Cowie's Funfairs

Cowie's Funfairs: fairground rides for hire and seasonal family fun parks

Cowie's Funfairs is a UK funfair operator that hires out fairground rides and attractions and also stages its own ticketed family fun parks. The company presents itself as having 25 years of experience in the sector and states that it works with what it describes as the UK's largest blue-chip clients as well as numerous event management companies. Its hire coverage is stated as England, Wales and the UK.

How a hire is organised

The company describes a booking process built around on-site management and documentation. According to its own account, a booking includes full management of rides on-site by a dedicated management team, an on-site contact and office support throughout the booking, and detailed site visits before the event that include drawing up plans. It also lists RAMS paperwork (risk assessments and method statements), HSE-backed test paperwork for each attraction and public liability paperwork supplied on demand. Corporate branding on attractions is offered as part of the service.

Thrill rides

The catalogue groups the attractions by intensity. The thrill rides, which the company also calls white knuckle rides, are aimed at older guests and are described in terms of G-forces, spins, turns and drops. The rides named in this category are Rage Cage, Sky Flyer, Drop Zone, Hangover, Thunder Mountain, Speed Buzz and Tagada.

Traditional and family rides

Under traditional rides the company places classics such as the carousel, the chair 'o' planes, the dodgems, the waltzer and the Ferris wheel, noting that the dodgems were imported into the UK in the 1930s. It also refers to modern versions of these rides, including wave swingers, giant wheels and waltzers fitted with LED lighting packages and sound systems. A separate family bracket, described as gentler and suited to children from around five years old, includes the Twister, Ghost Train and Crazy Frog, alongside vehicles, cups and saucers, mini bumpers, tea cups and Dumbos.

Inflatables, games and walk-through attractions

• Inflatables: bouncy castles, assorted slides and large play centres, including themed options such as a medieval castle, a circus and a minion.
• Games: darts, grabber machines and duck pond, among other prize games for all ages.
• Walk-through attractions: Fun House, Jumbo Circus and Haunted House, plus crazy mirrors and mirror mazes and an amusement arcade.

Catering units

The company offers catering units for events, with a menu it describes as traditional fairground food: hot dogs and burgers, a Bavarian swing grill, roasted sandwiches, coffee and doughnuts, carvery, and traditional fairground sweets.

Rochdale Family Fun Park

One of the company's own events is the Rochdale Family Fun Park, announced for Monday 17 August to Monday 31 August at Well i'th Lane, next to Iceland, Rochdale, OL11 1BL. The line-up named in the announcement includes the Tagada, Freak Out and Miami, together with food stalls and family entertainment. Two wristband options are advertised: a Standard wristband at £9, covering unlimited rides except Freak Out and Tagada, and a Go Extreme wristband at £12 that includes all rides. The entrance fee is included in the price and applies to all guests. Three daily sessions are listed, 1PM–4PM, 3PM–6PM and 6PM–9PM, with no 6PM–9PM session on Sundays or on Monday 31 August. Card and cash are accepted on the day, parking is available next to Iceland, and no alcohol is permitted on site. Advance wristbands are sold through a Skiddle event page.

Blackburn Fun Park

A second event, the Blackburn Fun Park, is announced for Wednesday 22 July to Sunday 2 August at Witton Country Park, Blackburn, BB2 2TP. The rides named include the Tagada, Star Flyer and Extreme, plus food stalls and family entertainment. Here the Standard wristband is priced at £9 and excludes Extreme, Star Flyer and Tagada, while the Extreme admission is £15 and covers all rides, with the entrance fee included. The same three daily sessions apply, with no 6PM–9PM session on Sundays. Card and cash are accepted on the day, no alcohol is allowed on site, and 24-hour on-site security is stated for this location. Advance wristbands are also sold through a Skiddle event page.