Drayton Manor

Engage with like-minded members and discuss the world of theme parks and attractions here.
User avatar
PhNx Survivor
Member
Member
Posts: 433
Joined: Sat Nov 17, 2012 11:03 am
Location: - Unknown -

Sad times.. that ride had a very unique element that only a handful of coasters have in the world.. will definitely miss that lift, and the tight as hell top hat! such a shame, but hopefully Drayton can pull something out that is reliable and a thrilling family ride
“A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one”
User avatar
Zac
Member
Member
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat Jan 02, 2010 12:43 pm
Location: Walsall

Any News on this years new attraction, I feel Drayton has seen little investment over the last few years.......
User avatar
SNCoasters
New Member
New Member
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2018 8:37 pm

I know that Drayton Manor was going to be getting an S&S launched coaster in the next few years, but that that was cancelled because of uncertainty in the value of the pound over Brexit.

Drayton have said that they have no intention of trying to change their target market, so it looks like we’ll probably be getting some more family rides, or perhaps another expansion to Thomas land.
User avatar
abigsmurf
Member
Member
Posts: 450
Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2012 11:01 am

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-50088642

There's going to be a criminal prosecution over the girl who died on the ride. Unless there are facts which haven't been made public, this seems a stupid prosecution. She was standing up on a ride where you're told to stay in your seats, that had been running for 25 years without an incident.  What are they supposed to do, have staff standing every 25m on the million to one chance someone falls out? Seatbelts on rapids rides are dubious given rafts have flipped in the past.

This could be pretty dire for the future of the park too.
User avatar
PhNx Survivor
Member
Member
Posts: 433
Joined: Sat Nov 17, 2012 11:03 am
Location: - Unknown -

A day or 2 old, but news none the less.. mixed feelings about this to be honest. Shame to see it go.

Credit: Theme Park Worldwide
“A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one”
User avatar
Dan
Member
Member
Posts: 2339
Joined: Tue Jun 23, 2009 9:08 pm

It appears Drayton Manor have been hit hard by the recent storms, going by this post on their Facebook page.

Image
Image
User avatar
Coaster Chall
Member
Member
Posts: 178
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2018 6:54 pm
Location: Doncaster

That's very unfortunate. Hopefully they can get back on their feet from this and open up their new season in style
User avatar
cubwolf
New Member
New Member
Posts: 34
Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2012 5:44 pm
Location: Leicester

Interesting development it seems Mellors who own Fantasy Island may be getting involved in Drayton Manor https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/comp ... ng-history
User avatar
Coaster Chall
Member
Member
Posts: 178
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2018 6:54 pm
Location: Doncaster

It seems like Drayton Manor is going into administration and it is rumoured that Mellors are not taking over now. Sad times indeed

https://riderater.co.uk/8332/drayton-ma ... istration/
User avatar
Coaster Chall
Member
Member
Posts: 178
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2018 6:54 pm
Location: Doncaster

Never mind, we have a new owner which is The Looping Group, known for parks like Avonturenpark Hellendoorn, Fort Fun Abenteuerland, Bagatelle, Mer de Sable and UK theme parks Pleasurewood Hills and West Midlands Safari Park.

https://www.draytonmanor.co.uk/blog/dra ... ing-group/
User avatar
PhNx Survivor
Member
Member
Posts: 433
Joined: Sat Nov 17, 2012 11:03 am
Location: - Unknown -

Thank god! Great news indeed
“A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one”
User avatar
Morgan
Member
Member
Posts: 1594
Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2014 12:22 pm
Location: Altonville Mines

Good news! Although the Looping Group don't have a lot to their name (some of their major parks include Pleasurewood Hills and Bagatelle in France), it's certainly great to see that someone is stepping in and will hopefully invest a little. I last visited Drayton Manor in 2018 and, whilst it's got some nice parts, it does feel very sparse. Whilst it's safe to assume there probably won't be any huge rides on their way just yet, this news is welcome.

Also pleased to see the Bryan family will still be involved; sad that they no longer own the place outright, but at least they can still help run their park.
User avatar
abigsmurf
Member
Member
Posts: 450
Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2012 11:01 am

Going into administration then immediately getting new owners... Lots of suppliers are going to lose a lot of money.

Still, good news for the park. If they want a cheap and easy way of getting a new ride, it would be neat if they repurposed the pirates adventure...
User avatar
The Nemesis Fox
Member
Member
Posts: 79
Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2016 3:15 pm

Apocalypse has appeared up for sale on Interlink with Pandemonium and what seems like Vertigo potentially also. Whilst the pics are not of Apocalypse, the stats prove that it is.

Another thing to note is there is also the B&M Batman Invert from Kuwait Entertainment City listed - unrelated.
User avatar
Chris
Admin
Admin
Posts: 2645
Joined: Sun Mar 16, 2003 8:38 pm
Location: London
Contact:

Yeah we saw this. I do hope that if the owners are going ahead with the sale of such important assets, they have a very good contingency plan in place...
User avatar
Rob
Admin
Admin
Posts: 2409
Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2005 8:05 pm
Location: Glasgow

Drayton Manor has today been fined £1m after admitting breaching section 3 of the Health and Safety at work act following the tragic death of Evha Jannath on the Splash Canyon river rapids ride in May 2017.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-s ... e-56426318
Post Reply