Our Blog!

The Isle of Wight’s NEW multi-million indoor waterpark ‘The Springs’

12th September 2018 / 8 Comments

PLANS FOR AN EXCITING AND IMAGINATIVE WATERPARK

Plans for an exciting and imaginative multi-million pound indoor waterpark, ‘The Springs’, at award-winning Isle of Wight attraction, Robin Hill Country Park, have been unveiled. 

Plans for ‘The Springs’ will be submitted formally to the Isle of Wight Council as a planning application supported by an environmental statement.

This is an exciting project for a major new attraction that will have Island-wide and sub-regional impacts benefiting tourism, regeneration and job creation.

Alexander Dabell, Managing Director of Vectis Ventures Limited said,
‘After years of considered planning, we are delighted to unveil our proposals for ‘The Springs’, an exhilarating new indoor water park to be situated at Robin Hill Country Park, with the most stunning views across the Isle of Wight.

Tourism is very important for the Island and ‘The Springs’ is a further development of Robin Hill which is designed to extend the tourism season. We’ve had great success with our ‘electric woods’ events, attracting over 90,000 visitors over the last four years, however, the Island needs more innovative, fun all-weather attractions for visitors and residents in the autumn-winter months.   ‘The Springs’ ticks that box and at the same time provides opportunities for other local tourism businesses to operate a longer season. ‘The Springs’ development will complement our plans for Nesting, creating a fantastic reason to visit the Isle of Wight.

We are extremely excited to progress with these plans, after all, ‘The Springs’ will be splashing great fun!’

Will Myles, Managing Director of Visit Isle of Wight says,
‘I am extremely proud to work with Vectis Ventures, who continually invest in the Isle of Wight’s tourism offering. ‘The Springs’ is exactly what we need on the island for residents and visitors alike. We are always looking for ways to extend our overall season, and this will certainly have a huge impact.’

The Springs 12092018 (2)
Read More
Robin Hill Jungle Heights

Jungle Heights Launch!

17th July 2018 / No Comments

JUNGLE HEIGHTS…LAUNCHING THIS WEEKEND!

Adventure’s been taken to new heights in our stunning woodland as we launch the Isle of Wight’s first adventure net attraction, Jungle Heights. 

Launching on 21st July 2018, Jungle Heights combines adventure play at dizzying heights, suspended net mazes, tunnels and a huge net trampoline, providing an exhilarating experience for family adventurers, unlike any other. 

Skip, hop and bounce through ‘The Chase’, two dual net bridges, suspended up to 34feet off the ground, then squirrel through a six-story net tower, to climb high up into the treetops. Discover ‘The Cube’… a suspended maze, divided into nine rooms providing a truly towering adventure! Climb tree-to-tree to suspended net tunnels, bouncy rope bridges, and the bounciest adventure of them all, ‘The Big Bounce’ a giant ten metre net trampoline surrounded by net walls of up to three metres! 

Suitable for all ages over 4 years old, Jungle Heights provides hours of bouncing-good fun, surrounded by our ancient woodlands and stunning towering oak trees. 

And guess what… to celebrate the launch of Jungle Heights, this year, it is included within your Robin Hill entry ticket. 

Nestled in the treetop canopy is a new vibrant cafe, Rio’s, open daily from 10am. The licensed bar will serve a range of alcoholic beverages including evening cocktails alongside tropical inspired mocktails, and indulgent seasonal treats. The treetop terrace with outdoor seating captures the sun from 11am – 3pm, it’s a real suntrap and a great place for parents to relax as the kids burn off some energy. 

Please note: the minimum height requirement for this attraction is 0.9m and all users must be aged 4 years or older.

Read More

Top park photo ops

13th July 2018 / No Comments

From bouncy net bridges to towering trees, there’s no denying that Robin Hill is a social media guru’s heaven. 88 acres of woodland, countryside and landscapes gardens give you plenty of opportunity to up your Insta-game! So, for all you social butterflies out there, we’ve pulled together a list of the top 6 photo opportunities throughout the park! Take a look and see if you can complete the list on your next visit.

Photo Opportunities at Robin Hill, Isle of Wight
Photo Opportunities at Robin Hill, Isle of Wight
Photo Opportunities at Robin Hill, Isle of Wight

From bouncy net bridges to towering trees, there’s no denying that Robin Hill is a social media guru’s heaven. 88 acres of woodland, countryside and landscapes gardens give you plenty of opportunity to up your Insta-game! So, for all you social butterflies out there, we’ve pulled together a list of the top 6 photo opportunities throughout the park! Take a look and see if you can complete the list on your next visit.

