Features

Since becoming a publicly-listed company in 2013, Merlin Entertainments has intermittently faced questions over how it is set up.

Announcement after announcement, delay after delay – you’d be forgiven for thinking that the London Paramount project was nothing more than a pipe dream.

2016 has proven memorable in the UK theme park industry for a number of reasons.

The internet has relentlessly dented the aspirations of many a theme park for keeping new ride projects under wraps until they open.

It is a common basis for a newspaper feature – ‘person loses X stone after ride embarrassment’ – or something similar.

Media outlets are well-known for sensationalising routine theme park occurrences, and Monday’s stoppage of Alton Towers’ Galactica ride was no different.

The Smiler accident at Alton Towers crippled its visitor numbers in the second half of last year.

The Virginia Reel was one of the most exciting and untempered rollercoasters to have graced the world’s amusement parks.