Blog & News - Blackgang Chine

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Blackgang Chine’s family daytime Halloween event: Frights & Sprites

8th October 2019 / No Comments

Blackgang Chine hosts a brand-new family Halloween event; Frights & Sprites

What goes BUMP in the night and will give you a horrible FRIGHT?

Frights & Sprites is Blackgang Chine’s newest Halloween family attraction. Rumpus Mansion’s ghostly characters will be causing mischief with their interactive performance, Rumpus Mansion LIVE, this October.

In this production, the ghouls are getting ready for Lady Edwina’s Spooktacular of the year. Take a tour around the mansion to meet the servants readying the halls for their many guests. Find Mrs Berry making a mess in the kitchen and the scatterbrained Gracey, dusting the vestibules. Mind that you don’t bother Franklin for too long or you’ll be gravely sorry.

PLUS, don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for the pesky gremlins because they’re up to no good! Spot them all and solve the anagram to enter the daily prize draw.

After a walk through the mansion, Lady Edwina will beckon you to the Rumpus lawn, this is where the real party starts…

Enjoy an array of spooky activities including, Hook a Skull, Hoopla, Tin Can Alley, Wiggle cars, Fancy Dress-up and the Halloween Crafting Zone!

Transform into a wolf, a witch or a bloodsucking vampire with our face painting stand and show of your best moves in with the SPOOKY DISCO. There will be a competition for the best dressed with fantastic PRIZES to give away!

Don’t miss out this October, book your tickets today!

Blackgang Chine will be open 10am-5pm every day October 19th-27^th 2019.

Frights & Sprites will be located in the Rumpus Mansion and on the Rumpus Lawn from 12 pm – 4 pm.

Big Night Out is finally Here!

22nd July 2019 / No Comments

The Isle of Wight’s Biggest Night Out lights up Blackgang Chine from 20^th July

Blackgang Chine brings you summery vibes from 20^th July all the way until 31^st August, every Monday, Wednesday and now Friday’s too. We have an epic programme that will get everyone stuck into all the action-packed activities we have to offer. Expect visits from our resident characters including Cowboys, Pirates, Dodos and of course, our Fairies!

With workshops, entertainers, shows and plenty of summery shenanigans there will be heaps for all the family to do! And as the sun sets over Park, Pirate Cove turns into one giant dance floor at the Jolly Rogers Jam with DJ OMAR playing till’ the end of the night!

If you missed out on any of the Point Blank performances at our previous event Wild West Week, then don’t worry because they are BACK this summer with even more epic performances that will keep you on the edge of your seat! From knife-throwing to whip-cracking, danger is second nature to these two outstanding performers. For those who may not necessarily be into danger, we have a more child-friendly show lined up for you in the afternoon where Point Blank create a scene of giant bubbles!

End the evening with a dinner at the Chine Restaurant or a bite to eat at La Cantina, before watching the Finale Firework Explosion, which is even bigger and better than ever before, named one of the best firework displays on the South Coast!

Dreams really do come true… at Robin Hill

27th June 2019 / No Comments

December 2019 will see Robin Hill launch its brand new and spectacular Christmas evening event – POLAR. Running over four weekends in December, the event will feature a stunning new Amphitheatre production that will delight audiences of all ages, plus a host of other festive activities as part of the award-winning event series at Robin Hill.

Step outside this festive season and experience the thrill of a Christmas dream come true… POLAR promises an enchanting Christmas journey with a spectacular show finale like no other!

Take the Winter Woodland Walk through sparkling ancient forests, enjoy the festive atmosphere of the POLAR Village while you warm up with traditional hot food and drinks, hop on board the Big Red Express, where Father Christmas himself takes the wheel, and tip-toe into the POLAR Hollow where you can meet Pippa, the life-sized cuddly polar bear!

Don’t miss Robin Hill’s rides given a winter makeover, with the Cows Express Junior Ride perfect for little ones, and the 4D Motion Cinema exclusively showing ‘Santa’s Sleigh Ride’ during POLAR!

The event finale is the dazzling Amphitheatre show, POLAR, that follows the magical tale of one boy’s Christmas dream come true, in a sensational dance and acrobatic theatre style production!

