|
|
This
Page is an Archive of all news items featured on the Joyland Books News
Page between 1 January and 30 June 2009.
For the latest news, click here.
Speedway:
The Paul Grimshaw Interviews
27 June 2009
|
In the very early days of
themagiceye website,
Paul Grimshaw was interviewed about his attempts to restore a Speedway Ark. themagiceye is
proud to present the original interviews
from 2002 and 2003 and we catch up up on his
progress to date.
Read on...
themagiceye is the world's best loved
amusement park nostalgia website, bringing
you new articles and galleries from this
most amazing of worlds every single month.
themagiceye is also the home of the offbeat
BITSoftheBEACH: Blackpool Pleasure
Beach in a time capsule. |
 |
Blackpool
Junior Whip rescued for Dreamland project
27 June 2009
|
Griffin's
Magic Dragons - Pleasure Beach Blackpool's
Junior Whip ride - which has operated in the
park since the late 1920s has been acquired
by The Dreamland Trust for use in the
proposed amusement park of historic rides in
Margate. The ride was removed from the park
on Monday 22 June and is now in storage in
the resort. This follows last years
acquisition of the full-size Whip from the
park. The two whip rides are the last
surviving examples of their kind in the
country.
www.savedreamland.co.uk |
 |
Insider
guide to Alton Towers
24 June 2009
|
A new guide to
Alton Towers Theme Park has been released,
packed full of information and tips about
"the UK's number one theme park".
The Alton
Towers Resort is one of the UK’s most
popular visitor attractions. But without
forward planning, your day out could turn
into endless queuing! Do you know about
single rider queues? the best times of the
year to visit? the best way to get the
cheapest tickets? If not, this guide is for
you!
The Theme Park Insider Guide to Alton Towers
by Rory Sweeney will share some useful
advice and tips to help you make full use of
your time on park!
Click here for more information
about this book. |
 |
"UK's largest of its kind" play zone to open at Notts theme park
24 June 2009
|
Nottinghamshire's Wheelgate Park has
announced a new "largest of its kind" indoor
play centre called Pharaohs Funderdome. The
Egyptian themed play facility will offer an
expanse of play equipment for all ages,
including adults. Brothers Mike, Chris and
Phil Bendall - owners of Devon's Woodlands
Family Theme Park and Leicestershire's
Twinlakes Family Theme Park - acquired the
former Wonderland Pleasure Park near
Mansfield in 2007 and have invested in
numerous new rides and attractions. The new
Funderdome opens on 18 July 2009. |
 |
Alton Towers
expansion plans on display
24 June 2009
On Friday
and Saturday
25 and 26
June 2009,
Alton Towers
will be
hosting an
exhibition
of its long
term
development
plans for
the resort.
The
blueprint
will include
multi-million
pound
investment
in new
rides,
infrastructure
and heritage
as well as
more
accommodation
in the form
of a third
hotel.
The
exhibition,
which is
open to all,
commences at
12 noon
until 9pm on
Friday and
10am until
4pm on
Saturday in
the
Emperor's
Suite of
Alton Towers
Hotel.
The Story of
Alton Towers
|
 |
Once Upon a
Time in America
30 April 2009
|
In 1991/92,
themagiceye crossed
the Pond to the USA
to sample the delights of what Florida and California had to offer. Time moves on and inevitably classic attractions
either change beyond recognition or disappear forever.
Now, in 2009, Joyland Books brings memories
of these classic attractions back to life
with
Once Upon a Time in America.
Visit
themagiceye, the world's leading
amusement park nostalgia website, for many
more trips down memory lane... |
 |
Southport
River Caves destroyed
22 April 2009
|
Southport's
historic River Caves ride at Pleasureland
Amusement Park was destroyed by fire
yesterday evening. The ride, which was built
in 1923 and still follows the original
layout, has been disused since Pleasureland
closed in 2006. The boats and most of the
mechanical parts were removed in 2007 for
use in the proposed
heritage amusement park at Dreamland
in Margate. The River Caves was the oldest
attraction at Pleasureland. Find out more
about its history
here. The full history of
Pleasureland can be found in the book
Pleasureland Memories. |
The disused River Caves in 2007.
