Coastiesaurus
Roller Poster
But how would a ‘sale’ work? Merlin don’t own the physical sites
FORUMS - COASTERFORCE
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
WTF Merlin?
- Thread starter nadroJ
- Start date
Nicky Borrill
Strata Poster
They'd assign the lease with the sale of the 'business' as a going concern. Which is the case with almost any other business that leases their premises.
And yes, @spicy it feels exactly like Merlin are one step short of asset stripping the place... Won't be long
VonRolland
Giga Poster
Towers Introduced 1 free Fastrack per day for Platinum Pass holders recently however Towers are now stating that 'one-shot Fastrack may unavailable on some attractions after 1700. In the meantime, we invite you to enjoy the many other attractions around the Resort and check back later.
Imagine implementing something then realising it's an issue because you used no forethought. Bunch of jokers
Imagine implementing something then realising it's an issue because you used no forethought. Bunch of jokers
Coastiesaurus
Roller Poster
So just looked in that in a little bit more detail and something interesting to point out. Alton towers was part of the sale/leaseback agreement from 2007, along with Thorpe, Warwick castle and Heide park. But Chessington was not, and Merlin own that property and the land outright.
Also interesting to note that not many operators worldwide have gone down the same sale/leasing structure road, and those that have similar things in place usually involve a local municipality rather than big real estate investment trusts.
Also interesting to note that not many operators worldwide have gone down the same sale/leasing structure road, and those that have similar things in place usually involve a local municipality rather than big real estate investment trusts.
cookie
Giga Poster
Speaking of, Alton has backtracked somewhat on the staggered openings. Spinball and Galactica are now 10.30 A.M openings instead of 11:
Last edited:
spicy
Giga Poster
Makes you wonder too as Chessington is getting a 50 million pound investment with Minecraft whilst Thorpe Park get a new picnic area and AT get a new kiddie coaster with nothing seemingly on the horizon (AT pun intended)
Are they perhaps putting bigger investment into the park that they intend on keeping?
Wasn't it mentioned a few months ago that Merlin might be bancrupt by the end of the year if they keep burning money?
The whole company surely has some issues. I feel like their expansion drive is whats hurting them the most. It isn't bad to expand, but with the speed they've been doing it, is just not reasonable. Instead of focussing on earning money and keeping their existing properties attractive, they've overspent on blind expansion and tried to save money in their parks.
Chessington seems to be the new golden child for the park, with the amount of investent they're getting. But maybe - just maybe, Thorpe will also get something big, who knows.
Anyone remember the old 4 year plan for the parks? Those where the days.
The whole company surely has some issues. I feel like their expansion drive is whats hurting them the most. It isn't bad to expand, but with the speed they've been doing it, is just not reasonable. Instead of focussing on earning money and keeping their existing properties attractive, they've overspent on blind expansion and tried to save money in their parks.
Chessington seems to be the new golden child for the park, with the amount of investent they're getting. But maybe - just maybe, Thorpe will also get something big, who knows.
Anyone remember the old 4 year plan for the parks? Those where the days.
MackMan
Mega Poster
It's kind of insane to think they're putting an Intamin Multi Dimension coaster in Chessington, while postponing anything substantial at Alton. I feel the "Old Merlin" had so much focus on Alton Towers, and Chessington was the afterthought.
The picnic area at Thorpe is certainly a hilarious "addition", I feel like Merlin will keep the "we just built Hyperia" card for the next decade.
The picnic area at Thorpe is certainly a hilarious "addition", I feel like Merlin will keep the "we just built Hyperia" card for the next decade.
VonRolland
Giga Poster
Still a vast pit of mud under the ride with minimal 'theming' about, mean while in Romsey Paultons are heavily theming Valgard.
It is possible if you care, Merlin haven't cared for many years
Lukas D
Roller Poster
Annual report is out:
https://www.merlinentertainments.biz/media/8353/motion-jvco-annual-report-and-accounts-2025.pdf
Press release:
https://www.merlinentertainments.bi...ishes-strong-platform-for-sustainable-growth/
Enjoy!
https://www.merlinentertainments.biz/media/8353/motion-jvco-annual-report-and-accounts-2025.pdf
Press release:
https://www.merlinentertainments.bi...ishes-strong-platform-for-sustainable-growth/
Enjoy!
spicy
Giga Poster
Some initial observations from looking at that quickly..
