I have big concerns about AI. I'm not too worried about the possibility of robots taking over and becoming our masters, but I am wary of cleverly disguised plagiarism which will put millions of people out of work. Anyway, let's put such fears to one side and see how successfully Chat GPT can generate Isle of Wight related AI images. Here's what it spat out when I gave it a few Isle of Wight themed image requests: Create a picture of Elvis Presley visiting the Needles on the Isle of WightOK, so Elvis looks like Elvis but what has happened to the Needles? Where's the lighthouse? The first chalk stack looks like Freshwater Bay's Stag Rock but other than that it's a total mess. I give it 4/10 Create an image of The Beatles visiting Blackgang ChineWe all know that Ticket To Ride has Isle of Wight links, and that John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr attended the 1969 Isle of Wight Festival. But what would happen if they visited Blackgang Chine? Well, we shall never know as Chat GPT just produced a picture of four random guys standing in front of some dinosaurs. The sign at the back doesn't even say 'Chine', it says CHNE. If you've booked these guys for a Beatles weekend at Blackgang Chine, ask for your money back. It's 3/10 from me. Create an image of King Charles and Camilla building a sandcastle on Sandown beachWhy does Charles have a beard? Why does Sandown Pier look like Brighton Pier with a new sign? What is going on with Camilla's left hand? It's a 2/10 from me, since neither the people nor the background looks right. Create an image of Tom Cruise visiting VentnorI can only assume that Chat GPT hasn't been to Ventnor. The Spyglass has become a hotel, the hills aren't high enough. Tom Cruise is stood in a field which doesn't exist. I'm giving this one 4/10. Create an image of Princess Diana enjoying an ice cream at Carisbrooke Castle whilst Harry and Meghan do a high fiveCrumbs, these are getting worse. Diana looks unwell. Harry looks like Harry, but Meghan doesn't look right at all. And no, that's not Carisbrooke Castle. That's not even a high-five, it's a wave. 2/10.
Well, that was a waste of time.
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Wightlink has announced three changes to its Multilink pass for regular travellers. Two of the changes probably won't affect vast numbers of people but I thought it was worth highlighting the third one - which could save you a lot of money if you're a couple who visit (or leave) the Isle of Wight at least twice a year. Here's my main point for those who don't want to read the full waffle. If you travel as a foot passenger on the Ryde Pier Head to Portsmouth Harbour crossing as a couple twice a year, then it is now almost certainly worth getting a Multilink passenger pass. Anyway, on with the main waffle.
The first two changes that Wightlink has made are to do with the Multilink vehicle passes. You can now have three people on your pass instead of two, as long as you live at the same address. For example, a mum and dad living on the Isle of Wight and their grown-up daughter could share a pass if she still lives at home. You don't need to travel together, so it is now easier to use up several journeys between you. The second change is that you need to cancel Multilink vehicle bookings with 24 hours notice, rather than with an hour's notice. However, it seems you can still amend bookings so it's not a big deal. I think some people were booking several crossings on the same day and then cancelling the ones they didn't need. The first two changes only affect those with an Isle of Wight residence (permanent residents or second home owners). The third change is to the Multilink foot passenger pass, which is available to anyone - whether you have an Isle of Wight address or just enjoy visiting. So, if you live in Portsmouth and pop over on a sunny day then this deal is for you. You can now have two names on a Multilink passenger pass instead of one, as long as you are part of the same family. The minimum number of passes you can buy is 10 singles which are valid for 12 months. So, previously you would need to visit the Isle of Wight five times in a year, whereas now it is two or three times per pass holder. Let's crunch some numbers for visitors from Portsmouth:
For Isle of Wight residents, it is quite similar:
It gets a little more complicated once you factor in discounts, concessions and the different fares for the Lymington and Fishbourne ferries. For example:
Anyway, I'll leave you to chew over those numbers. Yes folks, Blackgang Chine has released its prices for 2024 and it has actually lowered its admission prices. This does seem to be a genuine reduction rather than a bit of PR-puff that disappears when you scratch at the surface. Standard entry prices for Blackgang Chine in 2024 look like this:
