Heythrop Zoo, a beloved Cotswolds facility known for supplying trained animals to blockbuster films including the Harry Potter series, Mission: Impossible, and The Mummy Returns, has permanently closed its doors. Founder Jim Clubb made the decision to retire, shutting the zoo in March 2026 after nearly five decades in operation.
Clubb, now 71, established Amazing Animals in 1977 and later built Heythrop Zoo in 1988 as a dedicated filming location and animal training centre. The zoo provided creatures for numerous iconic productions, including Stardust, Nativity, Sweeney Todd, The Golden Compass, The Legend of Tarzan, and Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle. The last project Clubb worked on was Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, set for release in July 2026.
A Unique Facility for Film and Television
Operating as a centre for all of Europe's animal needs, Heythrop Zoo was described by Clubb as "the only one of its kind in the world." It never opened to the general public but hosted private parties, personal encounters, and open days. The zoo's exotic animals featured in productions starring Jamie Lee Curtis, John Cleese, Michael Palin, and Kevin Kline.
Clubb said the decision to close "has not been taken lightly" and thanked all who supported him over the years. He initially co-founded the zoo with his late former wife Sally. "It was always my dream to have a private zoo but I had to be able to support it," he told reporters. "It has been my entire life. I have enjoyed every moment. The zoo was unique."
Animal Welfare and Community Outreach
Clubb designed Heythrop as a heightened reimagining of a traditional zoo, with modern animal welfare at its heart. The giraffe house was modelled after London Zoo's listed building. Clubb also brought his collection of exotic animals to local care homes, and recently completed a project where penguins visited hospices. "The joy it gave residents was enormous. We were inundated with requests, even after we announced the closure," he said.
All animals from the zoo have been rehomed in other zoological collections or private facilities across the UK. The penguins, which had visited numerous care homes, were placed with a private collector.
Retirement and Future of the Site
Clubb has several plans for retirement, including tending to his reptiles and tropical fish, and co-authoring historical books about animals with his son Jamie. The site and its Cotswold stone buildings are set to be converted into storage units.
Clubb reflected on his career: "I enjoyed doing the film Fierce Creatures, with John Cleese, and Our Zoo for the BBC." The zoo's closure marks the end of an era for a facility that played a unique role in British film and television production.
