Christmas Season 2024

[jon81uk]

The Trafford centre, Trentham Gardens, Churnet Valley Railway Polar Express, Lichfield cathedral, national memorial arboretum, Drayton manor, all on the doorstep for people around Alton. It’s cold, wet, dark and you want people of all ages young to old travel 30 mins minimum to get to your event. Why should they? You need a decent offering! Indoor F&B, good attractions, spaces to get warm, things for all ages, things you can’t do other times of year.

I think the competition from others is why they haven’t pushed Christmas heavily. AT found an event that works for them, the Santa Sleepover with places to keep warm in the hotel and it makes more money than day guests.

 

[rob666]

Very few people outside the thoosie clan would consider a trip to the Towers for a Christmas event for the day...it is a long way from anywhere, there are many real alternatives with far better transport links, and the park is generally associated with warmer weather.
Putting on an event for the few thoosies willing to trek all that way out is never going to be a money winner, whatever they put on.

 

[AT86]

Towers have opened up the Panto to passholders this year.

Tickets are £10pp.


From: https://www.instagram.com/p/DCg2SnJNgEl/?igsh=MXRneXJ3cDNtODhk

 

[djtruefitt]

Must mean hotel rooms aren’t selling too well. Wouldn’t surprise me if they open up grotto visits soon for paid guests.

 

[Ash]

Given events, even locally at Shugbrough, Trentham Gardens, The National Arboretum, Biddulph Grange, Polar Express at Churnet Valley or further afield at Warwick Castle, Blenheim Palace, Tatton Park, Bewilderwood or even Cheshire Oaks or the Trafford Centre.

Altons utterly pitiful offering over several years really does boggle the mind, and seems like just leaving money on the table.

A lot of the places above are historical buildings with light shows, water shows, ice rinks, markets, food and beverage, displays inside historical buildings etc etc. Given the excellent other events recently it seems a real backwards step

 

[AstroDan]

The event is appalling. Complete regression over recent years after threatening to get good during and just after Covid.

 

[jon81uk]

The event is appalling. Complete regression over recent years after threatening to get good during and just after Covid.

But is there any evidence they were actually making any money from day guests? I got the feeling it was a lot of annual passholders and the main money earner was still the hotel guests, same as it had been at the Christmas event for the last twenty years. I doubt any market stallholders made significant sums making it worth coming back.

 

[Squiggs]

Weirdly, there is now a price increase for day guests part way through the event. I'm not sure if it has been the case since the event originally went on sale, but tickets are now £18 up to the 22nd, but then switch to £22 from the 23rd.

Seems odd to have a price increase during such a short event either way, but even more bizarre that the price is now higher for days up to and after New Years, which as I understand it tend to be quieter anyway.