Flip Out trampoline park in Chatham to go cashless

A popular trampoline park has announced it will be going "completely cashless".

Flip Out in Chatham, in Dock Head Road, will no longer accept cash payment at its reception or in its diner from Thursday, March 23.

The branch announced the news in an email to customers, saying: "From Thursday, March 23, Flip Out Chatham will be completely cashless. This means that our team won't be able to accept cash both at reception, when purchasing sessions and socks, and also in the diner.

"We just wanted to give you a heads up and hope this change won't cause you any inconvenience. As always, we strongly recommend booking online in advance to secure your session."

Jon Thomas, Head of Operations at Flip Out said: “We have found that very few people now want to use cash and therefore it makes sense for us to go cashless, reducing employee administration and overheads, and making customer service faster and easier.

"We have communicated to our members and our guest database that we will no longer be accepting cash. We are also using our social media channels to communicate our decision to go cashless and urging everyone to book in advance online.”

While the move is expected to improve service for customers, some have been left upset or concerned by the decision.

In a time where the cost of living has left money tight for many, one resident said: "Regardless of what the reason the company says it's going cashless, it's just wrong. Not everyone is able to pay by card or wants to pay by card.

"Lots of people in the UK only use cash as they are more in control of the spending, whereas card is just touch and you go.

"I will say it's the company's decision and it's not against the law to refuse cash. For me it’s a very thin line as cash is legal tender in the UK still."

Stay-at-home mum Keavagh Fitzgerald said: "I think that cashless isn't the right way to go, and I don't agree with cash only either. Just stay a happy medium with both.

"I prefer cash as we draw out our petrol and shopping money for the month and this helps us keep track of what we spend where, to help us avoid being overdrawn, so we can save for things like holidays and day trips out.

"I also think that teaching children about the value of money is incredibly important. This can’t be done by showing them a bank card.

"People would think twice about spending money if they physically had to hand over the cash rather than just tap the card."

The mum-of-two added: "It’s also a massive inconvenience when my phone dies from my son watching YouTube, say while shopping, and that’s the only way I can pay if somewhere is cashless."

Many businesses and facilities have made the move to become cash-free in recent months.

Leybourne Lakes Country Park near Snodland revealed in January its cash payment facility would be removed.

Fremlin Walk car park in Earl Street, Maidstone, also became fully cashless last year, and the Rochester Riverside multi-storey car park became Medway's first cash-free car park in November.

Earlier this month a Thanet pub faced an outcry from residents after announcing on Facebook it would become cashless.

The Powell Arms pub in Birchington-on-Sea made the decision to "protect staff", according to owner Byron Hayter, who said it would reduce the temptation for theft.