Return to main Advice page

How To Guides

The A-Z of Theme Parks and Holiday Centres

by Peter Hepple
updated August 2005

Peter Hepple is consultant editor of The Stage

The Centres of Excellence

Peter Hepple examines the very best in British holiday centre entertainment for this summer.

BEACHSIDE HOLIDAY PARK
Hayle, Cornwall TR27 5AW
Small, select and privately owned site on St Ives Bay with chalet and bungalow accommodation. Entertainment is provided in the family bar from May to September.

BEVERLEY HOLIDAYS
Goodrington Road, Paignton, South Devon TQ4 7JD
Tel: 01803 843 887
A large privately owned site at Goodrington, near Paignton, divided into three separate units, Beverley Park, Ashvale Holiday Homes and Marine Park. Offers accommodation for tourers as well as static caravans and lodges. Diamonds is the main cabaret room but there is also the Starlight Cabaret Bar. The resident band, Jubilee, is celebrating its 22nd anniversary there and is an integral part of an entertainment team which presents production shows and books visiting cabaret.

Beverley Holidays was awarded the title of Best Holiday Home Park in England in 2003.

BLUE ANCHOR LEISURE
Sea Lane, Ingoldmells, near Skegness, Lincolnshire PE25 1RH
Tel: 01754 874 146
Large company created by John Woodward which owns 21 sites on the Lincolnshire coast between Skegness and Mablethorpe. Most of them have little in-house entertainment but Robin Hood Leisure, the largest, houses Club Tropicana, formerly the Maid Marian Club, one of the biggest (2,000 capacity) cabaret rooms in Britain, open for most of the year. Blue Anchor also owns Fantasy Island, the major amusement and theme park at Ingoldmells, which has entertainment in three venues.

BOURNE LEISURE
1 Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP2 4YL
Privately owned company which has now become the largest controller of holiday centres in this country. There are 40 in all, plus two in the United States and Canada. The company trades under the names British Holidays and Haven Holidays, which are separately marketed but are very similar in their family appeal. The company's headquarters are in Hemel Hempstead, in the offices vacated by Rank Leisure, which sold the Haven estate in 2000.

BRITISH HOLIDAYS
1 Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP2 4YL
Following the takeover of Haven by Bourne Leisure in 2000, the company now has two brands, one named British Holidays, numbering 19, the original Bourne Leisure sites, the other still trading under the name of Haven - 21 in all. The entertainment for both brands, however, is still booked at the Bourne Leisure HQ in Hemel Hempstead, principal bookers being Peter Allen, who looks after the west coast, and Tommy Dee, responsible for the east coast. All 40 sites are mainly caravans.

The sites are Allhallows (Kent), Church Farm (Sussex), Orchards (Essex), Burnham-on-Sea (Essex), Rockley Park (Dorset), Hopton (Norfolk), Thorpe Park (Lincolnshire), Cala Gran, Marton Mere (Lancashire), Lakeland (Cumbria), Haggerston Castle, Berwick-on-Tweed (Northumberland), Greenacres, Quay West, Lydstep Beach, Kiln Park. Pendine Sands (Wales), Seton Sands, Wemyss Bay (Scotland).

Though the investment does not match that of that for Haven, it does total £3 million, spent largely on improved facilities for children, including the Paws Club for toddlers, Splashzone pools and Wonderbars for children. Many of the showbars have also been renovated. Church Farm now has its own golf course.

Bradley Bear is the theme character of the parks and has three shows of his own. Other shows for children are a family interactive show, The Wizard of Oz, Rory's Roadshow - Tiger TV and Panto Time. Production shows for adults are Chartbusters, At the Hop, Boogie Nights, the Star is Born talent competition, Viva Las Vegas and Circus Circus.

Among the cabaret attractions are Dream Machine, Detroit Soul, The Corrds, Rhythm Nation, Infantasia,The Blue Notes, Triple Cream and Ronan and the Boys.

BUNN LEISURE
West Sands Caravan Park, Mill Lane, Selsey, West Sussex PO20 9BH
Tel: 01243 606080
An unusual company in that it owns four sites but all different even though they are adjacent to each other on the Selsey peninsula. There are 2,000 static caravans on three of the parks, the fourth is for tourers. There is also some house and chalet accommodation. The company was started in 1959 by Douglas Bunn and has been considerably developed over the years by the original management.

The sites are called West Sands, the largest, the White Horse, Green Lawns and the Warner Farm Touring Park. The first two offer a wide range of entertainment, with a completely new complex, the Waterfront, now open. The Embassy Theatre is one of the largest holiday centre auditoria in the country and there is also an intimate venue, the Quarterdeck. The smaller Green Lawns site has a country and western feel and most of the entertainment, housed in the Viking venue, is in that idiom, with line dancing prominent. There is an additional smaller venue, the Harness Room. Warner Park is for touring caravans but the facilities of the other three sites are available to visitors and there is a new multi-sports court this year. There is a resident entertainment team servicing the sites and regular visiting artists and bands.

A recent facility is the Oasis, a £3.5 million development comprising a family fun pool, a competition pool, a fully-equipped gymnasium with 50 exercise stations, a health suite and the Cafe Max coffee bar. It is claimed that no other holiday park has a facility of this size and quality.

BUTLINS
The new Butlins concept inaugurated several years ago has been slightly altered now that the Bourne Leisure Group has taken control of the three large sites at Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness. They are, however, run as an autonomous division under George Rushton.

The entertainment is now a mixture of the traditional and contemporary, which means that visiting cabaret performers, many of them big names, appear late-night in the theatres. Earlier in the evening there are production shows performed by the resident company of 24 young artists who are on a continuous training programme throughout the season. New shows this year include a production of Snow White at Skegness, It's a Swing Thing and School Daze.

A greatly enlarged programme of themed breaks has been inaugurated, covering such themes as the sixties and seventies, rock'n'roll, soul and country, employing major names in these fields.

Gala Bingo now has a venue at Bognor Regis, instituted last year.

The Skyline Pavilions are the main centres for children's entertainment, presented throughout the day and early evening, a new innovation being a specially devised stunt show, as well as other themed and character shows, such as Noddy, Spiderman and Puppet Castle. Circus-type entertainment from the stars of the Old Moscow Circus and the traditional African performers from Kenya is also presented.

The main dedicated entertainment venue is Centre Stage, where the production shows and star cabaret are staged. Reds is the home of the Redcoats, who present shows and cabaret spots in their own right, as well as conducting various games and competitions. There are Jaks late-night bars and Swinging Shillelagh at all three sites, while Minehead and Skegness have Crazy Horse Saloons, with live entertainment, and Bognor Regis has the Echo Beach Nightclub. Minehead also has its own Arena, in which some of the biggest pop names appear.

In short, Butlins is still the biggest entertainment provider on the holiday centre scene, being open practically all the year round, being rivalled only by some American venues and even these do not cater for such a vast range.

All Butlins sites are open to day visitors. Accommodation is in apartment blocks, with some large chalets.

CENTER PARCS
Kirklington Road, Eakring, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG22 0DZ
A major success since it began in the nineties, Center Parcs has added Oasis Whinfell near Penrith, formerly operated by the Rank Organisation, to its original three sites at Sherwood Forest, Elveden Forest (Suffolk) and Longleat Forest (Wiltshire).

