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Drayton Manor Park

The problem with a coaster going outside the Pirate Adventure building is that it would almost certainly never get past the planners. That area of the park is the closest part of the park to the deer park housing estate in Fazely / Mile Oak.

Anything substantial there would never get through planning unfortunately.
Oh that's annoying. I just think that it would be a wasted opportunity for the park to not even look into it. I'd be happy with a new dark ride too though.
 
I think with the building been seen from every area in the park and having 2 other rides+ the Bounty themed to suit Pirate Cove I can’t see any other theme used in the building. I just looked at the auction pictures again and scenes roughly where the bar is still in place when the pictures were taken in Dec/Jan 2020. Even the air gates are still in place.
 
I think with the building been seen from every area in the park and having 2 other rides+ the Bounty themed to suit Pirate Cove I can’t see any other theme used in the building. I just looked at the auction pictures again and scenes roughly where the bar is still in place when the pictures were taken in Dec/Jan 2020. Even the air gates are still in place.

@Themeparksandy1981 Where can I find the photos? I would love to see them. Judging by the photos do you think that Pirate Adventure will or could return?
 
I am intrigued to see what comes of their ' five-year strategic plan that sees many new and exciting rides and themed areas being phased in.' Next year signals year two.

That is their words not mine, as they look for a Projects Assistant.

So the question now firmly falls on what will we see next year? I am still of the opinion that we will see a family coaster of some sort arrive within the next 4 years. Possible Pirate Adventure replacement.

The only issue I see with something substantial going into Pirate Adventure building is that we as the UK have no real themed entertainment companies left. They are all gone or hugely watered down to what they were. I struggle to see a company in the UK to be able to take on a project as large as that. I hope I am wrong though

Yes the park have re themed the rapids and spruced up their other dark rides, but that is built on mostly what was there before. Nothing really substantial theming wise has been added to any project. This further supports my point that the themed entertainment industry and the highly developed skills that come with it, are now mostly gone in the UK and have been for well over a decade.

Without going international, the only company that really does this now in the UK is Merlin, the rest of the industry has dissolved. Farmer and Space Leisure are still around, but are a shadow of their former selves I believe.
 
The only issue I see with something substantial going into Pirate Adventure building is that we as the UK have no real themed entertainment companies left. They are all gone or hugely watered down to what they were. I struggle to see a company in the UK to be able to take on a project as large as that. I hope I am wrong though

Yes the park have re themed the rapids and spruced up their other dark rides, but that is built on mostly what was there before. Nothing really substantial theming wise has been added to any project. This further supports my point that the themed entertainment industry and the highly developed skills that come with it, are now mostly gone in the UK and have been for well over a decade.

Without going international, the only company that really does this now in the UK is Merlin, the rest of the industry has dissolved. Farmer and Space Leisure are still around, but are a shadow of their former selves I believe.
Do they necessarily have to stick to UK expertise, though? There are many foreign companies who do great theming; MK Themed Attractions, Leisure Expert Group (used to be known as Jora Vision), Universal Rocks and P&P Projects are ones based in Europe who still do a fair bit, to name just a few, and looking further afield to the USA, companies like PGAV Destinations, Falcon’s Treehouse and FORREC still do plenty of theming work.

This is the first I’ve heard of a “5-year strategic plan”, though; it sounds very exciting! I’m assuming that started with Adventure Cove in 2021?
 
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So the question now firmly falls on what will we see next year?
Yes that's the question. I don't know but I suspect it'll be something fairly small but worth while. Probably another flat ride?
I am still of the opinion that we will see a family coaster of some sort arrive within the next 4 years. Possible Pirate Adventure replacement.
I agree and I do think Looping must have looked it at in a 5 year strategy. I suspect we'll see a big coaster and a pirates adventure replacement and they might well be the same ride (I wouldn't complain).
 
Do they necessarily have to stick to UK expertise, though? There are many foreign companies who do great theming; MK Themed Attractions, Leisure Expert Group (used to be known as Jora Vision), Universal Rocks and P&P Projects are ones based in Europe who still do a fair bit, to name just a few, and looking further afield to the USA, companies like PGAV Destinations, Falcon’s Treehouse and FORREC still do plenty of theming work.

This is the first I’ve heard of a “5-year strategic plan”, though; it sounds very exciting! I’m assuming that started with Adventure Cove in 2021?

No, no they do not have to stick to UK but in these times of Brexit, all the massive issues surrounding that. Costs of pulling in from overseas will be massively more expensive than what it would have been, it would never have been the cheaper option anyway, but with Brexit this is made even worse. It would be more manageable for a smaller attraction, but the Pirate Adventure building and ride system is quite a big, so it would cost quite a lot to theme at the best of times. I guess it comes down to the fact of how much money they would be willing to spend, Which we do not know. So never say never.

As for the 5 year plan, they mention it here in the link below, also on their own website.
Drayton Manor Theme Park jobs and careers | Indeed.com

But clearly, with this new job role, they are planning quite a bit of work I would imagine, small or large, but work non the less. So much work they want their own inhouse person to help manage it.
 
This is a new coaster the looping group added in 1 of there international parks.

maybe that sort of coaster but longer could fit into the pirate adventure building and theme it to a pirate town.
 
This is a new coaster the looping group added in 1 of there international parks.

maybe that sort of coaster but longer could fit into the pirate adventure building and theme it to a pirate town.


It would fit the target market nicely, but I really hope a coaster does not go in there. The limited size of the building would severely cripple it imo.

Either bring back a Pirate based water dark ride or flatten the whole thing I say. Ye-Har!
 
I seem to remember hearing that it was once their intention to turn PA into a Thomas-themed water dark ride. Maybe they could resurrect that plan?

Don’t get me wrong, I’d prefer a non-Thomas ride, but that’s just an idea I have that might work.
 
I seem to remember hearing that it was once their intention to turn PA into a Thomas-themed water dark ride. Maybe they could resurrect that plan?

Don’t get me wrong, I’d prefer a non-Thomas ride, but that’s just an idea I have that might work.
Yeah I heard something similar: A thomas soft play area. Now personally I doubt that very much and I have no evidence just something I heard.
LIke you I'd much rather it be non-thomas and preferably pirates. The area around it is still themed to pirates so it would be a nice addition.
 
Yeah I heard something similar: A thomas soft play area. Now personally I doubt that very much and I have no evidence just something I heard.
LIke you I'd much rather it be non-thomas and preferably pirates. The area around it is still themed to pirates so it would be a nice addition.

They already have a Thomas themed soft play area. A stones throw from the old PA entrance. Ontop of the old ghost train site

There were rumours of them possibly re theming the boat ride to Thomas about 10 to 12 years ago. But they were just that, rumours. But you never know what could happen with the new owners.
 
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