The sale of the iconic visitor attraction generated huge interest when it came to market in September 2020 with a guide price of £3m, says Jon Patrick, director of leisure & development at Christie & Co, who oversaw the sales process. 

“In over 35 years of selling leisure businesses, few have come close to the intensity of interest generated by this instruction which led to a competitive bidding process, multiple cash offers being received, and a sale being agreed in excess of the guide price within four weeks of launch. This would be an incredible achievement at the best of times, but set against the current backdrop is quite remarkable and is an indicator of the underlying strength of the UK leisure market for top class assets as well perhaps an understandable strengthening of staycation interest in coast and country locations.”

Operating across the UK and Middle East, the Mellors Group already runs the nearby Fantasy Island at Ingoldmells, which it acquired in 2016. The company says it plans to invest in the property.