A CLOSED down waterpark in the UK could finally be set to reopen after being shut for more than four years. New owners have taken over the beleaguered attraction , which hasn't welcomed any guests since 2018. Win one of 8 incredible holidays to Florida, Spain, the Caribbean and a Kent safari by voting in The Sun's Travel Awards - enter to win here Wet 'n' Wild in North Shields was a popular waterpark for families in the north east.
However, owners Serco were forced to close it down permanently four years ago, after years of financial difficulties. In its heyday, it was home to the UK's fastest waterslide , the Kamikaze, and it began life in style, when it was opened by Jet from Gladiators back in 1993. It had other record-breaking rides too, including Britain’s biggest water slide, the 541ft-long Black Hole .
Other rides included the The Tempest, The Mistral, The Calamity Canyon, The Hurricane, The Cyclone, The Tornado Racer and The Abyss. Unfortunately. its problems date back years, with owners Serco taking over and trying to rescue it back in 2014, after it had been forced to close the year before.
They spent £1.1m refurbishing the waterpark , introducing a new reception, entrance, café, and soft play area, all for a lower admission fee. Initially it worked well and visitor numbers rose, but it soon began to struggle again just a few years later.
By September 2018 the park had to be shut because of maintenance issues. To begin with, the attraction had only expected to .
