Skip the Queue is for visitor attraction owners, directors and suppliers who want to improve their organisations and deliver a better experience for their guests. Each episode we speak with inspiring industry experts who share their knowledge of what really makes an attraction successful.
This podcast is brought to you by Merac. We're here to help attractions unlock growth with innovative solutions, expert insights, and customer-first strategies.
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Données mises à jour le 25/09/2026
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A Zoo, a Soft Play and a Trampoline Park: From the Warehouse Floor to the Chair with Cassie Poland
Saison 8 · Épisode 7
jeudi 24 septembre 2026 • Durée 26:20
In this episode of Skip the Queue, Andy Povey is joined by Cassie Poland, Joint Managing Director of Drusillas Park in East Sussex.
Drusillas started life in the 1920s as a tea cottage where motorists could stop on their way through the Downs. A hundred years on it's a zoo and a ride park on the same ten-acre site, and it's been in the Smith family since Cassie's parents, Laurence and Christine, bought it in 1997.
In 2022 Cassie took over as joint managing director alongside her brother Ollie. Their sister Caroline runs Amazon Adventure in Tunbridge Wells, the soft play centre the family opened in 2024. And this April they acquired Urban Jump, a trampoline park in Heathfield, reopening it rebranded as Go Wild! and reopened on the fourth of July.
Cassie is also BALPPA's first female Vice Chair - which means she'll become its first female Chair.
They talk about running a zoo and a ride park as one business, going from one site to three, and what she wants to do with the chairmanship when it comes.
This episode is part of Skip the Queue’s mini-series celebrating 90 years of BALPPA, looking at the people and businesses shaping the UK attractions industry.
Skip the Queue is brought to you by Merac. We provide attractions with the tools and expertise to create world-class digital interactions. Very simply, we're here to rehumanise commerce. Your host is Andy Povey.
If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.
If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on LinkedIn.
Credits: Written by Laura Baxter (YourCMO) Edited by Steve Folland Produced by Emily Burrows and Sami Entwistle (Plaster)
We have launched our brand-new playbook: ‘The Retail Ready Guide to Going Beyond the Gift Shop’ — your go-to resource for building a successful e-commerce strategy that connects with your audience and drives sustainable growth.
From Bird Gardens to Britain's Best-Rated Theme Park: The Independent That Out-Rated the Giants with Richard Mancey
Saison 8 · Épisode 7
mercredi 23 septembre 2026 • Durée 34:04
In this episode of Skip the Queue, Laura Baxter is joined by Richard Mancey, Owner and Managing Director of Paultons Park in Hampshire.
Paultons opened in 1983 as a country park and bird gardens, founded by Richard's parents John and Anne. Forty years on it covers 140 acres, and the introduction of the world’s first Peppa Pig World in 2011, changed everything. In May this year it opened Valgard: Realm of the Vikings - a twelve million pound land and the park's biggest investment to date.
It's also consistently rated among the best theme parks in the country, is the current reigning “Best Theme Park” at the UK Theme Park Awards, and has been ranked among the best in the world, on guest reviews alone.
This episode is part of Skip the Queue’s mini-series celebrating 90 years of BALPPA, looking at the people and businesses shaping the UK attractions industry.
is brought to you by We provide attractions with the tools and expertise to create world-class digital interactions. Very simply, we're here to rehumanise commerce. Your guest host is .
What Happens When Live Theatre Takes On the Attractions Industry with Anna Warnecke
Saison 8 · Épisode 6
mercredi 23 septembre 2026 • Durée 24:29
In this episode of Skip the Queue, Andy Povey is joined by Anna Warnecke, CEO of Kynren in Bishop Auckland - an attraction that doesn't really look like anything else in the UK.
Kynren began in 2016 as an open-air night show telling 2,000 years of English history on a seven-and-a-half-acre stage, performed by a cast and crew of a thousand local volunteers, and built as part of a wider mission to regenerate a County Durham market town.
This July, it went a step further and opened Kynren - The Storied Lands, a daytime park built entirely around live shows and immersive experiences rather than rides.
They talk about what changes when your product is performance rather than throughput, what an experience-led attraction can teach a traditional operated site, and what the first few weeks of a brand new park have really been like.
This episode is part of Skip the Queue’s mini-series celebrating 90 years of BALPPA, looking at the people and businesses shaping the UK attractions industry.
Skip the Queue is brought to you by Merac. We provide attractions with the tools and expertise to create world-class digital interactions. Very simply, we're here to rehumanise commerce. Your host is Andy Povey.