This newest addition to Robin Hill’s annual events calendar promises to be the most magical yet, delighting families of all ages as well as couples looking for a unique and romantic way to spend a winter’s evening. Glittering displays and enticing festive flavours will transport visitors through a dreamlike evening brimming with all the excitement and anticipation of Christmas Eve, with the finale POLAR show set to be the most spectacular production Robin Hill’s Amphitheatre has ever seen!

The POLAR Village will be the epicenter of the event, where customers can indulge in traditional festive treats including mulled wine, luxury hot chocolates, roasted marshmallows and delicious homemade food whilst soaking up live music and the beautiful woodland lighting displays.

Speaking about the new event, Alec Dabell, Managing Director and Owner said “We are delighted to bring this brand new and totally unique experience to the Isle of Wight. We think POLAR could be “the” event for families and loved ones this Christmas”.

Tickets for this limited capacity event go on sale at 10am Thursday 27th June, with Frequent Visitor Pass holders eligible for an exclusive discounted rate of just £17.50 for the first four days only of POLAR.

Time for a rootin’ tootin’ time!

25th May 2019 / No Comments

Yeeeehaaww! It’s time to kick things off for Wild West Week!

Running from today (25th May), right through to 2nd June, our very own Cowboy Town will be bustling with sheriffs, outlaws and cowboys!

This is your chance to immerse yourself in the wild west world and take over Buffalo Creek Cowboy Town! Prepare for a rootin’ tootin’ good time with entertainment for all ages including the return of the rodeo with the Bucking Bronco – can you beat the best time on the scoreboard?

The popular Wild West Dance Workshops will take place every day and there’ll be plenty of opportunity to meet the cowboys themselves as well as our popular Wild West Dodos!

Bring your young cowboys and cowgirls to don their hats, test their shooting and take centre stage in their own Wild West story!

DASTARDLY DEEDS AT BUFFALO CREEK

New for 2019, the live-action show, Dastardly Deeds at Buffalo Creek, will surprise audiences with fast-paced stunts, pyrotechnics and plenty of tongue in cheek humour that both the adults & kids can enjoy!

Sheriff Theodore Wilberforce Indiana Tucker (T.W.I.T) has been in Buffalo Creek Cowboy Town for a year now and although he’s well-liked by the town’s folk for defeating Rattlesnake Jake, their patience is wearing thin now that the bank has been robbed and the safe stolen! Unbeknown to the Sheriff, the culprit was the Mayor of the town, Mayor Maverick Maddog. He’s hired Wild Phil Hiccup to help and is hell bent on finding the original deeds for the town so he can take full ownership; blow up the creek; flood the town and build a dam.

Mayor Maddog’s dastardly plan could come undone when young Bobby Buckskin overhears him plotting in the saloon!

Will Bobby tell the Sheriff? Will the Sheriff believe her? Will he be able to stop Mayor Maddog from stealing the deeds?

SUNDOWN

27th, 29th & 31st May, ’till 9pm

For the first time, you can join the action at Wild West Week’s Sundown and experience the event into the evening!

Dance along to the Mariachi Fiesta with Vote Pedro, grab a bite to eat at La Cantina and end the evening with the epic Point Blank Stunt Show – expect plenty of knife throwing, whip cracking and of course, danger!

Wednesday 29th May Britain’s Got Talent star Derek Sandy will be performing live from 6pm!

Derek welcomes you to Blackgang Chine!

22nd May 2019 / No Comments

Yeah Man! We are delighted to announce Britain’s Got Talent star & Isle of Wight Ambassador, Derek Sandy will be making a guest appearance at Sundown as part of Wild West Week this May half term!

Park Manager Dominic Wray says “It’s great to have Derek joining our brand new Sundown evening event and getting the party started with our cowboys and cowgirls on Wednesday night, I’m excited to see Derek getting the crowd going with his hit song ‘Welcome to the Isle of Wight’.

He’ll be performing an exclusive set on Wednesday 29th May, taking to the Cowboy Town stage from 6pm! So put on your rastacaps and get ready for an evening of entertainment, Yeah Man!

Families joining us for Wild West Week can expect plenty of knife throwing and stunt action from the live Point Blank shows and Mariachi Mexican Madness from Vote Pedro!

