Brean Leisure Park

Amusement park in Somerset, England

Brean Leisure ParkPreviously known as Holiday Resort Unity

Location| Holiday Resort Unity, Brean, Somerset, England
Coordinates| 51°17′08″N 3°00′35″W﻿ / ﻿51.285668°N 3.009664°W﻿ / 51.285668; -3.009664
Opened| 1946
Owner| Holiday Resort Unity
Operated by| Phil Booth[1]
Operating season| March to November
Attendance| 750,000+ per annum
Area| 200 acres (80.9 ha)
Attractions
Total| 30+ (T.B.C.)
Roller coasters| 4
Website| www.brean.com

Brean Leisure Park is an amusement park in the coastal resort of Brean, near Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, England. The park covers an area of 200 acres (80.9 ha).[2]

Open from March to November every year, the leisure park has also been a concert venue for artists such as DJ Casper,[3] Peter Andre,[4] Jason Donovan and The Wurzels. Sky filmed an episode of Brainiac: Science Abuse entitled "Funfair Physics" at the park. An episode of BBC TV series Casualty was also filmed there in 2007 and again 2013. And an episode of CBBC TV series The Sparticle Mystery was filmed of the titled of the episode The FunFair. In 1997 there was location filming for Rosie and Jim of the characters riding a Merry-go-Round.

## History[edit]

### 1946 - 1970s[edit]

In 1946 Albert and Marie House bought Unity Farm, and for the next 30 years operated it primarily as a dairy farm with a herd of 140 cows. They later supplied the local area with milk that was bottled on the farm.

As far back as 1946 camping was a popular past time and Fry's Chocolate Factory from Bristol pitched large tents on three fields on Unity Farm for a two-week period during the summer so therefore their employees could have a holiday by the seaside such as local areas being Brean, Berrow and Burnham-on-sea. The way Holiday Resort Unity is at present age started from this very stage and it wasn't long before many groups of people including the local Boy's Brigade Troops were coming to Brean to venture and have holidays.

In 1948 planning permission was granted to change the use of some of the farm land to caravans and camping and 20 acres was converted prior for this use. However, during the 1950s and 1960s caravan and camping became a bigger part of Unity Farm (presently known as Holiday Resort Unity) and slowly the number of cows, pigs and sheep decreased.

### 1970s - 1980s[edit]

During the 1970s and the 1980s the beginnings of Brean Leisure Park were created along with the Mid Somerset Golf Centre which included Target Golf, driving range, pitch and putt and also an 8-hole golf course was opened alongside the other features. Throughout the years additional recreational activities were created which included a swimming pool, donkey derby's and open air markets.

A greyhound racing track was opened on 3 July 1975.[5] The racing was independent (not affiliated to the sports governing body the National Greyhound Racing Club) and was known as a flapping track, which was the nickname given to independent tracks.[6][7]

Brean Leisure Park as a whole was now attracting a lot of visitors from South Wales, Bristol and Birmingham and in the late 1970s the House family bought out all of the other directors so that they could concentrate on developing leisure and holiday facilities.

The 8 hole golf course was expanded so that it could host 18 holes and Brean Golf Club was created. The course hosted a number of pro and celebrity amateur tournaments as well as becoming a members club and a facility for holiday guests.

In 1980 the complex known today as the 'Tavern' was opened and was previously known as the 'Farmers Tavern' providing a venue for evening family entertainment, functions and weddings. The complex also included an Amusement arcade and Fast Food outlets.

The greyhound track closed on 12 March 1984[8] and to improve the look of the park a significant landscaping project was undertaken across both Brean Leisure Park and Unity Farm (presently known as Holiday Resort Unity).

### 1990s[edit]

Further facilities were added during the 1990s including a river type ride at the Swimming Pool complex (presently known as Brean Splash) and also the addition of two Ten-Pin Bowling lanes at Unity Farm (Holiday Resort Unity) in 1994.

### 2000 - 2015[edit]

In 2000 one of the biggest projects that the resort took on since it had first opened its doors began, and this was the RJ's Entertainment complex which was a one million investment in the resort. The American-themed venue replaced Bert's bar and Chicks Roost with a venue with a capacity of approximately 700 people.

In 2008 it became the home of Sooty, Sweep and Soo, when Richard Cadell bought the rights from HIT Entertainment.

On 18th July 2014, the park was sold to a family from Barry Island in South Wales.