So the total operating loss reduced from a loss of £132 million in 2024 to a loss of £58 million in 2025. Clearly an improvement but still a pretty significant loss.
UK visitors were down by 1.2 million however some of that could be down to no longer operating the Blackpool Tower.
The content of the Press release seems to have a more overall focus on the Lego parks and Chessington, the AT Bluey coaster gets a brief mention..
I don’t know.. Its not as bad as last years accounts but clearly all is not well within Merlin.. I do think we will see further restructuring at some point. I suspect that either Alton Towers or Thorpe Park could leave the group in the near future.
Would be very interesting to see how the parks are performing individually and which ones are profitable.
Nicky Borrill
Strata Poster
Instead of reporting in segments of gateway, legoland and resort theme parks, they've switched to reporting segments based on geography, and have included all types of attraction within each region into that regions segment. So we now have a breakdown for UK, Europe, USA and Asia. They've also back calculated these regions for the previous set of accounts.
It looks on there like the UK and Europe are profitable!!! Operating profits are actually up to £73M in the UK from £68M in the previously reported year.
It also looks at first glance like UK and European operating profits are propping up American and Asian operating losses. Although I'm not sure how investments in those regions factor into this.
Looking at the 'other' expenses, which are global, not tied to one region and includes Merlin Magic Making, Head Offices etc etc... Losses are up to £121m from £97m... I wonder if this has had anything to do with recent departures....
VonRolland
Giga Poster
Update to the Platinum Pass holders.
If you want to use your Fastrack you may not use it on any ride with a 90+ Minute queue.
God this company thinks of nothing ahead of time do they
If you want to use your Fastrack you may not use it on any ride with a 90+ Minute queue.
God this company thinks of nothing ahead of time do they
Nicky Borrill
Strata Poster
Merlin: We're giving our highest paying passholders a queue jump as a reward...
Also Merlin: You can't use that queue jump if there's an actual queue, it will slow down operations, silly...
Who wants to take bets that, for the rest of this season, queues will be overestimated to more than 90 minutes any time they are actually 45 minutes plus... Will be a win win for Merlin, they'll sell more fast tracks, they'll look busier than they are and they'll not have to let those pesky passholders use their perks.
JoshC.
Strata Poster
I know this is a long running joke, but the people responsible for the queue times are in no way linked to the people selling Fastracks. Whilst there are times when queue lengths are overestimated, and that can cause people to but Fastrack, it is never done intentionally.
VonRolland
Giga Poster
I can assure you we used to boost queue times when I worked there, as did everyone I worked with. Not to sell fastracks but to ensure with the amount of RAP & Fastracks we were dealing with the main queue time wasn't too far off.
JoshC.
Strata Poster
So you...displayed a queue time that was, to the best of your ability and knowledge, an accurate representation of how long people in the main queue would wait, given all operational considerations, including Fastrack and RAP. And you...did that not to sell Fastrack, but to give as an accurate as possible advert for how long people would wait.
It may not have been totally accurate, and may have been a bit overestimated. And in turn, that may lead to more people choosing to buy Fastrack, but it wasn't done intentionally.
Which is what I said.
Nicky Borrill
Strata Poster
Oh I know, ride hosts 'usually' report / control queue times using the tablet on the wall. Or at least that was the case up until a few years ago at Towers. Wouldn't put it past current management to override them though.
Although, as a side note, you and I both know those times have been artificially inflated by ride teams deliberately in the past, maybe not to sell fast pass, but for other reasons, like putting off late riders at the end of the day.
EDIT: I didn't see the 2 replies after your first one, so didn't see Von's reply... But boosting times for various reasons definitely happens Josh, I don't know about at Thorpe, but it 100% does / has done at Towers. I don't mean slightly out accidentally, I mean deliberately inflated by some margin, usually to put people off riding.
Last edited: