Chester Zoo The Islands development - planning, development and build (2012-2015)

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The rise is a little high considering the zoo said it would be a slight increase I don't count 40% a slight increase these days.

Expecting all other payments around the zoo to go up also (food, drink & merchandising) was going to return in September don't think I'll bother now with NO new bird species to see
 
Javan Rhino said:
I agree that Chester is excellent value for money, but I think the issue is that if you have a 2 adults, 2 kids family then a day at the zoo can become a bit of an impossibility. My interest was started from those childhood visits, and I'm sure most of ours are. It would be a shame for future potential wildlife/zoo enthusiasts to miss out on that initial spark to the passion because they can't afford it.
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The bit in bold is something I totally agree with, I would love to hike the family (2 adults, 2 kids and a toddler) to Chester but with train prices being what they are and the entrance price going up then it's even further out of reach now*.
If I drove or had a better paid job then it may be feasible but until the day comes when I win the lottery then the kids will have to make do with local zoos and holiday trips!


*I will still make the occasional solo visit "oop north" though! :)
 
Worth noting the £28 is the maximum peak rate, with no on line discount and includes gift aid. The minimum ticket price on a winter week day is £20.

Family tickets are also available at a discount much less than the individual price of each ticket.

It was said at one point that once Islands opened the monorail would be free - but not sure if that still will be the case? I can imagine if it is free it will need a significant increase in the number of carriages to support increased demand.
 
adrian1963 said:
was going to return in September don't think I'll bother now with NO new bird species to see
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Not sure when you were last there but at least three new bird species have gone on-show at Chester in recent months (Green Aracari, Luzon Lowland Scops Owl, Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot - all rather nice ones, to boot!).
 
LaughingDove said:
On a related point, why is it that UK zoos are so much more expensive than zoos in other parts of Europe? A ticket for Zoo and Aquarium Berlin is only 20 Euros which is just over 14 pounds.
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Very simple economics! The vast majority of British zoos are self financing, with no support from local or national government (unless you include the tax relief received by charitable). Thus there running costs need to be met by money taken at the gate, or elsewhere. The same is true of most French zoos, which is why their insurance charges are similarly high.

In Germany, zoos receive massive state support, effectively subsidising their entry costs. The proportion of their running costs which need to be covered by 'earned' money is often very low.

The same is true of the zoo in your home city of Warsaw. The adult entry fee is currently 20 zlotys – the equivalent of£4. There is no way that such an entry fee would be possible but for big state handouts.
 
Javan Rhino said:
I agree that Chester is excellent value for money, but I think the issue is that if you have a 2 adults, 2 kids family then a day at the zoo can become a bit of an impossibility. My interest was started from those childhood visits, and I'm sure most of ours are. It would be a shame for future potential wildlife/zoo enthusiasts to miss out on that initial spark to the passion because they can't afford it.
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I understand your argument, and have some sympathy with it, but I'm not sure that it really holds water. The same is true of every 'premium' product: good things cost more!

The hypothetical family you mention would, presumably, struggle to be able to afford to attend Premier League football matches, or eat at swanky restaurants. As a consequence, they would probably have to forego those opportunities in favour of cheaper alternatives – eating at home, or at a takeaway; watching non-league football. And yet nobody would argue that the prices at the Fat Duck, or at Arsenal, should be equivalent to those at McDonald's, or Torquay United.

For a long time, I have cast covetous eyes at ambitious zoos in Europe and America and wished that UK zoos would develop with a similar sense of scale and scope. Now that one has done so, I think it unreasonable to expect it to continue to charge admission fees on a par with those demanded at the sorts of places that regard a few half-round timbers as the cutting edge of zoo design, and for whom a bit of wood and wire-mesh is an attractive barrier.
 
sooty mangabey said:
I understand your argument, and have some sympathy with it, but I'm not sure that it really holds water. The same is true of every 'premium' product: good things cost more!

