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15
Dec
Lightwater Valley declines to comment on sale rumours
Lightwater Valley has declined to comment on rumours that it has been sold.
The Stray Ferret reported in October that the theme park at North Stainley, near Ripon, was ‘under offer’ on Rightmove.
Rumours have been circulating since last week that it has now been acquired from the Brighton Pier Group by Nottingham-based Mellors Group, whose brands include Fantasy Island Theme Park near Skegness and Skegness Pier.
We have asked Mellors Group several times in recent days to clarify the situation, but have not had a response.
We also contacted Lightwater Valley, which said it was aware of the rumours, but any information regarding the issue was under embargo.
Mellors Group has also organised events across the country, such as Nottingham’s Winter Wonderland, Hyde Park’s Royal Wedding Wheel and Liverpool’s Paradise in the Park.
A theme park blogger, who goes by the name Diary of a Roller Coaster Girl on Facebook, said Mellors Group had a good reputation with theme park redevelopment:
Mellors Group made some great changes when they purchased Fantasy Island, so fingers crossed they'll work some of their magic here and bring the park back up to the standard that it used to be at.
I also fully expect them to treat Lightwater Valley as a theme park, and not a revolving door for their travelling rides. They might bring in some on a temporary or permanent basis to begin with, but I imagine that they understand that Lightwater Valley is a completely different type of park to Fantasy Island.
Either way, I see this is as great news, and I wish them all the best their latest acquisition.
Lightwater Valley was founded by Robert Staveley in 1969. Under the Brighton Pier Group, which acquired it in 2021, it has focused more on younger children.
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