Consultation open for Zip World’s first South Wales adventure


Following the recent announcement of Zip World’s interest in opening an attraction in South Wales, a public consultation period has been announced.

Launching on Friday 15th February, the consultation will run until 17th March. The adventure business from North Wales is hoping to bring its unique brand of extraordinary experiences to South Wales and will be consulting on a draft planning application for a zip wire development at Rhigos Mountain and Tower Colliery, Rhigos Road, Rhigos. The development will include three separate zip wire courses, which will start at Rhigos Mountain and finish at a base at the former Tower Colliery site.

Sean Taylor, Founder and CEO of Zip World, says: “All of the feedback we get through the consultations will help us with our planning application. We want to do for Welsh coal communities in South Wales what we’ve done for Welsh slate in North Wales and create adventures that bring great tourism opportunities to the local area and fuel the local economy.

“This marks a huge milestone for us as it will be the first time we bring our extraordinary adventures to a permanent new base and where better to start than another, beautiful Welsh landscape.

“The consultation will allow us to make sure we’re bringing something to the table that benefits the community and we’ll also be holding a jobs fair to give local people a foot in the door.”

Copies of the proposed application, plans and other supporting documents can be seen at www.cadnantplanning.co.uk/consultations, where details are also provided about how people can provide feedback on Zip World’s proposals.  At the end of the consultation period, plans will be submitted to Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council in due course.

Zip World has 11 adventures spread over three stunning Snowdonia sites. Over the last five years, the Zip World brand has contributed £251 million to the North Wales economy, according a 2018 report from North Wales Tourism.

Zip World’s innovation has seen it achieve many notable firsts, including Velocity 2 being the fastest zip line in the world and longest in Europe, Titan as the largest zip zone in Europe and having the largest subterranean playground in Bounce Below and Caverns.



Zip World Reveals Ambition for First South Wales Adventure


North Wales adventure business Zip World wants to bring its unique brand of extraordinary experiences and adventure to South Wales for the first time ever with huge plans set to be revealed.

The business, which has 11 adventures spread over three stunning Snowdonia sites, will submit  an application to develop a location in Rhigos, Rhondda Cynon Taf following a consultation period running until 17 March 2019.

Over the last five years, the Zip World brand has contributed £251 million to the North Wales economy, according a 2018 report from North Wales Tourism.

Now it hopes that the plans for Rhigos - if approved - will allow Zip World to do for Welsh coal what it’s done for Welsh slate in North Wales.

Sean Taylor, Founder and CEO of Zip World, says: ''This marks a huge milestone for Zip World and we're enormously excited about submitting phase one of our brand of adventure to another beautiful Welsh landscape.

“A new and inspiring location for Zip World, we hope to build a world class destination providing local jobs and significant economic benefits for the region, just as we’ve done in North Wales since opening in 2013.

“We’re confident our proposals are in the line with the council’s vision for the area and will continue to work constructively with them as we eagerly await the development of this iconic site.

“With our sites in Blaenau Ffestiniog and Bethesda, we have become synonymous with Welsh slate, now we hope to do the same in the home of Welsh coal and revitalise the area through extraordinary adventure.''

Zip World’s innovation has seen it achieve many notable firsts, including Velocity 2 being the fastest zip line in the world and longest in Europe, Titan as the largest zip zone in Europe and  having the largest subterranean playground in Bounce Below and Caverns.

A spokesperson for Rhondda Cynon Taf Council says: “The decision of Zip World to submit a planning application, for consideration by our Planning and Development Committee, to develop a new adventure experience near Rhigos, is a positive endorsement of the tourism potential of our Northern Valleys.

“It is encouraging that Zip World Ltd recognise the visitor potential of this location for a new Zip World venue, seeking to build a world class tourist destination providing new local jobs and significant economic benefits for the region.

“This application demonstrates once again the tourism potential our valleys have to offer, thanks to their natural beauty and the strategic transport links which connect RCT to the wider region such as the A470, the planned A465 Dualling and the major plans under Metro.

“This proposal, subject to planning consent, would deliver one of the UK’s most successful visitor attractions to Rhondda Cynon Taf, a project which would further compliment other exciting tourism projects such as the Rhondda and Abernant Tunnels and future proposals for Dare Valley Country Park.”



Zip World Aims to Double in Size Following Multi-Million Pound Investment


Zip World has received multi-million pound backing for its plans to add new attractions in Wales - and rollout its extraordinary experiences to the rest of the UK and beyond.

The award-winning North Wales business has secured a ‘significant’ minority investment from leading mid-market private equity investor LDC, supported by the company’s existing business partner HSBC. The deal values the business at £45million.

And Zip World director and co-founder Sean Taylor believes the sky is now the limit for the adventure tourism brand, with ambitions to double in size by 2022.

Zip World, which was founded five years ago, has grown rapidly and today welcomes more than 400,000 adventure seekers to its sites each year. In the last 24 months the business has doubled revenues from £7m to more than £14m.

A 2018 study by North Wales Tourism calculated that Zip World had directly contributed £251million to the local economy over the five years of its existence.

Investor LDC is backing Zip World’s ambitious management team, led by Sean Taylor and Managing Director David Stacey. Sean has driven the strategy and growth of the business from its beginning while David brings more than 23 years’ experience of running multi-site leisure businesses and was UK Operations Director at Virgin Active, before he joined Zip World in 2016.

Sean Taylor says: “Having built an exciting brand in the adventure tourism sector, we are focused on scaling up and will be looking at compatible businesses to acquire.

“We have ambitions to deliver Zip World’s iconic experiences to more customers and create more unique new attractions. LDC shares our enthusiasm and vision and we now have the additional capital and expertise needed to fire up our growth plans in Wales and beyond.”

Dewi Hughes, Investment Director and Head of LDC in Cardiff, said: “We have had a longstanding relationship with Sean and Zip World team, and we’ve seen the business grow to become one of Wales’ biggest and most loved leisure brands over the last few years.

“Zip World is exactly the type of business we look to support. It’s a proven model being driven by a strong management team with a clear ambition for the future. We’re looking forward to getting off to a flying start.”

The transaction was led by Head of LDC in Cardiff, Dewi Hughes, with strong support from Alistair Pendleton, Simon Hemley and James Garland. Dewi and Alistair will both join the Zip World board as non-executive directors.

Zip World was advised on the deal by Stephen Hughes (corporate finance), Blake Morgan, FRP Advisory and PwC.

LDC was advised by Geldards and EY (tax), with Pragma, Ellis Whittam, FB Systems, Prelude, 3Sixty and JLT providing specialist due diligence support. HSBC was advised by Addleshaw Goddard and the exiting shareholders advised by Thrings.