• ℹ️ Heads up...

    This is a popular topic that is fast moving Guest - before posting, please ensure that you check out the first post in the topic for a quick reminder of guidelines, and importantly a summary of the known facts and information so far. Thanks.

Drayton Manor Park

Annual reports are available through Companies House

EDIT:
For reference their going concern statement suggests struggling cash flow and the need of an additional overdraft
 
Last edited:
If Drayton had a big investor, it's probably the one park which could destroy Towers. It's certainly easy enough to get to.

They need good marketing to go with it though. Drayton is probably one of the only parks in the UK I rarely see advertised anywhere.
 
I think they may really focus their advertising geographically. I live about 20mins away and it feels like they really ramped up marketing on local radio towards the end of the summer, lots of adverts on for the fireworks display (and currently for the Magical Christmas)

I'm guessing no coaster but anyone know if they're planning anything new for next year?
 
ClaraCat said:
I'm guessing no coaster but anyone know if they're planning anything new for next year?
Click to expand...

They're getting (another) new Thomas Land flat, probably from Zamperla. Not sure if it has been confirmed exactly what it is or not.

:)
 
It feels like the park kind of exists these days because it's been there for decades, if they were starting out building a new park this year, you could probably profit more out of just building/operating a slightly larger Thomas Land.
 
Well yes Thomas Land is their biggest crowd puller and has saved the park. However it does rather feel now like they're putting all their eggs in one basket. Much of the park could seriously do with some major investment. Ben 10 and one flat ride is all it's had in the past five years and the last major thrill coaster was in 2005 (and was rubbish). Surely a decent quality woodie or some sort of launch coaster with a lower height restriction would appeal to a much wider audience whilst still not neglecting their key family demographic.
 
Enter Valhalla said:
Well yes Thomas Land is their biggest crowd puller and has saved the park. However it does rather feel now like they're putting all their eggs in one basket. Much of the park could seriously do with some major investment. Ben 10 and one flat ride is all it's had in the past five years and the last major thrill coaster was in 2005 (and was rubbish). Surely a decent quality woodie or some sort of launch coaster with a lower height restriction would appeal to a much wider audience whilst still not neglecting their key family demographic.
Click to expand...
Potentially - but a single year's maintenance budget for a woodie or an Intamin launched coaster would probably pay for six or seven Zamperla junior rides outright! I am just not convinced the return is there for Drayton at this stage. What's there is fine and pays its way, but to expand the main park is not the most sensible option when it comes down to cold hard cash. They've demonstrated that relentlessly recently.

I'd quite like to see as Star Flyer at Drayton, but perhaps that's too similar to the Flying Dutchman.

I've been to Drayton so many times where the line for Shockwave is a third of what it is for Troublesome trucks and when Shockwave is running a single train, the capacity is perhaps not too dissimilar!
 
Risk and reward. I would love to see Drayton take a risk on a decent thrill coaster, market it well whilst Towers are down and not installing such a ride, and hopefully reap the rewards. If there was ever a time for them to take such a risk, now is that time.

Places like Europa-Park didn't get where they are today without massive risks that would have shut the place down had they back fired.

:)
 
Rob said:
Places like Europa-Park didn't get where they are today without massive risks that would have shut the place down had they back fired.
Click to expand...
Europa Park got where they are today, in part because they can purchase the bulk of their portfolio at cost from their parent company and Germany is extremely tax friendly in the tourism field. Also, Germany is a very different market to the UK.

The UK market is saturated. Drayton have found a good area to operate in and it's working well for them.

Coaster nerd head - "build build build"
Business head - "feed and water what's working for you"

Rob said:
Risk and reward. I would love to see Drayton take a risk on a decent thrill coaster, market it well whilst Towers are down and not installing such a ride, and hopefully reap the rewards. If there was ever a time for them to take such a risk, now is that time.
Click to expand...
But that doesn't make any sense - not least because there's a two - three year planning cycle in place and this is often extended due to the pesky planners at Drayton. Also, when Alton does recover - you then end up with two businesses competing for the same thrill market who are relative neighbours.

Only one business would come out on top (again) - spoiler alert, it isn't Drayton.
 
Last edited:
I know that there are vast differences. They did take massive risks though - Mack Rides came extremely close to bankruptcy and was only saved by Blue Fire being a success. Most other companies would have just shut down the company but as a family business they persisted as they did not want to lose the family history, took a risk on a new concept for them and now look where they are.

My point was more that risks can pay off and I feel now would be a great time for Drayton to take one. I don't think they will and I can't blame them for it but it would be great to see.

And anyway, as a coaster forum you can't blame us for wanting them to build coasters even if it doesn't make perfect sense! :p

:)
 
Rob said:
Risk and reward. I would love to see Drayton take a risk on a decent thrill coaster, market it well whilst Towers are down and not installing such a ride, and hopefully reap the rewards. If there was ever a time for them to take such a risk, now is that time.

Places like Europa-Park didn't get where they are today without massive risks that would have shut the place down had they back fired.

:)
Click to expand...

Except, even though the incident was at Alton Towers, there is a slight perception currently that coasters are dangerous so I don't think Drayton can jump into the time while AT is down.

But I do think Drayton needs to do something big and wow everyone, that isn't a thrill ride. Maybe a re-do of Pirates would be a good start.
 
^ Absolutely @Rob, I love riding coasters as much as anyone else here, but I follow the industry and the business within in more than I am bothered about coasters, I guess.

And @jon81uk, I agree entirely. I think the problem with Drayton is that everytime they do something in Thomas Land it seems to be an absolute home run, but they've really not had that level of success in the main park. They have as many dropped balls as they do home runs.

They spent so much money on Excalibur and it just didn't work out for them - great idea but a mechanical nightmare. G-Force looked great on paper but it's a pretty sucky ride if you ask a coaster nerd, although it seems to be quite well received by the wider audience (and that's what matters).

The strangest addition at Drayton for me was the Drunken Barrels - that feels like it was the last of a breed.
 
Drunken Barrels was a stopgap since they had to get rid of their Enterprise (which is now at Thorpe)... Noise complaints were a big issue at Drayton a while back...

Excalibur is (was?) awful, did they really spend that much on it? Then again tow-boat rides (or mainly their theming) is difficult to fix and maintain on a regular basis...

G-Force is probably better than Klondike (and would be actually rideable if they fixed the restraints crushing everyone and a second train)...

It's a shame that the rest of the park is seemingly suffering due to the success of Thomas Land, Paultons is starting to expand the rest of the park based off Peppa Pig World, Drayton should start doing the same...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top