Photo:
Amusement Park
Photographic Library |
Extra Alton
Towers discounts
18 April 2009
Alton Towers
tops UK gated theme parks in 2008
17 April 2009
|
Themed
Entertainment Association has published its
visitor statistics for international theme
parks with gated (paid for) entry in 2008.
Topping the list for the UK is Alton Towers,
up 5% to 2.5m visitors. Second is Legoland
Windsor (up 10% to 1.8m) followed by Thorpe
Park (flat at 1.7m), giving Merlin
Entertainments the top three theme parks in
the UK. Based on 2008 visits, Merlin is now
the second largest operator in the world,
with 35.2m visits, behind Walt Disney
Attractions, with an astonishing 118m
visits. Parques Reunidos (owners of several
UK attractions, including Blackpool Zoo) are
fifth with 24.9m visits.
Discount Alton Towers tickets... |
|
Funland for
sale
16 April 2009
|
The huge
Funland amusement centre on Blackpool's
Golden Mile is being advertised for sale.
The 30,000 sq ft family entertainment
centre, spread across two floors, is located
adjacent to the Doctor Who Exhibition and
has been a prominent feature on the Golden
Mile for many years. It has recently had a
new facade, replacing the much-photographed
Vegas-style frontage that had been in place
since the 1970s. The asking price for the
premises, one of the largest in the UK, is
£3m and it comes complete with planning
permission for use as an indoor market. |
Photo:
Amusement Park
Photographic Library |
Rare amusement
park books added to secondhand shop
9 April 2009
Showmen's
engines at war
5 April 2009
|
Sad but true.
At the declaration of war in 1939, some
showmen's engines were standing idle in the
showmen's yards, with only about 80 still in
service on the fairgrounds. Scrap dealers
were eagerly targeting showmen, so the end
for many engines was to be cut, then melted
down to provide recycled metals for the War
effort. When the 'Phoney War' ended in 1940
and the real hostilities began, the
showmen's engines were suddenly in the
spotlight as Government requests went out
for them to help with war work.
Showmen's Engines at War by Kay
Townsend records those families who parted
with their engines to aid the work of
'National Importance' and help Britain in
its hour of need. From giving pleasure for
pennies
on the fairground, they went on to help
preserve something that is priceless: our
freedom.
More... |
 |
More tales of a
fairground showman
4 April 2009
|
At last the
long-awaited sequel to
They
Seek Him Here, They Seek Him There
is available. This is part two of the
autobiography of the life of fairground
showman Keith Nichols.
Keith
boasts that the book is "nearly as thick as
the Yellow Pages", and he is right.
I’ve Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts
by Keith Nichols is packed with tales of all
sorts of people - from the good and the bad,
to the downright barmy: "I am a fairground
showman – I meet all sorts, and I’ve got
plenty of stories to tell, and lots of
unique and treasured photos to show you."
More...
We have a
huge range of fairground books in stock,
probably the biggest selection in the world.
Almost all of our titles are held
continuously in stock in our warehouse just
outside Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire.
More titles... |
 |
Clacton Pier
sold
3 April 2009
|
Clacton Pier
has been acquired by a newly created company
called the Clacton Pier Company after the
Harrison family, which has operated the pier
for 15 years, decided to put it up for sale.
The new owners have publicly stated that
they intend to continue to invest in and
develop the Pier.
The recent
history of Clacton Pier has been explored
over the past few weeks in the
Joyland Forums. The thread
Clacton Pier During the 70s and 80s
looks back at some of the big changes in the
range of attractions at the Pier, with
several people, including employees, sharing
information and potographs.