  1. Go bananas with the big Gorilla!
    Having made his home down in Africa Adventure, the self-proclaimed king of the jungle (we think Lenny, our Jungle Fever lion might disagree), has been a special photo op for years! It’s perfect for all you wild ones out there!
  2. Chill out in The Parting
    Greeting you with an awe-inspiring marble archway, The Parting is ideal for the most serene selfie imaginable. Surrounded by calm waters filled with ducks and lily pads, The Parting will transport anyone’s selfies to aesthetic heaven.
  3. Fly high with the falcons
    Our friends at South Coast Falconry put on an amazing show that is arguably one of the most exciting elements of visitors’ days. So why not take advantage of this by getting an action-packed selfie? Get up close and personal with our gravity defying friends for a picture that will send your friends soaring with wonder.
  4. Climb high with the Squirrels!
    An iconic activity…the Squirrel Tower and Squirrel Run! Snap a quick pic once you reach the top to show everyone your inner wild side.
  5. Grab a smooch with the Trolls
    The woodland Troll’s Kissing Seat has seen a few forest romances over the years, so why not jump on the bandwagon and let your love be known to all?
  6. Big Red
    Everyone enjoys riding round our 88 acres of beauty on the beloved big red tractor. What better opportunity to grab a family selfie whilst you take in all your surroundings from the comfort of the Big Red?

Thanks to @megi3103, @sarahlouisem93 and @craigotee for sharing the pics on Instagram!

Read More

Pixie Lott and the Noisettes confirmed as headline acts of Eklectica festival

29th March 2018 / No Comments

Two of the UK’s most successful music acts, Pixie Lott and the Noisettes are heading to the Isle of Wight this September as the confirmed headline acts for the high-spirited music festival, Eklectica.

Popstar, Pixie Lott, and indie rock band, the Noisettes, are the latest artists to be confirmed for the festival which returns to the Isle of Wight’s enchanting Robin Hill Country Park on Friday 7 – Sunday 9 September.

The multi-award-winning artists will help close the festival over the weekend and perform to the thousands of festivalgoers expected to turn out for the music festival.

Rob Holgate, the Event Director for Eklectica said of Pixie and the Noisettes’ addition to the line-up: “Having these two acts headline this year’s festival is fantastic! They’re young, they’re cool, they’re current and most importantly they have amazing voices and stellar stage presence so both acts will add to the exciting atmosphere that will no doubt be buzzing around the woodlands.”

Pixie Lott and the Noisettes join a line-up of other industry-leading acts set to take to the stage at this year’s Eklectica festival. Friday will see a vibrant set from radio DJ and presenter, Reggie Yates and a bouncing performance from one of the music industry’s most talented rappers, Tinchy Stryder. Pop rock bands, Scouting for Girls and The Hoosiers will be stealing the show on Saturday and then helping to bring the festival to a close on Sunday is Scottish rock band, The Fratellis, and legendary alternative rock band, Toploader.

The go-to festival for an escapist weekend full of chart-topping acts and wellbeing activities, Eklectica is also committed to championing newcomers in the music industry and will welcome artists including dance/electric band, The Wolf Club, 5-piece indie/electro band, who hail from the Isle of Wight, Nakamarra, and blues-rock guitarist, Kris Barrass, who has just released a new album.

Eklectica is also providing an opportunity to showcase the region’s local independent food and retail outlets, from quirky stalls such as hand-made, small-batch gin, Mermaid Gin, to the Isle of Wight Ice Cream Company, who source all their milk from just 2 miles away!

A not-to-be-missed festival, tickets are available from £25 and include day, weekend and weekend camping tickets. With easy access from Southampton and Portsmouth, those that book their tickets through the Eklectica website can now claim 25% discounted ferry travel with Red Funnel ferries and 20% discounted ferry travel with Wightlink ferries!

Read More

CUSTOMER NOTICE: Park closed until Saturday 24th March

20th March 2018 / No Comments

For the safety and well-being of both our visitors and our staff, Blackgang Chine and Robin Hill will both remain closed until Saturday 24th March. This is to allow all the snow and ice currently covering the majority of our parks chance to thaw.

If you have bought tickets to visit us within this period, and are now unable to use them, please email info@blackgangchine.com or info@robin-hill.com to arrange a refund.

Visitors with 7 day return ticket will have their returns extended until Friday 30th March, to allow them to enjoy all that the park has to offer, and make the most out of their tickets.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused, however the safety of our team and visitors is paramount.

Read More

5 photos you need to take at Spirit of the Orient to brighten up your Instagram!

