Stargazing Pods

[AltonBuzz]

Back to the "Barrels", I honestly don't see the logic. It doesn't seem like many others can either. I think that they could be an alternative budget accommodation option, because there is no way that people would pay the same prices as the hotels or lodges for these small "pods". Also, the need for a separate shower and toilet building is interesting — could it mean that the pods themselves won't have these facilities? If they don't, then that's definitely another reason that these should be a budget option. As things stand there is simply no need for further accommodation, I really hope this project doesn't go ahead.

These are defiantly "budget" accommodation. The plans for Legoland Windsor show what to expect of the barrels (just for clarity these are not the AT plans).

 

[Plastic Person]

I'm not sure if it's in writing anywhere, but I understand there's long been an unspoken agreement between Alton Towers and the wider community surrounding the park that they would never offer truly 'budget' accomodation, in order to ensure the local B&B and camping trade wouldn't be losing out on too much of the business that they very much need, and that the park very much provides. It might even have been in the planning arrangements for the original hotel, and then for Splash Landings. So if this goes ahead (and unless they sell up shortly afterwards, I really hope it doesn't), I can't imagine these 'barrels' will be particularly affordable, or alternatively, Merlin are less bothered about ruffling local feathers than management fifteen or twenty years ago.

 

[PeteB]

I'm not sure if it's in writing anywhere, but I understand there's long been an unspoken agreement between Alton Towers and the wider community surrounding the park that they would never offer truly 'budget' accomodation, in order to ensure the local B&B and camping trade wouldn't be losing out on too much of the business that they very much need, and that the park very much provides. It might even have been in the planning arrangements for the original hotel, and then for Splash Landings. So if this goes ahead (and unless they sell up shortly afterwards, I really hope it doesn't), I can't imagine these 'barrels' will be particularly affordable, or alternatively, Merlin are less bothered about ruffling local feathers than management fifteen or twenty years ago.

Yes, they can’t offer budget accommodation in order to maintain a good working relationship with surrounding locals and businesses.

Its the only way the park can win support from the local community for future development.

 

[Rick]

The Barrels are a good alternative to camping. Glamping is still huge - people love it and if you can do it a stone's throw from Nemesis, what's not to like?

I suspect ROIC on these things will be quick. It seems sensible to me.

 

[LJP]

I feel really sad when I look at what Splash Landings has become. I loved the original weather-beaten caribbean shack vibe. It was all so tasteful, with lovely little details. It's all just been plastered over with luminous, Crayola poster-paints and cartoonish rubbish. There's no taste.

 

[GaryH]

Yeah Splash Landings really could have been something special. It had/has so much potential

 

[Scott]

I just don't get the whole point of it... I can't fathom why a company sees fit to spend endless capex on hotel rooms across all its theme park resorts when the resorts themselves can't currently afford to keep all the accommodation or entertainment options open all season long (let alone all year round!)

I'll also chuck my hat into the ring for 'I hate what Splash Landings has become' too...

 

[Croftybaby]

Just doing some quick comparisons of other "Resorts" on a random 1 night mid week stay in April. Legoland Germany are offering the Barrels (Family - 2 Adults, 2 Kids) for £213 including 2 days on park. Europa Park are offering lodges/tipi for £140 without tickets (the chuck wagons weren't available). Alton Towers Hotel/ Enchanted Village comes in at £256 with one day park ticket.

I've looked previously at booking these types of Barrels/Wagons just in general on AirBnB and prices were about £70 per night so I think a reasonable rate for towers would be around £100 per night without tickets.

The main problem with Towers though, compared to Legoland and Europa is the entertainment offering. Europa has a vast amount of entertainment on the Resort. It also has tennis courts, swimming lakes, football fields etc etc. Legoland seems to offer similar with a Village complex with shops, bars and restaurants and a 8 lane bowling alley along side 18 parks!

I'm actually in favour of REASONABLY PRICED accommodation like this but they need to build the infrastructure to go with it.

