Harrogate businessman acquires theme park Lightwater Valley

Popular North Yorkshire visitor attraction Lightwater Valley has been acquired by Livingstone Leisure, which is owned by a Harrogate businessman, for an undisclosed sum.

The theme park near Ripon has been sold by Ball Investments to Livingstone Leisure, owned by Ian Cunningham.

Jersey-based Ball Investments acquired the park in 2001 and under its ownership it was managed by Heritage Great Britain.

GVA marketed Lightwater Valley on behalf of Ball Investments.

Richard Baldwin, director, retail, hotels and leisure at GVA, said: “After considerable interest in Lightwater Valley, we are delighted to have completed this sale.

“The conclusion of this transaction is a clear illustration of the positive sentiment towards the alternative leisure markets as healthy investment propositions.”

Advisors on the deal on behalf of Ball Investments and Heritage Great Britain included Richard Robinson, partner and head of corporate, and Gareth McIntegart, consultant, corporate at law firm Napthens, and John Daly and Helen Gibson from RSM provided corporate finance advice.