Hmm guest spend is down? I wonder why..... lets see.... Wages havent kept up with inflation and many have found their wages have gone down in real terms, not up.
Towers admission price is now close to £50
Then there is he £6 parking charge
Fast track tickets are more expensive (a neccessity on busy days to get on everything)
And food and drink prices continue to rise.
No wonder people are now taking their own food and drink. I remember back in the 90's when the park had nothing but company owned eateries. Poor quality food at high prices and no competition. Nearly everyone took their own food and drink.
Then around 2000 they introduced McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut amongst their own outlets, and more people ate on park as choice was better, and prices became reasonable.
Now, we see the park returning back to the 90's with no independant outlets, all Merlin owned food outlets, and of course, with no alternative and no competition, of course, the prices will go up.
When I now visit the park, I am seeing a LOT more people with their own food, and walking around with cooler boxes etc.
Putting up prices yet again is hardly going to get more people to eat in their outlets. I used to love Pizza Pasta, but no way am I paying £10.95 now, or even £8.95 with my AP discount.