 

[GaryH]

Personally, I wouldn't pay £100 to stay in a barrel with no toilet when I can get a decent B&B close by and have my own loo!

 

[Croftybaby]

I think it's quite a fair price as long as there is a good entertainment and dining offering.

Another comparison...

Brean Sands the massive camp site next to the amusement park is £119 for 2 nights so in line with the average (£60 - £70) for camp sites that I've searched previously.



Again though, There is masses of entertainment and activities on offer at this venue. I also think their pods have cooking facilities too.

I'd still probably opt for Camping if i'm honest.

 

[Craig]

Camping Pod Application Details Released

We recently revealed on our social media pages that planning permission was being sought for the construction of 102 accommodation pods at the Alton Towers Resort.

First referred to in parent company Merlin’s Summer Trading and Strategy update in October last year, and referred to as ‘Alton Towers Barrels’, the pods are part of the group’s aim to increase accommodation capacity at each of their major theme parks to 1000 rooms.

The application replaces the previously approved plans to expand the Enchanted Village by adding 70 Woodland Lodges (known as Phase Two). Those plans, approved in 2016, would have added lodges in a similar design to the ones already operating at the resort as part of the initial development.

The location of the new pods will be on the land to the north west of the existing Enchanted Village development, as seen on the map below. The existing car park further north currently has a planning application to install permanent lighting, and will be used for guests staying at the new pods. A reception building for guests to check in will be located at the top of the site, opposite the car park.



The pods will only contain a sleeping area, and shower, changing and toilet facilities will be provided by two buildings in the centre of the site. The increased number of pods (102) in comparison to the lodge development (70 lodges) reflects the smaller footprint of the pods, and also the smaller maintenance areas required due to no individual washing/toilet facilities being provided.

The size of the pods will be similar to those seen below, with the design likely to be in keeping with the existing Enchanted Village development.



There is also a retrospective application to keep the recently erected tipi in its current location in the south west corner of the proposed site. Erected for the Christmas events last year, the tipi was originally granted permanent planning permission in an alternative location in 2016 as part of the phase 2 Enchanted Village application.

 

[Robert.W]

I imagine we will see something along the lines of this, for the theme of the new accommodation.

I also like the fact they want to keep the tipis up, hopefully means some year round entertainment, as there isn't really much to do in the Enchanted Village, so you always end up going and sitting in one of the other hotels (unless it's closed like Splash Landings).

 

[Craig]

Hopefully something along those lines, they look much better with theming to them. Personally, it's not somewhere I'd stay these days due to the walk to the changing rooms and bathrooms. I'm sure some will love them, providing they're priced right - that's going to be the major sticking point.

My main concern like many others is what's quickly becoming a massive shortage of places to sit and chill under shelter. Sure there's the hotels, but the whole Enchanted Village side of things is crying out for a proper bar area - and that's bar, not a restaurant. The size of these pods doesn't really allow you to socialise comfortably in the pod (in my opinion anyway), and with the UK weather being far from perfect it's going to put a dampener on stays there.

 

[AstroDan]

AT Hotel is the most run down its ever been.m.

What a load of rubbish.

Alton Towers Hotel is better now from a presentation point of view than it has been at any point in the last 15 years.

The majority of rooms in the hotel have been entirely rethemed/refurbished in the past 5 years alone, and the bathrooms in all rooms have been totally replaced!

I don't dispute the resort at large is at a low point, but to claim ATH itself is worse than ever is farcical.

Also - have you even BEEN into CBeebies Land Hotel?

 

[Matt N]

Is the bar/snack area from the EV expansion proposal being kept? Or has it been shelved?

Also, when is this due to open? Or did it not say anything in the application?

 

[Rob]

I imagine we will see something along the lines of this, for the theme of the new accommodation.

I wouldn't get your hopes up. The Design and Access statements says "In general the level of theming has been reduced for the proposals in comparison with the permitted 2016 application."

In other words, this development is going to cost us a lot less to build than what we originally wanted to do and therefore we will get our money back faster and keep those shareholders smiling.

