It’s never easy to predict the future, of course, but there’s no escaping the fact that all the stars are aligning in the ideal place for the leisure sector at the moment. As soon as 2024 got under way, we at GoLark could feel the optimism in the air. A sense of discovery and exploration is being felt all over the UK just now, and it’s so strong we can almost taste it. There are several reasons for this, and here are three of them.
1. Coming out of a post-pandemic hibernation
Even though the bad old days of lockdown are almost three years in the past now, for many of us there’s been a pervading sense of guarded suspicion about returning to complete normality. Thankfully, that’s fast becoming a thing of the past, and as a result this coming year looks set to be a busy one for venues in East Sussex, West Sussex, Surrey and beyond. If you thought some locations were a little quieter than usual in 2023, you’d better get used to more hustle and bustle in the coming twelve months.
2. Cost of living crisis? What cost of living crisis?
Thanks to the rising cost of everything from petrol and potatoes to gas and gravy in the last two years, most of us couldn’t afford to savour too many days out with friends and family. Now that 2024 is here, people tend to have loosened their purse strings just a little bit, and the leisure sector is ready and waiting for the resultant upturn. This spells good news indeed for many attractions, including the likes of:
…and more. While finances are still a worry for many, those worries are clearly not as accentuated as they once were. As the old song says, happy days are here again.
3. Give the people what they want!
More and more venues in Surrey and elsewhere have come to realise that getting people through the door is only part of the story. In recent times, there have been concerted efforts made to keep visitors onsite for longer. That means upgrading catering facilities, for example, offering a wider range of food and drink options, encouraging a desire to make the most of the day and, crucially, creating places that are more accessible for the less physically able, more welcoming for the retired, more fun for the children and more inclusive for everyone as a whole.
A good example of this is the popular Brighton i360, a spectacular observation tower on the city’s iconic waterfront. It offers step-free access for all, is fully accessible for visitors in wheelchairs and companions and carers of disabled visitors can ride for free. And as you might expect, assistance dogs are also welcomed. This is what GoLark means when we highlight the importance of inclusion and diversity.
