Group behind Flamingo Land and Alpamare posts £1.5m loss as it makes major investments

The company posted a statutory loss of £1,465,472m for the year ending 31 March 2025, a drop from profit of just under £1.2m a year prior.

This came as the firm saw its turnover also reduce in the year from £31.69m to £30.31m.

In a statement referring to the drop in profits, the company said in its annual results: “This is a significant reduction in fortunes but the directors do continually refresh and maintain in good order all of the attractions that the park has to offer the public.”

The year saw Flamingo Land refurbish and extend its “much loved” Lost River Ride, with a string of new additions.

The company added: “During the year ended 31st March 2025 the company continued investing in the major project of refurbishing and extending the popular Lost River Ride.

“This is a much loved water ride which is being ‘refreshed’ along with some exciting new additions to the ride including a brand new animal exhibit. The water based boat journey will continue of course but will have an exciting storyline and new elements that will be unique.

“This project alone has involved considerable financial investment by the company.”

The firm also recently took on the operation of Scarborough’s Alpamare Water Park, which had previously closed in late 2023.

The site was re-opened in July of 2024 following the takeover.

Flamingo Land added in its accounts: “In a further development the company entered into a lease arrangement with the Local Authority and become the operator of the Alpamare Water Park in Scarborough, North Yorkshire.

“This is another major project as the attraction needed to be made operational following its closure in December 2023.”

The group said the investment into the project had also impacted its margins, adding: “As the site opened mid-season the company did not have the benefit of a full spring/Summer season and had the added cost of operating the site throughout the much quieter – and more expensive – operating period of Winter.

“This project has therefore contributed to the loss reflected in these financial statements.”

It added that “adverse” weather conditions during the summer months had also affected turnover at its sites.

The period saw the company complete its Dewars Hotel and Restaurant site, which it listed amongst investments made during the year.

Flamingo Land said it had also seen “significant” variation on its costs during the year including staff wages and heating costs.

The company said staff wages had increased from £11.3m to £11.9m, while light and heat costs increased by £538,000 – largely due to the takeover of the Alpamare site.

The firm added in a statement: “The Budget of 2024 introduced an increase in the National Living Wage effective from April 2025, and simultaneously a significant increase in employer National Insurance Contributions. As a major employer these two additional costs are going to have an impact on Company overheads in future accounting periods.

“The directors have formulated a plan to control the impact of these increased costs as much as possible.”

Upkeep and repair costs reduced by around £769,000.