Closure of Hulabaloos in Wymondham leaves worker shocked

Steph Neffie Cooper worked as a senior play assistant at Hulabaloos in Wymondham until receiving a phone call last Friday that the company had gone into liquidation and her job had been made redundant without prior notice. 

Ms Cooper, 34, had worked at the children's play and party centre for nearly three years and was unaware that the company was facing any financial issues. 

Hulabaloos closed suddenly last week (Image: Archant)

"I am absolutely gutted, it was all really sudden," she said.

"The week before last my manager was assuring us all was well and then days later they told us over the phone 'that was it' and to cease trading by the end of the day."

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Hulabaloos was owned by Alpha Leisure Services which also owned and operated several nurseries around the county. 

Last month Alpha announced all of its nurseries would be closed with immediate effect, leaving families in crisis as they searched for last-minute replacement childcare. 

Steph Neffie Cooper (left) was shocked by the sudden loss of her job (Image: Steph Neffie Cooper)

All attempts to contact head office since have gone unheard, leaving Ms Cooper feeling left in the dark.

"We've had no communication at all - no response to any contact," she said. 

The sudden closure garnered a similar reception on social media where people who had parties booked were left confused and uncertain over whether they would be refunded. 

Ms Cooper added: "This job was my everything and now this has happened.

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"The small team we had made some amazing memories there, spending hours hand painting murals on the walls and really filling it with love.

"It will be very, very greatly missed by many people."

Alpha Leisure has been approached for comment.