PLEASUREWOOD Hills is investing £180,000 in its facilities for the summer season.
The money is being spent upgrading soundproofing and the park's layout, and on new computer systems and conferencing facilities, along with a number of cosmetic improvements.
The attraction at Gunton in Lowestoft won 'Best Visitor Experience' award in the 2009 Tourism in Suffolk Awards, but its managers say they are keen to keep 'making progress' and developing its facilities.
One change will see the park's popular train re-routed to reduce noise and a new train station built to serve as access to a brand new nature trail, which will be launched next season.
A new till and computer system will be installed soon in an effort to make entering the park a more straightforward and streamlined process for visitors and park management.
New 'non-slip' flooring will be fitted at the park's fish restaurant, The Merry Mariner, and padding will be installed to help reduce noise from extreme thrill rides such as Wipeout and Enigma.
Meanwhile, The Palladium Theatre will be transformed into a new conference centre and be stripped to allow for improvments including a new suspended ceiling, a drop-down screen and the addition of brand new furniture. A marquee and barbecue area will also be developed at the rear of the park for special events such as birthday parties or large corporate team-building 'away-days'.
The Castle Theatre which is home to a number of popular entertainment shows, will also be improved with new ladies, gents and disabled toilets and another new suspended ceiling above.
The changes follow the arrival in March this year of Alexis Camelin, the park's general manager, who has already overseen the building of a new £55,000 children's play park
He said: “Pleasurewood Hills has long been a family favourite, coupled with the fact that it's the largest theme park in East Anglia. However, we are making progress in updating and enhancing the rides, attractions and eateries we already have in a bid to put the park on par with larger, family friendly parks such as Flamingo Land in Yorkshire. Pleasurewood Hills will continue to maintain its unique charm and friendliness, so we hope that people notice and enjoy the enhancements"
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I wonder if we can forget about a NEW RIDE next season..... thought he might have mentioned something??? Although, very nice to see money being spent.
-- Edited by andyb on Thursday 1st of July 2010 08:31:46 PM
It's great to see money being spent at the park, hopefully what with all this new investment going into the park, we should see a new ride coming along soon!
One change will see the park's popular train re-routed to reduce noise and a new train station built to serve as access to a brand new nature trail, which will be launched next season.
I would imagine thats the Miniature Railway then. If its going to have 2 stations, I hope they'll be running 2 trains on busy days (do they still have the second train?)
A new till and computer system will be installed soon in an effort to make entering the park a more straightforward and streamlined process for visitors and park management.
This sounds good to me. It always felt so old fashined they way you enter the park. Hopefully they'll change it to be similar to Alton/Thorpe etc. Buy your ticket, and then enter via turnstile by using your ticket.
and padding will be installed to help reduce noise from extreme thrill rides such as Wipeout and Enigma.
Padding? Huh? Is that for guests comfort? Padding on the restraints? And whats wrong with Enigma? Hardly any noise/screams comes from that.
Meanwhile, The Palladium Theatre will be transformed into a new conference centre and be stripped to allow for improvments including a new suspended ceiling, a drop-down screen and the addition of brand new furniture. A marquee and barbecue area will also be developed at the rear of the park for special events such as birthday parties or large corporate team-building 'away-days'.
At least it will now have a use. Good news.
The Castle Theatre which is home to a number of popular entertainment shows, will also be improved with new ladies, gents and disabled toilets and another new suspended ceiling above.
By suspended ceiling, do they mean upper tier seating?
put the park on par with larger, family friendly parks such as Flamingo Land in Yorkshire
That is VERY good to hear. Didn't like Flamingo too much, but it does have a LOT of rides, something which Pleasurewood lacks. So that is great to hear!
I believe that the Palladium Theatre is situated in the row of buildings near to Tales of the Coast. It is the first in the terrace of buildings that run between Tales of the Coast and Fairytale Fantasy. It was once a Music Hall, I think.
I believe that the Palladium Theatre is situated in the row of buildings near to Tales of the Coast. It is the first in the terrace of buildings that run between Tales of the Coast and Fairytale Fantasy. It was once a Music Hall, I think.
I don't think I've ever heard of it before!
I suppose these improvements really will make a difference when we visit the park, although I have no idea what this "padding" is supposed to be? How will it reduce noise? Really it's SING that needs to be looked at if they want to reduce noise.
Ah well, all these improvements are good news. Good to see the Castle Theatre is getting abit of a revamp, hopefully they will add new seats?
its great to see some ivestment into the park but if they are trying to get a park as big as flamingoland there is still a lot of work need to be done. they need 2 more thrill rides at least another big coaster and then some smaller family attractions
The Palladium was its old name when it used to be used as a theatre attrraction. I took me a while to remember which building it was.
As your walking past Timber Falls, its just on left, next to the toilets that are opposite Whizzy Dizzy (As you look towards the toilets from Whizzy, Flying Fish restaurant is on the rightside of them, and the Palladium is on the left.
You walk past the entrance as if you were going to where Cine180/Waltzers used to be.
The last thing I remember it being used for was some kind of Circus/Clown show, but that was years ago, and it has sat empty ever since. No signs or anything, so you'd never know what it was.
You walk past the entrance as if you were going to where Cine180/Waltzers used to be.
Was gonna say the same thing, I remember that building vividly and I remember years ago there always being a show on but I never wanted to go in as I didn't want to miss out on ride time!
Yeah that was the old Palladium Theatre. Now looks like a ship... the outside has been re-done this year.
Also, the miniature train now runs on some newer track nearer the pond I think... Possible site for a station maybe?
As for "suspended ceilings" Martyn, I think that simply means a false ceiling to disguise lighting and electric cables from the public's sight.
Again this is all cosmetics and improving of the park's infrastructure. But then, we have to remember and assume that Pleasurewood had been left the way it was for so long. Clearly somebody would have to come in and eventually improve the cosmetics and park infrastructure before anything else was done to it.
Now, with this taking place and some new ideas starting to be implemented they can work on building PWH up to something bigger and better.
There is no point jumping the gun, as much as we all want shiny new things - there's no point having them if the park isn't read for it yet. Clearly behind the scenes more needs to be done than meets the eye.
Yeah I totally agree with you mrbrightside, however, these behind the scene's improvements aren't going to bring in the guests, are they?
I all for improvements like this, after all, it is us, as entusiasts that look out for the little things. As they say, a little can go a long way. So in the long run, the improvements are good, but for now, there's sod all to bring the guests in to notice all the little improvements.
Also, the miniature train now runs on some newer track nearer the pond I think... Possible site for a station maybe?
The track ran past the pond/lake anyway?
I'm confused about this, I presumed the Miniature railway would be relocated out of the woods, so make room for the nature trail, but obviously not. Whats the need for a second station?
TBH I think a second station is a good idea, regardless of the nature trail. I've always wondered why they didn't build one near the dinosaurs, to help peeps get to the lake end of the park?
i think that they need something like that down that end and also i think i remember visiting that show as it always had a song on that i used to love singing, it was quite good
The trains need to be a bit more frequent / faster / more organised before anyone takes them as a serious mode of transport around park.
The big train has multiple stations but doesn't tend to ever have many people on it... The little one is slow and has a MASSIVE track but is obviously simply a ride...
Leaving the chairlift as the only way of getting from end to end without walking. And it's actually SLOWER that walking pace!
Train does seem to run on a newer looking track nearer the pond, which is near some building work around the lake, looks like it's for the nature trail!
