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Drayton Manor Park

I wonder if there is anything left of Pirate Adventure now. I would pay a small fortune to have one last look inside and at splash canyon. Lot of nostalgia. Does anyone know if Sombrero ride is working anywhere? What happened to Vertigo?
 
pluk said:
Was it discovered/released how Europa fire started then? I missed that. Interesting.
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It was mostly reported to have started from a facility at Fjord rafting, seems like the actual cause was never published. Some reports say it was a "fault" in a storage/facilities room, they probably mean a plant room like an electrical station. I wonder how it spread, maybe because it started in a building that staff don't often go to it wasn't noticed until too late.
 
AT86 said:
This could well fit in with the recent news of Mellors becoming involved.

‘Pre-pack’ administrations are pretty common these days. I.e. going into administration with a buyer already lined up, the debt is wiped off and remaining assets purchased by the new owner.
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It looks like the Bryan family have now set up a new limited company called DMP Newco Ltd, does this mean they might keep the park?

https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/12780482
 
lozzalol said:
It looks like the Bryan family have now set up a new limited company called DMP Newco Ltd, does this mean they might keep the park?

https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/12780482
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They could well do. Nothing stopping them, this is what the owners of M&D’s did a few weeks back.

I wonder what this means for any prosecution against DMP for the Rapids incident. I think if the company that ran the park at the time has gone bust then they couldn’t be fined.
 
I believe JD sports Group recently did this with Go outdoors. Filed for administration and bought it back a cut price wiping the debt away. It amazes me really that this practice is allowed. It screams dodginess.

Its basically only putting a plaster on a gaping hole though if that's what their plan is. Can't see the park recovering even under their newco. They still will have the same issues. No money, a tired looking park, tragic accident hanging over them etc.
 
The big difference between Drayton Manor and all theses other little parks is that they may have debts but the assets of everything will be worth maybe 500 million so the owners can still walk away from the park with a nice profit.
They are currently in the process of been sold there a lot of management walking round the park today
 
Lots of dodgy companies do the old liquidate a failing and debt ridden business and then re-open it under a different name technique. For some reason British law allows it which has always seemed odd. Basically a pretty fresh start but hang your creditors out to dry and stick 2 fingers up at everyone else instead of taking the hit yourself for being a failure.

Mostly associated with dodgy shops and car dealerships however but many unscrupulous owners of bigger companies do it too. It absolutely stinks. Not that I'm saying that DMP are doing this though as I don't have all of the facts, just in-case you DMP lawyers are reading this!
 
Five hundred million...really?
Maybe new retail...but in a "going bust sale", maybe ten million in valuable assests when nobody is buying because of covid.
 
According to Ride Rater, there are unconfirmed reports that Mellors are no longer involved with Drayton Manor and/or wanting to buy it, so I’m presuming that may be why the park is intending to/has filed for administration: https://riderater.co.uk/8332/drayton-manor-going-into-administration/

This is very sad, especially seeing as the park has been owned by the same family for the past 70 years, but I suppose the writing may have been on the wall as soon as COVID happened, even perhaps before.

According to RideRater’s article, the park lost £1.8m in the year leading up to February 2019, and £3.9m leading up to February 2018, so the debts are certainly piling up somewhat. Storm Dennis and the damage that inflicted likely set them back a bit, and that’s forgetting the 3-month COVID closure.

And there’s also the fall in visitor figures that happened post-Splash Canyon, and the ensuing struggle to fund even small things (is it true that they couldn’t pay £250,000 to repair G Force’s trains, which is why the ride closed?). Out of interest, does anyone know what sort of ballpark Drayton Manor’s guest figures are in these days? I seem to remember reading that they got nearly 1.5 million guests a year pre-Splash Canyon, and their park capacity, at 14,000, is actually the same as Thorpe Park’s, so they are no small entity by any means; relatively large as far as non-Merlin parks go.

I personally think the park could be very successful with some clever investment and marketing, and I wish the family & the administrators they appoint the best of luck in turning around the business.
 
This has been sent out to staff this evening. If what is said is true. Then good news.

This is an exclusive email. You wont see this anywhere but on here at the moment.

I'm not sure if this sort of thing is allowed on here. I apologise if it is not. But it is probably the most reliable and accurate piece of news on the situation right now. As it has come from Drayton Manor themselves.

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Hopefully we get an announcement of the Mellors investment tomorrow.
 
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In the current economic circumstances, any prospective buyer would need nerves of steel.
I had some of my finest work experiences with the young people in my care at Drayton, often used as the "golden goal" in merit schemes over a full year...at the kids request.
They stay in touch and still go on about our midnight strolls round the rides from the camp site, the security guy on the front gate was amazing, greeted us personally every year for about a decade..."Here come the northern naughty boys..."
 
I said earlier while I was at the park I saw William Bryan walking round the park with lots of business men/women. The staff were on there A game today with loading/unloading of each ride Guests didn’t have to queue long and if a ride went down maintenance was straight on it.
I notice that the Shockwave train wasn’t in the station as it must be having major problems with getting parts for the train.
 
Someone I know told me they heard that the Mellors deal didn't go through, but we'll see what happens.
 
Really hope they can keep Drayton Manor going. It had potential to be more popular than Thorpe Park I think but seemed to be running out of luck quite often.
 
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