Fayre Play Founders Win Investment Offer In TV's Toughest Boardroom
Entrepreneurs Craig and Kasia Neilson won an offer of investment for their growing competitive socialising business, Fayre Play, on Dragons' Den — with the couple accepting an offer from Touker Suleyman during the episode, broadcast on Friday 25 September and available now on BBC iPlayer.
The husband-and-wife co-founders pitched their unique fairground games experience to the panel, telling the story of a business founded in 2023 with the aim of bringing the nostalgia and competitiveness of the traditional fairground into a modern social environment.
Fayre Play has grown to become an established name in competitive socialising, welcoming over 300,000 customers across its venues in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle. The Newcastle venue, which opened at The Gate in 2025, is the brand's first location outside Scotland and forms part of Fayre Play's wider expansion plans.
Craig Neilson, Co-Founder of Fayre Play, said:
"Walking into the Den was one of the most nerve-wracking things Kasia and I have ever done, but also one of the most exciting.
"We've built Fayre Play from an idea into a business that has welcomed hundreds of thousands of people through our doors, and getting the opportunity to put that story in front of the Dragons was huge for us.
"To walk out with an offer on the table from an investor of Touker's calibre was an incredible moment — the strongest validation we could have asked for of what we've built. We've got big ambitions for where we take the business next."
Kasia Neilson, Co-Founder of Fayre Play, said:
"The response has been overwhelming — our comms haven't stopped. We built Fayre Play from scratch as an independent business, and seeing the public get behind what we've created means everything. We're focused now on delivering an unforgettable experience for every single person who books."
The appearance follows a period of significant growth for Fayre Play, with the business continuing to expand its customer base, corporate offering and venue footprint, and it is now in planning for its busiest festive season to date.
