Sad News!

[jcm@gwr]

 

[RichardG]

I have never been, too far from home I kept telling myself. I suspect it was rather good. Hopefully it can reopen, perhaps for a shorter season.

 

[oldravendale]

Sad news indeed! It'll be an economic challenge for Beer in Devon. I first visited Beer in 1958, then in 1960, camping with the Boys Brigade opposite a caravan site which was a boon as we could use their loos (illegally)! This was clearly pre-Pecorama. Peco were a bit down the coast at the time in Seaton.

I've been back since but never went to Pecorama, sort of assuming it'd be there for ever.

Brian

 

[Marc Dobson]

Very sad news. We were there this summer we had a great day out. Hopefully they can reopen in the near future.
Marc

 

[simond]

Astonishing, but a sad reflection on the current economic climate.

 

[Paul_H]

Astonishing, but a sad reflection on the current economic climate.

Not really, more likely it's the sort of attraction that's just not of interest to enough people anymore.
In the same way when we were young you could buy a Triang train set or Airfix kit on every high street. Now ??

 

[simond]

Yes, I get the change in demographics and tastes, but I somehow expected a significant holiday attraction like that would endure.

It’s not like there aren’t any tourists in Devon despite the prevalence of foreign holidays (which themselves are nothing new).

 

[Jordan or Plymouth Mad]

Not really, more likely it's the sort of attraction that's just not of interest to enough people anymore.

I hesitated to say anything negative, but this hits the nail on the head.
On my holiday in Cornwall this year we passed through Helston on the way to The Lizard, and were amazed to see Flambards had closed down. This was a big theme park but with more than just rides for the kids, there was an extensive Victorian village, a WW2 display & an aircraft musuem (the roots of the place apparently) with a Shackleton cockpit you could sit in. If you squinted hard enough you could imagine you were sitting in a Lancaster - or was that just me..??!!
Anyway I digress - my point was that if such a varied place as that ended up going to the wall, what chance has a 'single focus' place like Pecorama got these days?

 

[John Bruce]

A small part of me wonderers if to some extent it was down to "Marketing"? I suspect most folk on here know what "Pecorama" is/was but ask the ordinary non hobby orientated man on the beach (he would be down there on holiday after all!) and he probably not have a clue, whereas offer him say "Jurassic Park"(!) he might have a bit of an idea what to expect.
So without a visit to Pecorama with his kids while on holiday he would probably never be tempted to look in a local model shop window as he's passing let alone step inside, and as for visiting a model railway exhibition out of curiosity, well don't even go there!

So what am I saying? IMHO Peco are not doing the hobby as a whole any favours for future modeller engagement in closing Pecorama, instead they should perhaps treat it as a loss leader maybe reducing opening hours out of season but still leaving a portal for new people to come through to find this hobby of ours.
But then I'm not an accountant.

John Bruce.

 

[Roger Pound]

Very sad news indeed. Let us hope the circumstances do not reflect on the parent company as well in these difficult times.

Roger

 

[chigley]

always down to money money money!!!!

 

[coal tank]

I was going to pop in there today but when I looked it up it said Temporarily closed.

 

[MarkR]

Living near by, we visited for the first time just after it opened, 50 years ago (!) when our children were small, recent visits have been with our grandchildren. But of late, whilst enjoyable, it had become an expensive day out, (even more so, if visiting the model shop, where prices always seemed expensive) but I suppose that applies to most places today.
One of the few places we visited, that seemed good value for money, was Flambards.
That's also closed!

 

[Eastsidepilot]

Never been nor had the interest to be honest but a sign of our times, un-necessarily high energy costs, increased national insurance for employers, it all adds up. Welcome to Britain still being ripped off for everything !
Not much will survive that does not have high numbers through the gates !

 

[Hayfield1]

I took my daughter there nearly 40 years ago and she loved it. But I guess time has caught up with it like it has with most holiday attractions. Perhaps now families with children go abroad more often, my parents used to go to Seaton every year, but never to Pecorama.

I assume most businesses/attractions need to keep up with the times and once it becomes a drain on the business decisions have to be made. On the other hand with such a strong brand perhaps it could evolve into something different serving/attracting the hobby enthusiasts rather than holiday makers

John

 

[Paul_H]

I assume most businesses/attractions need to keep up with the times and once it becomes a drain on the business decisions have to be made. On the other hand with such a strong brand perhaps it could evolve into something different serving/attracting the hobby enthusiasts rather than holiday makers

Peco aren't really a 'strong brand' except possibly being number two to Hornby in the tiny market of model railways. The vast majority of people in the UK will never have heard of them.
Even the largest, Hornby, have found running an 'attraction' tricky financially and they have wider appeal than just model railways, model cars, Scalextric etc.

 

[DavidB]

Attractions in general have become very expensive, so I am pleased that I had the opportunity to visit many when I was younger and the attractions were more reasonably priced. I was in Portsmouth this weekend for South Hants club's railway show and thought I might go to the dockyard. £51 for an adult, £36 for a child. I last went not long before Covid when the price was in the £20s. I did not go! Many now say pay once and visit as many times as you like within a year, which is not much good when you live a long way away. I would rather pay less per visit.

I feel many attractions have had their day and more will go in the next few years. Those that remain will continue to struggle with soaring costs. Tourism is bloated.

I went to Pecorama, just to look in the shop, when in Beer a few years ago but didn't stay long. Frankly, I thought it looked rather desperate.

 

[76043]

Pecorama was looking delightful in August this year, had a very enjoyable day there. The gardens are beautiful and well kept. The railway is a delight as it makes you smile!
Tony