And it is Oasis Whinfell which still has the biggest entertainments programme, the others having smaller scale entertainment. The emphasis in all the parks, which are luxuriously appointed, is on outdoor activity, though there is an attractive range of restaurants. There has been considerable refurbishment and new facilities during the winter, particularly at Elveden Forest, which has a completely new piazza.

CINQUE PORTS LEISURE GROUP
Ivyhouse Lane, Hastings, East Sussex TN35 4NP
Tel: 01424 751 185
Although founded 20 years ago, this Hastings-based company, headed by Peter Bull and Jim Watson, has expanded greatly in the last two years and anticipates owning more sites within the next 12 months. The company began with Frenchman's Beach Holiday Village at Rye Harbour and initial sites were in the Kent and Sussex area, including Coghurst Hall, Hastings, which is now the company's HQ.

It has been particularly active in acquiring former Haven sites, including Felixstowe Beach and Silver Sands on the Suffolk coast, Winchelsea Beach, Solent Breezes near Southampton and Sheerness and Alberta Holiday Parks in Kent.

Its latest acquisition is well away from its usual territory, Burrowhead Holiday Village, on the Solway Firth, south-west Scotland. Other sites are New Beach Holiday Village, Jesson Court, Marlie Farm, Beauport Park, Lakeside, Seaview, and Harts, in Kent and Sussex, Steeple Bay and St Osyth Beach in Essex. There are two smaller sites with little or no entertainment. Also acquired recently is New Walton Pier at Walton-on-the-Naze, a purely recreational and amusement attraction.

CROSS PARK HOLIDAY CENTRE
Eleven-acre caravan site at Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire owned by New Horizons (not to be confused with the east coast-based New Horizon Holidays). Has full entertainment programme for adults and children, with resident team and visiting artists.

DOLPHIN HOLIDAYS
Duporth Holiday Village, St Austell Bay, Cornwall
Tel: 01726 65511
Fax: 01726 68497
Email: duporth@dolphinholidays.co.uk
Expanding company, which took over the former Haven site Duporth Holiday Village, St Austell Bay, and has now added Tencreek Holiday Park, Looe, and Sandymouth Holiday Park, near Bude.

THE ENTERTAINMENT DEPARTMENT
24 Titan Court, Laporte Way, Luton, Bedfordshire LU4 8EF
Tel: 01582 488 888
Fax: 01582 488 877
Also known as TED UK, this is a booking and consultancy company headed by Nigel Hudston, Debbie King and Max Barraclough, all of whom were at Haven Holidays. They have already acquired the bookings for Parkdean, which has taken back the sites they sold to Haven a few years back, and the newly formed Park Resorts, which has taken over 12 former Haven sites. A recent development is a close association with Cambrian Entertainments, which means that the company is now booking several Welsh and West Country sites. TED is also involved in booking the John Fowler Holidays sites.

FLOWER OF MAY HOLIDAY PARKS
Libberston Cliff, Scarborough, North Yorkshire YO11 3NU
Tel: 01723 584 311
Group of holiday parks, the mainone, Flower of May itself, being a long-established site just outside Scarborough. It is also the only one of the group with a full entertainment programme. The others are residential only, Fir Tree Park (Bridlington), Lowcroft Park (Hornsea), Rosedale Park (near Pickering), Riverside Meadows (Ripon) and Burnside Park (Burrington).

JOHN FOWLER HOLIDAYS
Marlborough Road, Ilfracombe, Devon EX34 8PF
This 50-year-old Ilfracombe-based company, originally specialising in holiday lettings, has developed into a major operator of holiday parks, with 14 sites in Devon and Cornwall. Those with full entertainment programmes are at Ilfracombe (Ilfracombe Holiday Park), Combe Martin (Sandaway Beach Holiday Park, Combe Martin Beach Holiday Park), Bude (Widemouth Bay Caravan Park), Brixham (South Bay Holiday Park), St Ives (St Ives Holiday Village), and Looe (Trelawne Manor Holiday Park).

The other seven have little or no entertainment, though Devon Coast and Garden Coast are near the Ilfracombe Holiday Park, which has large-scale entertainment.

Those with little or no entertainment are Kenegie Manor (Penzance), Killigarth Manor (Cornwall), Perran View (Perranporth), Tolroy Manor (Hayle) and Westward Ho! (Devon). The main bookers are now the Entertainment Department.

FOXHUNTER PARK
Large privately-owned caravan site near Ramsgate. Has cabaret at weekends only but there is a resident entertainer.

FRESHWATER BEACH HOLIDAY PARK
Burton Bradstock, Bridport, Dorset DT6 4PT
Tel: 01308 897 317
Fax 01308 897 336
Email: office@freshwaterbeach.co.uk
Privately owned holiday park, with full entertainment programme, near Weymouth.

GOLDEN SANDS HOLIDAY PARK
Large, indepently-owned site at Dawlish, Devon. Features resident entertainment team and visiting cabaret.

GREAT BRITISH HOLIDAY PARKS
6 Leylands Park, Nobs Crook, Colden Common, Winchester, Hampshire SO21 1TH
Tel: 0870 442 9297
A group of 16 holiday parks run by Winchester-based GB Holiday Parks Ltd. The largest grouping is in East Anglia, with three parks at Clacton (Highfield, Tower, Weeley Bridge) one at Mersea Island (Cooper's Beach), one at Southminster (Waterside), one at Walton-on-the-Naze (Naze Marine) and another at Saltfleet, near Mablethorpe (Sunnydale).

There are also three in Northumbria (Whitley Bay, Sandy Bay, near Ashington, and an inland one near Morpeth, Cresswell Towers), one at Saltcoats, Ayrshire (Sandylands), a new addition to the estate at Eyemouth, and four in the south-east (Camber Sands, Romney Sands at New Romney, St Margaret's, near Dover, and another new acquisition, Warden Springs on the Isle of Sheppey).

Considerable upgrading has been taking place during the winter, both in accommodation and the entertainment rooms. A national talent contest has been instituted for this year and there is a children's character, Dylan the Dinosaur.

Entertainment varies according to the size of the park but Highfield (Clacton), Whitley Bay and Camber Sands are major sites. All are now booked by the Entertainment Department.

HAVEN EUROPE
1 Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP2 4YL
This section of the Haven Holidays group operates eight owned sites in France, marketed as 'siblu', now all with resident entertainment teams, mainly British. Most of the entertainment is on outdoor stages. Much of the visiting entertainment is locally sourced but there is a possibility that British acts and artists will be booked in future. A prominent figure in the children's entertainment is our old friend Rory the Tiger, a signature character on the Haven and British Holidays sites in this country. The owned sites are Domaine de Kerlann (Brittany), Le Bois Dormant and Le Bois Masson (Vendee), La Pignade, Les Charmettes (Charente Maritime), La Reserve (Aquitaine), La Carabasse (Toulouse) and Le Lac des Reves (Languedoc). Haven Europe also books British holidaymakers into 34 other sites in France, Spain and Italy but these are independently owned and have entertainment, mainly local, only in the peak months of July and August.

HAVEN HOLIDAYS
1 Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP2 4YL
Though having only 21 sites under its name nowadays, as compared with nearly 50 at the end of the last century, Haven is still the biggest holiday centre brand in this country. It was bought by the Bourne Leisure Group in 2000 and is now combined financially with British Holidays, with which it shares an HQ in Hemel Hempstead. Booking for the two companies is also based there, with Peter Allen, formerly with Haven, looking after the western sites, and Tommy Dee, formerly with British Holidays, responsible for the east coast.

