Abandoned waterpark once the largest of its kind may soon be destroyed

An abandoned waterpark once the UK’s largest one indoors could soon be demolished after lying empty for four years.

Wet ‘n’ Wild in North Shields was the country’s largest indoor waterpark when it opened in 1993.

For nearly 30 years, it was a home for happy memories made by families winding along the lazy river, or flying down the Kamikaze water slide.

With Britain’s biggest water slide at the time – the 165-metre Black Hole – it became a go-to spot for children’s birthday parties and family days out.

It even became the scene of a new Guinness title, setting the first individual world record for flume riding down its Tornado corkscrew double twister in 2001.

But the park had problems, according to local media reports.

Its ‘largest indoor waterpark’ crown was stolen by Blackpool’s Sandcastle Waterpark, which is even bigger with 18 slides.

Financial difficulties saw it close in 2013, before Serco snapped it up, investing £1.1million in refurbishing the reception, café, children’s play area and the boiler.

That couldn’t keep the park afloat for more than a few more years though.

Wet ‘n’ Wild closed its doors in 2020 after entering administration, The Northern Echo reported.

Hopes for a grand reopening surged after the park was sold to an unnamed buyer this June, ChronicleLive reported.

A spokesperson for Serco Leisure said: ‘We’ve agreed to sell the site and have exchanged contracts with a purchaser with a view to completing the transaction in August.’

Those hopes have now been dashed by plans to demolish the building entirely.

A planning application has been submitted by Bloom Developments Ltd to North Tyneside Council, seeking permission to demolish ‘building formerly known as Wet ‘n’ Wild including external slides’.

It could take just eight weeks from start to finish if approved, developers claims.

The application said: ‘Property has recurrent breaking and entering with increasing anti-social behaviour. Demolition will enable future development.’

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