## Current Main Attractions[edit]

#  | Name  | Opened  | Manufacturer  | Brief Description

|
|
|
|

| Bulldog Coaster (2022) |

2004

| Pinfari | A TL59 looping rollercoaster. Formerly Crazy Loop & located at Pleasure Island Family Theme Park and Flamingo Land Resort.[9] Formerly known as "Shockwave".

| Magic Mouse  |

2007

| Reverchon Industries | A standard spinning wild mouse rollercoaster. It was known as "Crazy Mouse" until the start of the 2007 season.[10]

| Astro Storm |

2011

| Zierer | An enclosed Four Man Bob rollercoaster. Opened 25 July 2011. Previously Operated at Blackpool Pleasure Beach as Space Invader II.

| Caterpillar Coaster  |

2001

| D.P.V. Rides  | An MB28 children's caterpillar rollercoaster.[11]

| Wild Water  |

2001

| Reverchon Industries | A two-drop log flume ride.

| Wipeout  |

2002

| KMG | An afterburner ride. It was voted scariest ride at the park by Brainiac: Science Abuse.

| Terror Castle  |

2000

| Supercar  | A ghost train, Ride system relocated from Frontierland, Morecambe.

| Ultimate  |

2006

| Sobema  | A Matterhorn (ride). Operated at Billing Aquadrome from 1986 to 2005. Previously known as "Hellraiser"

| X-Factory  |

2006

| KMG | A miami ride, also includes water blasters.

| Sizzler  |

2000

| P.W.S.  | A modern Twist (ride).

| Waveswinger  |

2008

| Fabbri Group | A waveswinger ride.

| Disco Fever  |

2005

| P.W.S.  | A Jump and Smile ride.

| Jetspin  |

2015

| Zamperla | A Disk'O ride. Previously known as "Disk'O".

| Dodgems  |

2003

| SBF (track) / Bertazzon (cars)  | Previously used cars from C&S until the 2016 season. In 2017 the track were given a brand new set from Bertazzon.

| Orbiter  |

2022

| Tivoli MfG Ltd  | An Orbiter ride. Purchased from UK Showman Edward Furborough.

## Notable Past Rides[edit]

Opened  | Closed  | Name  | Manufacturer  | Description

|
|
|
|

2004 | 2004 | "Sky Scraper" | Technical Park | A large Ferris Wheel.
2003 | 2005 | "Superbowl" | Keith Emmett | A flipper/Super Bowl ride. Previously operated at Walton Pier.
1990 | 2002 | "Ski Jump" | Maxwell | A flying coaster ride.
1986 | 1999 | "Kansas City" | Hayes Fabrication | A traditional ghost train Dark ride.
2001 | 2002 | "Crazy Frog" | Safeco | A Jump and Smile ride.
1995 | 2002 | "Pod Racer" | Reverchon Industries | A Matterhorn (ride). Moved to Ocean Beach, South Shields.
1996 | 2002 | "Pure Adrenalin" | Fairmatt | The park's first miami ride.
2003 | 2004 | "Over Rider" | Nottingham UK | The park's second miami ride.
1984 | 1990 | "Paratrooper" | Modern Products | The park's first Paratrooper (ride). An upright version.
1991 | 1994 | "Paratrooper" | Harry Steer | The park's second Paratrooper (ride). A lifting version.
1980s | 1990s | "Rainbow" | HUSS Park Attractions | A Rainbow (ride).
1998 | 2001 | "Figure Of Eight" | Pinfari | A ST40 powered rollercoaster. Previously operated at Blackpool Pleasure Beach as "Tokaydo Express" from 1980 to 1997.
2002 | 2006 | "Crazy Mouse" | Reverchon Industries | A standard spinning wild mouse rollercoaster.
1988 | 1997 | "Wild Mouse" | Butlins | A hybrid wild mouse rollercoaster, built with parts from identical rollercoasters at Harbour Park at Littlehampton and Funland Hayling Island. This ride was owned and operated by David Pickstone who rode this ride when he was a kid. Previously operated at Harbour Park from 1962 to 1985.
1990s | 1998 | "Skid" | Hayes Fabrication | A traditional swirl ride. Operated previously at Spanish City, Whitley Bay. Sold to Rainbow Park, Hunstanton.
2013 | 2014 | "Speed Wave" | Mondial | A Top Scan ride that previously operated at Flamingo Park, Hastings between 2008 and 2012.
1980s | 1999 | "Twist" | Ivan Bennett | The park's original Twist (ride). Replaced by "Sizzler".
1984 | 1984 | "Waltzer" | Lakin | The park's first Waltzer ride.
1985 | 2002 | "Waltzer" |  | The park's second Waltzer ride.
2006 | 2006 | "Waltzer" | Maxwell | The park's third Waltzer ride. Previously operated at Codonas Amusement Park.
2007 | 2014 | "Waltzer" | A.R.M. | The park's fourth Waltzer ride. Previously operated at Flamingo Land Resort between 1991 and 2006.
1984 | 1985 | "Gallopers" | Allchin | The park's first set of gallopers. Previously operated at Allday's Amusements, Barmouth.
1993 | 1998 | "Gallopers" | Savage | The park's second set of gallopers. Previously operated at Woburn Abbey.
| 2005 | "Gallopers" | Mardi Gras | The park's third set of gallopers.
2005 | 2011 | "Xtreme" | KMG | The park's first Booster ride. Was sold after the 2011 season. Previous owners after Brean include Frederick Leraitra, France (October 2011), Bertie Holland (November 2013). The ride is owned by Perrin Matthews as of December 2016.
2015 | 2015 | "Star Flyer" | AK Rides | A vertical swing ride. This was a guest ride for the 2015 season on loan from showman Daniel Coles.
2005 | 2015 | "Frisbee" | Ivan Bennett | A trabant/satellite ride. The ride was sold to Irish showman Duane McFadden after the 2015 season.
2018 | 2018 | "Air Maxx" | Technical Park | A Loop Fighter ride. Guest ride for the 2018 season on loan from the ride's owner Charles James. The ride would later be a guest attraction at Fantasy Island for the 2019 season before Charles sold the ride to the Mellors Group the same year.
2012 | 2022 | "Xtreme" | KMG | The park's second booster ride. The tallest ride in the park. Replacing the almost identical model built in March 2005 which can be found under Perrin Matthews' ownership. This ride was removed before the 2023 season after being sold to UK showman Perrin Print.