There is also a concessions price of £15, which is for over-65s. In the last few years, prices at Blackgang Chine had increased quite a bit. The peak time price was up to £35 in 2022 if you didn't book in advance, so dropping to £24.50 is a significant saving of 30%. As far as I can remember, there wasn't a concession price before so a granny taking a couple of grandchildren and paying on the day in August will now pay £64 instead of £105. Blackgang Chine has also kept the free return within seven days deal. We constantly tell people that it is a really good idea to visit at the start of your week's holiday and then come back a couple of days later for an evening event. The summertime clifftop parties and fireworks are great fun, particularly if you get in for free. The only real downside I can see is that you can no longer buy joint passes with Robin Hill, as the park is closed and up for sale. I also can't see a 'saver' ticket for groups, but that only really saved you money if you had the right number of people and it was more than the cost of four standard tickets at the new price. The other big change won't affect many people but it's worth mentioning. Young children now get in free if they are under one metre rather than under four years old. An average four year old is about one metre tall so it's not a huge change. I guess it's easier to enforce on the gate ("honestly, I know he's six foot tall but he's only three"). The waterslide has a minimum height of one metre, so I can see why they've done this. I am sure there will be the usual Facebook whingers who will say that £24.50 is still too much. Honestly, I think these people would still complain if it was free. I looked at look at a couple of other theme parks for my own curiosity:
Anyway, that's enough ranting. I'll meet you by Pirates Cove for the summer foam party. What about Blackgang Chine Annual passes? Are they worth it in 2024?At the moment, annual passes/season tickets/frequent visitor passes for Blackgang Chine are £49. This is being promoted as an early bird price so it might increase.
At current prices, if you are visiting twice in a year and are under 65 then it's probably worth getting a pass. For example, if you visited at Easter and August then you would pay £42.50. I would personally pay the extra £6.50 so that I could do some unplanned visits without feeling I need to stay all day and get my money's worth. This blog has now been updated 94 times, as offers keep changing. It also used to incorporate Robin Hill but rather tragically it is up for sale and isn't open. Anyway, hopefully it still makes sense and will save you some money. We are big fans of Blackgang Chine with its oddball collection of moving dinosaurs, talking bins and waterslides. Many of our best days out have been held there, particularly now child one and child two are tall enough to go on most things. For many of us, it offers both nostalgia and new curiosities each time we visit. Prices went up quite a bit from £35 for a family in 2008 to £126 in 2022. However, they have now dropped to £15-£25 per person, which is excellent news. To be fair, a lot has been invested in the last 15 years. For example, back in 2008 Blackgang Chine didn't have big evening parties included as part of the price. Also, they didn't used to have peak and off-peak prices, so it's not a very fair comparison. I’m sure there are also multiple other expenses that have increased and Blackgang Chine always looks clean and freshly painted, unlike the flaky-paint you find at some cheaper parks. Discount codes and money off vouchers for Blackgang are rarer than the residents of Dodo Valley but there are several ways to get better value out of a trip to Blackgang Chine: 1. Visit at the start of your holidayBlackgang Chine offers a 7 day free return. You can probably see all of the park in a day, but you may want to revisit things if a rain cloud arrives twenty seconds after you’ve coughed up £100 (the weather is weird at Blackgang Chine). Most things operate in the rain but the snakes and ladders slide at Blackgang Chine shuts - and of course it’s utterly miserable walking round a theme park whilst raindrops drip off your nose and the map turns into a soggy mess. You’ll feel better about it if you come back at the end of your week for another go, even if you do end up spending twenty quid on unicorns and plastic cap guns in the gift shop. 2. Arrive early and then Come back in the eveningDuring the summer months Blackgang Chine puts on excellent evening shows, which are included in the ticket price. Some people visit the park during the day and then return for an evening show later in the week. We went along to one of Blackgang Chine's foam parties and fireworks displays in summer 2023 and enjoyed it greatly. If you consider it two different family days out for the price then it starts to feel like much better value. It's also worth arriving at 10am when the park opens and then heading for the most popular rides to avoid wasting time in queues. Double check that the opening time hasn't changed before you go. There's a golden hour between 10am and 11am when Blackgang Chine is much quieter because most parents are still arguing with their children about getting out the house/caravan/tent. I would head right as you come in the Blackgang Chine entrance and head for the waterslide and other rides. Most of the stuff on the left hand side of the park is imaginative play stuff that you walk through so you don't need to queue for it. 3. Visit with a 99cm tall childBlackgang Chine has changed its pricing structure so you pay based on height rather than age. Children under one metre get in free whereas it used to be free for under fours. This is probably a fairer system, as it reflects what you will able to do at the park. Generally, a child reaches one metre around their fourth birthday so it won't make much difference to most people. You may wish to turn up wearing well worn shoes... 4. Buy an annual passThis one’s no use to most holidaymakers, but an annual pass may be better value for some. As I write this, Blackgang Chine is offering annual passes for £49. Standard entry prices for 2024 look like this:
For most people, you will need to visit three times in a year to make an annual pass worthwhile. Also remember that you get free returns within seven days. 5. Buy in advance if visiting off peakOur advice on this one keeps changing. For a couple of years, booking online was a whopping saving of £20 for a family of four. However, for 2024 it depends on whether you are visiting on peak or off peak. When I checked, there was a £3 saving for booking online during term time but just a 45p saving for booking online during peak times. Personally, I would avoid booking early to save 45p as you may decide to change your plans depending on the weather. Blackgang Chine is OK in the rain, but it's certainly preferable on sunny days. However, I would probably book in advance for off peak dates as a family of four would save £12. Thanks to Helen who spotted this change. 6. Visit off peak (and then return on peak)Not much use to most holidaymakers, but Blackgang Chine is considerably cheaper outside of school holidays when there aren’t the evening events. Many years ago, it was the same price all the time. During 204, an off-peak ticket to Blackgang is £15, compared to £24.50 on-peak. If you have different school holiday dates to most people then you may be able to pay the off peak prices. There is also a little loophole that I haven't tested myself, but which I think will work. Thanks to Dan for pointing this out (please blame him if it doesn't work). If you visit for the first time on an off-peak date, then I think that you can use your free return on a peak date as long as it is within seven days. My hesitation with this is that I have a vague memory of some special events being excluded from the seven day free return offer. Please leave a comment below if you have tried this! 7. Get your in-laws to payRuthless pennypinchers on a family holiday with the wider family should attempt this strategy:
Got any other suggestions for discounts at Blackgang Chine? Please feel free to comment below... Returning visitors will notice a few changes on the Isle of Wight in 2024. Some things have disappeared, some are due to re-appear. Here are five big things to look for. We will alternate between good news and bad news for a bit of balance... 1. The return of Totland PierA few years ago, Totland Pier looked destined to go the same way as Shanklin Pier and Ventnor Pier. The metal structure was increasingly holey. It's now been rebuilt and is due to open as a restaurant at the wet end of the pier with hotel rooms at the dry end of the pier. The latest information we have is that it will open at Easter 2024. 2. A closed Robin HillWe don't yet know what the future holds for Robin Hill, which was put for sale by its owners a couple of months ago. I have been sending Mrs Guru slightly potty with my 27 point plan of what I would do if I owned Robin Hill. We are just a couple of million short, so if anyone wants to pitch in then please get in touch. Since you asked, my plan includes a series of slacklines in the woodland to make a ninja assault course, as well as a games arcade that takes you through the history of gaming. I would stick a roof on the toboggan run so it can stay open in the rain. The amphitheatre would become a woodland cinema and an army of robotic mowers would cut the grass (Ed: I think that'll do...). Luckily the Isle of Wight has plenty of other activities for primary school and junior school aged children, including Blackgang Chine and Tapnell Farm Park. 3. The revival of The AlbionMrs Guru and I have often looked at the Albion and felt it should have been absolutely buzzing with activity. Its location in Freshwater Bay is probably the most spectacular of any hotel on the Isle of Wight. Yes, there are lots of good hotels with sea views on the Isle of Wight but Freshwater Bay has an all-round appeal. Some Isle of Wight beaches look a bit sad in winter, whereas Freshwater Bay has crashing waves that make it a nice place for a winter walk. We don't have an opening date yet, but there was a post on the Facebook page of the sister-hotel (Sentry Mead) saying that they have 'the target of opening the doors in Spring 2024 still very much in mind'. 4. The death of the Devil's Chimney?The Isle of Wight has suffered a few landslips and cliff falls in recent months, presumably due to the huge amount of rain in late October 2023. The most catastrophic was the December 2023 landslide between Luccombe and Bonchurch, which has left the Smugglers' Haven Tea Gardens perilously close to the cliff edge. Thankfully, no-one was hurt but The Devil's Chimney has either been destroyed, buried or made inaccessible. It was apparently created by a landslip in the first place, but it's still awful to see such a quirky rock formation and walking area disappear. It has caused problems on the roads in and out of Ventnor - which may well drag on for a long time. First time visitors may like to look at some of the alternative walks on offer. 5. A terrific Isle of Wight Festival lineup for 2024I usually get exceedingly frustrated by whingebags who complain about the Isle of Wight Festival lineup. As I've said many times, when I was growing up in Carisbrooke we had to catch a ferry to see anyone we had heard of. The Isle of Wight music scene was limited to folk trios singing sea shanties in pubs. Since the Isle of Wight Festival returned we've witnessed the like of Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Robbie Williams, REM, Jay-Z, The Who, Coldplay, Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac and Pink.