Grab your Wild West Week tickets online now to make sure you don’t miss out! https://shop.blackgangchine.com/blackgang-chine-tickets/

Blackgang Chine to support health and well-being of young people

26th March 2019 / No Comments

2019 Charity of the Year Announced

Vectis Ventures are proud to announce the Isle of Wight Youth Trust as their nominated charity for 2019. The partnership ensures collection boxes for donations positioned at both Robin Hill, the home of adventure and entertainment, and Blackgang Chine, the Land of Imagination, throughout the 2019 season.

The team at Vectis Ventures will be carrying out additional fundraising initiatives, events and fundraising activities to help more young people on the Isle of Wight access the crucial work of the Trust.

James Crofts, Park Manager at Robin Hill said “We are proud to be supporting the Isle of Wight Youth Trust in 2019. We have lots of exciting plans across both Robin Hill and Blackgang Chine to raise vital funds needed to support our island’s young people. We are looking forward to making a real difference to the health and wellbeing of our young people on the Isle of Wight.”

The Isle of Wight Youth Trust is the largest independent organisation providing youth mental health services on the Isle of Wight and committed to improving the wellbeing and mental health of children and young people on our island.

“As an Island-based, Island–focused charity, the Youth Trust relies on the support of our community to deliver vital services to support young Islanders. Last year, we offered around 5,500 one-to-one counselling sessions to over 1,000 young people – we simply would not have been able to do this without the support of our community. Vectis Ventures has a long history of supporting local charities and we are thrilled to have been chosen as their Charity of the Year for 2019. We look forward to working together throughout the year to ensure that young people have access to support in their time of greatest need.” Mairead Healy, CEO, Isle of Wight Youth Trust.

Whilst they offer a range of support for children, young people and their families, the majority of their work is concerned with providing a professional one-to-one counselling service. The problems that children and young people are experiencing when they visit are wide–ranging and there are many reasons why a young person may need counselling. Whatever the issues, the Isle of Wight Youth Trust are here to help.

Please visit https://www.iowyouthtrust.co.uk/ or follow their social media channels for more information.

Chocofrolica Easter Event at Blackgang Chine, Isle of Wight

Chocofrolica heads to Blackgang Chine

11th February 2019 / No Comments

Chocolate lovers are invited to the park this Easter holidays as we launch Chocofrolica, a brand-new event which promises to indulge and delight visitors with the UK’s favourite confectionery.

Anyone with a sweet tooth can enter chocolate heaven from 6^th – 27^th April, 10am – 5pm, as the park is taken over by Chocofrolica, an event ‘choc-full’ of fun and treats for all the family.

From arrival, visitors will revel in the wonders of the cocoa bean as they are given the chance to enrol as a chocolatier for the day. They’ll be presented with a special Chocofrolica schedule of activities, with chances to win lots of sweet prizes along the way.

Upon here on in guests can:

Chocolate Bubble Bath: dive into a pit of ‘chocolate bubbles’ to search for the winning golden bubble
Bouncy Milk Cow Hoppers: race your friends
Honey Bee Quest: explore the park to solve the daily quest
The Easter Bunny will be hopping around, popping up and making a few cheeky appearances!

Dominic Wray, Park Manager at Blackgang Chine, said: “We’d like our visitors to let their imaginations run wild this Easter as they enter a land of chocolate bliss! Chocofrolica is a unique experience for all the family to enjoy. We encourage everyone who visits to step back to their childhood and get involved in the specially created chocolate themed activities, attractions and nature that our park offers.”

Families can also expect frolics and fables from Blackgang Chine’s resident dragon Cedric and his Mad Chocolatier who will be delivering stories about the history of chocolate. The Easter Bunny will be popping up throughout the day too offering selfies as he hops away.

Easter Weekend 19^th – 22^nd April, 10am – 7pm
Families visiting the park across the Easter weekend can enjoy extra Chocofrolica activities including an amazing 5-tier chocolate fountain and performances by Coco the Bubble Wizard who will wow audiences with his incredible giant bubbles.

Tickets start from just £25.00 and can be booked now!

Find Out More

Your Chance to WIN a Limited Edition Gold Coin!

