Advertise on podcast: Parkcast - The UK’s Original Theme Park Podcast

Marcus Delo is living the theme park enthusiast dream. He started his instagram account to document his park photos and got spotted by the industry. Now he takes shots and films for some of the biggest parks in the UK. We chat about how it happened, and why he thinks enthusiasts are the best people for the job in this episode. Follow Marcus on Instagram and TikTok - @Thrillriders

Fright Nights at Thorpe Park is celebrating 25 years and I was invited along to experience it for the first ever time with Dean Stokes. Conveniently he'd just got back from HHN in Orlando - so when Universal is here, assuming they bring the event with them, have our parks really got anything to worry about? Dean thinks there's definitely things we do better.....

Something a bit different this week as Parkcast comes to you from the IAAPA Expo Europe in London! This was my first visit to this hugely important event for the industry and I met lots of new and old friends along the way. In this episode I catch up with RMC, The Gravity Group, Adam Hattan, Andy Hygate and more....

I can't tell you how many times I've been asked to get Ride Comparisons on Parkcast. As we were both nominees in the UK Theme Park Awards Content Creator category for 2026 - this seemed like the perfect time. In this episode we chat about some of the big winners, and whether the parks won the awards we thought they would. There were definitely a couple of controversial ones! I also want to say a huge thank you to everyone who nominated and voted for Parkcast in the awards this year. It means a huge amount for you to spend an hour a week with me. We may not have won this year - but Parkcast isn't going anywhere and that's only thanks to you.

As theme park enthusiasts we've all probably heard of IAAPA - especially their incredible expos. But the organisation does so much work behind the scenes in the attractions industry. I'm joined by Peter van der Schans who is the Executive Director and Vice President of IAAPA ESA for this episode to chat about why IAAPA exists, what it's done for theme parks and amusement parks globally and what we can expect from the Europe Expo in London in 2026.

Mark Lofthouse from Neon Skull is my guest on Parkcast this week. He's a theme park and amusement industry veteran (he won't mind me saying that) with over 18 years experience in creative roles. We're talking about what it takes to make it in this hugely competitive industry, how far passion will get you and the challenges facing jobs like his. And we're taking a look at some of the specific project's Mark has been involved in including terrifying scare mazes and the new ride openings at Crealy this year.

Port Aventura is a park I've loved for over 25 years. It's home to some great rides and attractions including the incredible Shambhala. But recently it's started to get a bad rep for operations, essentially destroying some of the experience for guests. Alex Brindley joins me again this week - he's a big fan of the park and has just returned from a week there. So does his experience tell us the park is improving or getting worse, and is it one you should still be looking to visit?

Hyperia has been renamed Flipzeria as part of a new sponsorship deal and we aren't enamoured with it! In this episode we're looking at theme park sponsorships over the years - which ones have worked and which ones haven't. But also, WHY have they been success or not? We're drawing on our combined experience of negotiating commercial deals and asking, should you ever just take the money? And dare we mention Oblivion and Fanta.....

Phantasialand is a theme park I've loved since my first visit. It has some absolutely world class theming and attractions and I've enjoyed all my visits there. So much so, I insisted on taking my best mate Glenn with me on my most recent trip as even though he lives in Germany, he's never been! There are still so many things I love about the park, but this trip also flagged up a few issues that I'll definitely think about before visiting again. We talk through the good and the bad in this episode! As an aside, voting for the UK Theme Park awards is open until 28th August. If you enjoyed this episode or my content generally, I'd obviously love your support in the content creator category. The website you need is ukthemeparkawards.com

Voting for the UK Theme Park awards is now open! Lawrence Roots who founded the awards joins me this week to talk about why he thought we needed them, how they've grown and what they mean to the UK theme park industry. You can vote now and you don't to vote in every category if you dont want to. I should also say I'm nominated in the content creator category - very unexpected but appreciated. You don't need to vote for me - but please make your vote count!

Paultons Park is rapidly becoming an enthusiast favourite park. A string of exciting but well thought through ride installations, combined with excellent operations, attention to detail and owners who really embrace the theme park community means it's been a park we've raved about for ages. Lawrence from the park is back on Parkcast to chat about how the launch of their new area Valgard has gone, including the opening of their new Eurofighter Drakon, and the exciting plans for 2027 which will see the park open the UK's first water coaster.

We were all a little bit worried last year that we were about to lose another theme park for good. So we were delighted to hear Lightwater Valley had been saved and bought by the Mellors Group - highly regarded showmen and owners of Fantasy Island in Ingoldmells. In this episode I'm joined by James Mellors to talk about his route to owning parks, and his big plans for the future.

If there's one thing every theme park enthusiast has, it's opinions.... This week I'm joined again by Glenn and Alex, as we discuss some of your unpopular ones, and they share some of their own. So, do all rollercoasters have a shelf life? Is Swarm really the best coaster at Thorpe Park? And are Mad Houses actually pointless? We'll cover these and a lot more! Let me know if you agree or not....

Blackgang Chine is the UK's oldest theme park - but how does a park on an island just off the south coast of England stay relevant and still delight guests over 180 years after opening? Laura Baxter - Head of Marketing and Dan White - General Manager join us on Parkcast this week to share some of their secrets!

Last week I got sent an anonymous message containing details of plans for a new rollercoaster at Alton Towers. Project Horizon has been on the minds of enthusiasts for years, with rumours constantly swirling about what it was going to involve and if it would even happen at all. One thing I've been told is that the planned attraction I was sent the info on is definitely on the cutting room floor. In this episode I talk through what I was sent and ask you, are you sad it's not happening in this form?