Click here to view the thread. |
Above: The Whirlwind roller coaster on Clacton Pier in the 1980s,
one of several rare Clacton Pier photographs viewable on the Joyland
forums (Photo: Paul Chandler)
|
New rides
approved at Weston-super-Mare
2 April 2009
|
North Somerset
Council has granted planning permission for
two major new attractions as part of the
redevelopment of Weston-super-Mare's Grand
Pier, which was partly destroyed by fire
last year. Planners have given the green
light to a new three-storey pavilion on the
seaward end of the pier to incorporate a
family entertainment centre with indoor
fairground rides, shops, restaurants and a
new central shelter along the pier. They
have also granted permission for a 299ft
high observation tower with moveable viewing
deck. In addition to development at Grand
Pier, the Council has also give the go-ahead
to World Tourist Attractions' proposed 131ft
high observation wheel on the beach lawn.
|
Above: Angus Meek Architects' new pier pavilion at
Weston-super-Mare.
|
Gulliver's
Theme Parks invest £7m
1 April 2009
|
Gulliver's
Theme Parks has announced a £7m investment
in new rides and attractions at its
Warrington theme park. The investment, the
funding for which is all internally
generated, will create a 'Splashzone' water
play area for youngsters which will stay
open all year round and will be separate
from the Gulliver's World Theme Park. Gully
Town, a mini-town for children has been
developed within the current theme park, and
a 90-bed hotel is planned immediately
adjacent. Construction of the £3.2m hotel is
expected to start later this year with
completion in 2010. A new Dinosaur and Farm
Park and a Gully Town will be based at
Gulliver’s Land, in Milton Keynes, and
Gulliver’s Kingdom, in Matlock Bath, will
get a dinosaur discovery attraction, the
Lost Kingdom. |
Above: The Wild Mine ride at Gulliver's World at Warrington. The
theme park is investing in new attractions as part of a Group-wide
expansion, which includes its other parks at Milton Keynes and
Matlock Bath.
|
Camelot
Theme Park acquired by the Story Group
31 March 2009
|
Camelot Theme
Park was sold yesterday by the receivers,
Grant Thornton, to the Cumbria-based Story
Group, owner of Story Homes and Story
Construction. Story has reached agreement to
lease the park back to former Prime Resorts
Chief Executive Roy Page, who will operate
under the new banner of Knights Leisure.
Story Group will continue discussions with
Chorley Borough Council on the long-term
future of the site, which is likely to
involve a mixed-use redevelopment. The park
is expected to reopen on 23 May 2009. |
Camelot Theme Park: Under new ownership |
Paultons
Park opens UK first-of-its-kind ride
31 March 2009
|
Paultons Park
has opened its brand new ride, EDGE. The
UK's first Zamperla Mega Disk’O Coaster
reaches speeds of up to 43 miles per hour as
the huge rotating disc travels on a along a
92-metre track with a ‘camelback’ hill.
Costing over £1 million to construct it
holds 40 riders. Also new this year, and
especially for smaller kids, is Water
Kingdom, a fantastic 8,500ft2
splash park including water jets, giant
tipping buckets, sprays, fountains, and
super soakers. Click on the image to the
right for a high resolution picture of EDGE. |
 |
Discount Adventure Island tickets
available
30 March 2009
|
Lastminute.com
has introduced discount tickets to Adventure
Island in Southend-on-Sea. Located on both
side of Southend's famous pier, Adventure
Island is an outstanding tourist attraction.
There are four roller coasters, including
Rage: the biggest rollercoaster to be built
in the UK in 2007, with its 23 metre
more-than-vertical lift, drop and loop.
Similar to Saw at Thorpe Park, but with
smaller queues! They have also opened a
chilling new dark ride called 'Over the
Hill'. You will find links to these tickets,
and many more besides, on our
Discount Theme
Park Tickets page. Or to go straight to the
discounted Adventure Island tickets, click
the logo to the right. |
Above: Discount tickets to Adventure Island available |
The Old New
Brighton
28 March 2009
|
Amusement park
nostalgia website
themagiceye presents a series of
photographs and information about the
various amusement parks at New Brighton.
From the Boating Lake to the Palace indoor
amusement park to the famous Tower Pleasure
Grounds.
The Old New Brighton is a photo
gallery of wonderfully evocative images of
the long-lost Tower amusement park through
the years.