20th November 2018 / No Comments

Purchase your FVP by 21st December to be in with a chance of winning!

It’s been an amazing year of birthday celebrations here at Blackgang Chine and our commemorative, limited edition gold coins have been a huge hit with visitors! There’s just a few left so we’re giving you early bird FVP holders one final chance to get your hands on one in time for Christmas!

To be in with a chance of winning one of the coins, simply purchase your Joint Park or Blackgang Chine Frequent Visitor Pass before Wednesday 19th December! You will then be entered into a draw to win – it’s that easy!

The winners will be notified by email on Wednesday 19th December and the coins will be available to collect from our pop-up shop in Newport Guildhall until 22nd December, just in time to make a very special Christmas gift!

FVP Hub opens in time for Christmas shopping

16th November 2018 / No Comments

We’re opening a pop-up Frequent Visitor Hub at Newport Guildhall this year in time for your Christmas shopping!

Open Monday – Saturday from 21st November – 22nd December, our front of house admissions team will be on hand to answer all your FVP questions so you can purchase and collect your cards all in one place – making it oh so simple to get your hands on a 2019 pass. Find out more about what’s included in the 2019 passes here.

Situated between High Street and Quay Street in Newport, not only will our team be on hand to issue your FVP cards, you’ll also get the chance to meet some of our characters! Every Saturday from 1st December, our characters will be roaming between 11am – 3pm. Keep your eyes peeled for which characters will be visiting very soon!

Give the gift of family time spent together this year with a Blackgang Chine and Robin Hill Frequent Visitor Pass!

Our FVP Hub will be open Monday – Friday from 9:30am – 4pm and Saturdays from 10am – 4pm.

Waterforce, Blackgang Chine, Isle of Wight

2018 season has been a blast…or bash!

12th November 2018 / No Comments

The 2018 season at Blackgang Chine has officially come to a close!
As for 3rd November, the park is closed and won’t be re-opening until 2019.

There’s no denying that 2018 has been an epic year for us – celebrating a whopping 175 years since the park first opened, 2018 has been a year of special nostalgia alongside the creation of many more memories for years to come! Here’s a little look back at our year.

Opening weekend – full of snow!
The park officially opened for the 2018 season in March, following some adverse weather and actual snow (Can you believe it?)!

An Easter full of eggs
The Easter Eggsplorers event saw visitors hunting alongside our intrepid Victorian explorers, and of course the delightful Lady Penelope and Raphus too, for long lost and sneakily hidden treasures. Plenty were found and many happy, chocolate covered faces followed! Keep your eyes peeled for news of a very sweet and egg-citing (we couldn’t resist) new event arriving for Easter 2019!

Easter Eggsplorers, Blackgang Chine, Isle of Wight

Bank Holiday Breakouts
May Bank Holiday saw our resident dinos make a break for it as they roamed the park. From ride-on-dinos to our beloved Shadow & Sheila baby T-Rexes, visitors were even able to catch a glimpse of a few friendly old faces as Darwin & the Triasic Club joined in for a weekend of dino-tastic fun!

Yeeeeeehaws and Howdys
Dastardly Rattlesnake Jake, the meanest outlaw in the history of the west, came rumbling into town on the lookout for the Lost Gold of Rockola but with some help from our visitors, Buffalo Bob & Sheriff TWIT were able to keep the gold out of Rattlesnake’s hands! Plenty of rootin’ tootin’ good times were had over the Whitsun holiday!

Birthday Bash Fireworks, Blackgang Chine, Isle of Wight

EPIC Birthday Bash!
Over six weeks of summer, we held the most epic birthday bashes to commemorate our 175th year! So many of you visited and helped us celebrate with Dodos cheekily popping out of cakes, people hunting for limited edition coins, fairies spreading fairy dust and so much more! We’ve got plans to keep the party vibes going in 2019…this time with a bit of a twist!

Spooky goings on at the Sawmill
We battled paranormal goings-on throughout autumn and came face-to-face with some pretty spooky characters during Wicked Nights. Turns out the Monk’s Curse is a force not to be reckoned with and we’re pretty certain there’s worse things to come for Wicked Nights 2019….

The team here at Blackgang would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who visited in 2018 and helped make our 175th year an extra special one!