Adventure Island’s annual pass price has jumped from £60 to £80, with the CEO pointing fingers at the recent budget decisions.
Southend: So, here’s the scoop. Philip Miller, the CEO of Adventure Island, is pretty upset about the recent price hike for their annual passes. He’s saying it’s all because of the budget changes made by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
She’s been defending her budget, which raised a hefty £40 billion through some tax increases. Mr. Miller claims this has forced them to raise the annual pass price from £60 to £80. Ouch!
He mentioned that they’ve kept prices low since Covid, but now they’re feeling the pinch. They’re still cheaper than before the pandemic, though. Last year, they were even rated the best value theme park in the UK!
But it’s not just the price hike. Mr. Miller said they’ve had to freeze new investments and have seen a drop in staff numbers. Adventure Island is a big deal in Southend, especially for college students looking for jobs.
He’s really frustrated, saying the budget has created a “perfect economic storm.” Plus, the price for Sealife Adventure’s annual pass is also going up, from £18 to £20.
This budget was the first Labour Budget since 2010, and it’s been called a necessary evil by the Chancellor. But local business owners, like the co-owner of Chinnerys, are feeling the heat too, with concerns about staying open due to cuts in business rates relief.
