Parkcast - The UK’s Original Theme Park Podcast

Voting for the UK Theme Park awards is now open! Lawrence Roots who founded the awards joins me this week to talk about why he thought we needed them, how they've grown and what they mean to the UK theme park industry.You can vote now and you don't to vote in every category if you dont want to. I should also say I'm nominated in the content creator category - very unexpected but appreciated. You don't need to vote for me - but please make your vote count!

Paultons Park is rapidly becoming an enthusiast favourite park. A string of exciting but well thought through ride installations, combined with excellent operations, attention to detail and owners who really embrace the theme park community means it's been a park we've raved about for ages. Lawrence from the park is back on Parkcast to chat about how the launch of their new area Valgard has gone, including the opening of their new Eurofighter Drakon, and the exciting plans for 2027 which will see the park open the UK's first water coaster.

We were all a little bit worried last year that we were about to lose another theme park for good. So we were delighted to hear Lightwater Valley had been saved and bought by the Mellors Group - highly regarded showmen and owners of Fantasy Island in Ingoldmells. In this episode I'm joined by James Mellors to talk about his route to owning parks, and his big plans for the future.

If there's one thing every theme park enthusiast has, it's opinions....This week I'm joined again by Glenn and Alex, as we discuss some of your unpopular ones, and they share some of their own. So, do all rollercoasters have a shelf life? Is Swarm really the best coaster at Thorpe Park? And are Mad Houses actually pointless? We'll cover these and a lot more! Let me know if you agree or not....

Blackgang Chine is the UK's oldest theme park - but how does a park on an island just off the south coast of England stay relevant and still delight guests over 180 years after opening? Laura Baxter - Head of Marketing and Dan White - General Manager join us on Parkcast this week to share some of their secrets!

Last week I got sent an anonymous message containing details of plans for a new rollercoaster at Alton Towers. Project Horizon has been on the minds of enthusiasts for years, with rumours constantly swirling about what it was going to involve and if it would even happen at all. One thing I've been told is that the planned attraction I was sent the info on is definitely on the cutting room floor. In this episode I talk through what I was sent and ask you, are you sad it's not happening in this form? 

Most theme park fans think they could run a theme park. Josh Heywood does exactly that at Crealy Theme Park in Devon. In this episode he talks us through how he got there, some regrets and his big plans for the future. It's incredibly eye opening and Josh is an infectious breath of fresh air - so full of passion for the park and the industry as a whole.

The UK's newest, and in my opinion best, flat ride opened at Blackpool Pleasure Beach on May 21st. Aviktas - the huge Intamin gyroswing - has been eagerly anticipated since the ride was announced early last year. I was lucky enough to be invited to the media launch and in this episode I'm joined by my two companions at the event - Glenn Robertson aka The Notable Stranger who did the ride soundtrack and Alex Brindley who was the MC on the day. But did it live up to our expectations and what's it really like to attend a media day? This episode also features interviews with Amanda Thompson OBE and Peter van der Schans - Vice President and Executive Director IAAPA EMMEA.

The last time Mark Rosenzweig was on Parkcast he caused uproar when he said he thought Nemesis at Alton Towers was overrated and that Inferno at Thorpe Park was the best inverted coaster in the UK.So this week we've got him back to talk us through his top rated inverted coasters and its a subject he knows a lot about, as he's ridden every single inverted coaster in the USA. I think his No.1 might surprise you!

It might be a pipe dream for most theme park enthusiasts, but Matt Conridge has just bought his own park - Trago Family Fun Park in Devon. In this episode we find out why he decided now was the right time to take the leap into the attractions world, how he's finding it and what his plans for the future are.You'll find Trago Family Fun Park near Newton Abbot in Devon and as Matt tells us, it's free to enter and pay to play once you're there. It would be great to show Matt some support for this new venture and hopefully we can watch the park continue to develop over time!

May 2026 is a huge month for UK theme parks. With Valgard at Paultons, Aviktas at Blackpool Pleasure Beach and World of Paw Patrol at Chessington all opening, we're looking at the positive things happening in our parks, and why they're so important....