In 2021, construction engineer Daryl Clifford from the village of Annahilt made a rather unconventional decision: he and his business partner purchased the goodwill, fixtures and fittings of an indoor soft play centre in Ballynahinch that had permanently ceased trading.
Five years on, having grown Global Adventure Play, the father-of-three has now doubled down with the purchase of another centre as part of a six-figure investment supported by Ulster Bank.
Daryl has acquired the much-loved Peter Pan’s Neverland soft play centre in Portadown that has been entertaining families for almost two decades.
At 13,000 square foot and employing 18 staff, the newly acquired centre represents a significant step up in scale for the construction engineer turned leisure entrepreneur.
Ulster Bank business development manager Derick Wilson said: “We’re fully committed to backing experienced and ambitious entrepreneurs and are really pleased to support Daryl to expand and acquire this well-established business. It’s never too late to start an enterprise and the story of an engineer that segues into the family leisure space is surely testament to that fact.”
Daryl said it was a steep learning curve as he transitioned from his day job as an engineer to owning and managing a soft play centre.
“We acquired the Ballynahinch site off the back of Covid. It was a risk and it was a slow start, but we kept at it and really focused on creating a brilliant atmosphere for the kids and their parents and guardians. It’s important for the grown-ups to enjoy it too. Arguably more so. At the end of the day, they’re the ones deciding whether or not to come back.
“With this new centre though, the previous owners, Robert and Wendy, have built a really smooth operation and a brilliant team over the last 18 years, so I am in a very fortunate position to take over the reins of a stable and profitable business with a great reputation.”
The family man said that early on he had to keep news of the investment a secret at home.
“It’s a tough industry to keep business and play separate,” he quipped.
“I’ve an eight, six, and a four-year-old whose granny would take them to our Ballynahinch centre. I guess that’s one of the perks for them. For me, it’s harder to relax and enjoy the space when I’m there. I tend to slip into work mode. So with Portadown I had to keep the news under wraps, just for a short while. It’s a bigger centre in a bigger town and with more footfall, so I had a lot I needed to get familiar with before the fun could start.”
As his leisure empire continues to grow 41-year-old isn’t ready to give up on his love of engineering just yet.
“I’m still happy to put on the hardhat. For now at least I’m going to stay active as a freelance engineer. I love this work and centres have given me that little bit more flexibility to be more selective with projects.”