Griff: Memories of a New Brighton Ride Op
is a brand new interview with a ride
operator who worked in the Boating Lake
outdoor fairground and the Palace indoor
funfair, a story that ends in disaster. |
 |
Camelot to
reopen?
27 March 2009
|
The
Camelot Theme
Park website is currently stating that
the park will now reopen for the 2009
season. The website states: "We are now
pleased to announce that we will re-open on
Saturday 23rd May. Further details on
opening times will be posted shortly."
The future
of the park became uncertain when its owner,
Prime Resorts Ltd, went into receivership in
February with the loss of most jobs. The
receivers, |
|
|
Grant Thornton
have been marketing the theme park site over
the past few months. The new owner will be
announced shortly. The adjoining Park Hall
Hotel, which was also owned by Prime
Resorts, was sold last week to independent
hotel operator Lavender Hotels and will
operate separately from the theme park.
The history of
Camelot is told in the book
From a Saint to a King, available
now. |
First look at
new £12m Margate theme park
14 March 2009
|
In the build-up to Sunday's unveiling
of the Dreamland Trust's plans for a heritage amusement park at Dreamland,
the Save Dreamland Campaign website has an
exclusive first look at one of the artist's
impressions of the park, giving a tantalising glimpse at what the
£12m theme park could look like when it
opens in 2012. The drawing
on the right is by Paris-based theme park
designer Jean-Marc Toussaint and shows the rebuilt River Caves and Water
Chute. The plans are being developed by the Dreamland Trust with the
Council and Dreamland's owner, MTCRC. See several more
drawings of the park, the new masterplan and
much more at an unveiling
event on Sunday 15 March.
7.30pm, West Coast Bar, King Street, Margate. Admission free. |
 |
Fairgrounds
on Film now out on DVD
14 March 2009
Now out on DVD
for the first time, this archive film
presentation gives fairground enthusiasts
and fans alike the opportunity to look back
at fairground life between the years 1915
and 1970. Fairground rides and attractions
shown include steam driven rides such as the
Gondola, Whale Switchback, and Harry Lee’s
famous Steam Yachts. The Moonrocket,
Chairoplanes, Cakewalk, Chaser, Ferris
Wheels, Skid, juvenile rides and freak shows
are also featured with many more too
numerous to mention here. Fairground
build-up is shown in 1935 and the late 40’s,
along with some stunning colour film of VE
Day celebrations.
Fairgrounds on Film was shot in
several towns and cities by local film
makers and this video presentation shows the
material much as it was shot - silent and
with no attempt to re-edit it.
More...
|
 |
Alton Towers
coaster gets go-ahead
12 March 2009
|
Staffordshire
Moorlands Council has voted unanimously to
grant planning permission for Alton Towers'
new roller coaster, codenamed 'SW6'. The
£12m ride could open next year in the park's
'Ugland' area, replacing the Corkscrew,
which has been scrapped. The ride will have
a height of 66 feet, which is slightly
smaller than the Corkscrew, but it will
cover a larger footprint, including running
through a nearby woodland area. Part of the
ride will also be taken in reverse.
Councillors supported the new ride on the
basis of the park's importance to the local
economy, as one of the area's biggest
employers. |
|
Silver sands
and golden memories
7 March 2009
|
Silver
Sands and Golden Memories: The History of
Silver Beach Amusement Park in St.
Joseph, Michigan is a definitive publication
of information derived from interviews,
public records, and newspaper articles with
over 300 rare and exceptional pictures.
Anyone who witnessed the mystical magic of
Silver Beach will recall memories that take
them back to a simpler more innocent time of
their life. For those who did not have the
opportunity to experience the joy and
excitement of the amusement park, this new
book by Daryl T Schlender is the next best
thing to having been there.
More...
This is the
latest of several releases setting out the
history of the world's great amusement
parks.
Click
here for our full list of amusement
park books. |
 |
Dreamland
amusement park plans to be unveiled
7 March 2009
|
More
information has been released on a special
public event in Margate on Sunday 15 March.
