Chester Zoo Chester 2012 news #2

[zoogiraffe]

Unfortunatly it does cost to have visits like this what with security and many other things that come with a royal visit and why shouldn't the zoo have to pay for the visit do you want the tax payer (non zoo visitors) to pay for Chester Zoo to have this great chance to advertise around the UK & World for nothing.

As for the entrance well all I will say is Realm of the Red Ape could have been a better use, mind you I don't see the Chester Zoo supporters having a go about a new entrance costing so much when an Exhibit inside the zoo needs doing up like they did about Twycross doing the same thing.

Thought Not

EDIT - I still love Chester Zoo but am getting fed up with some people Slagging other zoos off but when Chester does the same thing they say Nothing

Actually from my own personnal experience the new entrance at Chester has speeded up entering the zoo,which it certainly hasn't at Twycross,and yes I don't slag Chester off as much as I have Twycross,but then Chester isn't stuck in a 1970's timewarp,on top of that you don't get a cultural shock of exhibit styles that you do after entering Twycross at Chester,as the whole place feels more modern.End of mini rant!

 

[Shorts]

I still love Chester Zoo but am getting fed up with some people Slagging other zoos off but when Chester does the same thing they say Nothing

Bottom line is, and some might argue otherwise, Chester is the UK's best zoo and, in my opinion, is generally run well and has no seriously sub-standard exhibits -therefore there is far less scope for major criticism than most other zoos. If it had poor exhibits I'm sure people would criticise them, indeed (prior to recent changes) the Jaguar enclosure has been subject to some discussion in the past and some members still rankle at what happened to the flowerbeds. I'm not saying it's prefect, just better than the rest (and far better than some).

 

[Maguari]

I would say it's actually quite forward-thinking to upgrade the entrance now - it saves there being massive problems if/when the expected increase in visitors due to Islands comes around.

 

[Pootle]

On another note I'd love to see the zoo do late evenings, even just once a week to start with in the summer, get people down who work, have a meal in the restaurant and have a stroll round the zoo, till say around 9, it's light till then anyway.

I second this, it would be a commercially viable option I am perfectly sure. One evening a week during the long daylight hours would certainly attract people, both members and non members. I am sure this would prove a great success. I was only saying this to my girlfriend the other day too.

 

[Javan Rhino]

I would say it's actually quite forward-thinking to upgrade the entrance now - it saves there being massive problems if/when the expected increase in visitors due to Islands comes around.

Agree 100%.

Like others have said as well, the reason we're not all moaning about Chester spending so much money on an entrance is because Chester can afford to - simple as.

Twycross spend £1 million on a muddy footpath that, whilst not too badly themed, could have been done a lot cheaper. Not only that, but a footpath there was likely needed less than an upgrade to most of the animal exhibits was.

Bottom line: Chester spend x amount on something other than animals, fair enough, they can afford to. Twycross spend x amount on something other than animals - they can't.

 

[OrangePerson]

I second this, it would be a commercially viable option I am perfectly sure. One evening a week during the long daylight hours would certainly attract people, both members and non members.

I went to one of the lazy summer evenings and I LOVED it even though it was absolutely pouring down. Because I live a long distance away I have to plan to attend such a thing, annual leave etc, so I went even though the weather was really bad.

I think it wasn't any where near a commercial success because casual visitors who didn't have to plan would not have bothered to go. I think it costs a lot of money to do it and you are totally at the mercy of the poor British summer weather.

 

[Pootle]

Hi OrangePerson,

Whilst I have to agree that a wet evening would (excuse the pun) dampen the profits, we do generally have more rain free evenings throughout the summer time and I really believe on a dry evening the restaurant and cafe's would be turning out great profits not to mention the fees from the entrance. I believe it would be a success for the zoo and memorable experience for visitors to have a weekly late evening.

 

[gentle lemur]

Agree 100%.

Like others have said as well, the reason we're not all moaning about Chester spending so much money on an entrance is because Chester can afford to - simple as.

Twycross spend £1 million on a muddy footpath that, whilst not too badly themed, could have been done a lot cheaper. Not only that, but a footpath there was likely needed less than an upgrade to most of the animal exhibits was.

Bottom line: Chester spend x amount on something other than animals, fair enough, they can afford to. Twycross spend x amount on something other than animals - they can't.

I think that is rather less than fair. Twycross got a considerable grant for their Himalaya entrance - it has its faults, but it is a much better building than any of their others. Chester and Bristol missed the boat because their ambitious plans were still under consideration when the current government came in and abolished the funding.
Thus the new entrance is rather less grand than the initial plans - but, as zoogiraffe has said, it seems to cut down the queues on busy days and the new shop is much nicer too. I think that's a wise investment in customer service.

Alan

 

[ChesterZooFan]

I would say it's actually quite forward-thinking to upgrade the entrance now - it saves there being massive problems if/when the expected increase in visitors due to Islands comes around.

2million is a huge sum just for re-working the entrance, I haven't seen it complete so don't know how all that cash has been spent. I too would prefer that kind of £££ to have been used on a new or upgraded animal exhibit. However, Maguari is right that Chester does need to invest in new infrastructure and facilities before it starts to embark on any new major project. The original Natural Vision plans had a new and upgraded entrance as the first phase (along with HoA). It's therefore good to see that Chester is keeping on track with its long term strategy of improvement. It is also great that having had to shelve HoA they were able to come up with Islands as a more than worthy replacement. I trust the zoos management are making the right decisions to increase revenue and visitor numbers to fund future developments. So far they seem to be succeeding!