## Gallery[edit]

*   *   *   *   *   *   *

## Brean Splash[edit]

Brean Splash is a waterpark owned and managed by Holiday Resort Unity under the Brean Leisure Park branding. In 2014 Brean Splash made a £2 Million (GBP) investment on a brand new indoor splash aspect of the waterpark which has been operating since summer 2014.

## References[edit]

1. ^ "New owner of popular Brean fun park". Burnham on Sea.com. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
2. ^ "Brean Leisure Park". Enjoy England. Retrieved 8 April 2009.
3. ^ "Review: Cha Cha Slide at Brean". BBC. 10 August 2005. Archived from the original on 26 January 2007. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
4. ^ "Peter Andre Concert at Brean Leisure Park". Burnham-on-sea.com. 4 August 2004. Archived from the original on 3 December 2006. Retrieved 24 March 2008.
5. ^ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1975) July edition". Greyhound Star. 2012.
6. ^ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, page 410. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
7. ^ "Brean Sands". Greyhound Racing Times.
8. ^ "Closures and openings over the past 10 years, July 1993, page 18". Greyhound Star. 1993.
9. ^ Shockwave Info on RCDB
10. ^ Magic Mouse Info on RCDB
11. ^ Caterpillar Info on RCDB

## External links[edit]

* Official site

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Amusement parks in the United Kingdom

Operated by Merlin Entertainments:|

* Alton Towers
* Chessington World of Adventures
* Legoland Windsor
* Thorpe Park

Operated by Gulliver's Theme Parks:|

* Gulliver's Kingdom
* Gulliver's Land
* Gulliver's Valley
* Gulliver's World

Other amusement parks:|

| England|

* Adventure Island
* Adventure Wonderland
* Blackgang Chine
* Blackpool Pleasure Beach
* Brean Leisure Park
* Camel Creek Adventure Park
* Clarence Pier
* Crealy Theme Park & Resort
* Drayton Manor Resort
* Dreamland Margate
* Fantasy Island
* Flambards Theme Park
* Flamingo Land Resort
* Funland
* Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach
* Harbour Park
* Hidden Valley Discovery Park
* Joyland (Great Yarmouth)
* Lightwater Valley
* New Pleasureland
* Paultons Park
* Pleasurewood Hills
* Robin Hill
* Sundown Adventureland
* The Needles - Landmark Attraction
* Twinlakes
* Wheelgate Park
* Wicksteed Park
* Woodlands Family Theme Park

|

Scotland|

* Codonas Amusement Park
* Landmark Forest Adventure Park
* M&Ds Scotland's Theme Park

Wales|

* Barry Island Pleasure Park
* Coney Beach Pleasure Park
* Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo
* Oakwood

Proposed parks:|

* London Resort
* Universal Studios Great Britain

Defunct parks|

* The American Adventure Theme Park
* Barry's Amusements
* Battersea Park
* Belle Vue Zoological Gardens
* Brocklands Adventure Park
* Camelot Theme Park
* Children's Corner
* Dobwalls Adventure Park
* Frontierland, Morecambe
* Granada Studios Tour
* Killarney Springs
* Loudoun Castle
* Marine Gardens
* Ocean Beach, Rhyl
* Pleasure Island Family Theme Park
* Tucktonia
* Manchester Botanic Gardens

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