It is a “shame” that the Whoosh soft play in Bracknell Leisure Centre has to close, its owner has said—but he adds the plans for the future look exciting.

Owner David Michael, 43, announced last Friday that it would close in early July after discussions with Everyone Active, which runs the centre, and Bracknell Forest Council which owns it.

Whoosh has been at the leisure centre since at least 1996. But Everyone Active and Bracknell Forest Council chose to end its lease so that the larger company could run the soft play itself.

The announcement led to an outpouring of support for Whoosh from residents who took their children to play there – and who remember playing there themselves.

Mr Michaels told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the process to end his tenancy had been “a tough one,” and “it took me a little bit of time to come to terms with it.”

But he added: “I could never put the money to invest in the frame or the centre that the likes of Everyone Active could do. It needs a refresh.”

Whoosh is the second business in Bracknell Leisure Centre to announce its closure after contract discussions with Everyone Active and the council. The Bodyzone heavy weights gym was forced to close at the end of April due to rent increases.

Mr Michael said: “It’s a shame because these are small businesses. Bodyzone and I, we ran it for the community.” He added that Whoosh was “a good 20-30 per cent cheaper than anywhere else.”

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But he said Everyone Active and the council had been “very supportive,” and also offered support for his staff. He said some of their ideas for the future “look really cool and exciting.”

“There’s no way I could have put in that sort of investment,” he said. “I hope it will be as good as it looks like it will be, and cost effective too.”

Mr Michael also said he wanted to thank all his customers over the past seven years. “The smiles they have given us over the years has really made it worth it,” he said.

Mark Tennant, contract manager for Everyone Active, said improvement work at the leisure centre was “currently being discussed.”

He said: “We know that the team at Whoosh have done an excellent job of running the centre. It will be very sad to see David and his team leave the centre and we are thankful for their dedication over the years.”

Kevin Gibbs, Executive Director Delivery, Bracknell Forest Council, said: “The council appreciates the hard work and commitment that the team at Whoosh has shown.

“However, we recognise the soft play could benefit from investment to provide users with an improved facility.”

He added that the council would discuss options for improvement work and funding at a meeting on 12 July.