A theme park that first opened 50 years ago in Southampton is now completely abandoned, despite once being a favourite for British families. The Children’s Pleasure Park on Golf Course Road in Bassett was launched in 1976 by grandparents Donald and Betty Slater. However, both founders died in 2014, and the park, passed to their two sons, later suffered arson attacks and became a hub for anti-social behaviour before closing in 2017.
Urban explorer Colin Smith, known online as The Bearded Explorer, visited the site late last year and documented its decay. He said: “It’s quite sad actually. I should imagine there’s many happy memories that have been made in here when this place was active. But sadly, now it’s completely abandoned.” He added: “This is almost a bit like Chernobyl, you know the fairground that was in Chernobyl? Just how derelict it was.”
Many of the 20 attractions remain, including a bumpy slide, swing boats, a helter-skelter, a merry-go-round, a mini-train, a Formula One track and a tuck shed. But infrastructure is rotting and much of the space is overgrown with plants. Smith noted that the park was small and must have felt claustrophobic for visitors.
Donald Slater, a grandfather-of-six, was an experienced trampoline instructor who hand-built many of the rides. He and Betty ran the park for almost four decades before handing over to their sons. After their deaths in 2014, the park faced vandalism, including an arson attack in December 2021. Sons Gary and Andrew told the Daily Echo at the time: “This park is my life’s work and I’ll be very upset if it has to close down.” A GoFundMe campaign failed to save it, and the park closed for good.
Smith, who visited with his daughter, said the park brought back memories of his childhood. He noted that there were still newspaper clippings on the walls of the token shed. Reflecting on the decline, he said: “It does make me sad that places like this have to one day disappear and that’s exactly what’s going to happen to this place — it is only a matter of time now.”