13th February 2018 / No Comments
 With the Festive period now well and truly behind us, and still no glimpses of summer on the horizon yet, it’s more difficult than ever to find something worth posting to Facebook or Instagram. Thankfully, Spirit of the Orient provides the excitement, vibrancy and fun your social media is crying out for! Here are 5 photogenic elements that will give your friend photo envy!
  1. Pop-up lions… Our gorgeous lions create a huge impact, with their bright colours, cheeky personalities and illuminations! Be sure to catch one of their pop-up performances and capture a traditional side of Chinese New Year!

 

  1. Water Projection… This experimental technique is sure to wow visitors (and your followers!) as it creates the unusual effect of 3D images floating on our woodland ponds. We’re sure it will capture everyone’s imagination.

 

  1. Triumphal Arch… Another new feature of Spirit of the Orient is our magnificent Chinese Marble arch. Weighing 60,000 kilos and hand carved in beautiful white grey marble, it is definitely making a statement on the parting, and will make a statement in your newsfeed too!

 

  1. Skeletal Trees… With the usual leafy canopy gone, you can see the ancient trees in all their glory. With entwined and twisted branches of all shapes and sizes, their skeletons, highlighted with lights and the shadows of dark February nights, create some dramatic shots. If you’re looking for something more moody and natural, this is the shot for you… and there is lots to choose from!

 

  1. Dragon Parade… The trees create the perfect natural backdrop for our dragon procession. Watch as our 12 metre long dragon snakes its way through the woodland, and wait for your perfect shot… and we’re sure you won’t be disappointed!

 

So with 5 Instagram posts like these just begging to be taken and shared with your friends, it’s time to plan your visit!

 

P.s, don’t forget to use the hashtag #electricwoods and tag @robinhillcountrypark to share your photos with us!

IMG_5770
Read More

9th February 2018 / No Comments

Double celebrations this Chinese New Year

 

Step into a fusion of vibrant colours, illuminations, sound and oriental flavours at Robin Hill’s award-winning electric woods event, Spirit of the Orient, as the park celebrates Chinese New Year, one of the world’s most popular festivals, from Saturday 10th – Sunday 25th February 2018, 6pm – 10pm.

 

Experience stunning oriental themed lighting and cultural entertainment which bring the ancient woodlands to life – including New for 2018, a water projection screen producing magical 3D effects ‘floating’ on the woodland ponds.

 

Enjoy authentic performances of traditional lion dance in a show choreographed with stunning light and sound effects, and the most dazzling illuminated lions.   Meet and greet our beautiful birds of prey and wonder at their majesty as they fly around our beautiful woodland ponds.

 

Children can also take part in our fun and interactive, story-telling, dragon procession with a 12m long dragon which meanders through the woodland – and be creative in decorating their very own Chinese lantern in celebration of the New Year.   Plus, you’re invited to hang your wishes on our wishing tree, a symbol of good luck and fortune.  Legend has it, the higher you place your wish on the tree, the more likely it is to come true!

 

Plus be part of a brand, new adventure as we start the celebrations for (our sister park) Blackgang Chine’s 175th anniversary with the story of Blackgang Chine & the Curious Timeboat.  Join our new characters, the mischievous pirate of the past and eccentric, scatty inventor as they embark on a journey of discovery, soaring through time on a mission to collect magical fuel for their enchanted time travelling vessel.   This mis-matched duo and the curious timeboat will appear at key events across both parks throughout 2018, starting their adventure at Spirit of the Orient where they crash-land alongside the ‘Great Wall of China’.

 

To complete the evening, savour the delights of our authentic oriental menu served in the woodland ponds, and toast marshmallows on the open brazier – there’s something to suit all tastes.

 

Immerse yourself in a truly amazing Oriental experience for all the family this February.   For further details and tickets please visit: www.electricwoods.co.uk

 

Read More

EKLECTICA FRIDAY NIGHT HEADLINERS ANNOUNCED

26th January 2018 / No Comments

FRIDAY NIGHT HEADLINERS ANNOUNCED

 

Tinchy Stryder and Reggie Yates have now been announced as the Friday night line-up for Eklectica, the boutique music festival @ Robin Hill Country Park taking place on 7th, 8th and 9th September. They join the line-up of Scouting for Girls and The Hoosiers who will be performing on the Saturday night and The Fratellis and Toploader performing on the Sunday night.

 

Eklectica is also pleased to invite back to Robin Hill, the Disco Shed who will be performing throughout the weekend, including Friday night.   More weekend acts still to-be announced.

