Lancashire leisure park will close summer season early because 'it's the right thing to do' - but unveils plans for Winter Wonderland North

Management at the park in Southport say they will not be open this weekend and anyone who had already booked has recieved a refund.

Staff will now focus on planning the park's Day of the Dead celebration in November and Winter Wonderland North.

Norman Wallis, chief executive at Southport’s Pleasureland, said: “We all have a duty to put safety first.

"Our business is all about providing an environment where families can come and have fun and the measures we have put in place here over summer have worked really well.

"However, we have decided not to open this weekend - Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, 27 - and close for the summer season, with apologies to customers who had planned to visit.

"Anyone who booked for that weekend has had a refund.

"Instead we are going to concentrate on delivering a series of special occasions that will provide spectacular but safe family entertainment in the run up to Christmas.”

The park plans to run Day of the Dead, an increasingly popular high-octane after-dark annual celebration of life featuring colourful samba drummers, fire spinners, fire-eaters, music, the park’s rides fully illuminated and running - and a dramatic fireworks finale.

The family Mexican celebration, which will see the park festooned with bright and beautiful sugar skulls, on rescheduled date Saturday, November 14 will include outdoor food concessions and bars with Covid-19 safety measures in place.

On Saturday, November 28 the park will host its own Christmas lights switch-on as Pleasureland prepares to unveil its Winter Wonderland North.

The attraction will open every weekend in December (excluding Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) and feature a German-style Christmas market, reindeer, indoor winter train ride and Father Christmas in his grotto.

For more details and to book, visit www.southportpleasureland.com.