The Save Dreamland Campaign will be formally unveiling
its plans
for the world's first Heritage Amusement Park at a special public event
at the West Coast Bar, King
Street, Margate. The layout plans and images have been assembled
over the past few months by a team led by The Dreamland Trust/Save
Dreamland Campaign, site owners the Margate Town Centre Regeneration
Company and the Margate Renewal Partnership. Sunday will be the
first time these plans have been seen in public. In addition to
unveiling the plans, the Campaign will be presenting old footage of Dreamland
and the Scenic Railway through the years, and there will be a chance
to meet the Dreamland team. The
Dreamland of tomorrow will echo the thrilling theme parks of the
past, and this is your chance to climb on board, fasten your
seatbelts and enjoy the ride!
More... |
 |
Sunny Vale
book back in stock!
7 March 2009
|
Out of print
for many months and much in demand, we are
pleased to announce that Chris Helme's book
on well-remembered Yorkshire amusement park
Sunny Vale Pleasure Gardens is back
in stock and we are dispatching orders now. Sunny
Vale Pleasure Gardens, near Brighouse, was the Belle Vue or Alton
Towers of West Yorkshire. It opened as a garden in 1880 but with the
inclusion of amusements in 1883 it became a hugely popular venue. With
boating lakes, train and fairground rides, fireworks, a
helter-skelter and, of course, beautiful gardens, in its heyday it
attracted over 100,000 visitors a year. The author, an expert on Sunny
Vale, has collected images and memories of the attraction over many
years. More... |
 |
The lost
rides of Blackpool
1 March 2009
|
Amusement park
nostalgia website
themagiceye
has dug deep into the archives for March and
presents a fascinating look at
the lost rides of Blackpool. Look
back misty-eyed at rides that have long
disappeared from the Pleasure Beach - many
of them you probably never even knew
existed!
Read on...
And don't miss
our other recently-added Pleasure Beach
articles and photo galleries, including
Isabel's Bit and
Bits of the Beach. |
 |
Dreamland
public event announced
1 March 2009
|
The Dreamland Trust has announced a
public event to be held in Margate on Sunday
15 March. Called 'I Dream of Dreamland', the
event will look at the past and future of
Dreamland. Nick Laister, Sarah Vickery and
Susan Marsh of the Trust/Save
Dreamland Campaign will be in
attendance to explain their vision of a
Heritage Amusement Park at Dreamland, which
is currently being brought forward by the
Trust along with the local council and
landowner. Full details of the event are not
yet available, but is understood that it
will involve films of Dreamland, music and a
presentation of the proposals for what is
being called "a thrilling theme park from
the past". There will be an opportunity to
ask the Heritage Amusement Park team
questions.
More here... |
 |
|
In other
Dreamland news, the Dreamland Trust has
announced that the extensive
animal cages, which were discovered
at Dreamland in 2008, have been listed Grade
II. These are the only surviving relics of
Lord George Sanger's menagerie, which
predated the Dreamland Amusement Park.
Click here
for more Dreamland news. |
A historical
roller coaster ride through theme park history
21 February 2009
|
Scott A
Lukas's compelling new book -
Theme Park
- takes us on a historical roller-coaster
ride through the history of theme parks.
Taking the primitive amusements of
pleasure gardens
as its starting point, it launches from
there into a rich, in-depth investigation of
the evolution of the theme park over the
twentieth century. Lukas examines theme
parks in countries around the world -
including the United States, UK, Europe,
Japan, China, South Africa and Australia -
and how themed fairs and parks developed
through diverse means and in a variety of
settings. The book examines world-famous and
lesser-known parks, including the early
parks of Coney Island, Blackpool Pleasure
Beach, Madrid's Movieworld, Six Flags parks
and virtual theme parks today, and, of
course, the unparalleled achievements of
Disneyland and Disney World. To buy it at
£1.00 off the recommended retail price,
click
here. |
£16.95 £15.95
 |
The English
pleasure garden remembered
21 February 2009
|
Before the
arrival of amusement parks, people spent
their days out at popular pleasure gardens.
