Merlin CEO Fiona Eastwood said in a recent interviews that screens are their biggest competition. We’re not so sure….

In this episode we talk about what we think are the biggest issues when it comes to consumers chosing to visit a Merlin park or not.

Craig Seedhouse has spent a lifetime in themed attractions. From running the F&B at Alton Towers - including launching the Rollercoaster Restaurant, to launching The Bear Grylls Adventure and now finding himself at Gullivers Rother Valley - he’s seen a LOT. He talks candidly with us about all of it in this weeks episode - and drops a huge hint as to what we could see soon at Gullivers…

This week we’re taking you behind the SCREAMS. I’m joined by Kieran Kimberley - the former Creative Manager at Alton Towers. A stalwart of the event, Kieran was the mastermind behind iconic scare attractions like The Attic, Project 42, Compound and so many more. In this episode he tells us how the ideas get brought to life, his tips for getting the best scares and which mazes he believe went too soon…..

Rotting Flesh, Musty, Attic…..Three things contribute to theme park experiences - the sights, the sounds and the SMELLS. So we are delighted that Liam from Aroma Prime agreed to join us to talk about the iconic scents we’ll find in our favourite parks. 

The robots are coming - but is it a bad thing? Kip Hakes joins Parkcast  this week as we look at the increasing use of AI in our theme parks - the good the bad and tne downright ugly. But is it all bad news and could AI actually help us have a better day out? 

It’s finally October and this month is all about spooks and scares! As our UK theme parks launch their Halloween offerings - let’s look at if they can really compete with stand alone scare atttactions. I’m joined by enthusiast and self-confessed scare obsessive Darren Judson from Judventures to chat through the events you really shouldn’t miss if you’re looking for a terrifying night out this October.

Despite being under 30, Harry Peek has a huge responsibility on his hands. As General Manager of Clacton Pier he looks after one of the most famous seaside amusement parks in the UK - and it’s so much more than that too. In this episode Harry tells us about his journey from ride sceptic to industry pro and the impact he’s making at Clacton Pier, and it’s really inspiring. Mark our words - we are going to be hearing a lot more about Harry in the future!

In a corner of Texas, a group of dedicated theme park enthusiasts have been quietly collecting a treasure trove of amusement industry history. In this special episode, we’re joined by Mark Rosenzweig and Kris Rowberry, Directors of the National Rollercoaster Museum & Archive, who tell us about this huge project, their hopes for the future, and how we will be able to see inside it ourselves.

A full video tour is available on our YouTube channel!

We might not have the final green light on the Universal project in the UK, but we’ve had some big news dropping over the past week. A name has been trademarked, Harry Potter could be back on the cards and there’s talk of a water supply issue throwing the whole thing off! Lawrence from Universally Bedford is back to chat through all this and more with us.

After a short hiatus, Parkcast is back! And we are joined by Dean Stokes - a guy who sent ripples through the theme park enthusiast world when his mission to ride every rollercoaster in the UK got attention from mainstream tv and radio outlets. In this episode we put some controversies to bed, talk about THAT Guinness World Record, but also find out what Dean thought about parks having visited so many in quick succession.