As for Her Madge visiting, I say bring it on! I'm sure the £2m cost of the entrance would have been incurred whether she was opening it or not. The zoo will get a massive amount of publicity from such a high profile visit, which in turn should increase visitor numbers through the rest of the year. I know they have wanted her to come to the zoo for years. She was last invited to open the elephant house a few years ago, but clearly had to decline that offer!

Do we know how long she'll be there, and if she will be visiting any of the exhibits? I expect it will be a whistle stop tour, probably just the immediate area around the entrance. Shame I'm working that day.

 

[Javan Rhino]

I think that is rather less than fair. Twycross got a considerable grant for their Himalaya entrance - it has its faults, but it is a much better building than any of their others. Chester and Bristol missed the boat because their ambitious plans were still under consideration when the current government came in and abolished the funding.
Thus the new entrance is rather less grand than the initial plans - but, as zoogiraffe has said, it seems to cut down the queues on busy days and the new shop is much nicer too. I think that's a wise investment in customer service.

Alan

Exactly why I left Himalaya out of it - I used the example of the Sri Lankan footpath around the elephants as an example, as I think that was the zoo's own money and I personally think it was a much bigger waste of money than Himalaya [which, while it has its faults, I do like quite a lot]

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Exactly why I left Himalaya out of it - I used the example of the Sri Lankan footpath around the elephants as an example, as I think that was the zoo's own money and I personally think it was a much bigger waste of money than Himalaya [which, while it has its faults, I do like quite a lot]

Oh dear, yes - the footpath was such a waste of money they might as well have painted all their elephants white just to spell it out!

 

[karoocheetah]

Now that does have a ring to it and may i say long overdue, could it possibly happen though?

Ah we live in hope - pure speculation on my part but why not - Her Royalness has been bestowing 'favours' on the nation in celebration of her diamond jubilee, so the new city status for several town so why not a royal patronage for Chester Zoo - as far as I'm aware only London & Edinburgh have it to date (am I right Bongo, Nisha et al?) and CZ has grown much in stature since these were bestowed, but like I said it's pure speculation I actually know bugger all

 

[chip]

Agree 100%.

Like others have said as well, the reason we're not all moaning about Chester spending so much money on an entrance is because Chester can afford to - simple as.

Twycross spend £1 million on a muddy footpath that, whilst not too badly themed, could have been done a lot cheaper. Not only that, but a footpath there was likely needed less than an upgrade to most of the animal exhibits was.

Bottom line: Chester spend x amount on something other than animals, fair enough, they can afford to. Twycross spend x amount on something other than animals - they can't.

But why is it in the open air?

I bet the staff really like standing in the cold , wind and rain !

 

[karoocheetah]

But why is it in the open air?

I bet the staff really like standing in the cold , wind and rain !

It has been mentioned several times - we'll see what happens when inclement weather really strikes or during the winter months!

 

[chip]

Well I noticed one terminal broke down last week.

Never seen anything so barmy in all my life.

Nice idea in Australia maybe.

They cant even sort the drainage out when it rains!!!!!!!!! [which is often]

 

[OrangePerson]

Ah we live in hope - pure speculation on my part but why not - Her Royalness has been bestowing 'favours' on the nation in celebration of her diamond jubilee, so the new city status for several town so why not a royal patronage for Chester Zoo - as far as I'm aware only London & Edinburgh have it to date (am I right Bongo, Nisha et al?) and CZ has grown much in stature since these were bestowed, but like I said it's pure speculation I actually know bugger all

Hope they are not right now cancelling it because someone blabbed in advance!!!

 

[swampy1967]

I believe from being told by a member of staff the small porta-cabs are staying put for the winter times and people will enter the zoo like they have done all the last winter, with no hitches.

The 1952 gates do open and close.

The current system is designed for when the zoo is busy, and expecting upwards of 5000 plus visitors, which it will do from the likes of March to October.

I suppose on some rainy days the staff, like the keepers and the visitors will have to be responsible enough to wear waterproofs and an extra jumper, not that i've heard any moaning about it anyway.

 

[OrangePerson]

As for the entrance well all I will say is Realm of the Red Ape could have been a better use, mind you I don't see the Chester Zoo supporters having a go about a new entrance costing so much when an Exhibit inside the zoo needs doing up like they did about Twycross doing the same thing.

RotRA looks a bit tired but needs nothing like the millions spent on it that other ape houses elsewhere need, it's an excellent environment for the apes (except poor Tuan but that's partly due to his 'issues'). Training orangutans to plant rather than uproot maybe a start

I agree that redesigning the entrance is looking to the future although the exposed-to-the-elements terminals and staff is puzzling! Maybe post-queen they will build some covering.

 

[SHAVINGTONZOO]

You probably read that the entrance update has already cost £2 million and this visit is costing a considerable amount on top of that. We'll have to wait until after the event for the total figure.

I was involved in a royal visit some years ago, and the cost wasn't very high. It was certainly more than covered by the added visitor numbers prompted by the publicity!

So do we actually know that this is going to cost "a considerable amount"?

 

[chip]

I was involved in a royal visit some years ago, and the cost wasn't very high. It was certainly more than covered by the added visitor numbers prompted by the publicity!

So do we actually know that this is going to cost "a considerable amount"?

I cant see where the costs are.

Surely when the Queen and co. go on little jaunts, the security etc is covered by the state, local policing costs ,by the ratepayer?
Youre not honestly saying its going to be like policing a football crowd?

If Queenie wants to visit the zoo, ok.

Any extra [small] cost to the Zoo will probably be compensated by the extra revenue generated etc.
OIn other words it wont cost `owt.