The family-run Drayton Manor theme park in Tamworth has been sold after entering administration, with the new owners pledging to protect jobs and honour existing bookings. The park, which has been run by the Bryan family since 1950, was acquired by Looping Group, a company that operates attractions across Europe and the UK, including West Midland Safari Park and Pleasurewood Hills.
Administrators at PwC confirmed that about 600 staff are employed at the Staffordshire site and their positions have been protected. Mike Denny, from PwC, said the group, which also owns a catering and hotel company, had faced "exceptionally challenging conditions", with Storm Dennis forcing an unexpected closure in February and the subsequent delay in reopening due to Covid-19 exacerbating cash flow problems.
The park's Splash Canyon ride has been closed since 2017, when 11-year-old Evha Jannath from Leicester fell into the water and drowned. Following an inquest in November, the Health and Safety Executive announced plans to prosecute the park over her death.
William Bryan, the third generation of his family to run the park, said the family's priority had been to protect the roles of its 599 employees. He described the sale as "a positive new chapter" for the park, which attracts more than one million visitors annually.
Looping Group has said the park and its facilities will operate as usual, with existing bookings honoured. The park recently reopened with modifications after lockdown restrictions were eased, including restricted ticket sales and the closure of some attractions to allow for social distancing.
