a similar controversy arose when Caroline Ashley was asked to remove body bag decorations from a tree outside her home after a neighbour complained.
The council intervened as the decorations were on council-owned land.
Ashley asked on Facebook if the body bags were “too much”.
Her post went viral, with most commenters praising the display and encouraging her to add more gruesome details.
A Liverpool City Council spokesman confirmed they had received and acted upon a complaint about the decorations.