Wicksteed Park in Administration

[Peet]

Wicksteed Park becomes the second in the UK to go into Administration since the lockdown:

Wicksteed Park company goes into administration

The company that operates the park's leisure facilities has gone into administration

www.northantstelegraph.co.uk

Not one that I would have predicted. I hope the historic water chute survives - I was spited by it on my only visit.

 

[SilverArrow]

The water chute is grade II listed and a couple of similar ones operate in parks (Scarborough and Hull) so hopefully that can be saved at the very least.

 

[Markus.Downhill]

When it says administration, does it the park will permanently close?

 

[Coaster Chall YouTube]

When it says administration, does it the park will permanently close?

Not a permanent closure but it means that the park are in financial trouble like Fantasy Island and M&Ds but hopefully someone buys the park

 

[Markus.Downhill]

Not a permanent closure but it means that the park are in financial trouble like Fantasy Island and M&Ds but hopefully someone buys the park

Are you talking about fantasy island in UK or Canada?

 

[Leon]

fantasy island in the uk ? who told you that tripe ?

 

[SilverArrow]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1269213220805447681

This was confirmed as Wicksteed today.

 

[Peet]

When it says administration, does it the park will permanently close?

It all depends if a buyer and/or operator can be found. The administrators can decide to sell the park or keep running it as a going concern, or they could decide that more money will be recuperated by selling off all the rides and other assets.

According to this article the park lost £820,000 in 2018/19 which is concerning as it suggests it's not viable as a going concern even in a good year:

Can Wicksteed Park be saved? New company launched to try to save historic park

Wicksteed Park Limited has gone into administration with the loss of 115 jobs

www.northantstelegraph.co.uk

The water chute can't be demolished but it can be left to rot.

 

[Coaster Chall YouTube]

This was confirmed as Wicksteed today.

Very interesting ?

 

[Crazycoaster]

Wicksteed Park has 30 rides?! Since when??

 

[Markus.Downhill]

It all depends if a buyer and/or operator can be found. The administrators can decide to sell the park or keep running it as a going concern, or they could decide that more money will be recuperated by selling off all the rides and other assets.

According to this article the park lost £820,000 in 2018/19 which is concerning as it suggests it's not viable as a going concern even in a good year:

Can Wicksteed Park be saved? New company launched to try to save historic park

Wicksteed Park Limited has gone into administration with the loss of 115 jobs

www.northantstelegraph.co.uk

The water chute can't be demolished but it can be left to rot.

Would be a shame as it’s my home park, but I used to visit there a lot as a kid and I never really now.

 

[Robbie]

Wicksteed Park has 30 rides?! Since when??

It's the classic "30 rides and attractions" - with birds, sand, and meerkats counting.

 

[Thekingin64]

Sad to hear about Wicksteed, really regretting not visiting last year when I had the chance. Was passing Kettering on route to Clacton Pier, before getting the night ferry from Harwich that evening so prioritised Clacton over Wicksteed. Turned out had had plenty and the weather changed once past Kettering, causing most of Clacton to be rained off whereas Wicksteed would have been dry with most stuff open....

 

[Hixee]

Have split/merged the threads. Reasonably major news, so happy for this to have it's own thread.

Chronological post order makes the conversation flow a bit oddly, but I'm sure you can work it out.

 

[Smithy]

Rumours locally are that they're simply doing it to write off some debt and the park will likely end up in the ownership of a new company within the current ownership group.

How accurate that is I have no idea.

 

[Matt N]

Rumours locally are that they're simply doing it to write off some debt and the park will likely end up in the ownership of a new company within the current ownership group.

How accurate that is I have no idea.

That would certainly explain it being for sale a week or so ago...

 

[Lofty]

I'm hardly surprised in all honesty, but it is a shame. Chances are, as Smithy says, they're likely doing an M&D's...

 

[VonRolland]

If it saves it, gotta do what youve gotta do

 

[Smithy]

Not sure how comfortable I am therefore with them cashing in on peoples good nature - over 70k donated already but not exactly clear where that money is going.

 

[davidm]

Article on the beeb today;

Wicksteed Park: Will theme park see its 100th birthday?

Wicksteed Park has long been popular with generations of families but it is in financial difficulty.

www.bbc.co.uk