Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Pleasurewood Place Message Board -> Other UK Theme Parks -> Loudoun Castle Closes...
Post Info TOPIC: Loudoun Castle Closes...
andyb


Exceptionally Expressive

Status: Offline
Posts: 612
Date: 21:54 Oct 3, 2010
Loudoun Castle Closes...
Permalink  

The Loudoun Castle theme park, which boasted 25 fairground rides, has shut permanently after the owner said the park “was no longer economically viable”.

The closure will see 11 full-time and more 100 seasonal part-time posts axed.

Dutch owner Henk Bembom blamed a looming VAT increase, bad weather and the rise in publicly-funded tourist attractions for his decision to shut the 600-acre park, near Galston, Ayrshire,

The theme park, which has been owned by Mr Bembom for seven years, is popular with families from all over the West of Scotland and beyond.

It has the UKs biggest portable rollercoaster among its many rides, an animal park for younger visitors, restaurants and cafes as well as daily diving shows.

Last year the Galston site played host to Europe’s biggest celebration of 80s music – Retrofest, after a late switch from Glasgow.

Acts such as ABC, Gloria Gaynor, Midge Ure and Showaddywaddy played to a crowd of thousands in August.

But even that left the owners out of pocket after the organisers went to the wall.

Mr Bembom, 52, said today: “I would like to thank all our staff for their unwavering loyalty and support over the years.”

The Dutchman – who reportedly invested £9 million at Loudoun – told staff and the local authority the site was shutting down earlier this week.

Council bosses have held a meeting with Mr Bembom in an attempt to come up with a rescue package to save some, or all of the threatened jobs.

The council’s planning chief, Alan Neish, said: “Countless families have enjoyed this major attraction over the years and we are heartened to learn that Mr Bembom plans to take the park in a new direction.

“We look forward to discussing his new proposals in the near future.”

A spokesman for VisitScotland said the closure was “disappointing”.

But East Ayrshire Council council claimed Mr Bembom was not pulling out and that luxury holiday lodges could now be built in the grounds of the country park.

Taken from Evening Times


----------------------

The tower ride which used to be at Pleasureland Southport, the one which PWH were reported to be interested in went here.....

GO GO GO for it!



__________________

2nd-place.jpg

Your Biggest Day Out - Ever!
Matt


pleasurewoodplace.com

Status: Offline
Posts: 1042
Date: 22:39 Oct 3, 2010
LOUDON CASTLE CLOSES.....
Permalink  

Very interesting. As mentioned in the history section of Unofficial Pleasurewood, a lot of the attractions in the early years of Pleasurewood Hills were provided by a company owned by Henk Bembom.

Could the visitors of today appreciate the return of the Tempest (or the Black Pearl as it is known at Loudoun Castle)? The visitors who left comments in the Bring it Back section (at U.P.) certainly seem keen to see it again! I think the drop tower might be the better option but this is certainly an opportunity for the owners of Pleasurewood Hills. I agree, GO GO GO!!


__________________
MattyH


Passionate about Pleasurewood

Status: Offline
Posts: 1685
Date: 09:14 Oct 4, 2010
Permalink  

if the rides are cheap enough and pwh have enough money why not buy both?

__________________

Total inversions for 2015: 54
Martyn


Passionate about Pleasurewood

Status: Offline
Posts: 4996
Date: 16:09 Oct 4, 2010
Permalink  

this is certainly an opportunity for the owners of Pleasurewood Hills

Yes it is, but will they capatalise on it? No. Will any small park in this Country take advantage? Most probably not.

Loudoun was the only park that would take advantage in this situation, thats why they had so many classic, awsome attractions.

On the other hand, Fireball maybe up for sale for the Tower to go in its place....After all there's been a large tower ride in that spot (Eye in the Sky) before, so planning shouldn't be too hard to obtain... (Its a long shot, I know!lol)

But one other thing, we've had the exact same news about Camelot and Pleasure Island recently, so until it actually happens, anything can happen.

__________________
Martyn


Passionate about Pleasurewood

Status: Offline
Posts: 4996
Date: 16:12 Oct 4, 2010
Permalink  

I remember when I spoke to Denise @ Pleasurewood before Wipeout was confirmed, she said they were toying between a rollercoaster that goes forwards & backwards, and a a tower ride!!

The Milk Churn at Loudoun is also an ex-Pleasurewood ride, as well as that horrible globe/waveswinger thing.

__________________
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Pleasurewood Place Message Board -> Other UK Theme Parks -> Loudoun Castle Closes...
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse 		Powered by ActiveBoard