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Thorpe Park: General Discussion

Did the layout change for The Smiler then aside from the obvious leaving things out to keep the record quiet?
 
Work is currently being undertaken to extend Pizza Hut, and lots of rumours are suggesting this is being converted to Pizza Pasta. However I'm a bit confused after reading through the documents, which state:
The existing signage zones to the north east, south, east, and south west elevations will be retained, however no new signage or theming is proposed as part of this application.
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Surely no new signage would suggest it's staying the same? Hmm..
 
I think the use of the word 'zones' is key here. To me they're saying that there will be signs in the same place as there are now (They may be different, but will be in the same spaces), but there won't be any additional signs added to the building :)
 
Oh I see! That makes more sense now :) Makes you wonder how long it'll be before KFC and Burger King are converted too..
 
Didn't RMC/Tussauds Group sign like 50 year contracts with KFC and Burger King, or something daft like that? I can't see them wanting to move out in a hurry, without a decent pay-off.

If I remember rightly, Mike was speaking to one of the regional managers of Pizza Hut recently, and he said that the Thorpe Park outlet was one of the most profitable in the UK. These places are like gold-dust to the retailers, and until their contracts expire (Which like I say, I don't think KFC and/or BK do for a good while) they're going to be hard to move.
 
I don't know about Thorpe but I remember hearing that Burger King at Towers had a one year rolling contract, so Towers could just decide when they wanted to end it and replace it with Burger Kitchen. I'd imagine Merlin/Thorpe have plans to turn the high street outlets into the Merlin branded ones sometime sooner rather than later.

:)
 
Rob said:
I don't know about Thorpe but I remember hearing that Burger King at Towers had a one year rolling contract, so Towers could just decide when they wanted to end it and replace it with Burger Kitchen. I'd imagine Merlin/Thorpe have plans to turn the high street outlets into the Merlin branded ones sometime sooner rather than later.

:)
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I think McDonalds had a 10 year contract (at AT and CWoA) from 1998, then wanted another 10 years, whereas Burger King were happy with a 3 year contract then 1 year rolling. Whereas Thorpe never had McDs only BK so the contracts could be very different.
Pizza Hut at Thorpe is relatively new, before the buffet opened, this was an in house pizza place (I remember eating here before watching fireworks about 10 years ago!). Looking back at old maps I can see that in 2002 (my first visit to Thorpe, Inferno was being built) it was Sleepy Joe's Rib Shack (http://www.totalthorpepark.co.uk/images/archive/map2002.jpg), Pizza Hut opened 2004, so it is possible a 10 year contract has just ended!
Whereas AT and CWoA had Pizza Hut Express outlets sharing the KFC space. The biggest difference I guess is that Tussauds owned AT and CWoA for years before they bought Thorpe. Looking at

I don't mind Merlin pizza/pasta. Pizza Hut is slightly better quality but no AP discount!
 
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KFC and BK were signed back in RMC days - hence them having BK whilst the other two parks had McDonalds in the Tussauds era. They have long contracts (not 50 years, probably something like 20 years) which results in them still existing today.
 
Wait, Pizza Hut is going?

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Saying that though, I actually do like Pizza Pasta. God forbid when KFC and Burger King go though...
 
I had never really eaten in pizza hut at Thorpe until this season, I had one awful meal there with some TST people (they just kept running out of pizza all the time!). But in September I went with family and found it much better than pizza pasta. It is now actually cheaper that towers (you don't get annual pass discount, but to normal guests its cheaper). and there was so much more choice, everytime I went up there were different pizzas, and even ones with cheesy bites, thin crust, etc. Plus there was a lot more variety on the salad bar.

It is far too small and a very bad design. I did speak to the manager earlier in the season and he completely agreed but said head office wouldn't do a refurbishment (my guess is the contract could end), he also said it was one of, if not the most profitable one in the business. I guess purely because its £9.99 per person, and you are guarenteed income every day from March till November throughout the day. Compared to normal Pizza Huts which will have quiet days and quiet parts of the day.

I do imagine if they are expanding it, it will change to a pizza pasta buffet. Planning permission for signage always comes under another planning permission, so we may see another one submitted (if it needs permission to change the signs?)
 
Thorpe will be opening for Feb Half Term with 'selected' rides, Standard MAP holders will be paying £5 for the privelege...

But it's ok, Brainiac are back!
 
Although it isn't great that they are charging, I can see why. Chessington have had major issues at half term, reaching capacity quickly and then unhappy guests as almost no rides are open and the ones that are open have huge queues. By limiting the number of annual passholders then they shouldn't reach capacity as easily, making the park less crowded for everyone. Also many passholders may turn up expecting everything to be open, hopefully this makes it clear it is a special week with less open.

and the T&Cs for annual pass do state
12.6 An event booking fee will apply to Fright Nights and other special events at THORPE PARK regardless of the time of entry or departure;
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http://www.merlinannualpass.co.uk/terms.aspx so as long as this is classed as a special event and not normal opening then the fee isn't outside the terms.
 
This is disgraceful. It doesn't need to be appiled at Towers so why on Earth does Thorpe need it? Oh it's to make money that's why.

Standard MAP holders are being treated like peasants nowadays.
 
To charge for a "special event" is pushing the boundaries of good taste to say the least. Maybe the COULD have a limited amount of standard pass tickets as it's limited special opening, and so the place doesn't get swamped, but this is NOT summer nights or fright nights when there is extra on offer and everyone knows it.

It's disgusting behaviour from THORPE/Merlin.

Bring on PARAMOUNT!
 
Lordy said:
If the issue is that too many people may turn up, why don't they just open fully like the normal season? Surely being busy is a good thing....
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Many rides can't cope with cold weather. Also the maintenance team isn't big enough to get everything done in time for Feb, many rides will still be being stripped down, but they will prioritise those they want open for Feb and do maintenance now.

TedTheHuman said:
This is disgraceful. It doesn't need to be appiled at Towers so why on Earth does Thorpe need it? Oh it's to make money that's why.
.
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Towers is bigger so can hold more people easily. Also as it is at least an hours drive for most people to Towers then less guests are willing to make a special trip for Half Term. Chessington however proves that local passholders will overwhelm the park during half term and the same would be true at Thorpe.
 
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