And yet, when the Isle of Wight Festival line-up for 2024 was announced the whingers were largely silent. Were all the negative-Nigels on holiday together complaining about something else? Or were they - finally - happy with a line-up announcement that includes Green Day, the Pet Shop Boys and The Prodigy? Take a look for yourself at our Isle of Wight Festival 2024 guide. **Away Resorts Discount Code: Save 10% via this link with discount code ISLEGURU10 - expires 31/12/24 + cheap ferry travel** Away Resorts now owns four different holiday parks and lodge resorts with hot tubs on the Isle of Wight. They're a popular choice, partly because they'll get you a hefty discount on the Isle of Wight ferry if you stay with them. Away Resorts has run Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park in the East Wight for donkeys' years, but in 2022 they merged with Aria Resorts and took on three other lodge parks including:
They're all dog friendly and offer hot tubs and a range of different types of accommodation, but which is best? The short answer (for those who don't want to read all my waffle) is that St Helens Coastal Resort gets the best reviews but it's small and simple, whilst Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park is the best for a beach holiday and has the best facilities. The Lakes Rookley is cheapest in our price comparison. Here's our guide to which is best Away Resorts for you, along with a price comparison: Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park - Best Beach Location, Biggest, Best For Busy Families, Some Sea ViewsWhitecliff Bay Holiday Park is a big, busy, family-friendly holiday park on the outskirts of Bembridge in the East Wight. Over the last few years they've spent a lot of money adding flash new accommodation with cool names like TriBeCa and Rockstar. They even featured on a Channel 5 TV programme where Shane Ritchie larked around on the Isle of Wight and said things like "Corrrrrrr, look at that, me old mucker!". If that doesn't convince you, I don't know what will. Whitecliff Bay has recently stopped offering camping and touring and are focusing on their caravans, lodges and glamping. There's a much bigger choice of accommodation types at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park than there are at the other Away Resorts on the Isle of Wight. If you want plenty to do onsite then Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park is your best bet out of the four Away Resorts holiday parks on the Isle of Wight. It's got indoor and outdoor swimming pools, as well as minigolf, a playground and an arcade. During term time they have things like Tots Breaks which are aimed at pre-schoolers, whilst during the summer holidays they put on outdoor cinema where you can sit outside and hope it doesn't rain. In peak season, there are free daily activities for kids such as a toddlers' disco as well as things you pay for, such as arts and crafts, archery, disc golf and baby ballet (more details on the entertainment programme here). There's also evening entertainment for grown ups. The onsite restaurant is a good size and there's also a beach café during peak season. However, the very best thing about Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park is the location. When the sun shines, the beach at Whitecliff Bay is truly gorgeous and even muscles its way into my top 5 Isle of Wight beaches. It's hard to access unless you are staying at an adjacent holiday park, so it doesn't get unpleasantly busy. One downside is that the slope down to it is ferociously steep and has claimed the good-natured attitude of many a beach-goer. My wife's language changed from Stepford-Wives-Esque to Tarantino-Esque in the time it took to get from the bottom of the slope to the top. It's also worth looking at the map to figure out where your accommodation is. The site is split into two with a road going through the middle. That's not a big problem but if you're in the furthest away point then it's getting on for 15 minutes to walk to the beach. Customers give Whitecliff Bay an average review score of 4/5 on TripAdvisor or 4.2/5 on Google Reviews. That puts it in the middle compared to the other Away Resorts on the Isle of Wight. St Helens Coastal Resort - Best Accommodation, Best Reviews, QuietestSt Helens Coastal Resort has changed its name a few times. For a while it was called a 'retreat' but it doesn't have the range of facilities you might expect at a 'retreat'. It's also not as coastal as you might imagine - the beach is about a mile away. However, it's got a lot going for it once you get past the name. For starters, it is the highest rated Away Resorts site on the Isle of Wight, according to customer reviews (4.5/5 on TripAdvisor or 4.4/5 on Google Reviews). A lot of the lodges and caravans have been added in the last few years so you've got a good chance