The sites are Devon Cliffs, Torquay (Devon), Riviere Sands, Perran Sands (Cornwall), Doniford Bay (Somerset), Seaview, Weymouth Bay, Littlesea, Warmwell (Dorset), Combe Haven (Sussex), Caister, Seashore, Cherry Tree, Wild Duck (Norfolk), Golden Sands (Lincolnshire), Blue Dolphin, Primrose Valley, Reighton Sands (Yorkshire), Hafan y Mor, Presthaven Sands (Wales), Craig Tara (Scotland).

There was an investment of £15 million in new or improved facilities for 2003, £6 million of this amount at Devon Cliffs, Exmouth. This includes a new family entertainment centre and Boardwalk, with all-day live entertainment.

A further £1.2 million has been invested at Littlesea. Though there are no major changes this year, there is an ongoing programme and each year there are improvements and additions at all sites.

The production shows are largely the same as at the British Holidays sites, with different performers of course, namely Chartbusters, Viva Las Vegas, Boogie Nights, The Wizard of Oz interactive show, Circus Circus and At the Hop. There are also A Star is Born talent contests in the parks.

HOBURNE HOLIDAY PARKS
261 Lymington Road, Highcliffe, Christchurch, Dorset BH23 5EE
Tel: 01425 227 661
Fax 01425 277 669
Email: enquiries@hoburne.com
Based at Highcliffe, near Christchurch, Dorset, Hoburne is at the upmarket end of the holiday centre business. The company is
quietly expanding by taking over existing sites and now numbers six, of which four have regular entertainment. The exceptions are Hoburne Blue Anchor, near Minehead, and Hoburne Doublebois, near Liskeard, Cornwall.

Two of its bigger sites are inland, though Hoburne Bashley is near the sea at New Milton. The other is Hoburne Cotswold at South Cerney, near Cirencester, in the centre of the Cotswold Water Park.

The other centres are Hoburne Naish, also at New Milton, Hoburne Park in Christchurch and Hoburne Torbay at Goodrington, near Paignton. A seventh park, Hoburne Park at Christchurch, is for owners only.

Refurbishment and upgrading is constantly carried out at all the sites, notably at Hoburne Bashley, which now has mini ten-pin bowling, and Hoburne Naish, which has added more Solent Lodges and now has a crazy golf course, a football/basketball pitch and more play equipment in the children's outdoor playground.

HOLLYBUSH HOTELS
Company operating four hotels and two well-established holiday centres in the south-west of England. The holiday centres are Sand Bay Holiday Village, near Weston-super-Mare, and Lyme Bay Holiday Village at Seaton, Devon. Best known of the hotels is the Riviera Hotel at Bowleaze Cove, near Weymouth, which has a resident entertainment team and visiting cabaret. The others are the Prince Regent and Russell Hotels in Weymouth and the Sherborne Hotel in the inland town of the same name.

HOSEASONS HOLIDAYS
Lowestoft NR32 2LW
Lowestoft-based company which began by selling boating holidays but has now expanded into holiday centres in this country and overseas.

Does not own sites but sells for many of the independent sites and some of the major chains.

HOWELLS LEISURE
Greenacres, Fishguard, Pembrokeshire SA65 9JH
Small company with three caravan parks in Pembrokeshire, one at Fishguard, two (adjacent to each other) at Saundersfoot. Fishguard Holiday Park and Sunnyvale Holiday Park both have entertainment throughout the season, the very small Sunnyglen uses the facilities at Sunnyvale.

LANDSCOVE HOLIDAYS
This Brixham-based company runs three holiday parks in the south-west, Landscove Holiday Village and St Mary's Bay Holiday Park at Brixham itself and Devon Holiday Village at Teignmouth. All have full entertainment programmes.

LEISURE PARCS
Owns all the three piers at Blackpool, as well as the Tower and Winter Garden. One of the Trevor Hemmings group of companies, which owns Pontin's Holidays.

MANORBIER COUNTRY PARK
Privately owned caravan park in Pembrokeshire. There is year-round entertainment, which is augmented during the peak season.

NEW HORIZON
Seacroft Holiday Village, Beach Road, Hemsby-on-Sea, Norfolk NR29 4HR
Recently formed group owned by the Richardson family, long-established in the Norfolk Broads area, where they maintain a fleet of cruisers. They also have a similar fleet on the Thames.

The six centres are split between the Norfolk coast (four), the south coast and the Isle of Wight, the last two being 1999 acquisitions, the South Downs Holiday Village for the over-fifties (formerly a Pontin's site) and the long-established Savoy Holiday Village in Yarmouth, West Wight, catering for adults only.

The other adult sites are Seacroft Holiday Village at Hemsby and Mundesley Holiday Village, further up the coast. There are two family sites, Summerfields Holiday Village (previously owned by Parkdean), at Scratby, north of Great Yarmouth, and Hemsby Beach Holiday Village.

All of them have resident entertainment teams and visiting cabaret. Some have themed weeks or weekends, featuring such artists as Tony Jacobs, John Petters and Denise Lawrence (jazz), the Fourmost, Cannon and Ball, the Bachelors, Dennis Lotis, Jimmy Cricket, Mick Miller, the Ivy League and various tribute acts and shows. There is exclusively chalet accommodation at all except Summerfields, where there are also apartments and caravans.

PARKDEAN HOLIDAYS
2nd Floor, One Gosforth Way, Gosforth Business Park, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE12 8ET
Tel: 0191 256 0795
Six years ago Parkdean, based in Newcastle, sold all their holiday centres to Haven. In 2001 they bought seven of them back and added the huge Trecco Bay Holiday Park, in South Wales, allegedly the biggest in Europe, and the three Newquay Holiday Parks. The last four traded separately for a year after the takeover but have now been integrated into the Parkdean brand, with a new children's concept called Treetops Grove. Another former Haven site, acquired in 2002, is Challaborough Bay, near Bigbury-on-Sea, south Devon. Last year it added another well known and long established centre, Ruda Holiday Park at Croyde Bay, north Devon. The sites not previously mentioned are West Bay (Bridport), Sea Acres (The Lizard) and St Minver (Cornwall). This year the company has further expanded, with six new acquisitions, Southerness Holiday Village and Wemyss Bay (Scotland), Pendine Sands (Wales), Warmwell Holiday Park (Dorset), Torquay Holiday Park (Devon) and Cherry Tree Holiday Park (Norfolk). With the exception of Southerness, all the sites formerly belonged to Haven.

Trecco Bay, as the largest site, consequently has the greatest amount of entertainment. Parkdean is strongly represented in Scotland, with sites at Dornoch (Grannie's Heilan' Hame), Nairn, the Tummel Valley in Perthshire and the well-known Ayr site, Sundrum Castle, plus the new addition, Southerness.

The Entertainment Department, headed in Luton by Nigel Hudston, is responsible for the in-house entertainers, named the Allstars, visiting cabaret and bands and the children's and young people's concepts. In some parks there is an additional concept for ten to 15-year-olds, Freestyle.

PARK RESORTS
Swan Court, Waterhouse Street, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP1 1FN
With the recent acquisition of Great British Holidays, Park Resorts has become the biggest holiday centre company in the country, though GBH is continuing to trade under its own name. Park Resorts itself has opened two new holiday villages, collectively known as Breydon Water Holiday Park in East Anglia. They are Yare Village and Bure Village, on the edge of the Norfolk Broads, the former having a larger entertainment programme.

