Interview with Park Manager - Alexis Camelin

Martyn · Passionate about Pleasurewood

Interview with Park Manager - Alexis Camelin

Martyn · Passionate about Pleasurewood

Quite a good listen really, here's some snippets

He confirms that the Drop tower is planned for next year, though it was originally supposed to open this summer (he doesn't actually mention drop tower, just 'mega' ride)

New owners plan to invest £2.5m over next 3 years

Park used to get over 500,000 visitors in early 90's, now its just over 225,000

Sounds like he likes the large open spaces in the park (he does give a good reason to be honest, but there is still TOO much open space)

"2 additional 'mega' rides over the next 2/3 years"

After the little chat at the start, the interview then turns to his childhood etc. The next time they mention the park is from 2:42ish.

Josh · Passionate about Pleasurewood

Cheers for posting that Martyn, it was quite interesting. £2.5m is good but I doubt we'll be seeing a new coaster at any time soon. I wonder what they have planned and how much the drop tower will set them back, interesting times ahead.

What is interesting is the gate figures, especially since the latest TEA report has just emerged. I would love to see the park get back up to the level of the early 90s and beyond and hopefully the new investment will help them to do that. What surprised me most on the TEA report was that Flamingland gets 1,400,000 visitors a year! That is phenomenal for a park like that and goes to show that investing in impressive rides does attract more punters (although I'm not sure of the park figures 10 years ago so point there could be completely moot).

-- Edited by Josh on Saturday 18th of June 2011 12:46:56 AM

Martyn · Passionate about Pleasurewood

I have mixed feeling about it really. Whilst it is great that there is to be 2 "mega" rides coming over the next 2/3 years, £2.5m isn't that much for 3 years investment.

Another thing I didn't like was the attitude towards the future of the park. I/we all know PWH will never be anything like Alton Towers, but it sounds like he's happy to keep PWH as a little park for the locals, and the holiday makers. That to me isn't good enough, as a business they should always be aiming at the highest level, and I would have thought they would at least want to start attracting people from further afield. But that isn't the case, and they're happy for the park to plod along as it is, which is disappointing to be honest.

coolskin · Passionate about Pleasurewood

Martyn wrote:
I have mixed feeling about it really. Whilst it is great that there is to be 2 "mega" rides coming over the next 2/3 years, £2.5m isn't that much for 3 years investment.

Another thing I didn't like was the attitude towards the future of the park. I/we all know PWH will never be anything like Alton Towers, but it sounds like he's happy to keep PWH as a little park for the locals, and the holiday makers. That to me isn't good enough, as a business they should always be aiming at the highest level, and I would have thought they would at least want to start attracting people from further afield. But that isn't the case, and they're happy for the park to plod along as it is, which is disappointing to be honest.

This interview is quite old now, it certanily was not done in the last couple of weeks.

You have good points Martyn yet the problem with the park and indeed all other attractions in Norfolk and Suffolk certanily - is the roads, we have no decent connections to any major routes which does prevent people from travelling up and being a tourist here. All the other theme parks in the UK have motorways nearby etc and faster access.

Useing the A12 from Ipswich to Lowestoft and back the other day is so painful, things are slightly better comeing in from Norwich then into Great Yarmouth.

The final problem the park will always have is the local residents and the moans and groans, fingers crossed we get the new drop tower yet like Wipeout I suspect it will be complained about to WDC and PWH for many seasons to come.....

Jools · Serious Squawker

To be fair, all theme parks get the same problem with locals, but imo it's their problem not the parks problem. AND WOO IPSWICH XD

Martyn · Passionate about Pleasurewood

This interview is quite old now, it certanily was not done in the last couple of weeks

He was live on air last Tuesday 14th June. It comes up with the date if you click on the link to listen to it.

The final problem the park will always have is the local residents and the moans and groans, fingers crossed we get the new drop tower yet like Wipeout I suspect it will be complained about to WDC and PWH for many seasons to come.....

There is ways around that though. For example, that bottom end of the park which is closest to the residents cold be home to a little farm area, an indoor coaster and something like a ferris wheel. And they can easily get away with building whatever they want up the other end of park. A Gerstlauer Launch coaster on the Go Karts site would be fantastic, and is realistic as they are the 'lower budget' launch coaster, also, they're very quiet too.

Also, isn't the A12 a major connection road to the M25?

coolskin · Passionate about Pleasurewood

Martyn wrote:
This interview is quite old now, it certanily was not done in the last couple of weeks

He was live on air last Tuesday 14th June. It comes up with the date if you click on the link to listen to it.

The final problem the park will always have is the local residents and the moans and groans, fingers crossed we get the new drop tower yet like Wipeout I suspect it will be complained about to WDC and PWH for many seasons to come.....

There is ways around that though. For example, that bottom end of the park which is closest to the residents cold be home to a little farm area, an indoor coaster and something like a ferris wheel. And they can easily get away with building whatever they want up the other end of park. A Gerstlauer Launch coaster on the Go Karts site would be fantastic, and is realistic as they are the 'lower budget' launch coaster, also, they're very quiet too.

Also, isn't the A12 a major connection road to the M25?

Yes I got this bit wrong, there was a different interview done I think April time. This one here on the Iplayer was a live interview in the Norwich studio.

Yes the A12 is to a degree, yet it is not a fast road once you hit Ipswich travelling up. I have done Lowestoft to Thorpe park in around 3hours before

Yet if you compare Great Yarmouth pleasurebeach with Blackpool, the quality of rides and the road systems up north are much much better.