If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on , , and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website
A Theme Park, a Festival Site and a Film Set: How Dreamland Stopped Being Just an Amusement Park with Eddie Kemsley
Saison 8 · Épisode 5
mercredi 23 septembre 2026 • Durée 27:26
In this episode of Skip the Queue, Andy Povey is joined by Eddie Kemsley, CEO of Dreamland in Margate – one of the oldest surviving amusement park in the country, and one of the most reinvented.
Dreamland dates back to 1880. It closed in 2003, and reopened in 2015 as a vintage amusement park. Since then it has become something harder to categorise: a park, a six-and-a-half-thousand capacity outdoor music venue, an indoor events space, a wedding venue and a filming location, all on sixteen acres of seafront.
At the end of 2023, LN-Gaiety - the Live Nation and Gaiety Investments joint venture - took a controlling stake in the business.
Eddie now leads the boutique festival side of the business, she has served on BALPPA's Management Committee and still sits on the marketing sub-committee, helping shape the association's marketing seminars.
They talk about diversification as strategy rather than accident, what the events and filming side really contributes, and what the industry network gives an operator who sits beyond the usual categories.
This episode is part of Skip the Queue’s mini-series celebrating 90 years of BALPPA, looking at the people and businesses shaping the UK attractions industry.
Skip the Queue is brought to you by Merac. We provide attractions with the tools and expertise to create world-class digital interactions. Very simply, we're here to rehumanise commerce. Your host is
From a Model Village to Four Resorts: The Only Family Business Running a Theme Park Chain with Julie Dalton
Saison 8 · Épisode 4
mardi 22 septembre 2026 • Durée 47:05
In this episode of Skip the Queue, Laura Baxter is joined by Julie Dalton, managing director of Gulliver's Theme Park Resorts - and the head of what is, remarkably, the only multi-site theme park brand in this country that isn't owned by a corporate.
Gulliver's began in 1978 as a model village on a fifteen-acre hillside above Matlock Bath, built by Julie's parents Ray and Hilary Phillips - Ray a builder by trade, making the miniature houses himself. Warrington followed in 1989, Milton Keynes in 1999, and in July 2020, of all the moments to open a theme park, Gulliver's Valley in Rotherham.
Four resorts, more than fourteen hundred staff at peak, and a stubborn focus on the same audience it started with - families with children aged two to thirteen.
They talk about what it takes to run four sites as a family rather than a corporation, opening a park in the middle of a pandemic, and why so much of Gulliver's is still built in-house.
This episode is part of Skip the Queue’s mini-series celebrating 90 years of BALPPA, looking at the people and businesses shaping the UK attractions industry.
Our Guest: Julie Dalton — Managing Director, Gulliver’s Theme Parks
From the Big Top to the Seafront: A Lifetime on the Same Patch of Sand with Gary Smart
Saison 8 · Épisode 3
mardi 22 septembre 2026 • Durée 34:26
In this episode of Skip the Queue, Laura Baxter is joined by Gary Smart, chairman of Harbour Park in Littlehampton and a man who has spent his entire working life in this industry.
The park opened in 1932, built by Billy Butlin on the site of an old fort and windmill. In 1977 it was bought by the Billy Smart circus family, and in 1994 Gary led the redevelopment that turned Smart's Amusement Park into the Harbour Park we know today - sat right on the beach, next to a working harbour, and free to walk into.
Gary has served the wider industry through BALPPA and IAAPA, and was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to leisure parks and tourism. His sons now run the park day to day. This year he also received BALPPA’s Lifetime Membership Award.
They talk about what's changed across four decades, what stubbornly hasn't, and what it takes for a small independent seaside park to still be standing.
This episode is part of our mini-series marking 90 years of BALPPA, looking at the people and businesses shaping the UK attractions industry.
Sustaining a Family Attraction on a Small Budget with Debs Griffin
Saison 8 · Épisode 2
mardi 22 septembre 2026 • Durée 37:01
In this special episode of Skip the Queue, Laura Baxter is joined by our guest, Debs Griffin, Director of Sundown Adventureland in Rampton, Nottinghamshire.
This year, BALPPA turns 90. Our guest today runs a park that turns 58. Between them, that’s close to a century and a half of British attractions, and neither got there by accident.
Debs Griffin is a director of Sundown Adventureland, the theme park for the under-tens. It started in 1968 in her grandparents’ back garden with a donkey and a monkey called Coco. Today, it spans sixty acres, with rides and a holiday village, and is still owned and run by the same family. Debs, welcome back to Skip the Queue.
