Coronavirus: Drayton Manor theme park to close but Alton Towers stays open
Two of the region’s theme parks have responded to the coronavirus outbreak, with one choosing to close and the other staying open.
Drayton Manor in Tamworth said that following recent advice from the Government surrounding coronavirus, it is “ deeply saddened” to announce that it will temporarily close until further notice.
“We will continue to closely monitor the situation over the next few weeks and respond, with speed, to any changes,” it said.
Managing director William Bryan said: “This isn’t a decision we have taken lightly, especially as 2020 is our 70th anniversary year, but one we had to make in light of COVID-19 and the government’s social distancing policies.
“As a family business, the health and wellbeing of our guests and staff remain a priority. We need to not only allow staff and their families to self-isolate if necessary, but also protect the future of the park financially.
“We are yet to make a decision regarding the hotel but will provide an update as and when a decision is made.
“These are difficult times for everyone. We thank all of our customers for their support over the past 70 years and look forward to welcoming people back to Drayton Manor Park later in 2020.”
Meanwhile, Alton Towers Alton Towers Resort said it would remain open, with changes made to “ensure guests remain safe”.
It said: “As a large outdoor attraction, we’re developing plans to maintain space and social distance as guests move around the resort, in addition to the enhanced cleaning regimes and availability of hand sanitisation products.”
“We want to help as much as we can. If you still want to go ahead with your visit, we look forward to seeing you, but we understand that you may wish to change your forthcoming travel plans.
“Therefore, if you have booked a ticket to visit the theme park from now until 1st May, your ticket will be valid for use on any date during the 2020 season (excluding Fireworks dates on 6th, 7th and 8th November.) We will review the situation in April to decide whether to extend this approach beyond 1st May. If you have booked a short break but wish to change your booking, please contact our short breaks team who will discuss the options that are available to you. Contact details for this team can be found on your booking confirmation.”
Alton Towers added: We appreciate this is a difficult time for many. We want to stay open to provide a happy and fun experience for our guests, but we will always act in accordance with the government and health authority recommendations and may be required to make further changes in the near future.”
