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NEWS
Banksy’s dystopian Dismaland generates £20m for Weston-super-Mare
POSTED 25 Sep 2015 . BY Tom Anstey
150,000 people have visited the art installation-cum-theme park
Banksy’s twisted spin on Disneyland has generated more than £20m (US$30.5m, €27.3m) for the seaside town of Weston-super-Mare since it opened five weeks ago.

Satirising the theme park and tourism industries, particularly Disneyland, Dismaland has somewhat ironically given a great boost to the industry it has poked fun at, with the town’s tourism businesses – such as hotels, B&Bs, restaurants and seaside attractions – reporting significant boosts in revenue, according to tourism body Visit Somerset.

The Hoteliers Association also reports that an additional 50,000 nights have been sold in Weston-super-Mare’s hotels, with each guest spending an average of £150 per night including dinner and drinks. In addition, local shop owners have received boosts in sales, restaurants have often been fully booked and Great Western Railways say that numbers on the Paddington to Weston line have more than doubled.

Set to close its doors on Sunday (27 September), more than 150,000 people have visited the art installation-cum-theme park based in a derelict lido, with more than 4,000 tickets being sold every day online and a further 500 queuing up daily for a chance to enter the pop-up, which sold out its entire ticket allocation.

Dismaland attractions include “Mini Gulf”, “Guerilla Island” and “Cinderella’s Castle”. Live comedy and music events have also taken place, with the band Massive Attack (from nearby Bristol) and Russian feminist punk act Pussy Riot among those who have performed at the attraction.

RELATED STORIES
  Damien Hirst and Massive Attack revealed as collaborators for Banksy's twisted theme park


Rumours that urban artist Banksy is behind a pop-up visitor attraction in Weston-super- Mare, England, were given further credence today (20 August) as Dismaland’s website went live.
  Banksy secretly creates twisted version of Disney theme park


Banksy has reportedly created a twisted version of a Disney theme park, which the anonymous street artist is planning to open this weekend as a pop-up visitor attraction in Weston-super-Mare, England.
  Banksy has say over disputed Bristol artwork attraction


A disputed artwork by renowned street artist Banksy looks set to be returned to the boy’s club which claimed it, after the artist expressed willing to help keep the club afloat.
  New Banksy piece becomes paid attraction hours after being discovered


A new graffito by renowned street artist Banksy has been removed within hours of being found and put on paid display by an ailing community centre.
MORE NEWS
Rainer Maelzer joins Therme Group as chief entertainment officer
Rainer Maelzer, an experiential entertainment innovator, has been appointed chief entertainment officer by Therme Group.
Movie Park Germany reveals new Paramount attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester reveals 90:90 strategy – 90 per cent of the UK population within a 90-minute drive of a Therme
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK. 
Efteling expands family offer with new Hooghmoed drop tower
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
+ More news   

COMPANY PROFILES
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David & Lynn Willrich started the Company over thirty years ago, from the Audio Visual Department [more...]
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By combining lighting, video, scenic and architectural elements, sound and special effects we tell s [more...]
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The company was initially established in 1997. Terry Monkton and Andrew Roberts are the key stakeh [more...]
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FEATURED SUPPLIER

Iconic Liverpool attraction opens door to new operators
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its next phase. [more...]
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NEWS
Banksy’s dystopian Dismaland generates £20m for Weston-super-Mare
POSTED 25 Sep 2015 . BY Tom Anstey
150,000 people have visited the art installation-cum-theme park
Banksy’s twisted spin on Disneyland has generated more than £20m (US$30.5m, €27.3m) for the seaside town of Weston-super-Mare since it opened five weeks ago.

Satirising the theme park and tourism industries, particularly Disneyland, Dismaland has somewhat ironically given a great boost to the industry it has poked fun at, with the town’s tourism businesses – such as hotels, B&Bs, restaurants and seaside attractions – reporting significant boosts in revenue, according to tourism body Visit Somerset.

The Hoteliers Association also reports that an additional 50,000 nights have been sold in Weston-super-Mare’s hotels, with each guest spending an average of £150 per night including dinner and drinks. In addition, local shop owners have received boosts in sales, restaurants have often been fully booked and Great Western Railways say that numbers on the Paddington to Weston line have more than doubled.

Set to close its doors on Sunday (27 September), more than 150,000 people have visited the art installation-cum-theme park based in a derelict lido, with more than 4,000 tickets being sold every day online and a further 500 queuing up daily for a chance to enter the pop-up, which sold out its entire ticket allocation.

Dismaland attractions include “Mini Gulf”, “Guerilla Island” and “Cinderella’s Castle”. Live comedy and music events have also taken place, with the band Massive Attack (from nearby Bristol) and Russian feminist punk act Pussy Riot among those who have performed at the attraction.

RELATED STORIES
Damien Hirst and Massive Attack revealed as collaborators for Banksy's twisted theme park


Rumours that urban artist Banksy is behind a pop-up visitor attraction in Weston-super- Mare, England, were given further credence today (20 August) as Dismaland’s website went live.
Banksy secretly creates twisted version of Disney theme park


Banksy has reportedly created a twisted version of a Disney theme park, which the anonymous street artist is planning to open this weekend as a pop-up visitor attraction in Weston-super-Mare, England.
Banksy has say over disputed Bristol artwork attraction


A disputed artwork by renowned street artist Banksy looks set to be returned to the boy’s club which claimed it, after the artist expressed willing to help keep the club afloat.
New Banksy piece becomes paid attraction hours after being discovered


A new graffito by renowned street artist Banksy has been removed within hours of being found and put on paid display by an ailing community centre.
MORE NEWS
Rainer Maelzer joins Therme Group as chief entertainment officer
Rainer Maelzer, an experiential entertainment innovator, has been appointed chief entertainment officer by Therme Group.
Movie Park Germany reveals new Paramount attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester reveals 90:90 strategy – 90 per cent of the UK population within a 90-minute drive of a Therme
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK. 
Efteling expands family offer with new Hooghmoed drop tower
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
Universal and Puy du Fou projects point to rise of Oxford–Cambridge corridor
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’ planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford– Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism inv
Shedd Aquarium upgrades its visitor experience with new Immersion Theater
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx- Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional revenue opportunities.
+ More news   
 
COMPANY PROFILES
DJW

David & Lynn Willrich started the Company over thirty years ago, from the Audio Visual Department [more...]
Painting With Light

By combining lighting, video, scenic and architectural elements, sound and special effects we tell s [more...]
IAAPA EMEA

IAAPA Expo Europe was established in 2006 and has grown to the largest international conference and [more...]
Simworx Ltd

The company was initially established in 1997. Terry Monkton and Andrew Roberts are the key stakeh [more...]
+ More profiles  
FEATURED SUPPLIER

Iconic Liverpool attraction opens door to new operators
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its next phase. [more...]
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  
DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

09-11 Jun 2026

World Sauna Forum 2026

Savutuvan Apaja, Haapaniemi, Finland
23-26 Aug 2026

Elevate Spa Riviera Maya Edition

The Riviera Maya Edition Kanai, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
+ More diary  
 


ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
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