You heard Debs on the show earlier this year with Andy, where she told the story of how Sundown grew. There’s no need to tell that story twice. Instead, today’s conversation looks at the harder question, and one that doesn’t get asked often enough: not how you grew, but how you’ve kept going. Fifty-eight years, the same family, no outside money. So let’s start there.
This episode is part of Skip the Queue’s mini-series celebrating 90 years of BALPPA, looking at the people and businesses shaping the UK attractions industry.
Ninety Years of British Attractions: Paul Kelly on BALPPA’s Past, Present and Next 90
Saison 8 · Épisode 1
mardi 22 septembre 2026 • Durée 28:17
To celebrate 90 years of BALPPA, Andy Povey and Laura Baxter are joined by Paul Kelly, Chief Executive of BALPPA, for a look at the organisation’s history, its role in the attractions industry today and what the next 90 years could look like.
With more than 30 years working across the attractions sector and at the helm of BALPPA since 2012, Paul has a unique view of an industry that has changed dramatically and of the people and businesses that have helped shape it.
In this episode, Paul takes us back to BALPPA’s beginnings in 1936, exploring why the association was formed and how the attractions industry has evolved since then. He shares some of the achievements and behind-the-scenes work BALPPA has been involved in, much of which visitors and even some members may never see.
They also explore what BALPPA means to its members today, from lobbying government and representing the industry to perhaps its most important role: bringing operators together and creating a community where they can share knowledge, challenges and ideas.
Looking ahead, Paul discusses the issues facing attractions today, what the next generation of operators needs from the association and why he believes there are exciting opportunities ahead for the UK attractions industry.
This episode is part of Skip the Queue’s mini-series celebrating 90 years of BALPPA, looking at the people and businesses shaping the UK attractions industry.
Show references:
Paul Kelly - Chief Executive at British Association of Leisure Parks Piers and Attractions (BALPPA)
For the next few weeks, we’re teaming up with BALPPA to celebrate a very special milestone - 90 years of the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions.
To mark the occasion, we’re going behind the scenes with some of the people who have helped shape the UK attractions industry, hearing their stories, exploring how the sector has evolved and looking at what the future might hold.
Andy is joined by co-host for the series, Laura Baxter, as we chat to the people behind some of the UK’s best-known attractions.
Across the series, we’ll be joined by: Marc Miller — Managing Director, Stockvale Group / Adventure Island
What Makes a Great Attraction? The Winners Have Their Say
Saison 7 · Épisode 46
vendredi 11 septembre 2026 • Durée 18:53
In this special episode of Skip the Queue, Andy Povey is back in Blackpool for the UK Theme Park Awards, speaking to some of the people and businesses recognised for delivering some of the best work in the UK attractions industry.
But this episode isn’t just about celebrating the winners.
Andy explores what it actually takes to create a great attraction and a memorable visitor experience, asking the people at the heart of the industry what they think makes the difference.
From storytelling and guest experience to technology, people, innovation and the small details visitors remember, Andy gets the winners’ perspectives on what’s working, what could be better and where the industry should be looking next.
If you want to know what the best in the business think makes a great attraction, this is the episode for you.
Listen now and hear directly from the winners of the UK Theme Park Awards.
Courtney Baker - Pleasurewood Hills Award: 🏆 Theme Park of the Year – Under 1m Visitors
Howard Ebison - Alton Towers Resort / Merlin Entertainments Award: 🏆 Alton Towers won 9 awards, including Gold for Best Landscaped Theme Park and Gold for Best Brand Activation – Minecraft: Meet the Mobs
Daisy Shirley, Digital Marketing Executive - Crealy Theme Park & Resort 🏆 Crealy won 5 awards, including Gold for Best Theme Park for Toddlers – Sooty Land
If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.
If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on LinkedIn.
Credits: Written by Laura Baxter (YourCMO) Edited by Steve Folland Produced by Emily Burrows and Sami Entwistle (Plaster)
We have launched our brand-new playbook: ‘The Retail Ready Guide to Going Beyond the Gift Shop’ — your go-to resource for building a successful e-commerce strategy that connects with your audience and drives sustainable growth.
We have launched our brand-new playbook: ‘The Retail Ready Guide to Going Beyond the Gift Shop’ — your go-to resource for building a successful e-commerce strategy that connects with your audience and drives sustainable growth.
If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.
If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on LinkedIn.
