Established by Managing Director Phil Pickersgill in 2,000, Innovative Leisure has earned an enviable reputation for introducing exciting new adventure play related products from around the world to the UK and European markets. The company has built a comprehensive product portfolio that features High Ropes, Zip Lines, and an extensive range of climbing walls and towers.
With over 150 successful installations and an impeccable safety record to the company’s credit, Phil Pickersgill is in no doubt about the driving force behind Innovative Leisure’s achievements: “It’s absolutely about service,” explained Phil. “We have an amazing team that supports the customer right from the early ‘ideas’ stage, through design and installation, and on to inspection and operator staff training. Service and support are actually our core business,” he confirmed.
Innovative Leisure will be appearing at the Visitor Attraction Expo after a healthy trading year, buoyed by additions to the product range and also a focus on new products for younger children below the age of 10.
With climbing towers ranging from 5.5 metres to 10 metres, plus full turnkey options to include matting, barriers, swivels, carabiners and harnesses, it’s no surprise that Innovative Leisure has built up an impressive client list, including Legoland, Center Parcs and Belfast’s We Are Vertigo. In East Anglia, Potters Leisure Resort neat Gt Yarmouth features a hugely impressive climbing wall, covering the complete end-wall of a building, eight metres in height and featuring six individual climbing routes.
Innovative Leisure’s climbing range also includes the Coconut Tree Climb with realistic features and additional handholds for younger climbers. Also for younger children, ranges of climbing boulders and traversing walls are proving popular at schools and play centres.
A key product for Innovative Leisure is the portable climbing tower. Ranging up to 10 metres in height and supplied complete with Hydraulic Auto Belays for each climbing route, these state-of-the art systems are purchased by an extraordinary variety of organisations. In Liverpool, two mobile walls were purchase by the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service as part of an outreach project. The Royal Marines use portable climbing towers as a recruiting aid and Help for Heroes puts them to good use as a fundraising tool; the possibilities are endless!
A must-see for visitors to the Visitor Attraction Expo is Digiwall, a fusion of climbing wall and computer game. Climbers are encouraged to follow Digiwall’s lights and sounds, taking part in six interactive and multi-sensory games. Developed by a specialist Swedish interactive research studio, Digiwall brings fun to physical activity as well as improving hand-eye coordination.
All of Innovative Leisure’s UK climbing installations are fully ADIPS tested and backed by the company’s impressive parts and service facilility.
With the increasing focus on health and active pursuits for all, Innovative Leisure has experienced rising demand for its Sky Trail High Ropes, for both indoor and outdoor use. Sky Trail High Ropes courses can be designed for every age group and ability, including Sky Tykes, especially for children below 1.2 metres in height. Sky Tykes is proving a particularly popular addition to a large number of indoor play centres.
Sky Trail High Rope Courses can be totally customised around difficulty level, excitement, and required visitor throughput. The highest UK installation is at Codona’s Amusement Park Aberdeen; a scary 14metres! At the North Bay Railway Attraction in Scarborough, the Sky Trail Ropes course is suspended high above the tracks – confront two fears at once!
Another popular attraction, the National Watersports Centre and Country Park at Nottingham, has reported that the installation of a Sky Trail High ropes course plus Sky Tykes Junior ropes has dramatically increased the number of visitors to the Park.
According to Phil, the Zip Line is currently enjoying increasing popularity. Innovative Leisure introduced the first award-winning mobile Zip Line to Europe and Phil has hinted that we can expect a revolutionary new static Zip Line with a traffic-light system and automated braking to dramatically increase visitor throughput. This will be supplied as a stand-alone attraction and may also be integrated with Sky Trail High Ropes.
With an enviable client base and extended product ranges, Innovative Leisure is well placed to benefit from the current drive towards active adventure pursuits. It is anticipated that the Visitor Attraction Expo will attract a wide range of leisure operators, including owners of Farm Attractions, Holiday Parks, Indoor Play facilities and Themed Attractions. Doubtless, many will be considering Adventure Play as part of their offering.
Speaking about the inaugural Visitor Attractions Expo, Phil was particularly enthusiastic, saying, “We’re delighted to support this new show presented by BALPPA. The Industry needs an annual showcase here in the UK; many operators can’t always get away to overseas shows and indeed there are always those who don’t wish to. VAE’s positioning, right at the start of the year, in London, will be perfect for many buyers and operators.”
To meet Phil and the Innovative Leisure team, VAE visitors should head for stand 1210. For anyone unsure about its location, the 7.3 metre climbing tower might just be a giveaway!