This brings Park Resorts up to 17 in all. The others are at Cayton Bay, Barmston Beach (Yorkshire), Heacham Beach, California Cliffs, Kessingland Beach (Norfolk and Suffolk), Lower Hyde, Nodes Point, Thorness Bay (Isle of Wight), Bideford Bay (Devon), Ashcroft (Kent), Carmarthen Bay, Brynowen and Ty Mawr (Wales), nearly all former Haven sites. Of these, Brynowen has a newly restyled entertainment centre.

The entertainment programme, booked by the Entertainment Department, is wide-ranging, with special children's shows, featuring favourite character Sparky, teenage shows, an original production show celebrating 40 years of film musicals, The Projectionist, a long running talent contest, the Teamstars entertainment team and cabaret names including Billy Pearce, Jimmy James and the Vagabonds, The Rockin' Berries, Bucks Fizz and the Barron Knights. There is also the stage presentation, Class of '88.

PONTIN'S
Sagar House, Eccleston, Chorley, Lancashire PR7 5PH
Now owned by Leisure Parcs, Pontin's has been whittled down to eight family sites, all with apartment accommodation and a standardised entertainment programme, featuring costume characters, children's activities, production shows and visiting cabaret. A range of children's shows for all ages is now a feature and there is a wide programme of themed weekends, catering for special interests. Several major names are appearing during the season. There is greater emphasis on a range of food outlets and each site now has a Londis store for self-catering holidaymakers.

The sites are at Blackpool, Southport, Prestatyn Sands, Hemsby (near Great Yarmouth), Pakefield (near Lowestoft), Camber Sands (near Rye, Sussex), Brean Sands (near Burnham-on-Sea) and Wall Park (Brixham). Three of these sites, Blackpool, Pakefield and Wall Park, are this year offering over-50s holidays under the name Pontin's Gold.

Among the name artists appearing this year are Dream Machine, Timmy Mallett, the Supremes, Keith Harris, Milli Munro, Odyssey, American Four Tops and the Real Thing.

POTTERS LEISURE RESORT
Coast Road, Hopton-on-Sea, Norfolk NR31 9BX
Tel: 01502 730 345
Website: www.pottersholidays.com
Regarded as the Rolls-Royce of holiday centres, this large, privately-owned complex is at Hopton-on-Sea, near Great Yarmouth. It has top-grade chalet accommodation, a luxurious hotel on the site, a range of sporting facilities, including an indoor bowling green, and one of the largest and best-appointed theatres in the holiday sector.

It has a particularly large resident company, 22 in total, featuring Mark Brewer, a considerable entertainer in his own right, plus a six-piece resident band and three children's entertainers. There are also some special cabaret evenings, at an extra charge, featuring star performers.

RENOWNED HOLIDAY VILLAGES
This company owns two holiday villages formerly operated by Haven Holidays, Harcourt Sands, near Ryde, Isle of Wight, and Mill Rythe on Hayling Island. Both are being marketed as family centres, with extensive adult and children's entertainment programmes and a high standard of accommodation. They are open throughout most of the year, with themed breaks at the beginning and end of the main season.

RIBBY HALL HOLIDAY VILLAGE
Ribby Road, Wrea Green, nr Blackpool, Lancashire PR4 2PR
Ever-growing award-winning site, operating throughout the year a few miles inland from Blackpool, with cottage accommodation and a newly-built apartment hotel. Sporting facilities are continually being improved, the nine-hole golf course now having a resident professional. New also is Capitals, an improved cabaret bar, and the Rendezvous, a family entertainment centre which features special children's entertainment three or four nights a week during the peak season. Both name and local acts are featured.

RICHMOND HOLIDAY CENTRE
Lively, family-owned site near the centre of Skegness. It is strong on entertainment, with a resident team, and has some big names during peak season, together with a full programme of themed weekends, specialising in rock'n'roll.

ST IVES BAY HOLIDAY PARK
Upton Towans, Hayle, Cornwall TR27 5BH
Tel: 01736 752 274
Large independently owned site at Upton Towans, Hayle, Cornwall with caravans, chalets, houses and camping facilities. There are two entertainment venues, the Dynamite Bar, with entertainment seven nights a week during the season, and the Sands Bar, with entertainment six nights a week in the high season. There is also children's entertainment.

SEARLES
Old-established (more than 60 years) holiday centre at Hunstanton which has now rebranded itself as a resort. This is because it has its own golf course and driving range and has a fleet of amphibious vehicles which offer guided sea tours. It also has the largest entertainment programme on this stretch of the coast, with star names and the resident team in the clubhouse and a regular children's programme in the Sundowner Bar. An ambitious building programme during the winter has led to the creation of a town centre development which provides undercover seating and outdoor dining. There is a large range of accommodation, plus a touring caravan park.

SHEARINGS
Miry Lane, Wigan WN3 4AG
A group of 37 hotels, spread throughout the country, which was formerly part of the Rank group but was bought out by its management several years ago. Notable in presenting entertainment in all its hotels, most of them seven nights a week. Each hotel has an entertainment host and often a resident band. Tribute weekends are now a popular feature at the larger hotels. It has recently acquired Wallace Arnold, like Shearings a coach company, which also had hotels.

Shearings also specialises in touring coach holidays in Britain and Europe, using hotels outside the group, and maintains a sales connection with the former Rank holiday brands, Butlins and Warner.

The entertainment booker for all Shearings hotels, including those in Scotland, is Anne George, of Trevor and Billie George Entertainments in Torquay.

SHOREFIELD HOLIDAYS
Family-owned group with four sites, the most recently acquired being Forest Edge Touring Park, St Leonards, Ringwood, Hants, formerly Camping International Touring Park. The two sites with permanent accommodation are Shorefield Country Park, Milford-on-Sea, Hants and Oakdene Forest Park, St Leonards, Ringwood. The other touring park is Lytton Lawn, Milford-on-Sea.

SNOOTY FOX RESORTS
Newly formed company with three sites. Purn International Holiday Resort, at Bleadon, near Weston-super-Mare, is the largest and longest-established, with a full entertainment programme. Summer Lodge at Newquay is a smaller park, with entertainment on a growing scale in the Smuggler's Den Showbar. The inland site, Allensford Caravan and Country Park, is in County Durham, near Consett, and has no entertainment. All three sites, however, make special provision for children.

SOUTH DEVON HOLIDAYS
Runs three Devon holiday centres, all with full entertainment programmes. They are Landscove Holiday Village and Riviera Bay Holiday Centre, both in Brixham, and Devon Valley Holiday Village near Teignmouth.

SOUTH LAKELAND CARAVANS
South Lakeland House, Yealand Redmayne, Carnforth, Lancashire
LA5 9RN
Tel: 01524 781 918
Fax 01524 782 243
Website: www.southlakeland-caravans.co.uk
Operators of 15 sites, mainly in the Cumbria region but one in the Yorkshire Dales and another in North Wales. Regent Park and Ocean Edge Leisure Park, both in the Morecambe area, are the only sites offering major entertainment programmes, however.

STUDIO ONE GROUP
Major Coventry-based agency headed by former entertainer Lee Clark. Sole booker of entertainment staff and cabaret for Pontin's. Also books Gala Bingo venues and is prominent on the gay venues scene.