of a very modern property which isn't looking like it's been lived in by a parade of holidaymakers with hairy dogs. We made use of the outdoor swimming pool, which is small but good fun (and it was heated). There's also a small playground which was completed shortly after we left. The location is at the end of a wiggly road past some houses. It's within a pretty coastal village called St Helens in the East Wight which has a large village green. Walking down to St Helens beach will take you about 15 minutes. If you're a bit more determined, you can walk to Priory Bay which is a sandy paradise. St Helens Coastal Resort is a much smaller resort than nearby Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park, so it's a good choice if you want a quiet base for exploring the Isle of Wight. There isn't a restaurant onsite, but Bembridge has a good choice and there are plenty of other good places to eat depending on whether you prioritise a sea view or occupying the children whilst you enjoy a glass of Merlot. The Lakes Rookley - Best for Island Wide exploring, Cheapest In Our Price ComparisonThe Lakes Rookley is something of a rarity on the Isle of Wight - a holiday resort which isn't by the beach. There are plus sides to that, assuming that you've bought a car with you. You can explore a lot of the Isle of Wight with a short drive. The seaside resorts of Shanklin, Sandown and Ventnor all about 15 minutes away in the car, whilst Compton Bay in the West Wight and Cowes in the North Wight are both 20 minutes drive. The absolute longest drive from The Lakes Rookley is the 35 minutes to Alum Bay and The Needles lighthouse. Most Islanders wouldn't drive this far unless it was a very special occasion (e.g. a family wedding or perhaps a funeral of a relative, at a push). If you're a hardened mainlander then you'll be used to drives of more than half an hour so it will be fine. Anyway, back to The Lakes Rookley. In terms of scale, it is bigger than The Bay Colwell and St Helens Coastal Resort but it's smaller than Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park. There are two swimming pools, including one indoors and one outdoors. The Lakes are also used for watersports such as kayaking and paddleboarding. Of course, you could do these on the seafront at Shanklin or St Helens but there's less risk of being dragged out to France from a lake in Rookley. You can eat onsite at The Lakeside Bar and Eatery. Rookley itself doesn't have a huge amount to it (there's a car dealership, but I doubt that would entertain the kids). However, Shanklin, Sandown and Ventnor have lots of places to eat with a sea view. If you are after chain restaurants and fast food then Newport is your best bet (Beefeater, Pizza Hut, McDonalds, KFC, Burger King). The poshest and most expensive accommodation at The Lakes Rookley are the Lakehouses which have a pleasant view. At the other end of the accommodation range, we found that The Lakes Rookley was the cheapest of all four Away Resorts on the Isle of Wight (see further down for our price comparison). Reviews of The Lakes Rookley are a little bit behind the other three Away Resorts on the Isle of Wight. Customers on TripAdvisor give it 3.5/5. On Google Reviews it scores higher with a score of 4.1/5. A lot of the older reviews will be from several years ago when it was Rookley Country Park. I would read through the more recent reviews for a more accurate summary. The Bay Colwell - More Accessible Beach, Quiet, closest to a ferry portFinally, The Bay Colwell which is a bit of an all rounder. It is certainly smaller and less well equipped than Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park and The Lakes Rookley. However, it does have an indoor swimming pool (unlike St Helens Coastal Resort, which has an outdoor pool). It's also much close to the beach than The Lakes Rookley and St Helens Coastal Resort. You can get to Colwell Bay in about five minutes on foot. There's bike hire, soft play and a coffee shop onsite. The accommodation is mostly rows of two bedroom chalets which have been much improved in recent years. They're described as 'Cottages' on the website and some of them have hot tubs. The more expensive accommodation are 'Lodges', some of which have an extra bedroom. It's also the only Away Resorts site in the West Wight. Generally speaking, the West Wight is prettier and less developed than the East Wight (complaints from East Wighters to the usual address, please). Colwell itself is developed, but the nearby West Wight coastline which runs from Freshwater Bay to Chale in the South Wight is populated by more cows than people. If you are coming from the Westcountry, then The Bay Colwell is convenient to reach via Wightlink's Yarmouth to Lymington crossing. The ferry takes 40 minutes and then it's a seven minute drive to the resort. Away Resorts ISle of Wight Price ComparisonWe started by looking for a week for the cheapest accommodation available in August 2024. We searched for a seven night holiday. Prices don't include ferry travel, although you can get it for around half price if you book through Away Resorts. Expect to pay about £50 - £150 for the ferry depending on when you travel and how long you stay. From cheapest to most expensive:
We then looked for the same holiday but with a hot tub. So, it's a holiday in August 2024 for four people, staying for a week, excluding the ferry:
So, based on our mini price comparison, The Lakes Rookley is the cheapest of the four Away Resorts on the Isle of Wight and The Bay Colwell and Whitecliff Bay tend to be the most expensive. I would caution that prices vary a lot depending on when you visit and what accommodation you choose. Review comparison of Away Resorts ISle of Wight Holiday REsortsAs of December 2023, the review scores for the Away Resorts on the Isle of Wight look like this:
All three of the parks have seen big changes in the last few years, so the older review scores are not particularly relevant. St Helens Coastal Resort, The Lakes Rookley and The Bay Colwell have all changed hands twice in the last few years. They were previously known as St Helens Holiday Park, Rookley Country Park and Colwell Bay Holiday Park until they were bought by Aria Resorts in 2017. Aria Resorts invested a lot of money in the sites and then the company merged with Away Resorts in 2022 (Ed: will there be a test on this at the end?). My advice is to look at some recent reviews, rather than going on the overall score. Distance from the ferry portsThe Isle of Wight is not vast, so travel times from the ferries are not a major factor if you are bringing a car. However, if it's a weekend visit or if you have children who don't travel well (i.e. all children) then it's something to consider.
Also, make sure that you get Away Resorts to book the ferry for you. It'll save you as much as 50% compared to going direct. See our full guide to the Isle of Wight ferries for beginners. I have an emotional attachment to Robin hill that no grown man should have about a mid-sized country park. The future is not looking great for the park, which closed early this year, cancelled its winter events and is being put up for sale. Here's the full statement, copied and pasted from the Robin Hill website: 'Financial turbulence'Vectis Ventures, the Isle of Wight based holding company that controls and operates the leading attractions; Blackgang Chine and Robin Hill, has today announced that it intends to sell its Robin Hill attraction and has instructed Savills to market the property as a going concern. The decision to sell Robin Hill has been necessitated by a prolonged period of financial turbulence following Covid and acerbated by the cost-of-living crisis and poor Spring and Summer weather. These factors have stretched the finances of Vectis and the eventual sale of Robin Hill will strengthen the balance sheet of the group, allow borrowings (debt) to be repaid and to release funds for further investment in Blackgang Chine. Alexander Dabell, owner of Vectis Ventures said: “It is with a heavy heart that we have taken the decision to sell Robin Hill. It is a much-loved attraction and has given millions of visitors’ great pleasure and memorable visits over many years. It has been a privilege for my family to be the custodians of this fine site for nearly thirty years. However, the stark reality of the economic picture is that without a sale, the debt created through Covid loans, would need to be extended further into the future and would prevent investment in the short term. The truth is that visitor numbers have been effected by the very poor weather we have seen the past two seasons, which has given us no choice but to sell Robin Hill and focus our investment in Blackgang Chine. Robin Hill is being marketed as a going concern, and we have every hope that it will flourish under new ownership, when a suitable buyer can be found”. With regards to staffing, Dabell confirmed, “regrettably the group is unable to support the number of staff currently employed and as part of the sale process we are entering into consultation with the workforce where it will be explained that around ten jobs will be at risk. We have worked hard to try to train and retain the talent in the business and we have a reputation as a reliable employer, but the testing economic picture is such that we simply cannot carry the existing high headcount”. It is anticipated that some of the attractions at Robin Hill will transfer to Blackgang Chine and that the sale will trigger further investment at the Ventnor site. Dabell continued, “It is with regret that having made the decision to sell Robin Hill that we will of necessity have to cancel the Polar experience and the Christmas parties. However, full refunds