New Forest-based Paultons Park scoops six gongs at this year’s UK Theme Park Awards

A POPULAR New Forest attraction has scooped six gongs at this year’s UK Theme Park Awards.

Paultons Park in Ower is home to more than 70 rides and attractions across five themed worlds, which includes Peppa Pig World, Critter Creek, Little Africa and the Jurassic-themed world of Lost Kingdom.

For the fourth year running the British public have voted in the prestigious national awards, which saw more than 220,000 votes cast before being combined with scores from expert judges.

The awards, which have 22 categories, are organised by independent consumer guide ThemeParks-UK.com in association with AttractionTickets.com.

Paultons Park took home three gold awards in the Best for Toddlers, Best Food and Best Customer Service categories, as well as silver for Best for Families and Best Value.

It also received a bronze award for Theme Park of the Year.

The awards ceremony was held at Chessington World of Adventures on 21st September and attended by more than 100 representatives from the UK theme park industry.

Paultons operations director James Mancey said: “The recognition received at the UK Theme Park Awards reflects and rewards the immense efforts made by the entire Paultons team to create the best day ever for families.

“These accolades commend the hard work that goes into ensuring the park offers great value and a memorable day out for all the family, from toddlers, right up to the grandparents.”

Since its launch in 1983 the park has expanded from an ornamental bird garden and adventure playground to one of the biggest tourist attractions in the UK, welcoming over one million visitors a year.

Covering 140 acres, it is now run by second and third generations of the founding family.

As reported in the A&T, it recently hosted a celebration for past and present staff to mark its 40th anniversary.