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Devon’s top attractions start planning for reopening

24th June 2020

Categories: Visitor News

The Devon Association of Tourist Attractions, also known as DATA, are delighted to announce that following the government’s latest announcement further lifting Covid-19 restrictions, that many of the region’s attractions can begin to get ready for opening on 4^th July or soon after.

Dick Wood, the Chairman of DATA, gave a cautious welcome to the announcement. He said: “We have all been hanging around waiting for weeks now for some good news from the Government as to when we might be able to re-open and this news will be welcomed by many of our members. We will all be studying the revised guidance and regulations very carefully now to check how these affect our businesses, and what we can do.”

DATA has 35 member attractions around Devon which are all quality assured and inspected regularly to maintain high standards and ensure good quality visitor experiences. It is estimated that some five million people visit DATA member attractions each year, all of which helps make Devon the most visited county in Britain.

Since mid-March, all of Devon’s Top Attractions have been closed leaving them without any income and facing growing uncertainty.

For many, the safety of visitors and the attraction’s staff is the main concern and all of the attractions will continue to adhere to Government guidelines and will all have the strict safety measures in place and will be using the appropriate essential safety equipment. Each individual attractions is implementing new protocols and procedures and it is important that before visiting any of Devon’s attractions, that visitors make sure they are fully aware of any new procedures and of the safety measures in place. It is highly advisable to check on the attractions’ own websites before venturing out, many of them will require you to pre-book your visit in an effort to limit visitor numbers. This is just one of the proposed changes, with others including changes to opening times, changes to season/member’s passes, prebooking, contactless payments only and keeping some aspect of the site closed. Many sites will also have added one way systems to ensure social distancing and regular hand sanitising may be required.

Whilst a number of attractions are hoping to re-open soon, with many of them having run limited trial operations for ‘members only’ to try out their readiness to re-open which have tested their safety systems and staff competence, others have come to the reluctant conclusion that it simply is too difficult and risky financially to undertake normal operations until a much later date given all of the restrictions involved. Please check the individual attraction’s websites and social media for up to date information on their opening times. For those that are able to reopen, Visit England are about to launch a Covid quality mark and once this launches DATA members will be able to get accredited and add further confidence for their visitors.

Chairman, Dick Wood, added: “Every DATA member desperately wants to get their attraction open and running again as soon as possible and that’s the clear aim. But not if that means putting additional further risk on your business in terms of health and safety issues and further pressurising your already strained finances.

“Some attractions will decide that they are unable to re-open for normal daily operations this year unless circumstances change and will focus instead on 2021. But most will be looking into trying a limited, if not full operation, this Summer and also for Christmas if possible.

“In the case of the South Devon Railway, whom I represent as an attraction, we still desperately need more people to help us raise the target figure of £500,000 in our SOS funding appeal. We are so grateful to everyone who has donated to us already and helped us reach well over a third of that figure with £210,000 raised so far. If the railway is not able to re-open, we’ll need to try and raise around £32,000 a month for the next nine months from now until March next year. A tall order, but we have a plan!”

The Devon attractions that are already open and welcoming visitors are:

Bicton Park, grounds are open for all with prebooked tickets.

Blackpool Sands, carparks, takeaway service and toilets are all open.

Wildwood Escott, fully open with prebooked tickets.

Exeter Cathedral – the cathedral is currently only open for private prayer and reflection Monday – Saturday, 10 am – 4pm and Sunday, 11.30 am – 4pm. A date for opening the rest of the cathedral will be confirmed soon.

Killerton House – Managed by the National Trust, the car park, garden and parkland is open to prebooked visitors, confirmation on the reopening of the house to follow.

Image: Bicton Park.

Opening from 29^th June

The Big Sheep, opening will commence from 29^th June with a slow roll out of new features from 4^th July.

Castle Drogo, managed by the National Trust, the gardens and toilets will open on 29^th June for pre booked guests.

Opening from 4^th July

Babbacombe Model Village, prebooked slots available online and payment is required at the gate.

Becky Falls

Clovelly Village – the village will open with the Red Lion operating a takeaway service. The visitor centre, café and gift shop will open from the 4^th July subject to Government guidelines.

Pennywell Farm, reopening with morning and afternoon sessions to visitors who prebook online.

Seaton Tramway

Stuart Line Cruises

Image: Pennywell Farm