Theme Park News Archives

9th October 2025

Is Lightwater Valley up for sale or sold?

After spending the last few years turning Lightwater Valley into a shadow of its former self by removing anything remotely thrilling it appears The Brighton Pier Group might have sold or be trying to sell Lightwater Valley. Posts this morning suggested it had been up for sale with Newmark with a guide price of £3,000,000 […]

3rd October 2025

Pleasurewood Hills sold by The Looping Group

In my blog about the Cannonball Express a little while back I mentioned that I didn’t think Pleasurewood Hills had many years left before it closed but its fortune might have changed with today’s news. It has been announced that The Looping Group who have owned the park since 2011 have sold the park to […]

22nd July 2025

ASPRO turns down offer to save Oakwood Theme Park

We reported a few weeks ago that Revive.Wales had a plan to save Oakwood Theme Park after ASPRO announced it would not reopen for 2025 and made it’s future even more uncertain by removing a huge amount of rides from the park. Unfortunately, Revive.Wales have now provided an update by saying that ASPRO’s senior leadership […]

14th June 2025

Could Oakwood Theme Park be saved? All we know about revive.wales

A few months ago Oakwood Theme Park’s owners announced it would not be opening for 2025 and with drone footage showing many rides being removed it looks like Aspro Parks actually have no intention of ever re-opening Oakwood. But, a couple of months ago revive.wales was launched with a group of unknown investors led by […]

5th June 2025

Big Changes to Merlin Annual Pass Attractions in Blackpool

It was announced yesterday that a new company owned by Blackpool Council will take over the running of The Blackpool Tower, Peter Rabbit Explore & Play, The Blackpool Tower Dungeon and Madame Tussauds Blackpool whilst retaining the Merlins brands under a new franchise agreement with Merlin. This shock announcement sees some big changes to Merlin […]

24th May 2025

Planning Updates from Thorpe Park & Chessington this week

In this last week there have been planning updates for both Chessington and Thorpe Park and whilst these aren’t huge I wanted to mention them, so here’s you’re planning update! Thorpe Park – Transformation of Amity Beach Thorpe Park submitted plans a while back to change the Depth-charge side of Amity Beach into an entertainment […]

20th May 2025

Blackpool Pleasure Beach reveals ‘Aviktas’ – Their 2026 Gyro-Swing

Today, Blackpool Pleasure Beach have announced that their new gyro-swing will be called ‘Aviktas’. In a press release the park teased us more about the UK’s largest gyro-swing set to open next year. You can read everything we know so far about the new ride here. Aviktas will be a massive Gyro Swing ride that […]

18th May 2025

Paultons Park Confirm Viking’s Details

Yesterday evening at their super-fan day and via a YouTube livestream Paultons Park confirmed details about their Vikings land coming to the park in 2026 and this looks fantastic! This new land opening in 2026 will be known as Valgard and will feature 3 rides, a restaurant and play area. Where in the park will […]

17th May 2025

What is happening with Stealth at Thorpe Park?

Stealth is the worlds fastest accelerating coaster (regaining the title last year) and is an Intamin hydraulic launch coaster which opened in 2006 and is one of my favourite coaster in the UK but, since early April it’s been largely shut. So, what is happening with Stealth? Downtime Stealth opened with the 2025 season at […]

29th April 2025

Chessington Confirms Paw Patrol Area

In a press release and announcement on their website today Chessington World of Adventures has confirmed that the new land which will replacing Mexicana in 2026 will be themed to Paw Patrol with character meet-and-greets starting this year. What did the announcement say? The announcement from Chessington confirmed the rumoured Paw Patrol theme for the […]

18th April 2025

Universal UK is actually happening!

Last week the news broke that the UK Government and Universal Studios had finally signed off the deal which will see the creation of a brand new Universal Studios Resort in Bedford, UK. This is the biggest ever news for the UK Theme Park industry, will create thousands of jobs, boost our tourist industry and […]

21st March 2025

Blackpool Pleasure Beach announces new gyro swing ride for 2026 plus more changes!

A few weeks back Blackpool Pleasure Beach provided a series of updates on the resort for 2025 which included various rides being closed for all or part of the season and promised an update on the future of the park soon. You can read more about that here. Yesterday we got the first part of […]

Theme Park News

Found this helpful?