The hypothetical family you mention would, presumably, struggle to be able to afford to attend Premier League football matches, or eat at swanky restaurants. As a consequence, they would probably have to forego those opportunities in favour of cheaper alternatives – eating at home, or at a takeaway; watching non-league football. And yet nobody would argue that the prices at the Fat Duck, or at Arsenal, should be equivalent to those at McDonald's, or Torquay United.
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I can afford to take my family for a nice meal, I could even afford to go a Premiership match when the Blues were in the top flight BUT I could do that locally.
Factor in travel costs and Chester is now out of reach for the whole family, realistically the only way I could do it is by leaving 2 girls at home and taking the toddler!

I feel slightly offended that you're putting me in the McDonalds and lower leagues bracket Sooty!
 
I do agree sooty, price definitely reflects quality and rightly so. With cheaper alternatives around it isn't too much an issue, but zoology and conservation, and an awareness and appreciation of our planet's wildlife is arguably more important than a football match or a fine dining experience and I think that every child should have the opportunity to experience a zoo visit, regardless of their background/wealth.

I can't think of any other actual 'zoos' in the cheshire area, I would say the nearest is Blackpool, which is hardly local as an easy alternative to Chester
 
adrian1963 said:
Expecting all other payments around the zoo to go up also (food, drink & merchandising) was going to return in September don't think I'll bother now with NO new bird species to see
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I will be very surprised if there are not some new bird species in the Monsoon Forest and perhaps in other exhibits in Islands; plus there will eventually be more going on show in existing exhibits, taking the place of species moved into Islands. Watch this space ;)

Alan
 
taun said:
It is quite disappointing, sure they said there may be a slight rise in cost but not due to Islands. Maybe due to reports it is a £40m development, not the £30m the estimated. Construction costs can be hard to control but an over spend of 33% is bad.
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Agree this seems a huge increase in cost..... And seems surprising that they have had to shell out and extra £10m seeing as though it is only a matter of weeks over schedule. Obviously we have no idea how the contract was agreed and whether the reported £40m is the construction cost or includes other factors.

My concern is what impact does this over spend have on the future developments in the zoo?

How soon will phase 2 of Islands be considered (Malayan tapirs, 2nd tiger exhibit, Komodo dragons etc) and will we get and African savannah with the giraffes moving over to join the rhinos and painted dogs etc?
 
Indeed. I'm not even sure how accurate it is to talk of 'Phase 2' - strikes me as less a second phase of building and more a series of new additions they could make as and when to give them something new in Islands as time goes on (and spread the cost).
 
ChesterZooFan said:
Agree! Glad someone has commented on the zoo being a member of ZC!! We know they read everything we put on here anyway but great that they will now respond to clarify any questions......


..... Do you think they will respond to any relevant and appropriate questions raised on this forum? The Islands site encourages comments to be let that they then respond to, so I see no reason why zoo chat should be any different. Of course they will not necessarily comment on speculation etc but great to see them taking an active interest!
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Let's try.

zootierlist shows Chester zoo as holding grey-winged blackbird (Turdus boulboul).

is this correct?
how many are at the zoo?
where did they come from?
where will they be going on show?
 
ChesterZooFan said:
Worth noting the £28 is the maximum peak rate, with no on line discount and includes gift aid. The minimum ticket price on a winter week day is £20.

Family tickets are also available at a discount much less than the individual price of each ticket.

It was said at one point that once Islands opened the monorail would be free - but not sure if that still will be the case? I can imagine if it is free it will need a significant increase in the number of carriages to support increased demand.
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Hi - just a quick not to clarify the pricing queries. We've recently launched flexible pricing with the prices detailed here: https://shop.chesterzoo.org/bookings/standard/dynamic.aspx The best deals will always be found online and this also includes deals for families. Flexible pricing will give visitors the option to choose dates and prices best suited to them. In terms of animal queries, we won't be able to answer all of those via ZooChat but any specific enquiries could always be sent to animalandplant@chesterzoo.org Thanks. CZ.
 
bongorob said:
Let's try.

zootierlist shows Chester zoo as holding grey-winged blackbird (Turdus boulboul).

is this correct?
how many are at the zoo?
where did they come from?
where will they be going on show?
Click to expand...

Yup, totally ignored :p
 
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