THORNWICK AND SEA FARM HOLIDAY CENTRE
North Marine Road, Flamborough, East Yorkshire YO15 1AU
Tel: 01262 850 369
Fax 01262 851 550
Website: www.thornwickbay.co.uk
Busy family park not far from Bridlington, with full entertainment programme for adults and children.

Also owns two nearby caravan sites, Green Acres and Green Acres West.

TORQUAY LEISURE HOTELS
Belgrave Road, Torquay, Devon TQ1 3BR
Tel: 01803 400 100
A group of four family-owned interlinked hotels, Derwent, Victoria, Carlton and Toorak, which between them offer a wide range of recreation and entertainment. Guests at one hotel have the freedom of all the others. There is a year-round entertainment programme, increased during the peak summer season and at Christmas. Themed weekends and midweek breaks are part of the off-season programme.
New features at TLH this year are the Yellow Submarine soft play area and a 30 workstation gymnasium, overlooking the Aztec Falls pool, one of the group's main attractions.

VALE HOLIDAY PARKS
Wales-based (Clarach Bay, Aberystwyth) and growing fast, Vale Holiday Parks run four sites, Woodland Vale, Ludchurch, near Narberth, Grondre Vale, near Carmarthen, Penlon Vale and Newquay Vale, both near New Quay. Only the first two have regular entertainment.

VAUXHALL HOLIDAY PARK
Large privately-owned site at Great Yarmouth with a very ambitious entertainment programme under entertainments manager Bernie Innes. In addition to a sizeable resident entertainment team, it features many of the big club, cabaret and music names throughout the season and has a number of themed weekends, covering rock and pop.

WARNER HOLIDAYS
1 Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP2 4YL
Originally founded in 1932 as a holiday camp company, Warner Holidays changed drastically when it came under the aegis of Rank Leisure. Specialising in holidays for the over-50s, though this is no longer strictly adhered to, it not only upgraded the existing holiday camps, converting them all into holiday villages but set out to acquire historic houses, adding on to them all the facilities of a top-grade hotel. Consequently most are open all the year round, with live entertainment every night of the week.

The historic hotels are Littlemore House, near Hungerford, Thoresby Hall in Nottinghamshire, Holme Lacy House, Ross-on-Wye, Nidd Hall, Knaresborough, Cricket St Thomas in Somerset and Bodelwyddan Castle in North Wales. Branded as character hotels are Alvaston Hall, near Nantwich, and Bembridge Coast on the Isle of Wight. Last year Sinah Warren was also upgraded to a character hotel from the classic resort category.

The resorts, most of which were converted from the original Warner camps, are Lakeside on Hayling Island, Gunton Hall and Corton on the east coast, and Norton Grange on the Isle of Wight.

Recipient of major investment last year was Thoresby Hall, which has a new spa and improved restaurant facilities. Sinah Warren has also been further developed as a result of its conversion into a character hotel, its leisure complex having been given a makeover.

The entertainment programmes are both themed and remarkably comprehensive and run throughout the year. The biggest names are branded under Premier Starbreaks, those from across the eras are featured in Starbreaks, there are themed weekends and for the more mature guests there are midweek breaks branded as Golden Years of Variety. Names of many of the artists appearing this year are named in the holiday listings section. The popular Turkey and Tinsel breaks towards the end of the year are also aimed at the older guest.

In 2001 the sites were included in the sale to the Bourne Leisure Group but are continuing as an autonomous entity under George Rushton, the previous managing director.

WESTSTAR
Exeter-based company with a growing reputation owned by the Meaden family. Entertainment, which is provided by resident teams presenting production shows, and strong visiting cabaret is family-based. There are also special children's rooms and shows. The three sites are Mullion Holiday Park, on the Lizard peninsula, Cornwall, Looe Bay Holiday Park, in the same county, and Sandford Park, near Poole, Dorset. There is also a fourth site, at Looe Valley, which does not trade under the Weststar brand but is a touring park with entertainment. Accommodation is a mixture of caravans, bungalows and lodges.

All in all, entertainment is taken very seriously by this small but important holiday company, which has spent £2.5 million since last summer, including new stage facilities at Looe and Sandford Park, a new clubroom at Mullion and additional sports facilities.

Selection of the resident entertainment teams, the Weststar Troupers, is very rigorous. All are paid at Equity or above rates plus holiday pay and no deductions are made for accommodation.

WOOLACOMBE BAY PARCS
Group of four family-owned parcs which have developed over the years into fully-fledged resorts, with a multitude of indoor and outdoor activities and amenities. Accommodation is extremely varied - lodges, apartments, villas, caravans and space for camping and tourers. A strong entertainment team covers the sites, Golden Coast, Woolacombe Bay, Twitchen, developed around an Edwardian manor house, and the latest addition, Easewell Farm.

WOOLACOMBE SANDS HOLIDAY PARK
Independent family holiday centre with full range of entertainments.

OVERSEAS RESORTS

SANI RESORT
Kassandra, Halkidiki, Greece
Large resort, comprising Sani Beach Hotel, Sani Beach Club, Porto Sani Village and the Convention Centre, on the same Greek site. Has a wide range of entertainment, including musical stage performances in the Dolphins Pool Theatre, music in the Nautilus Night Club and the bars, and major performances in the Amphitheatre at the Beach Club.

The proliferation of theme, wildlife and adventure parks was one of the main leisure industry developments during the nineties, adding another sphere of employment to the light entertainment side of the business.

Unfortunately, all too few have stage shows in purpose-built theatres and one or two that did have decided that they can do without them. But most parks do employ entertainers in one form or another, sometimes as costume characters, while others may be used as presenters or facilitators for particular attractions, for instance animal displays.

In fact, most attractions, be they museums or stately homes, are inclined to use, often on a seasonal basis, trained presenters and sometimes actors, musicians and circus performers for specific events. All in all, there is likely to be a considerable amount of seasonal work available in this field, more perhaps for students during the holiday period than for professional performers.

THEME, LEISURE AND ADVENTURE PARKS

ALICE IN WONDERLAND FAMILY PARK
Website: www.aliceinwonderlandpark.co.uk
Situated near the Bournemouth International Airport at Hurn, this is a charming seven-acre park with a Lewis Carroll theme, with several unthreatening rides suitable for small children. A storytelling show is presented twice a day, either in the Alice Theatre or outside. Extra entertainers are employed during the school holidays.

ALTON TOWERS
Website: www.alton-towers.co.uk
Arguably the most famous and popular of British theme parks, Alton Towers keeps adding new rides, the latest being Rita, Queen of Speed, which has knocked Nemesis into second place. But it has always featured a considerable amount of live entertainment, including an ice show, an outdoor rock'n'roll show and a children's show featuring the costume character Barney. Also unique in having two on-site hotels, the latest, of which, Splash Landings, Europe's first waterpark hotel, opened in June 2004. Both have their own entertainment teams. The hotels, in fact, are now being as heavily promoted as the park itself. Alton Towers is part of the Tussauds group, which also includes Chessington World of Adventures and Thorpe Park.

THE AMERICAN ADVENTURE
Ilkeston, Derbyshire DE7 5SX
Website: www.americanadventure.co.uk
Created out of disused mine workings near Ilkeston, Derbyshire, the American Adventure offers a variety of rides and some indoor and outdoor entertainment, all with a western theme. For the next two years the site is undergoing refurbishment to provide less white-knuckle rides and more family and children's rides. There is a live interactive show at the park this year. Formerly owned by Granada, it is now part of Trevor Hemmings' group of companies.