will be made to those who placed their deposits with us and no one will suffer any financial loss. What now for Robin Hill?Of course, it would be wonderful if Robin Hill stays as a publicly accessible theme park but who knows what the future holds. We do know that some elements will probably move to Blackgang Chine (see above), which suggests that it is going to change one way or another. My money is on something turning up where Cliffhanger once stood at Blackgang Chine. Perhaps the Cows Express? Or Colossus? Or The Ripple? Will the animals in the African Adventure return to Blackgang Chine? What about the Observation Tower that came from Blackgang? I have no insider information here, just having a bit of a guess Back in the dayMy first memory of visiting Robin Hill was not until the late 90s for a birthday party. I think we may have visited earlier but my parents were more keen on isolated beaches than paid attractions. I remember playing pitch and putt and finding a dozen lost golf balls in the woods. We handed them in and persuaded someone in the café to give us a free ice cream as a reward. We visited again around the same time with an American friend and I bought a little trinket of the wooden characters that lived around Carp Quay (the bit with the wobbly bridges). In 2003, I started my job as a ride operator at Robin Hill and over the next four summers worked on the toboggan run, Colossus, two small rides called Jumping Jets and Neptune and The Time machine (now the 4D cinema). I can still give the safety talks for the Time Machine and Toboggan. I occasionally perform it at dinner parties. I also worked on the front ticket office and in the shop, selling stuffed squirrels and sweets. Entry was £7.95 but you didn't get free returns and it was a smaller park without the amphitheatre, jumping nets, big events, African Adventure playground, Cows Express or falconry. My only dalliance with catering was in the ice cream hut where my hayfever meant I had to scoop ice cream in between sneezes whilst the queue grew ever longer. We sold four flavours and I eventually picked up a skill for guessing what flavour each customer would order before they had even decided (70+ granny = rum and raisin, five year old child = strawberry etc). This talent hasn't had much transferable value. Bestival arrivesIn 2004, the job got a whole lot more interesting when Bestival turned up. Fat Boy Slim and Bassment Jazz playing at Robin Hill? It was barely believable. The year before we hosted a Pink Floyd tribute act that had ended up with a fist fight in the car park and the police being called. And yet here we were, hosting thousands of people with world class bands. Basement Jaxx went on the toboggan run, an inflatable church turned up. It was bonkers. Bestival enjoyed a number of excellent years with some really terrific acts including Elton John and Stevie Wonder. The Isle of Wight was really being spoilt with two mammoth music festivals (see our Isle of Wight Festival history). We endured the task of cleaning up afterwards (I found some unpleasant things in the woods) but it was a great experience and continued at Robin Hill until 2016. The Next GenerationI didn't make it to the last few Bestivals at Robin Hill. In hindsight, I should have made more effort but our children had arrived and I'm not one of those parents who drags babies along to festivals. We made up for it by taking them to Robin Hill for numerous days out as they got older. This is one of the joys of parenting - being able to act like a child under the pretence of helping your child. The first return was in 2016. By then, there had been several upgrades - including the excellent bouncy nets course and the amphitheatre mentioned earlier. Robin Hill also upped its game with regular events, like the hot air balloon festival. We caught a couple of really good shows in the theatre including Brainiac Live, a fire show, an acrobatic show and Vote Pedro at the Festival of the Dead. Yes, the price had gone up a lot but if you visited twice - once as a day out and then again as an evening trip to a show - then it was still good value. The night time lighting certainly makes the most of the woodland. The children love the toboggan run, an attraction that feels like it probably wouldn't be built today (perhaps I'm wrong and these things are popping up everywhere). They also love the mini village at the top of the park, the bouncy nets and squirrel tower. They also enjoyed the Ripple when it arrived in 2023. It became an annual tradition to get a hair braiding during the summer holidays at Robin Hill. Read the blog about a recent visit. Your memoriesI'm not too keen to hear whinges about why Robin Hill is up for sale. I've read enough of those on Facebook. It's remarkable how many people on Facebook are experts in business without ever having run a business themselves.