I'm sure this development will be great for some but I have zero interest in it. Tiny cramped room, no bathroom facilities and no additional restaurant/bar area.

Maybe I am being a little harsh. I've just looked at another plan and see that they are having an arcade and spots for 2 mobile F&B units. Overprices hot dogs and burgers for all!

 

[Robert.W]

I wouldn't get your hopes up. The Design and Access statements says "In general the level of theming has been reduced for the proposals in comparison with the permitted 2016 application."

In other words, this development is going to cost us a lot less to build than what we originally wanted to do and therefore we will get our money back faster and keep those shareholders smiling.

I'm sure this development will be great for some but I have zero interest in it. Tiny cramped room, no bathroom facilities and no additional restaurant/bar area.

Maybe I am being a little harsh. I've just looked at another plan and see that they are having an arcade and spots for 2 mobile F&B units. Overprices hot dogs and burgers for all!

Oh dear. The only positive opinion I had of this development was that hopefully it would be pretty well themed like the other hotels. Other than that, I don't see any purpose for building more accommodation at all.

I'm the same, even if they do get some level of theming I certainly wouldn't stay in them. Way too small and having all the showers and bathrooms in one central location just doesn't appeal to me. And you make a good point about no extra restaurant capacity being built. How on earth the Crooked Spoon will be able to cater for both the current Enchanted Vilage and this new expansion is just beyond me!!

The more I hear about this, the more I dislike it.

 

[MakoMania]

I totally understand why this wouldn't interest some people, but as a young whippersnapper myself, it does really appeal to me as a cheaper (I hope) way of staying on Resort. I do quite like the whole concept, I've wanted something like this at AT for a long time.

 

[PeteB]

What a load of rubbish.

Alton Towers Hotel is better now from a presentation point of view than it has been at any point in the last 15 years.

The majority of rooms in the hotel have been entirely rethemed/refurbished in the past 5 years alone, and the bathrooms in all rooms have been totally replaced!

I don't dispute the resort at large is at a low point, but to claim ATH itself is worse than ever is farcical.

What a load of utter rubbish!

Go look at the rooms. They still look like something from the early 90's. The carpets through most of the rooms and corridors are also a mess.

Bathrooms, even the ones that have been replaced look awful. Travelodge provide better bathrooms. Again, go look for yourself.

The Moon Voyager and Arctic Explorer rooms are a half arsed and decent attempt at something nice. I will grant that.

Also - have you even BEEN into CBeebies Land Hotel?

Yes. Absolute load of sh!te that I would not take my kids to. I would rather go to Disneyland Paris for near enough the same money.

It's cramped, everywhere looks tacky covered in vinyl, has no proper relaxation areas or quirky places for kids to explore, and is cut off from the rest of the hotels. I also don't like how it's buggered up the Spa and the Gardens of ATH.

Despite my criticism of ATH, it's still the best accomodation option of all at the resort.

Also, Drayton Manor's hotel is done to a much better standard than most of the offering at Towers.

 

[AstroDan]

You are totally exaggerating what I said.

I didn't say the whole of ATH was in a good place. I said that if you compare it to 10 or 15 year ago, it is on the whole better because, as I said, the majority of rooms have been refurbished/rethemed. The bathrooms are better than Travelodge ones, too. Travelodge bathrooms are white and blue, and feel like a hospital. If you honestly think that ATH bathrooms are poorer than Travelodge ones, then we are living on different planets, evidently.

You clearly had your eyes closed when you walked into CBeebies Land hotel. I don't disagree with the fact it's cut off, overpriced and there needs to be more higgledy-piggledy, but the entrance lobby is anything but vinyl, with the shops and central feature. The rooms are also large and spacious.

And you lick the boots of DLP in your post. Well, those Sequoia Rooms have hardly seen any change since the mid 90s either!

I have loads of bones to pick with ATR, the park and hotels - but it's OTT hyperbole which leaves enthusiasts' opinions being disregarded by the powers that be.