BLACKPOOL PLEASURE BEACH
Website: www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.co.uk
Classed as a theme park but actually an amusement park which is Britain's premier visitor attraction. In addition to numerous rides, including the famous Valhalla, it has the Globe Theatre, featuring Eclipse, the Arena, with a long-running ice show, and two cabaret venues, the Horseshoe and Paradise Room. There is also another entertainment venue on the rim of the park, the Star.

BREAN LEISURE PARK
Website: www.brean.com
Family leisure park near Weston-super-Mare, which also includes two entertainment venues catering for nearby holiday parks. The Tavern, which has a year-round programme, is one of the leading venues in the area for private functions. Dickies is the family entertainment room during the summer and Christmas seasons.

CAMELOT
Website: www.camelotthemepark.co.uk
Old-established park just off the M6 near Chorley which really does have a theme, based on the story of King Arthur. Entertainment is strongly in period, with daily jousting tournaments, Merlin's magic show and Mad Edgar's juggling show. Also has a nearby hotel under the same management as the park, Prime Resorts, but there is no regular entertainment.

CHESSINGTON WORLD OF ADVENTURES
Chessington, Surrey KT9 2NE
Tel: 0870 444 7777
Website: www.chessington.co.uk
Old-established site now owned by the Tussauds Group. Originally a zoo, it has now grown into a major site with rides and other attractions, though there are still a lot of animals, with a 2001 feature called Trail of the Kings.

A genuinely family-friendly park, it has had a number of early season live attractions for children, with Noddy and Scooby-Doo, the Powerpuff Girls, Dora the Explorer and Roly Mo, plus a high proportion of rides for the under-12s. Resident throughout the season are the ever-popular Spike and Cinders, Dennis the Menace, working in Beanoland, and Jink and Fink, who can be found in Hocus Pocus Hall.

CREALY ADVENTURE PARKS
Sidmouth Road, Clyst St Mary, Exeter, Devon EX5 1DR
Tel: 01395 233 200
Fax 01395 233 211
Website: www.crealy.co.uk
St Issey, Newquay, Cornwall
Opened as a farm park near Exeter in 1989, Crealy has grown to encompass a number of other attractions, including rides. There is some entertainment on the park, for instance children's shows, which are increased during the peak season.

There is now an additional Crealy park near Newquay, formerly Shires Adventure Park. This operates the same family-friendly policy as the Exeter park, with a programme of special events up to Christmas.

DISNEYLAND PARIS
Website: www.disneylandparis.com
The largest theme park in Europe, offering considerable employment opportunities to British performers, whether fully trained or not. There are dozens of costume characters, big parades throughout the day and several shows in the various themed areas, both indoors and out.

The site contains two parks, Disneyland Park, which has five zones, Fantasyland, Discoveryland, Frontierland, Adventureland and Main Street USA, and Walt Disney Studios Park, opened last year. The first has more than 50 rides, with various attractions, including live shows, in the themed areas. The second is designed as a working film studio with four production zones, Front Lot, Animation Courtyard, Production Courtyard and Back Lot. Between them they have an assortment of attractions, including stunt shows and special effects.

Disney Village, adjacent to the two parks, is a reproduction of an American town with hotels, shops, a 15-screen cinema, restaurants, bars and live music venues. The two major live attractions are the Legend of Buffalo Bill, with a Wild West theme, and CrescendO, sited in a big top and described as an aquatic circus.

DOBWALLS ADVENTURE PARK
Havett Road, Dobwalls, Liskeard, Cornwall PL14 6HB
Tel: 01579 320 325
Fax 01579 321 345
Website: www.dobwallsadventurepark
Large family-owned park with many attractions for adults and children.

DRAYTON MANOR FAMILY THEME PARK
Drayton Manor Park, near Tamworth, Staffordshire B78 3TW
Tel: 01827 287 979
Website: www.draytonmanor.co.uk
Though founded as far back as 1949, this park near Tamworth has developed greatly since then, with an increasing range of rides and attractions,including live shows. Major show attraction is the Jubilee Circus, featuring several specialities and clowns but no animals. There are also numerous childrens entertainments. It also has a new white-knuckle ride, G-Force, a new gyro-swing accommodating 32 riders.

The park also has its own caravan site and has a busy function and conference season.

DRUSILLAS PARK
Alfriston, East Sussex BN26 5QS
Tel: 01323 874100
Fax: 01323 874101
Website: www.drusillas.co.uk
An old-established attraction which has developed over the years from a small zoo. It still has a growing number of cuddly-type animals and birds, more than 60 animal attractions in all, but there are many more facilities for children, including an indoor Toddler's Village and Playbarn, so that it has become a leading tourist destination in south-east England. There is also a full calendar of special events. The park is at Alfriston, seven miles inland from Eastbourne.

EDEN PROJECT
Website: www.edenproject.com
The major new attraction in 2001, it consists of two gigantic Biomes - conservatories in which are reproduced the conditions of the tropics and the more temperate zones. It is almost as fascinating outdoors as in the Biomes. But it also has a surprising number of educational and entertainment staff, who are guides and look after low-key children's activities. It is also unique in having an arts element and several special events, concerts and theatre productions are presented during the summer months. It is situated to the north-east of St Austell, Cornwall.

FANTASY ISLAND
Sea Lane, Ingoldmells, near Skegness, Lincolnshire PE25 1RH
Tel: 01754 872 030
Website: www.fantasyisland.co.uk
This is really a themed amusement park but is a striking feature in Ingoldmells, just along the coast north of Skegness. It has been developed by the Blue Anchor Leisure Group, headed by John Woodward, from the former Eastgate Leisure Centre, which was an entertainment venue for the holiday parks which abound in the area. It has added a new ride practically every year since it opened nine years ago and the site also contains one of the biggest markets in Britain, in addition to a large number of retail and catering outlets. There is a heavy entertainment presence in the park, including children's shows on the Lagoon stage during the day, and a cabaret bar, Scallywags, is in action every evening throughout what is a long season stretching into October. There is also live entertainment in Woody's Wine Bar.

This year it has added a new ride, the terrifying Absolutely Insane, and the largest Ferris wheel in Europe. The Carousel amusement centre has also been improved and extended along Las Vegas lines in preparation for the expected relaxation of the gaming laws.

FISHERS FARM PARK
Website: www.fishersfarmpark.co.uk
A popular attraction near Billingshurst, Sussex, which specialises in farm animals but also has a small theatre (120 seats) with regular magic and other shows.

FLAMBARDS EXPERIENCE
Clodgey Lane, Helston, Cornwall TR13 0QA
Tel: 01326 573 404
Fax: 01326 573 344
Website: www.flambards.co.uk
Popular south-west theme park near Helston, Cornwall. Has steadily developed over the years and now employs a number of entertainers, working as costume characters and presenting family shows. There is a special children's programme during the peak season and a large number of daytime and evening events between April and September. Contains a Victorian Village and a reconstruction of wartime London, Britain in the Blitz.

FLAMINGO LAND
Kirby Misterton, Malton, North Yorkshire
Website: www.flamingoland.co.uk
Well-established family theme park with rides and children's attractions, including four indoor shows, among them Professor Bubble's Jungle Jive Show. It has a new ride this year, Velocity, and is unusual in that it also has evening entertainment, for it is also a touring caravan site and has permanent caravans for rent. In addition, it also has an active pre-Christmas programme.

