ATTRACTIONS


Hadrian’s Wall to receive new £11m visitor centre


Hadrian’s Wall’s 1960s-era visitor centre will make way for a brand new facility aſter plans got the go-ahead from authorities. The English border village of Once


Brewed, which serves the stream of hardy walkers who tackle the 117.5km (73 mile) trek across the historic wall, will be home to an £11.2m development. Te Sill National Landscape Discovery Centre, imag- ined by Newcastle-based architects Jane Darbyshire and David Kendall (JDDK), aims to flatter the landscape and be pro- gressive in its design. Te project has now been cleared by the National Planning Casework Unit, having already received local authority consent. Funding is com- ing from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). Details: http://lei.sr?a=h2m2Z


Heatherwick toasts gin attraction


Internationally renowned gin brand, Bombay Sapphire, has cut the rib- bon on its new home, a distillery and visitor centre in Laverstock, Hampshire. Having opened its


doors on 1 October, the Laverstock Mill has been completely renovated and fitted out for its new pur- pose of housing Bombay Sapphire’s headquarters and distillery. With a full range of behind the scenes visitor experiences, the new site is to showcase the story behind Bombay Sapphire, its craftsmanship and heritage as a brand. Heatherwick Studio came up with the mas-


Te Glasshouses are set to two different temperatures to grow the botanicals


terplan for the project, and thus transformed the Grade II listed paper mill into a dedicated distillery and centre. Having worked on the entire site, Tomas Heatherwick has truly leſt his mark in the two intertwining Glasshouses, housing all ten of the botanicals infused in Bombay Sapphire gin. Both Glasshouses are dif- ferent temperatures, allowing the exotic plants


Te development had an Eden project-style biodome


Plans for £600m aquarium in tatters after plannng lapse


Plans for a £600m aquarium in Bedfordshire have fallen through after planning per- mission for the project expired, despite receiving significant public investment. Te National Institute for Research into


Aquatic Habitats (Nirah) initially gained approval to be built in Stewartby in 2007 and the collapse of the plans has leſt the Bedford Borough and Central Beds councils owed at least £1.6m, with the government also owed more than £3.5m by the developers. Te aquarium was originally presented


as a scientific research centre and visitor attraction, and was supposed to be built by the end of 2012, but lack of investment meant work on the project hasn’t been able to proceed. The government origi- nally loaned the aquarium £2m, but due to interest, the figure now stands at £3.5m. Te government warned in March that it


wanted to see “evidence of progress” on the giant aquarium project, calling the situation “not sustainable”. Authorities are currently seeking to recover the debt, much of which is secured against the value of the land. Details: http://lei.sr?a=Y6H8d


14 Paramount park ‘needs transport investment‘


A new report on Paramount’s £2bn theme park development in Kent has said that more investment will be needed in public transport, with greater use of the River Tames. The high-profile theme park


resort, which gained fast-track devel- opment approval earlier this year, is to be built on the Swanscombe Peninsula, near Dartford. Te report by the local author-


ity Gravesham Borough Council – which sent nine district council bosses to the US in May to research Florida’s theme parks – said: “Conditions here differ significantly from those in Florida and a multi-modal transport solution, with the operation of the theme park, in particular, designed to control the volume of the peak hour car-based trips on the local and trunk road network, will be essential. “Investment in public transport and mak-


ing use of the River Thames to encourage alternatives to the private car and service the development will be important. “It is important to ensure that the River Tames is itself considered a key asset that has


Read Leisure Opportunities online: www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/digital Plans include an indoor waterpark, theatres, music venues and hotels


a role to play not only in terms of transport, but also as a complementary leisure resource.” Opening in 2018, the Paramount-branded


theme park and resort will be built on an 872-acre site, making it one of the largest regen- eration projects in Europe. When built, it will become one of the four largest theme parks in the world. London Resort Company Holdings – the company behind the development – has signed an agreement with Paramount Pictures for exclusive UK licensing. It is also currently in negotiations with other British brands. Details: http://lei.sr?a=2k8G4


Twitter: @leisureopps © CYBERTREK 2014


to thrive in their simulated native environments and guests to experience them all year round. Gin tours are no longer a new concept, with


Beefeater Gin recently opening a visitor expe- rience in London. Other distilleries offering tours include Sipsmith’s, another London- based purveyor of fine spirits, and COLD – the City of London Distillery – to name a few. Details: http://lei.sr?a=d3B3j


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