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England | Chessington WOA | Hotel Extension

MrBaBa

MrBaBa

Roller Poster
I was looking through the park's local planning authority and saw this: http://maps.kingston.gov.uk/isis_main/planning/Planning_DETAIL.aspx?strCASENO=1210245&strHeader=Y

It said, 'Erection of a three/four storey 69 bedroom hotel extension, a play/performance area and the erection of a single storey extension to the existing hotel for bar/restaurant and leisure use.'

looks interesting, but I hope Chessington can get a ride for 2014 though. :wink:

The extension WILL NOT be made from shipping containers... Sorry!

I'm new here btw.
 
Re: Chessington-Hotel Extension 2013-2014?

I would have thought this investment would be made by Holiday Inn, so that wouldn't change much with regards to what Chessington will invest in the park.
 
Re: Chessington-Hotel Extension 2013-2014?

Martyn B said:
I would have thought this investment would be made by Holiday Inn, so that wouldn't change much with regards to what Chessington will invest in the park.
Click to expand...

Actually if my memory is correct the hotel is run by Chessie under the Holiday Inn name these days, so it will be Chessie's investment really...

Could be a good idea, that hotel seems popular...
 
Re: Chessington-Hotel Extension 2013-2014?

Even when it was run by Holiday Inn the building is owned by Merlin so it would be their investment regardless of who is running it.

This seems to be to make the hotel more family friendly to match the park, as the hotel has very little for kids at the moment. Good to see the pool area being extended as well.
 
Re: Chessington-Hotel Extension 2013-2014?

It's clearly been very lucrative for Chessington so this can only be a good thing. Should also mean that you can't see peeps in the swimming pool from the park now lol.

The play area thing outside intrigues me, just seems like a really random thing to add.
 
Re: Chessington-Hotel Extension 2013-2014?

^ Really? See, I think "play area" is an obvious, cheap investment that would go down a storm that parks overlook all the time.
 
Re: Chessington-Hotel Extension 2013-2014?

^Yeah, especially a park like Chessington where there are always LOADS of much younger children who come along for a family day out who watch their brothers and sisters on the rides but are too small to ride anything.
 
Re: Chessington-Hotel Extension 2013-2014?

Finally, they've started listening to me :lol:

I've been banging on for years that simple, play park equipment scattered in areas is almost essential. It helps to keep families together in areas where some members may not be able to ride.
 
Re: Chessington-Hotel Extension 2013-2014?

I agree. Its annoying when you see all them cool looking play area's all over Europe, yet all we have here is something like a slide and a swing, if we're lucky!

[/child]
 
Re: Chessington-Hotel Extension 2013-2014?

I should probably re-iterate my last comment. I meant that it's weird to see one outside, rather than inside. If it's inside then it can be used all year round whereas kids probably won't use it if it's outside like they've designed. Unless there was some sort of roof I didn't see (I rushed through the planning application images).

I agree that it's weird that the UK parks don't have more play areas and that, I do wonder if it's a massive headache to get past health and safety regulations (because, well, they like to ruin everyone's fun).

It's also worth noting that this will be outside the hotel but also outside the park so kids inside the park will see this and possibly want to venture over to it.
 
Re: Chessington-Hotel Extension 2013-2014?

Martyn B said:
I agree. Its annoying when you see all them cool looking play area's all over Europe, yet all we have here is something like a slide and a swing, if we're lucky!

[/child]
Click to expand...

There really are some flipping brilliant play areas in Europe I agree. I daresay that parks are terrified of having anything like them due to Health & Safety. Tis a shame.
 
Re: Chessington-Hotel Extension 2013-2014?

The "Dungheap" at Alton has some great play equipment. There's a zip-line, a bouncing spiders web climbing frame and some weird spiders web roundabout things (plus in-floor trampoline, slides, etc). That area by Spinball too is cool and very popular.

So it's not so much that it's not possible, it's just that they don't seem to do it (even on smaller scales than those in Europe). Put them near big rides, and you have somewhere for the young kids to play while the grownups/older kids go on the big rides. It's just such a simple thing and it really doesn't cost a fortune.
 
Re: Chessington-Hotel Extension 2013-2014?

Even the GP understand the value of play areas, I was doing an assessment at Towers which involved redeveloping Forbidden Valley and that was one of my group's suggestions...

It's such a sensible move, and yet the result at Chessie is the godawful Playhouse/Capers... Need better things than that...


EDIT - Since images of the plans are now online, I've noticed that this expansion is actually going in place of part of the zoo, essentially invading into the park...

Not sure if that's a good thing...
 
Re: Chessington-Hotel Extension 2013-2014?

furie said:
Finally, they've started listening to me :lol:

I've been banging on for years that simple, play park equipment scattered in areas is almost essential. It helps to keep families together in areas where some members may not be able to ride.
Click to expand...
Do you know why they don't?

Because they need to be manned. Why? Because kids like to use them as toilets and then their irresponsible parents just run away from the situation leaving someone else to stand, sit or slide in it.

And also to stop people doing things they "shouldn't" be doing, but that's the designers fault for making it possible.

I hate indoor play areas. I think they are disgusting. At least outdoor ones get rained on and weather and time cleans them up properly. Plus, indoor ones are always confined and just... gross. They smell funky too. From all the poo and the stuff used to clean it up.

I still think a PROPER outdoor play area would be epic. By proper I mean themed and actually fun.
 
Re: Chessington-Hotel Extension 2013-2014?

I'm talking about outdoor ones Joey. Neither at Alton are manned at any time.
 
Re: Chessington-Hotel Extension 2013-2014?

My indoor comment was sort of aimed at John. I'm surprised Alton's isn't manned, is it just swings and zip wire type things with nothing to climb on/in, then?
 
Re: Chessington-Hotel Extension 2013-2014?

Both areas have things to climb on as well, the one at Spinball has a sign up for "Ages 7 to 12 ONLY" though.
 
Re: Chessington-Hotel Extension 2013-2014?

Lmao, Joey that's so true! Ahaha XD

I think a good idea too is something like they have at The Milky Way where the play area is suitable for adults and children, amazing fun AND shelter from the rain, yay. Apart from all the poo.
 
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