GULLIVER'S WORLD
Website: www.gulliversfun.co.uk
Three smaller theme parks situated in Warrington, Matlock Bath (Gulliver's Kingdom) and Milton Keynes (Gulliver's Land), the first being the largest. There is a range of rides and attractions, aimed specifically at children between two and 13.

HARBOUR PARK, LITTLEHAMPTON
Website: www.harbourpark.com
Amusement park in centre of the town's harbour area which is steadily growing year by year. No dedicated live entertainment venues as yet.

KNIGHTLY'S FUN PARK
Website: www.funfair-hire.com
Old-established amusement park in Sandbanks Road, Towyn, North Wales. Has magic shows during the day, cabaret in the evenings.

LEGOLAND
Windsor, Berkshire SL4 4AY
Website: www.legoland.co.uk
A vast site near Windsor which has been designed for young children and consequently has pink rather than white knuckle rides. However, the latest, Jungle Fever, is nearer to a conventional theme park ride. There are live and puppet shows presented by a sizeable resident company but they have a strong educational element. Despite the fact that the site is currently for sale, the full entertainment programme and several special events are continuing as booked.

There are three other Legolands across the world, the original site at Billung (Denmark), Legoland California (north of San Diego) and Legoland Germany (Bavaria, 90 minutes from Munich).

LIGHTWATER VALLEY
North Stainley, Ripon, Yorkshire HG4 3HT
Website: www.lightwatervalley.co.uk
Large park near Ripon, Yorkshire with a range of rides for all ages, five new ones last year. This year's new ride is The Octopus. Environmentally conscious, it has a farm and special wildlife sections and also possesses a factory shopping village. Strong on entertainment, there is a 200-seat theatre with family shows, this year Magic Marc is resident and a number of special events are presented throughout the season.

LONGLEAT
The Estate Office, Longleat, Warminster, Wiltshire BA2 7NW
Tel: 01985 844 400
Fax: 01985 844 885
Email: enquiries@longleat.co.uk
Website: www.longleat.co.uk
Longleat, Wiltshire home of the Marquess of Bath, is one of Britain's oldest attractions, the house being opened to the public in 1949, the wildlife park in 1966. It now has a number of additional attractions, such as children's playgrounds. New this year are the Super Beasts Show, a new live interactive summer show, and Enchanted Storytellers, another interactive presentation.

MILKY WAY ADVENTURE PARK
Clovelly, Bideford, North Devon EX39 5RY
Tel: 01237 431 255
Fax: 01237 431 735
Website: www.themilkyway.co.uk
Well-established children's park. Live shows are mainly animal and bird based.

NEW PLEASUREWOOD HILLS LEISURE PARK
Website: www.pleasurewoodhills.co.uk
With new ownership, this park is now the largest of its kind in East Anglia, with more than 40 rides, shows and attractions on its 50 acres on the A12 between Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft. It has two theatres, the Castle, in which artists from the Moscow State Circus are appearing this year, and the Palladium. Woody Bear is the themed character and is prominent throughout the park, which also presents a Christmas show.

OAKWOOD
Canaston Bridge, Narberth, Pembrokeshire SA67 8DE
Tel: 01834 891 373
Fax: 01834 891 380
Website: www.oakwood-leisure.com
Family-owned theme park near Narberth, Pembrokeshire which contains a world-acclaimed wooden roller coaster and many other rides, including a recently installed children's attraction, Brer Rabbit's Burrow. Unusual in that it has evening opening during the peak season, with a summer spectacular, After Dark, presented in the new Premiere Theatre and also an outdoor show, Disco Inferno. Another feature of the park is that it has presented a successful pantomime for several seasons.

PETTITTS ANIMAL ADVENTURE PARK
Reedham, Norfolk, off A47 between Norwich and Great Yarmouth
Tel: 01493 700 094
Website: www.pettittsadventurepark.co.uk
Now owned by the management of the Britannia Pier, Great Yarmouth, this site, at Reedham, Norfolk, has developed considerably over the past few years. In addition to the ever-growing animal collection, there are rides for adults and children, a number of catering outlets and a theatre with live entertainment. There are also special live entertainment events during the season.

PIRATES ADVENTURE
Calle Joaquin Sorralla 17, Bajos, Edificio Alivia, 07181 Magalluf, Mallorca, Spain
Website: www.piratesadventure.com
Themed attraction in Magaluf, Mallorca with a largely British company. The longest-established dinner show on the island, it has now been running for 20 years under the direction of Phil Saint. The show is described as a blend of West End musical, panto and circus. Show director is Martyn Smith.

PLEASURE ISLAND
Website: www.pleasure-island.co.uk
Cleethorpes attraction, now in its 11th year, which boasts six major rides, the latest being Pendulus. Uses five resident dancers who appear during the day in the Musical Time Machine and the Tommy Tinkaboo Show, featuring the park's signature character. The resident entertainment team is also used in the evening cabaret shows presented in McCormack's Family Bar. The park is owned by the Gibb family, who also run Flamingo Land between York and Scarborough.

PLEASURELAND
Website: www.pleasureland.uk.com
Amusement park in Southport which is one of the oldest in the country, originally established in 1912. It moved to its present beachfront location in 1924. Though primarily known for its rides - the latest, Space Shot, opened this year - there is some entertainment.

TALACRE BEACH HOLIDAY PARK
Station Road, Talacre, Flintshire CH8 9RD
Website: www.talacrebeach.co.uk
Flagship park of North Wales holiday group. Has full entertainment programme for adults and children.

THORPE PARK
Staines Road, Chertsey, Surrey KT16
Tel: 0870 44 44 678
Website: www.thorpepark.co.uk
Situated in Chertsey and converted from gravel pits, Thorpe Park is, with Alton Towers and Chessington World of Adventures, part of the Tussauds Group. It has grown considerably since its opening and has several major rides. There are two major new ones this year - The Slammer, only the second sky-swat ride in the world. This means it is a free-fall experience without having to jump out of a plane. The other is Rush, a world first, the biggest ever air-powered speed swing and definitely not for children.

The park also includes last year's sensation, Colossus, an 850-metre roller coaster, Nemesis Inferno, another disorientating roller coaster, Detonator, Vortex, Quantum and Tidal Wave, none of them for the faint-hearted.

A new live attraction is Stuntzmania, performed in the arena by a team of dare-devils.

THURSFORD COLLECTION
Thursford Green, Thursford, near Fakenham, Norfolk NR21 0AS
Tel: 01328 878 477
Website: www.thursford.com
A unique collection of mechanical organs and traction engines open from Easter to October. It presents daily organ recitals by Robert Wolfe during the season and stages what is possibly Britain's largest Christmas show, running from mid-November until immediately before Christmas.

TROPIQUARIA
Washford Cross, Watchet, West Somerset TA23 0QB
Tel: 01984 640 688
Website: www.tropiquaria.co.uk
Animal-based theme park which includes an indoor jungle and aquarium, as well as an interesting range of children's activities. It also has its own puppet theatre, with Shadowstring Puppets resident, and a museum which depicts the history of radio from the thirties.

TUSSAUDS GROUP
Silverglade, Leatherhead Road, Chessington, Surrey KT9 2QL
Tel: 0870 429 2300
Website: www.tussauds.com
The Tussauds Group runs Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures and Thorpe Park, plus the recently acquired Heide Park in Soltau, Germany, as well as operating the London Planetarium, Warwick Castle, the London Eye and, of course, the famous wax exhibitions in London, New York, Las Vegas, Hong Kong and Amsterdam.

