Shock as Oxford indoor play area shuts down

From left Charlie Goddard, three, mum Nicci Goddard, behind, with Laura Becker and daughter Olivia, two, and her grandmother Pamela Turley Buy this photo » From left Charlie Goddard, three, mum Nicci Goddard, behind, with Laura Becker and daughter Olivia, two, and her grandmother Pamela Turley

PARENTS have reacted with shock after the sudden closure of Oxford’s only soft indoor play area.

Activity playground iKidz Oxford, which is based at Ozone Leisure Park at Kassam Stadium, closed its doors on Thursday last week and has ceased trading.

A statement on the centre’s Facebook page – which has now been taken down – said a bailiff arrived at the club and gave the business two hours to pay the rent for January to March.

It said: “It is the landlord’s legal right to do what they did, but at such short notice and against all previous arrangements we had with them we were forced to voluntarily liquidate the business.”

Co-owners Rachael Pountney and Chris Sharman declined to comment further on the reasons for the closure.

Ms Pountney told the Oxford Mail: “I am absolutely devastated. I feel like my heart has been ripped out.”

The play centre – which employed 15 staff – opened in May 2011. There is another iKidz in Banbury, which is unaffected by the closure.

Nicci Goddard, from Abingdon, would take her three-year-old son Charlie Goddard to the playground.

The 34-year-old said: “We used it a lot in the school holidays, then every other week in term time.

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“It was exceptionally clean and they didn’t charge adult entry.

“The closure is a real disappointment.

“Everyone is really shocked by it because everyone used it so much and they didn’t know why things have had to change.”

Abingdon mum of two Nicky Brock, 37, said: “It is very disappointing because my children love going there, so it is a shame it has closed.”

Abingdon mother of two Laura Becker, 38, said: “I think it is really sad. It is a really good activity playground and we are really gutted about it.”

Landlord Firoka – owned by U’s former owner Firoz Kassam – was contacted several times by the Oxford Mail, but had not commented last night at the time of going to press.

The statement on iKidz Oxford’s Facebook page added: “We are obviously shocked and deeply saddened.

“There are a number of other great soft-play facilities locally and although we will very much miss seeing families having fun within iKidz Oxford. We are sure that facilities in Abingdon, Didcot, Thame and Banbury will continue to provide you all with fun and enjoyable times for you and your children.”

Comments(25)

Sandy Wimpole-Smythe says...
11:18am Thu 17 Jan 13

And so the clear out begins to make the site more 'saleable'.

Andrew:Oxford says...
11:30am Thu 17 Jan 13

It can't possibly be a "shock"!

With a few exceptions, commercial property rent is payable quarterly in advance on or by the official English quarter days.

March 5th
June 4th
September 9th
December 25th

So, considering normal practice, if the bailiffs arrived on the 10th January to collect the debt, then the rent was already 17 days late...

MadMan-JaYmZ says...
11:43am Thu 17 Jan 13

The rent was due quarterly but Ikidz had an agreement with firoka it would pay monthly due to them not being able to afford the whole £42,000 in one lump sum. The all of a sudden without warning Firoka went back on the agreement and sent in bailiffs,

Firoka is a joke, they do the same with the stadium and all other tenants there !

M7 says...
11:51am Thu 17 Jan 13

So sad to hear this news - iKidz Oxford was a great place that was really clean and really nice facilities and more importantly my 2 year old loved attending! Hope they are able to relocate elsewhere in Oxford as iKidz Oxford is miles ahead of its competitors in the area.

EricTheRed says...
11:53am Thu 17 Jan 13

Still aways got Snakes and Ladders in Abingdon, and a place in Didcot so no big loss really...

EricTheRed says...
11:54am Thu 17 Jan 13

MadMan-JaYmZ wrote:
The rent was due quarterly but Ikidz had an agreement with firoka it would pay monthly due to them not being able to afford the whole £42,000 in one lump sum. The all of a sudden without warning Firoka went back on the agreement and sent in bailiffs,

Firoka is a joke, they do the same with the stadium and all other tenants there !
And you know that for a fact? or is this stoking hatred of kassam?

Bart_simpsonDoh says...
12:10pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Eric... Abingdon & Didcot, not local is it! Impossible to get to if you have no transport with kids and its more expensive. Stoking hatred of Kassam?? He has already brought that upon himself.

Andrew:Oxford says...
12:37pm Thu 17 Jan 13

MadMan-JaYmZ wrote:
The rent was due quarterly but Ikidz had an agreement with firoka it would pay monthly due to them not being able to afford the whole £42,000 in one lump sum. The all of a sudden without warning Firoka went back on the agreement and sent in bailiffs,

Firoka is a joke, they do the same with the stadium and all other tenants there !
So let me guess, monthly in advance, with full quarterly payment due immediately to a missed monthly payment?

Business agreements (also known as contracts) are formal legal documents and signed for a reason.

