Organising a child’s birthday party can be a challenge, but recent research shows that play centres and pet farms are the number one choice for parents looking for a hassle-free, affordable celebration.
With 63% of parents favouring these venues, their ability to cater for larger groups with engaging activities makes them a practical and popular option.
A dmg media study by Amárach Research found that Indoor Play Centres top the list at 36%, while cinema and bowling follow at 30% and pet farms and adventure centres account for 27%.
Further data from YourDaysOut.com on recent party bookings also reveals that the average play centre party hosts 14 children, reinforcing the need for venues that can accommodate bigger groups.
Find and Book A Birthday Party in Ireland
Convenience is also key, with 86% of parents booking online when given the option. Even during opening hours, 78% of bookings are still made online, highlighting the demand for an easy booking process.
With 35% of bookings completed outside standard hours, venues with online systems attract more customers by offering flexibility to busy families.
"It's great to see that the Amárach research supports what our play and leisure businesses are seeing day-to-day with children's birthday parties being an area of speciality for many of our members," Tracy Sheridan, CEO of PALI (Play, Activity and Leisure Ireland) said.
"The data shows that parents want a fun and safe setting for their celebration and our members make that easy by taking the hassle out of planning a party. "The fact that 86% of parents are choosing to book online, when given the option, shows the importance of having a strong digital presence. From showcasing the offering, to having a quick and easy booking system, it's becoming increasingly important that customers can browse options and secure their booking at a time that suits them."
For families seeking an affordable, stress-free celebration, play centres and pet farms remain the best choice.
With structured group activities, budget-friendly packages and easy online booking (where available), they offer everything needed to make a child’s special day truly memorable.
YourDaysOut.com is Ireland’s leading platform for finding things to do, with hundreds of local birthday party venue ideas. It also provides businesses with online booking tools including party deposits and in-build waivers, making it easy for customers to find and secure their child’s special day with just a few clicks, helping local venues increase revenue while saving hours in admin.