TWINLAKES PARK
Melton Spinney Road, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire LE4 4SB
Tel: 01664 567777
Fax: 01664 560070
Email: fun@twinlakespark.co.uk
Website: www.twinlakespark.co.uk
Recently established site in Melton Mowbray opened by the management of Woodlands Park, near Totnes. Has a growing number of children's attractions and is open in the autumn and over the Christmas period. Live entertainment at the special events.

WARWICK CASTLE
Website: www.warwick-castle.co.uk
A great medieval castle and lately a stately home, Warwick Castle is now managed by the Tussauds Group, which has made it a year-round attraction. Employs a large number of staff, including actors, and has a programme of concerts in the grounds during the summer.

WATERMOUTH CASTLE THEME PARK
Tel: 01271 863 879
Fax 01271 865 864
Website: www.watermouthcastle.com
Independent family park, with children's entertainment, situated between Ilfracombe and Combe Martin.

WATERSIDE HOLIDAY PARK
Bowleaze Cove, Weymouth, Dorset DT3 6PP
Tel: 01305 833 103
Fax 01305 832 830
Website: www.watersideholidays.co.uk
Independent holiday park, the owners also running Chesil Beach Holiday Park on the other side of Weymouth. Prides itself on its excellent live entertainment programme.

WICKSTEED PARK
Website: www.wicksteedpark.co.uk
Large (147-acre) site in Kettering, Northamptonshire, established as Britain's first leisure park in 1921 by a local manufacturer of playground equipment. Described as a cross between a country park and a theme park, it is now undergoing development, with two roller coasters, various other smaller-scale attractions and a children's theatre presenting the Wicky Bear Show. The park also boasts the 700-seat Pavilion, which stages live presentations throughout the year in cabaret style. This summer there are regular variety and music hall shows, party time extravaganzas and appearances by leading tribute bands.

The managing director is John Roberts, formerly managing director of the Cresset, Peterborough and before that at Camberley Civic Hall, now called Camberley Theatre.

WONDERLAND PLEASURE PARK
White Post, Farnsfield, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG22 8HX
Tel: 01823 882 773
Fax: 01623 883 559
Website: www.wonderlandpleasurepark.com
Thirty-acre site which is ideal for younger children. No big rides but a big selection of gentle rides for small children, with many features to appeal to their parents. In the high season there are open-air entertainment and games.

WOODLANDS LEISURE PARK
Blackawton, Totnes, Devon TQ9 7DQ
Tel: 01803 712 598
Fax 01803 712 680
Website: www.woodlandspark.com
Large site near Totnes with outdoor and indoor attractions for children. Also has a caravan park on the site. Children's entertainment provided regularly during the season.

OVERSEAS PARKS

BUSCH GARDENS
Website: www.buschgardens.com
There are two Busch Gardens, one at Tampa Bay, Florida, the other at Williamsburg, Virginia. Both are mixtures of theme park with rides, adventure park and animal park.

They are strong on shows, Tampa Bay offering an African show, KaTonga, Mystic Sheiks of Morocco (a marching band), Irish Thunder, with 20 performers, Moroccan Roll and, towards the end of the season, a major dance show, Rhythm of the Night, presented by Burn the Floor. Williamsburg presents bigger shows in purpose built theatres. The most spectacular is Imaginique, a costume spectacular, others are Holiday in Roma, Irish Thunder, Jukebox 2005 and Starlight Orchestra. Both aim to provide a vacation rather than a one-day experience.

CEDAR POINT
Website: www.cedarpoint.com
Family entertainment park at Sandusky, Ohio, near the Great Lakes. Rides include the world's tallest and fastest roller coaster, which was completed this spring. There are production shows, musicians and theme characters, the park employing 100 entertainers in all.

WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT
Website: www.disneyworld.co.uk
Official name of Disney's best-known and most extensive site, 20 miles south-west of Orlando, Florida. It consists of four theme parks, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom, plus two water adventure parks, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. Between them they employ hundreds of staff.

Magic Kingdom, the first section of the site to open in 1971, has most employees, because of the number of attractions, more than 40. The others are more specialised, embracing science and discovery, a working film studio and 500 acres of animal park.

Most performers work in the Downtown Disney section, which contains Pleasure Island, with nightclubs and restaurants, Marketplace, a shopping mall, and West Side, an entertainment district with shows and live music, including Cirque du Soleil. There are numerous hotels in the area, including, in addition to those operated by the Disney Organisation, several owned by leading chains such as Marriott, Sheraton and Holiday Inn. Some have their own entertainment programmes.

DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA
Website: disneyland.disney.go.com
Based in Anaheim, Disneyland California has two theme parks, Disneyland Park and Disney's California Adventure, plus a large Downtown District, in which the main entertainment outlets are situated.

EFTELING
Website: www.efteling.nl
Very popular Netherlands park, founded in 1952. Has a large range of amusements and attractions, with children's shows a speciality, including puppets and several outdoor acts. Also possesses a theatre.

HERSHEY PARK, PENNSYLVANIA
Website: www.hersheypa.com
Operated by Hershey, the largest chocolate maker in the USA, this park has more than 60 rides with outdoor attractions. Its Chevrolet Music Box Theatre, seating 800, has just been refurbished and is presenting some large-scale productions this summer.

PARC ASTERIX
Website: www.parcasterix.com
About 20 miles north of Paris, Parc Asterix is decidedly French in feel but has rides and a variety of shows, all of them outdoor.

PHANTASIALAND
Website: www.phantasialand.de
Mammoth park near Cologne, Germany, with a range of shows, including L'Ar(c)tistique, a spectacular presentation, Unforgettable, Beat of the Bronx and Lights on Broadway.

SEAWORLD ORLANDO
Website: www.seaworld.com
A theme park with an aquatic outlook, with many attractions including sea lions, dolphins, sharks and so on. There are live shows, the biggest featuring leading circus performers.

SIX FLAGS
Website: www.sixflags.com
The largest theme park company in the world, with 40 sites in total, most in the United States. The majority have live shows but some have specific themes, such as water and safari parks.

Eight of the parks are in Europe - Six Flags Belgium and Bellewaerde Park (Belgium), Walibi Schtroumpf, Walibi Rhone-Alpes and Walibi Aquitaine (France), Six Flags Holland, Warner Bros Movie World (Germany) and Warner Bros Movie World (Spain).

The company stems from the Walibi Group, founded in 1975, which was purchased by Premier Parks, the largest American theme park group, in 1998, which was then renamed Six Flags. The Warner Bros parks are run under licence but all parks have Warner Bros characters, such as Tom and Jerry.

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
Website: themeparks.universalstudios.com
Big rivals to Disney, in as much as both have parks in Hollywood and Orlando. Universal, however, has recently opened one in Osaka, Japan. Universal parks, however, pay homage to Hollywood in general and in addition to rides and themed attractions, have, as does Disney, a range of entertainment venues and outdoor parades, employing performers from this country as well as the USA and other nations.

Universal Orlando has two theme parks, Islands Adventure and Universal Studios, plus Universal City Walk, the entertainment area, including the unique NASCAR Cafe and the world's largest Hard Rock Cafe. Entertainment outlets include BB King's Blues Club, at which the great man himself has been known to appear, Bonkerz Comedy Club, the huge Gibson Amphitheatre, used for major concerts, and Howl at the Moon, where the duelling pianos concept holds sway.