However, I would like to hear your memories of Robin Hill over the years. I have in mind that I might write up a Robin Hill timeline (similar to our Blackgang Chine timeline). Hopefully this isn't the end for Robin Hill but I think it's a good moment for a bit of nostalgia! Thanks to everyone from Vectis Ventures who has contributed to some great days out over the years. The job of maintaining the Needles Lighthouse has been going on this week and some terrific photos have been appearing on Facebook. I rather wish that my careers advisor had suggested that I might like to repair lighthouses. Instead, I was offered a week stacking the shelves at M&S in Newport. I contacted Nick Chappell, who is on the lighthouse at the moment, who kindly said I could share his images. For an Isle of Wightophile (Ed: that's not a word), these are pure gold. You might also like to see our video of the Needles, which was taken last month. At the time of writing it has had 15 views, which I think can be considered as 'going viral'.
Last month, we returned to Sandy Lanes Resort, which is being constructed on the site of a former holiday park. The old resort apparently opened in 1935 and closed in 2007. We don't know the planned opening date for the new resort but will update when we do. As previously discussed, a planning application was approved in 2016 and the land sold for £650,000. The advert outside the resorts talks about a bar, restaurant, tennis courts and a wellness centre. There are about 60 lodges. You can read more here about the site, including how much the properties have been advertised for and how much owners will pay in service charges. There has also been some controversy about changes to the site, which are discussed in last year's blog. And here's our first video from 2022 so you can see how it has changed in the last year. This is just a short blog to show off a couple of excellent deals that have appeared for ferry travel to the Isle of Wight Festival 2024. The car ferry can be very expensive for the festival once standard fares kick in, so get organised and get booked if you can. Wightlink and Red Funnel are the two main ferry companies - take a look at this guide if you want to know more about which ports they travel to and from. Wightlink's early bird deals for the Isle of Wight Festival 2024Wightlink's deals are really good and are valid until 9th October 2023. However, they "reserve the right to modify or cancel the offers at any time" so I wouldn't hang around. The car ferry deals are:
Standard weekend fares are likely to top £300, so a £100 deal is not to be sneezed at. As I said, don't hang around! The price includes a car full of passengers. They also have a foot passenger deal which is £12 or £18. It looks like this:
The standard foot passenger fare is about £20 - £35, so it's less of a saving but still good value. Red Funnel's early bird deals for the Isle of WIght Festival 2024Red Funnel's Isle of Wight Festival 2024 deals work a bit differently. The car ferry deal doesn't have an expiry date but it will end once a "limited number of early bird ferry sailings" are sold. The car ferry deal looks like this:
Again, that's a BIG saving on the standard fares. The foot passenger deal is an £18 return and doesn't appear to have an expiry date, so you can either book now or wait until nearer the time (I'm not 100% sure on this, but I think that's the case based on previous years). It is 'Valid Southampton or West Cowes/East Cowes' What if I've missed the early bird ferry deals?This is an additional for anyone who stumbles across this blog whilst desperately searching for a deal in May 2024.
If you are travelling to the Isle of Wight Festival as a foot passenger then it's not a big problem. Check our guides to foot passenger travel with Wightlink and Red Funnel for some money saving suggestions. Also check Hovertravel's fares (they didn't have an Isle of Wight Festival deal when we checked but they might have something when you read this). If you need to bring your car then you may be slightly irked at having missed the best offers. Sorry about that. Take a look at our main guide to discounts on Isle of Wight ferry travel for discount codes, money saving tips and loopholes which might help you. |
Isle of Wight Guru's BlogTales of Isle of Wight days out, attractions and ferry discounts from a Wightophile. This site uses cookies - see our privacy policy. Ads & links in bold may give us a small payment from the seller, at no cost to the buyer. However, this never affects our views - if we like it, we recommend it. Archives
May 2024
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