Hi Dave,
Just got back from RP and thought I would give you my 'holidaymakers update' - don't know if you're still running the feature but here goes:
After my security reservations in 2003, I was apprehensive on our return to RP for 2004. I'd been assured by Debbie the Park manager that substantial investment was to be made in this area and I was hoping there would not be a repeat of last year's events.
I'm happy to say that security at the Park has improved to perfection! It is now impossible to gain access to the complex facilities at any time unless you show your Funworks Pass. There are NO allowances made - and believe me I saw a few try it on:
"I'm only coming in to have a look around"
"My girlfriend back there has got mine"
"I'm only getting some chips"
All were greeted with a firm by very polite 'no'. All security staff were professional and friendly and on constant patrol inside and out without it being intimidating. Big 'well done' to the Park management on a problem well and truly solved!
Of course, there has to be a small downside and it was a shame to see that the victim of these new security measures was the necessity to move the supermarket and gift shops to a single unit where the amusement arcade used to be. This meant that the site of the previous two shops was filled with arcade games but this was obviously not enough as half of the old arcade was retained and now intrudes into the Showbar (they've knocked the wall that used to separate the Showbar and arcade down! AND a substantial amount of chairs and table space has been lost in the showbar at the other end due to the apparent necessity of an 'Over 18s' arcade section for the more serious fruit machine gamblers. This was pretty much empty the whole week!
On top of this, the invasion of noisy arcade games has not been halted in the Oasis Bar. It's a real shame because re-siting the arcade gave the management a great opportunity to solve so many more problems alongside the security issue, two main ones being:
1. More seating in the Showbar (not less!) could have been obtained by filling the space now occupied by the remaining half of the old arcade. Even though some seating would not have had a clear view of the stage, this area would've been ideal for those not as interested in the stage shows, but keen nevertheless on sitting down for an evening drink! Now, those poor people who are left to sit on the fringes have to listen to the sounds of the arcade combined with straining to hear the entertainment! And we could well have done without losing about 30 places on the other side of the Show Bar to the 'mini Las Vegas' that no-one's interested in!
2. More seating in the Oasis Restaurant. Instead we have the same few chairs and tables. All the arcade games could be moved down to ONE arcade area, leaving dozens more places to sit and, the area towards the Reception where the arcade games are could be developed into a quite area similar to that enjoyed by visitors to the Rockley Club Bar and Grill under Ruth Lloyd's ownership back in the early 80s. Again, you are forced to make yourself heard when talking to friends and family over a meal or drink with the din or arcade games and Sky Sports in the background. A Pool table or two is fine, football on at one end of the bar is fine. The current situation is overkill.
It seems that the entire complex has become a giant amusement arcade with a stage and restaurant shoe-horned into it. I appreciate that these machines represent revenue for the Park, but that's a short-sighted view. Revenue is also gained from providing more areas where people can site, eat and drink - they'll spend money on this you know!
I'm sure that this situation meant a lot more people spent the evenings at their caravan or ventured down to The Yachtsman pub! We were unable to see any of the shows in the showbar until Friday when we decided the cabaret was worth sitting down at 7pm for!!!!
Once again the service in Oasis was strained to say the least. On one evening we waited over an hour to be served and it has to be said the quality of food has nose-dived - this used to be the one saving grace of the understaffed restaurant. Mention must be made however to Luke, senior barman (at the tender age of 20!) who, on a particularly fraight Friday evening in Oasis, went round to every single table to apologise and explain the situation when a till fault meant delays to serving. Well done Luke, you were a star!
It would be very easy for someone like me to pick so may faults without understanding what it takes to run such a Park without making a loss, I'm sure there are many more factors to consider that I don't have access to and that it's not as simple as putting some more chairs and tables in the Showbar or Oasis restaurant or moving a few arcade games and improving the quality and service of the food.
But I can't see how making these few changes wouldn't benefit everyone and see people like me, who take their extended family every year, spending more money in the complex!
Still, I'll be back next year and hopefully the situation will keep improving.