Pleasure Gardens were central to English
social life for 200 years. Vauxhall,
Ranelagh and others showcased music by the
newest talents and offered intimate access
to art long before public galleries were
established. Their elegant, verdant walks
were the perfect place to take a stroll,
providing a catwalk for the finest fashions
and an opportunity to spot the celebrities
of the day. But by the height of the
Victorian era this fairyland of tinkling
fountains and glittering coloured light had
gone into decline, becoming little more than
a den for thieves and prostitutes.
The English Pleasure Garden 1660-1860
by Sarah Jane Downing will transport you
back to the most glorious days of the
Pleasure Gardens of Britain.
More... |
 |
Amusement
park goes into administration
21 February 2009
|
Ffrith Beach
Fun Park is the latest victim of the current
recession in the United Kingdom. Only a
matter of weeks after Camelot Theme Park
went into receivership, the relatively
recently opened North Wales amusement park
was placed in administration by its owners,
Ffrith Beach Leisure Ltd. The tourist
attraction opened in 2007 and the amusement
park was operated by Harold Robinson, who
transferred many of the rides from his Ocean
Beach Fun Fair in Rhyl when it closed for
redevelopment in 2007. Ffrith Beach also has
a bowling centre and play areas and is still
being operated as a going concern in the
hope that a buyer can be found. |
 |
"Astounding" circus book released
21 February 2009
|
It is not
every time that a book is described as
"astounding". When you add to that the words
"unique" and "fascinating", you have a very
special book.
Stewart Waghorn - Circus Illustrations
is devoted to the precise and detailed
circus pictures drawn and painted by Stewart
Waghorn, a member of the Circus Friends
Association for over 50 years and an
Associate of the Royal College of Art.
Stewart's portfolio now contains over 100
pictures of acts, big tops, transport,
propos and equipment.
Click here for more details or
here
for our full list of circus books. |
 |
The creation of
a roller coaster
20 February 2009
|
The
Business of Fun is the first in a
series of television programs that looks
inside some of the most exciting and
interesting industries. Created and produced
by Atlanta-based Forrester Media, Inc, this
high-definition program is sure to entertain
and enlighten. The Business of Fun looks at
how a new roller coaster is created – from
concept, through purchase, construction and
grand opening. The Business of Fun takes the
viewer on a rare, inside look at the theme
park industry and how the Dollywood Theme
Park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee researched,
designed and built their new $17.5 million
“Mystery Mine” roller coaster. The DVD is
written in an informative and entertaining
format, shot entirely in digital high
definition video and edited on our
state-of-the-art system.
More... |
 |
Beach huts and
bathing machines
20 February 2009
|
Kathryn Ferry
paints a picture postcard view of the
classic British seaside holiday through the
history of beach huts and bathing machines,
revealing how changing fashions in society
shaped their design and development.
Beach Huts
and Bathing Machines celebrates
their fascinating (yes, really!) history.
We now stock
many books on the institution that is the
British seaside resort, including the
following recent releases:
|
 |
Alton Towers
coaster application deferred
13 February 2009
A
planning
application
for
a
new
£12
million
roller
coaster
to
replace
the
Corkscrew
at
Alton
Towers
has
been
deferred
following
a
hearing
at
Staffordshire
Moorlands
Council's
planning
committee.
Officers
recommended
approval
despite
objections
from
residents
and
Alton
and
Farley
parish
councils.
Councillors
voted
to
defer
the
application
to
allow
them
to
consider
the
objections
further
before
making
a
final
decision.
It
is
understood
that
the
application
will
be
brought
back
to
the
same
committee
next
month
for
a
decision.
|
|
Half term theme
park discounts
7 February 2009
With
school half term holidays just
around the corner, Joyland Books has
started looking for discounts
tickets to theme parks. We have
found some great offers at Alton
Towers, Thorpe Park, Legoland and
others. Visit our
Discount Theme Park Tickets
page, and check back regularly as
offers are updated as we find them.
|
Above: Lastminute.com is one website that is offering
discount theme park tickets. Visit our
Discount Theme Park
Tickets page for all the latest offers. |
Camelot
Theme Park closes
3 February 2009
Lancashire's
Camelot Theme
Park has
been placed in receivership and
looks unlikely to reopen, with the
immediate loss of 29 jobs. The park
has been open about its troubles,
with Chief Executive Roy Page and
theme park planning consultant Nick
Laister
announcing plans for the
phased closure of the site in 2006,
although it was hoped that the park
could reopen for the 2009 season.