 

Tickets for Friday night’s line-up are limited and only available with Weekend Camping tickets (all include Friday night) and the Early Bird Weekend Non-Camping tickets which provide Friday night free, but these are selling out fast!

 

Weekend Camping tickets are just £75 per adult and £55 for a young person (10-17 years) – and provide a weekend of escapism! Relax in the safe, friendly environment of our two on-site campsites, situated in the most beautiful, scenic locations and with the creature comforts you’d expect from a well-run campsite.  Enjoy live music until 1am in the stunning Woodland Ponds …. and for the early risers, a programme of activities to wake up to.  What more could you ask for?

 

One of the most popular British rappers of his generation, Tinchy Stryder has a highly successful career in the entertainment industry, releasing four studio albums and achieving two number one singles to date. Originally a member of grime collective, Ruff Sqwad before working with Roll Deep, alongside the likes of Dizzee Rascal and Wiley, Tinchy launched his solo career in 2006, with the release of his first studio album Star in the Hood which was an instant hit. He followed this up with his second album, Catch 22, which made it to number two in the UK album charts and gained BPI Gold certification as his career went from strength to strength.

 

In 2009, his track Number 1, featuring N-Dubz, stormed the UK charts going straight in at number one, closely followed by his single, Never Leave You. His music career has seen him go on to become a popular TV personality appearing on the likes of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and Celebrity Juice. Tinchy continues to release new music and perform at some of the UK’s biggest events and festivals, as well as this he has founded his own independent label Cloud 9 and has several other high-profile business ventures.

Reggie Yates has developed into one of the most versatile broadcasters currently in the UK.  He has an impressive body of documentary work, from COMIC RELIEF IN KIBERIA, to AUTISTIC SUPERSTARS and TOURETTES: LET ME ENTERTAIN YOU for BBC Three.  His second series of THE INSIDER was split in to three standalone documentaries which premiered on BBC 3 and BBC One – and  most recently announced is REGGIE YATES: SEARCHING FOR GRENFELL’S HIDDEN VICTIMS(w/t) for BBC Two, the special documentary will go behind the headlines to explore the lives of some of Grenfell Tower’s residents who have been lost, and whose personal stories and experiences remain little known.

 

Reggie’s passion for music soon came to fore early in his career cementing his place as a core part of the BBC’s new Black music station, 1Xtra aged just 18. Alongside Dev, he hosted a show for 2 years.   It wasn’t long before Reggie was asked to guest on Radio 1 and as if to prove his credentials as a huge music fan, his first specialist show saw some of the very first plays on Radio 1 being Adele and Mr. Hudson.  Reunited with Fearne Cotton, the duo took to the air on Weekend Breakfast before heading to the afternoon slot with both the Request Show and the all-important Chart Show.  Alongside Fearne Cotton, Reggie hosted Glastonbury, Reading, T in the Park and the Big Weekend for BBC3 in 2010 and 2011 and moved into primetime entertainment presenting The Voice UK alongside Holly Willoughby in 2012/13.  Reggie plays a multi genre DJ set including Hip-Hop, House and Pop.

 

In 2005, Count Skylarkin had a house party.  The decks went in the shed, the speakers on the roof and Peepshow Paddy said let’s take it on the road.    The rest, as they say, is a mystery … since then, the Disco Shed has become a must-have accessory for any self-respecting festival, from the bigger (Reading, Lattitude) to the middler (Big Chill, Cornbury) to the tiddler (Truck, Festinho).   Reknowned for creating a uniquely shedonistic atmosphere, with its kitsch allotment of garden games, vibes and visuals, plus party pummelling sound system playing beats as eclectic as the contents of your average shed.  Disco Shed DJs seamlessly spin everything from funk to punk, hip hop to house, rock & roll to reggae, and drum & bass to dubstep, then drink the bar dry and moan about getting splinters!

 

Tickets cost: Weekend Non-Camping tickets (Saturday & Sunday) are £60 per adult and £50 per young person (10-17 years).   A very limited number of early bird Weekend Non-Camping tickets including Friday night are available.   Day tickets for Saturday or Sunday are £30 per adult and £25 per young person (10-17 years).   Children under 9 are FREE.  For details and to purchase tickets visit: www.eklectica.live

 

Being just 2 hours from London with easy access by road, rail and sea, the Isle of Wight and Eklectica, is a great place to escape to.    For cross Solent travel visit : www.redfunnel.co.uk  / www.wightlink.co.uk  www.hovertravel.co.uk

Read More

5 Reasons to love… Spirit of the Orient

23rd January 2018 / No Comments

 

Dark evenings feel like they drag on forever, and can leave even the most positive person wishing for warm Summer nights, but electric woods is once again coming to the rescue! Here are just 5 reasons to love our Spirit of the Orient event…

 

  1. Chinese New Year is celebrated by around 1.4 billion people worldwide – that’s 1/5 of the world! Brighten up your February and join the celebrations right on your doorstep! Tuck into a Chinese Takeaway freshly prepared for you in our Woodland and soak up the atmosphere!

