Chester Zoo Chester Zoo News 2020

gentle lemur said:
I suppose that the opening of the new entrance complex made the function of the gift shop area largely redundant...
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I think the changes made to the Fountain Lawns did that, before the huge playground it went from a focal point where people picnicked and had their photographs taken to an expanse of nothing.
gentle lemur said:
I agree with @Sand Cat that the zoo has plenty more Malagasy creatures which could be displayed in this area (and in a revamped 'Dragons in Danger' too).
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The issue may be the noise of that big playground. Personally, if they're going to do Madagascar I'd have liked to have seen one large area encompassing the dead zone behind Dragons in Danger, the Fountain Lawns and the old lion enclosure. A big area full of interesting animals, not just play areas and sweet shops.
gentle lemur said:
...and there is or will be a new staff canteen in an off-show area.
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The new staff canteen has been open for well over a year now (can't recall exactly when I first went in), it's behind June's Pavilion to the left of the Grow Zone. It's quite smart, although it tends to leak when it rains. The area above The Fountain Shop has been the Blast! office since the canteen moved.
 
Good to know that the people playing 'fantasy zoo' are still filling their time, despite all capital projects being on hold and Grasslands delayed until at least 2022.[/QUOTE]

Is the delay to the completion date or the start date?
 
Thanks, seems strange to delay it for 2 years, funding must have been in place and the hotel element would have brought in alot of additional income.
 
jde7582 said:
Thanks, seems strange to delay it for 2 years, funding must have been in place and the hotel element would have brought in alot of additional income.
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Not strange at all I don't think, sensible in fact. Remember that as a charity there's a limit to how much surplus cash the zoo can hold. More importantly, the zoo has been closed for just over seven weeks now, which is a loss of earnings of approximately £3,588,000 (based on 2018 numbers) with the running expenses on top of that. That alone will take time to recoup, and who knows how much longer the closure will continue, it's already about a week longer than in 2001.

There are also a lot of other capital projects that need to be completed; the new flamingo aviary, the stable block, the money pit that is the off-show zoo and so on... I don't think there is any other sensible option other than to put a hold on the Grasslands project. It's not as though the zoo needs it.
 
Yes all very true, thanks for the response, I forgot about the cash reserves for charities. And all the other projects the zoo currently has on going, also guess when the zoo will want to maxamise revenue over the coming month, year, digging up and closing half the zoo won't help.
 
If our plan is anything like the Irish plan, I think the zoo may be inline to open before the end of may, but with houses and restaurants shut and people asked to keep apart (social distancing) not sure how feasible that would actually be though. Maybe a one system could be devised around the zoo, with certain paths and bottle necks closed off from the public, i.e the lions
 
Council approval not needed for Chester Zoo demolition plans

"Cheshire West and Chester Council says it does not need to provide prior approval for Chester Zoo to demolish a decades old cafe and shop. Responding to the application, Cheshire West and Chester Council states: "The council, acting in its capacity as the local planning authority, write to inform you that prior approval of the proposed demolition is not required.""

Given that the zoo originally planed to demolish the Fountain Shop in September, that'll probably be postponed too (hopefully).
 
Although part of the zoo's history and I have memories from being a child going to the shop and the fountains lawn, times do change and buildings are removed to make way for the new. The building just isn't in keeping with the rest of the zoo, probably costs more to heat and maintain and isn't of architectural significance.
 
jde7582 said:
Although part of the zoo's history and I have memories from being a child going to the shop and the fountains lawn, times do change and buildings are removed to make way for the new. The building just isn't in keeping with the rest of the zoo, probably costs more to heat and maintain and isn't of architectural significance.
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I agree. It's a redundant building of no great beauty in an area that is being redeveloped. I understand the point about memories, but Chester's progress has always been based on building and rebuilding. Oakfield House and the Stables, as listed buildings, had to be treated differently - but every other building in the zoo will be demolished sooner or later, including the ones that are only in the planning stage now.
 
The zoo is starting to share details how it will open, will be a booking system, to restrict number of people on site. Members will have to use the system aswell, or you won't be allowed in. Haven't given a date yet, bet they would love to open for next week
 
SMR said:
There are lots of postcards of the Fountain Restaurant, from its time as a cafe, milk bar and shop. You'll note this one dates from before the Otter Fountain was added.
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Has anyone got a photo of the Milk Bar or the coronation hall? Remember buying lime flavoured milk there as a kid in the 70’s. I guess they were probably awful buildings so photos probably don’t exist?
 
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