April Fool’s Day is increasingly an excuse for companies to turn social media into a quagmire of distrust, as they advertise products and deals that are entirely fake. Take, for example, TfL’s Santander Sidecars for dogs, or BrewDog’s ‘Hot Beer’ – both announced on April 1 as perfect foil for the gullible.
Staffordshire’s iconic Drayton Manor found itself at the centre of April Fool’s confusion when it announced that, in celebration of its 75th anniversary this year, it’d be offering free entry – then revealed that it was actually real.
Commenters had been angry at the perceived jape, pointing out that the victims of the prank were families who would jump at the chance to visit the theme park for free during the cost of living crisis. When, just a couple of hours after publishing their initial post announcing free entry, they posted again to clarify that it was true, chaos ensued.
So, will thrill-seekers be able to access complimentary tickets, or have we been had? Drayton Manor’s second Instagram post, published after the traditional midday curfew for hijinks, states ‘we ARE scrapping admission fees to celebrate our 75th anniversary’, and that details are ‘coming soon’. Sources at the park have confirmed with us that it will be ‘removing entry fees for a number of days’. Phew.
The park, which opened in 1950 on the site of the historic Drayton Manor estate, is home to a wide array of rides and attractions, including the iconic Thomas Land celebrating everyone’s favourite locomotive. In 1994, it welcomed Europe’s first stand-up rollercoaster, Shockwave. Visitors can stay at its four star hotel, and meet over 100 species of animal at its zoo. It’s celebrating its big milestone birthday with fireworks displays each month from April onwards, alongside the confirmed complimentary entry offer.
Suspend your disbelief – and get ready to bag free tickets when they go live at a so far undisclosed time.
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