 

  1. Breathe easy… It’s the perfect time to get the family out of the house and into the woodlands for fresh air. There’s no rush to get round, so enjoy a leisurely stroll in your own time, and make the most of being outside!

 

  1. Roar-some ambient entertainment… where else can you stumble upon some vibrant Chinese Lions, or a dragon parade through ancient woodland?

 

  1. Love is in the air.. Our Spirit of the Orient event falls on Valentines day, and what is a more perfect way to spend the evening with someone you love, than in the romantic setting of our woodland ponds. We’ve even had a few proposals at our electric woods events (thankfully they’ve all said yes!) so it’s the perfect spot for date night. Enjoy a meal and a drink together in the heart of the woodlands or cosy up with a hot chocolate!

 

  1. Dinner with a difference… Time to eat al fresco for the first time in 2018! Tuck into delicious Oriental street food, surrounded by the most stunning scenery. Treat yourself to a toasted marshmallow, and warm yourself from the inside!

 

With 5 reasons as good as these, it’s time to pull on those winter boots, snuggle into your favourite coat and venture into our beautiful ancient woodland once more!

 

For more information, and to book tickets click here!

Read More

EKLECTICA 2018 HEADLINERS ANNOUNCED!

14th December 2017 / No Comments

2018 HEADLINERS ANNOUNCED!

The Fratellis,  Scouting for Girls, The Hoosiers and Toploader and are among the first bands to be announced as headliners for Eklectica 2018, the boutique music festival @ Robin Hill Country Park taking place on 7th, 8th and 9th September 2018.      Scouting for Girls will headline Saturday night supported by The Hoosiers and The Fratellis will headline Sunday supported by Toploader.    Friday night’s headliners are yet to be announced.

First release tickets are on sale now! These will include a limited number of Weekend Camping tickets including Friday night at £75 per adult and £55 for a young person (10-17 years).

The first 500 Weekend non-camping tickets sold (£60 per adult and £50 for a young person) will also include exclusive access to Friday night.   Day tickets (Saturday or Sunday) are £30 per adult and £25 per young person. Under 9’s are FREE!   For details and to purchase tickets visit : www.eklectica.live

James Crofts, Robin Hill Park Manager, said, “We’re really excited about the line-up for Eklectica 2018.  Building on our first year’s event, we’ve taken onboard feedback and we’re going bigger with a three day weekend, camping onsite, acclaimed talent, free kids tickets and great early bird offers. More acts will be announced in the New Year.”

 Scouting for Girls – throughout their immensely successful career they’ve sold over 1.5 million albums, two million singles, had four Brit Award nominations, an Ivor Novello nomination, had four top ten singles, sold-out Wembley Arena and sold-out The Royal Albert Hall and had a series of hit singles all of which were inescapable radio smashes.  Ten years later, Scouting For Girls prove they are unstoppable.

Currently on their 10th Anniversary tour, Scouting for Girls will be playing their debut platinum album which has sold over 700,000 copies! Their self-titled debut album sat at No. 1 in the UK charts for two weeks and produced a number of hit singles including ‘Elvis Ain’t Dead’ and ‘She’s So Lovely’.

Having sold over a million records and achieved smash hit singles ‘Goodbye Mr. A’, ‘Worried About Ray’, ‘Choices’ and top 10 albums ‘The Trick of Life’ and ‘The Illusion Of Safety’, The Hoosiers will hit the main stage on Saturday night.

As part of their NEW UK and North American tour, The Fratellis will be headlining with a new album ‘In Your Own Sweet Time’ released on 9th March 2018.  The Fratellis had phenomenal success with their debut album ‘Costello Music’, and then went on to win the Best British Breakthrough Act at the Brit Awards in 2007. ‘In Your Own Sweet Time’ will be the band’s fifth studio album and features the brilliant new single ‘Stand Up Tragedy’.

 With over two million album sales to their name and a string of top 20 hits both at home and abroad Toploader are set to bring their debut album to the Main stage at Eklectica, including the iconic global hit ‘Dancing in the Moonlight’.

For tickets and more information click here!

Read More