Credits: Written by Laura Baxter (YourCMO) Edited by Steve Folland Produced by Emily Burrows and Sami Entwistle (Plaster)
We have launched our brand-new playbook: ‘The Retail Ready Guide to Going Beyond the Gift Shop’ — your go-to resource for building a successful e-commerce strategy that connects with your audience and drives sustainable growth.
Skip the Queue is brought to you by Merac. We provide attractions with the tools and expertise to create world-class digital interactions. Very simply, we're here to rehumanise commerce. Your guest host is Laura Baxter.
If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.
If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on LinkedIn.
Credits: Written by Laura Baxter (YourCMO) Edited by Steve Folland Produced by Emily Burrows and Sami Entwistle (Plaster)
We have launched our brand-new playbook: ‘The Retail Ready Guide to Going Beyond the Gift Shop’ — your go-to resource for building a successful e-commerce strategy that connects with your audience and drives sustainable growth.
Skip the Queue is brought to you by Merac. We provide attractions with the tools and expertise to create world-class digital interactions. Very simply, we're here to rehumanise commerce. Your guest host is Laura Baxter.
If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.
If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on LinkedIn.
Credits: Written by Laura Baxter (YourCMO) Edited by Steve Folland Produced by Emily Burrows and Sami Entwistle (Plaster)
We have launched our brand-new playbook: ‘The Retail Ready Guide to Going Beyond the Gift Shop’ — your go-to resource for building a successful e-commerce strategy that connects with your audience and drives sustainable growth.
Skip the Queue is brought to you by Merac. We provide attractions with the tools and expertise to create world-class digital interactions. Very simply, we're here to rehumanise commerce. Your guest host is Laura Baxter.
If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.
If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on LinkedIn.
Credits: Written by Laura Baxter (YourCMO) Edited by Steve Folland Produced by Emily Burrows and Sami Entwistle (Plaster)
We have launched our brand-new playbook: ‘The Retail Ready Guide to Going Beyond the Gift Shop’ — your go-to resource for building a successful e-commerce strategy that connects with your audience and drives sustainable growth.
Skip the Queue is brought to you by Merac. We provide attractions with the tools and expertise to create world-class digital interactions. Very simply, we're here to rehumanise commerce. Your hosts are Andy Povey and Laura Baxter.
If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.
If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on LinkedIn.
Credits: Written by Laura Baxter (YourCMO) Edited by Steve Folland Produced by Emily Burrows and Sami Entwistle (Plaster)
We have launched our brand-new playbook: ‘The Retail Ready Guide to Going Beyond the Gift Shop’ — your go-to resource for building a successful e-commerce strategy that connects with your audience and drives sustainable growth.
We’ll also be joined by Paul Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of BALPPA, for a look back at the organisation’s 90-year history and a conversation about its role in supporting the industry and what lies ahead.
Expect stories from behind the scenes, memories from across the industry, insights into how attractions have changed and a look at where the sector is heading next.
Skip the Queue is brought to you by Merac. We provide attractions with the tools and expertise to create world-class digital interactions. Very simply, we're here to rehumanise commerce. Your hosts are Andy Povey and Laura Baxter.
If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.
If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on LinkedIn.
We have launched our brand-new playbook: ‘The Retail Ready Guide to Going Beyond the Gift Shop’ — your go-to resource for building a successful e-commerce strategy that connects with your audience and drives sustainable growth.
Jodie Hodgkins, Sales & Marketing Manager - Crealy Theme Park & Resort Award: 🏆 Crealy won 5 awards, including Gold for Best Theme Park for Toddlers – Sooty Land
James Cox, ICAE, Director of Marketing - Blackpool Pleasure Beach Awards: 🥇 Gold – Best Seaside Park (North); 🥈 Silver – Best New Attraction; 🥉 Bronze – Best Theme Park for Thrills; 🥉 Bronze – Best Halloween Event – Journey to Hell
Owen Ralph, Attractions Industry Journalist / Awards Judge - Kirmes & Park International / Words and Attractions Interviewed as a UK Theme Park Awards judge
Skip the Queue is brought to you by Merac. We provide attractions with the tools and expertise to create world-class digital interactions. Very simply, we're here to rehumanise commerce. Your host is Andy Povey.
If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.
If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on LinkedIn.
We have launched our brand-new playbook: ‘The Retail Ready Guide to Going Beyond the Gift Shop’ — your go-to resource for building a successful e-commerce strategy that connects with your audience and drives sustainable growth.
