This is very sad news :
https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/popular-devon-attraction-announces-sudden-10646180

It is.

I agree, very sad.

Perhaps it may reopen seasonally.

Does it include the shop and layout displays? It seems to.

Martyn

There may be a glimmer of hope for the future. Go to the bottome of the announcement and click on the experiences link and they are taking 2026 bookings for things like footplate experiences.

I did a one day footplate experience just last October and it was excellent.

Quote from: martyn on Yesterday at 08:17:28 AMI agree, very sad.

Perhaps it may reopen seasonally.

Does it include the shop and layout displays? It seems to.

Martyn

It doesn't seem to clarify that but I imagine that the shop/model exhibits are part of the core business and as such remain open.

That's very sad. I've never visited but it looked very interesting.  It was obviously popular but with visitors drying up in the winter months it's not surprising it was running at a loss. I hope it can be mothballed in case the economy takes a turn for the better and they can open it again.

Cheers,

Chris

We spent our honeymoon in Beer back in 1987, and then revisited four or five times, taking the kids there when they were young... the ride on the train was the hi-light of the visit.  It's sad that they are closing it due to financial reasons. 

I guess it falls under the category of "Use it or lose it" but the problem is maybe its location and the fact that people's disposable income has suffered from essentials like fireworks, massive TVs and the latest mobile phone

I have only been twice to PECORAMA, the first time with family some 32 years ago and the second when @port perran and I went there to film the video and interview for the Forums virtual show.

Having been around the manufacturing facilities what was evident manufacturing space was limited, indeed due to covid restrictions they had taken over a previous public area for manufacturing purposes.

Is this closure possibly part of possible longer term plans to expand and develop their manufacturing base?

For me the only part that can be mothballed and become a seasonal attraction is the railway, the gardens however, require all year maintenance preparing planting areas etc.

Absolutely shocked. We have visited several times, taking our daughters when they were small. The tradition has been passed on to our grandsons who love the place. Very sad.

Paddy

It's not that easy to mothball the railway long term.

The locomotives will have boiler certificates which expire.
You can't get locomotive fitters from the job centre - or steam Drivers for that matter.
The track will require maintenance - trains or not, as will the signalling which works on TCB.

People seem to be gravitating towards an "experience" rather than a simple day out. I note they're footplate experiences for 2026 are still on sale so hopefully that will provide a lifeline for the BHLR. I attended a footplate experience day back in October and I really enjoyed it.

my first visit was in the early 70's--and i was captivated by the peco jubilee running on the living room shelf layout.

years later i ended up living and working in Exmouth--so a visit to beer was a great use of my day off.

re:jubilee --tonight i won my 10th loco --needed for yet another conversion.

Quote from: Malc-c on Yesterday at 11:20:14 AMIt's sad that they are closing it due to financial reasons.

Yep, but a valid reason and unfortunately increasing costs are very pertinent and pressing in today's economic environment.

   Never been but so sad
    stay safe regards Derek