Joris Bonson says...
12:54pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Bart_simpsonDoh wrote:
Eric... Abingdon & Didcot, not local is it! Impossible to get to if you have no transport with kids and its more expensive. Stoking hatred of Kassam?? He has already brought that upon himself.
There are magical wheeled carriages called buses and trains that can transport people (even with kids) around the country.

Bart_simpsonDoh says...
2:00pm Thu 17 Jan 13

and at extra cost Joris, doh

Sandy Wimpole-Smythe says...
2:43pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Andrew:Oxford wrote:
MadMan-JaYmZ wrote:
The rent was due quarterly but Ikidz had an agreement with firoka it would pay monthly due to them not being able to afford the whole £42,000 in one lump sum. The all of a sudden without warning Firoka went back on the agreement and sent in bailiffs,

Firoka is a joke, they do the same with the stadium and all other tenants there !
So let me guess, monthly in advance, with full quarterly payment due immediately to a missed monthly payment?

Business agreements (also known as contracts) are formal legal documents and signed for a reason.
Not ALL contracts are the same, they can be varied.

MadMan-JaYmZ says...
2:45pm Thu 17 Jan 13

EricTheRed wrote:
MadMan-JaYmZ wrote:
The rent was due quarterly but Ikidz had an agreement with firoka it would pay monthly due to them not being able to afford the whole £42,000 in one lump sum. The all of a sudden without warning Firoka went back on the agreement and sent in bailiffs,

Firoka is a joke, they do the same with the stadium and all other tenants there !
And you know that for a fact? or is this stoking hatred of kassam?
Yes it was posted on their facebook, by the ikidz company.

The point is they had an agreement, which had been fine since the opening of ikidz then without warning firoka decides to go back on the agreement.

It harsh !

Andrew:Oxford says...
2:48pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Bart_simpsonDoh wrote:
Eric... Abingdon & Didcot, not local is it! Impossible to get to if you have no transport with kids and its more expensive. Stoking hatred of Kassam?? He has already brought that upon himself.
Looking at a map, the centre of Abingdon does appear to be closer to the Kassam stadium than the centre of Oxford.

Shame there isn't a bridge linking Radley to the A4074 though (it might even give Kennington people a route to Oxford after heavy rain!).

MadMan-JaYmZ says...
2:50pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Most people from around the kassam area, littlemore, rosehill, blackbirdleys, can't afford of have the time to travel to abingdon !

Lets hope someone comes in a buys the play cos its a pretty decent centre !

EricTheRed says...
3:48pm Thu 17 Jan 13

MadMan-JaYmZ wrote:
EricTheRed wrote:
MadMan-JaYmZ wrote:
The rent was due quarterly but Ikidz had an agreement with firoka it would pay monthly due to them not being able to afford the whole £42,000 in one lump sum. The all of a sudden without warning Firoka went back on the agreement and sent in bailiffs,

Firoka is a joke, they do the same with the stadium and all other tenants there !
And you know that for a fact? or is this stoking hatred of kassam?
Yes it was posted on their facebook, by the ikidz company.

The point is they had an agreement, which had been fine since the opening of ikidz then without warning firoka decides to go back on the agreement.

It harsh !
So if thats true (and not just their viewpoint) they have legal recourse through the court system then.

MadMan-JaYmZ says...
4:25pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Well ofcourse but do you think it is wise for them to take it to court and losing yet more money in solicitor fee's and stuff ? Probably not !

GRB says...
4:35pm Thu 17 Jan 13

If it's true that Firoka have been unreasonable regarding the rent arrangements (and anyone who knows anything about Firoka will know that's possible) then it wouldn't surprise me if they've got something more profitable lined up to take the place of ikidz.

Grunden Skip says...
4:59pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Andrew:Oxford wrote:
Bart_simpsonDoh wrote:
Eric... Abingdon & Didcot, not local is it! Impossible to get to if you have no transport with kids and its more expensive. Stoking hatred of Kassam?? He has already brought that upon himself.
Looking at a map, the centre of Abingdon does appear to be closer to the Kassam stadium than the centre of Oxford.

Shame there isn't a bridge linking Radley to the A4074 though (it might even give Kennington people a route to Oxford after heavy rain!).
Sorry Andrew a bit off there, Carfax to Kassam Via Abingdon Rd and The Henley Rd 4.9 miles and to Abingdon Town Centre, Abingdon Rd and A34 North Turn 7.9 miles, both shortest routes. But back on story, the reason that Mr Kassam is a millionaire and we are not is that he a good businessman, and by that I mean he does business, NOT charity, or sob stories, you can't blame him, if you had a house to rent and the tenants were behind with the rent, and other tenants were waiting to come in, what would you do?

