Alnwick Garden bosses have hailed the attraction鈥檚 most successful winter but said it came during a 鈥榶ear of contrasts鈥.
Latest accounts for Alnwick Garden Trust mark the first full financial year that the Northumberland attraction was fully open and operational following the pandemic, showing a rise in its total income resources to 拢8.4m, up from 拢6.9m. Its resources expended topped 拢7.3m, up from 拢6.4m, as it made investments into its new magical play village Lilidorei.
Admissions totalled 拢2.64m, slightly down on the previous year鈥檚 拢2.84m but were well up on pre-pandemic levels of 拢2.5m. Its profits were impacted by the capital expenditure ploughed into the creation of Lilidorei 鈥 which finally opened in May this year and has featured in a Channel 4 series 鈥 taking its operating revenue for the year ended March 2023 to 拢547,413, less than half the previous year鈥檚 拢1.4m.
Mark Brasell, the organisation鈥檚 CEO, hailed a busy period for the gardens, saying: 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a really exciting 18 months particularly, and we are really happy with the way that the C4 filming has been received and we are looking forward to Lilidorei鈥檚 first Christmas and extended light trail, hopefully bringing lots of visitors to Alnwick in the winter.鈥
The trust鈥檚 chairman Jonathan Blackie uses his report in the accounts to highlight the huge growth in the site鈥檚 winter programme, which helped to counter the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis and a hot summer.
He said: 鈥淭he year was one of contrasts for the garden. The cost of living crisis, the death of Her Majesty The Queen and the heatwaves all had an impact on our summer visitor numbers and associated revenue streams. In contrast, we experienced our most successful winter to date with over 43,000 light trail tickets sold. For the first time ever, the trust鈥檚 December admissions revenue was the highest month of the year. The year ended with a total of 313,000 visitors, up slightly from 312,000 in 2021/22.
鈥淭he dramatic growth of the festive season is one of the garden鈥檚 biggest achievements in recent years. The team have remained focused around the visitor experience during these challenging times and were able to respond to emerging trends, marketing our value for money offer, and working hard at reducing costs and increasing revenue.鈥
The accounts also highlight how the trust continues to provide support to the local community, with the delivery of a range of programmes including Elderberries, which works with people aged over 55 to combat isolation, and the launch of a new community fridge to continue the fight against food waste. The Community Fridge is a open to all and allows food to be shared to save it from going to waste and includes surplus from its Roots and Shoots allotment, restaurant and local supermarkets.
The garden said it has also made great strides with a new climate action programme that tackles the challenge of global warming.
The accounts add: 鈥淓ach year the garden reviews its programmes to ensure the trust fulfils its public benefit requirement and identifies any emerging issues that are facing our local community. Having responded to the challenges of the Covid pandemic, we found that, as we emerged from the impact of restrictions and lockdowns, not only were there continuing challenges with social and economic recovery, but a new challenge was facing our communities with rising energy costs and the cost of living crisis.鈥