The hotel will continue to operate
in the hope that it can be sold as a
going concern and work on a
masterplan for the site's
redevelopment will continue.
|
Camelot Theme Park: the latest victim of the
economic downturn
From a Saint to a King:
The History of Camelot theme Park and Park Hall Hotel |
Isabel's
Bit: The rides at Pleasure Beach Blackpool
31 January 2009
Flamingo Land announces new coaster
30 January 2009
Flamingo Land in North Yorkshire has
revealed its new rollercoaster for
the 2009 season. 'Mumbo Jumbo'
(pictured, right) is billed as
featuring the most extreme drop in
history, plunging thrill seekers
112° from a high point of 30 metres,
generating in excess of 4Gs on its
passengers. Owner Gordon Gibb said:
"It is exciting for a relatively
small family business like Flamingo
Land to be punching well above its
weight. The manufacturer (S&S) are
legendary within the industry and
Mumbo Jumbo looks set to become a
National icon, we are all very
excited!". Mumbo Jumbo will be
Flamingo Land's eighth
rollercoaster.
|
 |
Leisure Park wins top award
18 January 2009
Old
MacDonald's Farm Leisure Park in
Brentwood has won the 'Excellence in
Sustainable Tourism' award from East
of England Tourism. The award was
presented to owner Joseph Manning at
a black tie dinner towards the end
of last year. The 'Enjoy England'
awards are recognised as the premier
awards for the tourism industry. Old
MacDonald's Farm is rapidly growing
into the premier tourist attraction
of this part of Essex following its
acquisition by the Manning family
four years ago.
|
 |
Economic downturn hits parks
14 January 2009
On a
day when
business minister Baroness Vadera
claimed she could see "a few green
shoots" of recovery in the economic
crisis, the current spate of job
losses has finally hit the amusement
park industry with the announcement
that jobs are to go at Pleasure
Beach Blackpool. A Pleasure Beach
spokesperson told the Blackpool
Gazette today: "In the present
economic climate, it is essential
the business operates in the most
efficient way to meet the needs of
our customers. Sadly there may be
some job losses, but the
consultation process will hopefully
identify opportunities for some
staff to transfer to other positions
within the business."
In
related news, analysts
GIA forecast global growth
in the theme park industry
moderating until 2010 in line with
the global downturn.
|
 |
Lose yourself in maze book
10 January 2009
New to
Joyland is a book that traces the
history of mazes and provides a
pictorial guide to mazes of all
types in Britain.
Mazes
and Labyrinths is written by
Adrian Fisher, who is
internationally recognised as the
world's leading maze designer and
has created more than four hundred
mazes worldwide. This book features
hedge mazes, maize mazes, mirror
mazes, panel mazes, path and grass
mazes, pavement mazes, water mazes,
mosaic mazes and other innovative
types of maze.
Our
Seaside Books Department now
features a book by Lynn F Pearson on
the history of
Lighthouses. This book tells
the story of their construction,
looks at the lives of their keepers
and considers how automation has
changed the modern lighthouse.