Grunden Skip says...
5:15pm Thu 17 Jan 13

MadMan-JaYmZ wrote:
The rent was due quarterly but Ikidz had an agreement with firoka it would pay monthly due to them not being able to afford the whole £42,000 in one lump sum. The all of a sudden without warning Firoka went back on the agreement and sent in bailiffs,

Firoka is a joke, they do the same with the stadium and all other tenants there !
Are you sure about the rental figure that you quote? that is £168,000 a year, top that with 15 staff on a minimum of £13,000 a year X 15 = £195,000 plus NI contributions, and utilities and business rates would bring basic running costs up to well over £420,000 PA. At £6 a session they would need £70,000 kids PA or 191 a day 365 just to cover costs. No wonder they couldn't pay the rent, I just hope the staff have been paid.

Andrew:Oxford says...
5:26pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Grunden Skip wrote:
Andrew:Oxford wrote:
Bart_simpsonDoh wrote:
Eric... Abingdon & Didcot, not local is it! Impossible to get to if you have no transport with kids and its more expensive. Stoking hatred of Kassam?? He has already brought that upon himself.
Looking at a map, the centre of Abingdon does appear to be closer to the Kassam stadium than the centre of Oxford.

Shame there isn't a bridge linking Radley to the A4074 though (it might even give Kennington people a route to Oxford after heavy rain!).
Sorry Andrew a bit off there, Carfax to Kassam Via Abingdon Rd and The Henley Rd 4.9 miles and to Abingdon Town Centre, Abingdon Rd and A34 North Turn 7.9 miles, both shortest routes. But back on story, the reason that Mr Kassam is a millionaire and we are not is that he a good businessman, and by that I mean he does business, NOT charity, or sob stories, you can't blame him, if you had a house to rent and the tenants were behind with the rent, and other tenants were waiting to come in, what would you do?
As the bird flies. That's why I pointed out that it's a shame there isn't a bridge.

Andrew:Oxford says...
5:27pm Thu 17 Jan 13

MadMan-JaYmZ wrote:
Well ofcourse but do you think it is wise for them to take it to court and losing yet more money in solicitor fee's and stuff ? Probably not !
They'd only lose if they hadn't met the terms of the formal written contract.

Do you suspect that they hadn't?

MadMan-JaYmZ says...
5:32pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Grunden Skip wrote:
MadMan-JaYmZ wrote:
The rent was due quarterly but Ikidz had an agreement with firoka it would pay monthly due to them not being able to afford the whole £42,000 in one lump sum. The all of a sudden without warning Firoka went back on the agreement and sent in bailiffs,

Firoka is a joke, they do the same with the stadium and all other tenants there !
Are you sure about the rental figure that you quote? that is £168,000 a year, top that with 15 staff on a minimum of £13,000 a year X 15 = £195,000 plus NI contributions, and utilities and business rates would bring basic running costs up to well over £420,000 PA. At £6 a session they would need £70,000 kids PA or 191 a day 365 just to cover costs. No wonder they couldn't pay the rent, I just hope the staff have been paid.
Its the figure that Ikidz quoted on the facebook in the first few days after it happened !

And @ Andrew:Oxford, how would i know ? I don't work there, but even so is there really much point. Probably Not !

Grunden Skip says...
5:48pm Thu 17 Jan 13

MadMan-JaYmZ wrote:
Grunden Skip wrote:
MadMan-JaYmZ wrote:
The rent was due quarterly but Ikidz had an agreement with firoka it would pay monthly due to them not being able to afford the whole £42,000 in one lump sum. The all of a sudden without warning Firoka went back on the agreement and sent in bailiffs,

Firoka is a joke, they do the same with the stadium and all other tenants there !
Are you sure about the rental figure that you quote? that is £168,000 a year, top that with 15 staff on a minimum of £13,000 a year X 15 = £195,000 plus NI contributions, and utilities and business rates would bring basic running costs up to well over £420,000 PA. At £6 a session they would need £70,000 kids PA or 191 a day 365 just to cover costs. No wonder they couldn't pay the rent, I just hope the staff have been paid.
Its the figure that Ikidz quoted on the facebook in the first few days after it happened !

And @ Andrew:Oxford, how would i know ? I don't work there, but even so is there really much point. Probably Not !
I only mentioned the rent because in Kensington/Chelsea, Soho, or Oxford St area you could rent over 4,000 square foot of office space for less than what they are paying, either Mr Kassam rates Littlemore next to the Sewerage works higher than the better parts of London, or Ikidz mistakenly added an extra 0 to their figures. But whatever, the council gave into his blackmail years back, (I can understand why) and lost a chance to own and build a valuable asset. Unless a very friendly Russian Oligarch comes in and buys OUFC and him out lock stock and barrell, we are stuck with him, as the current owners of OUFC have no intention of buying even just the stadium.

Notopolotics says...
1:53pm Fri 18 Jan 13

theres plenty of outdoor play areas?

Grunden Skip says...
3:21pm Fri 18 Jan 13

Notopolotics wrote:
theres plenty of outdoor play areas?
Especially today. Time to get those sleds out and head on down to South Park.

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