|
 |
Fun Fairs On The
Move
2 January 2009
Volume 16 of Fun Fairs on the Move
is out now. The DVD includes the
pull-on at Warwick, Spalding,
Boston, Corby, Cambridge and
Peterborough. Previous volumes are
still available:
Vol 1: Knutsford, Wakefield,
Hertford
Vol 2: Knutsford, Spalding
Vol 3: Nottingham
Vol 4: Wakefield, Spalding,
Boston, Corby
Vol 5: St Albans, Paignton
Vol 6: Barntaple, Banbury,
Rushden
Vol 7: Stamford, Wakefield,
Spalding
Vol 8: Knutsford, Cambridge
Vol 9: Wellingborough, Peebles,
Newcastle, Galashiels
Vol 10: Aldershot, Wakefield,
Northallerton
Vol 11: Nottingham
Vol 12: Cambridge, Scarborough,
Stamford, Ripley, Leeds
Vol 13: Wanstead Flats, Falkirk,
Kirkcaldy, Beaconsfield, Rothwell
Vol 14: Abingdon, Banbury,
Rothwell, Cambridge
Vol 15: Northampton, Nottingham
|
£22.00
|
Happy New Year from Joyland Books
1 January 2009
A
Happy New Year from all at Joyland
Books. There were many great reasons
to visit us in 2008. Top new
releases included the new amusement
park DVD
You Must Be This Tall; a
photo album of John Carter's Steam
Fair,
Photographs of a Season; the
history of Manchester's famous
amusement park,
Pocket Belle Vue; and
vintage footage of Blackpool's
Pleasure Beach in
Fun on the Sands. As the
year progressed, other new releases
included
Amusement Parks of Virginia,
Maryland and Delaware;
Fall of the Big Top;
The Legend of Salt and Sauce;
Circus Transport Photographs Volume
3;
Playland;
Scammell: The Load Movers from
Watford;
Anderton & Rowland's: Illusion &
Reality;
Thomas Walker: Builder of Steam
Roundabouts and
The Ken Fox Wall of Death.
|
£6.99
|
|
Joyland also
launched several new departments in its
ever-expanding
Secondhand
Shop, including a massive selection
of rare and out of print
circus books.
We also launched a new section of the
website which searches the net for the best
theme park discounts and offers. |
|
In the
wider amusement park world, visitor numbers
were generally down in 2008, but the spate
of park closures of previous year seemed to
slow, with the only casualty being Metroland
in Gateshead. Oakwood Theme Park in Wales
was sold to Spanish tourist attractions
operator Aspro Group and Wonderland Pleasure
Park in Nottinghamshire was sold to the
Bendall family, owners and operators of
Woodlands Leisure Park in Devon and
Twinlakes Park in Leicestershire.
|
Although the
Save Dreamland Campaign
celebrated the acquisition of the
Whip from Blackpool Pleasure
Beach, 2008 was marked by the
devastating fire which broke out on
the listed Scenic Railway roller
coaster, destroying about 20% of the
structure. |
 |
The
workshops, most of the station and, perhaps
worst of all, all the original 1920s trains,
were also destroyed. The owners have pledged
that the ride will be rebuilt. Britain's
biggest indoor amusement park over the sea -
the Grand Pier at Weston-super-Mare - was
also destroyed by fire.
Our visitor
numbers for the period October to December
2008 were down by 22% on the same period
last year, due to the fact that Joyland
Books was closed in October and November due
to our move to new premises, although we
were able to keep orders flowing (albeit
slower than usual). We thank all of our
customers for their patience during this
period. We are now fully back in action in
our new Cotswolds location and hoping for a
record-breaking 2009.
Join our mailing
list. |
Amusement park owner receives MBE
1 January 2009
The
Managing Director of Greenwood
Forest Park, Stephen Bristow, has
been awarded an MBE in the Queen's
New Year Honours list for services
to the Tourist Industry in North
Wales. Bristow came to prominence in
2004 when the Snowdonia fun park
opened the Green Dragon roller
coaster, the world's first eco
roller coaster.
RCDB
describes the concept:
"Riders climb a hill to get to the
loading station while a separate
exit station exists at a lower
elevation. Then when the cars roll
down the hill, they pull empty cars
up to the loading station."
|
 |
News Archives
2013
January to June
July to December
2012
January to June
July to December
2011
January to June
July to December
2010
January to June
July to December
2009
January to June
July to December
2008
January to June
July to December
2007
January to June
July to December
2006
January to June
July to December
2005
January to June
July to December
2004
January to June
July
to December
2003
January to June
July
to December
2002
January to June
July
to December
2001
January to June
July
to December
2000
January to December
Search Joyland Books
|
