Universal Studios theme park coming to the UK (possibly)

[Louisa Jane]

Yey - just up the road!

[Will_H]

From a recent news article when celebrating the start of the a428 expansion..
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan...herts-67693601

An odd coincidence in his wording from the mayor...

[neilhd]

Originally Posted by neilhd

No chance.

Los Angeles, Orlando, Bedford.

Reminds me Trotters Independant Traders - New York, Paris, Peckham!

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Seems I was rather wrong!

[Will_H]

Universal today have launched a website dedicated to the development and to engage in the local community

https://universalukproject.co.uk/

I live 15mins away... I would be absolutely delirious if this happened to the area

[YorkshireT]

I find it very odd they say they are exploring the feasibility but have actually bought a great big piece of land. Buying a great chunk of land for $271 million is far from just ‘exploring’ possibilities.
I think they are quite ahead in planning it and I would be amazed if it didn’t happen.
They bought the land last Feb. You’re not telling me the local authority and likely government haven’t been talking to them for some time.
The company has been incorporated since 2017. This may have been to originally build houses as claimed, but senior Universal exec is now a director.
https://find-and-update.company-info...mpany/11099322

[jas72]

Originally Posted by lardyboy

The location isn't great, can't see much for people to visit outside of the park, so no real attraction for longer stays, except a 45 minute journey to London on the aptly named BedPan Line. Of course they could always visit the hole that is Bedford and see the dying high street and its numerous charity shops.

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To be honest Florida was a ≈≈≈≈ hole before the parks came to Orlando and even outside the parks in many places it's still a ≈≈≈≈ hole.

Originally Posted by Nimbus

Assuming it actually happens, it will be referred to as Universal Studios Great Britain (it seems). In the same way that there's Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios Singapore. That's the domain name they've registered.

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Would prefer England name rather than Great Britain. Or London would be much better even.

Be easier to sell it to US visitors if it was called England or London. They might not get Great Britain as most people in the UK never even use that name.

[YorkshireT]

Originally Posted by jas72

To be honest Florida was a ≈≈≈≈ hole before the parks came to Orlando and even outside the parks in many places it's still a ≈≈≈≈ hole.



Would prefer England name rather than Great Britain. Or London would be much better even.

Be easier to sell it to US visitors if it was called England or London. They might not get Great Britain as most people in the UK never even use that name.

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I’d say Florida is a very beautiful place personally. Particularly the coasts, nature reserves etc. nicer than the UK by far.

[jas72]

Originally Posted by YorkshireT

I’d say Florida is a very beautiful place personally. Particularly the coasts, nature reserves etc. nicer than the UK by far.

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You are seriously deluded if you think the UK doesn't have any coasts, or nature reserves that aren't as good if not better than Florida. The UK coastline is amazing. I love Florida but the UK has some seriously stunning coastlines and nature.

Isle of Skye

[Will_H]

Originally Posted by YorkshireT

I find it very odd they say they are exploring the feasibility but have actually bought a great big piece of land. Buying a great chunk of land for $271 million is far from just ‘exploring’ possibilities.
I think they are quite ahead in planning it and I would be amazed if it didn’t happen.
They bought the land last Feb. You’re not telling me the local authority and likely government haven’t been talking to them for some time.
The company has been incorporated since 2017. This may have been to originally build houses as claimed, but senior Universal exec is now a director.
https://find-and-update.company-info...mpany/11099322

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100%,you don't invest 1/4billion pounds on the land without having a definitive plan in place to make it happen.It clearly had the support of the local council,why wouldn't it.

'can we please invest millions of pounds into the local economy,create thousands of jobs and put Bedford at the centre of the theme park entrainment community in the UK if not Europe '... nah your ok,we would rather the land be empty for the end of time and let the local area continue a downward spiral .It's a once in a lifetime opportunity imo

[Nimbus]

Originally Posted by YorkshireT

I find it very odd they say they are exploring the feasibility but have actually bought a great big piece of land. Buying a great chunk of land for $271 million is far from just ‘exploring’ possibilities.
I think they are quite ahead in planning it and I would be amazed if it didn’t happen.
They bought the land last Feb. You’re not telling me the local authority and likely government haven’t been talking to them for some time.
The company has been incorporated since 2017. This may have been to originally build houses as claimed, but senior Universal exec is now a director.
https://find-and-update.company-info...mpany/11099322

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Comcast only bought Cloud Wing UK in August this year. That’s what was reported. Here’s what Cloud Wing UK were planning to do with the land until Comcast bought them:
https://bedford.oc2.uk/download/attachmentform/471

And the $271 million was spent on “land acquisition for potential theme park expansion opportunities”. That does not mean the whole $271 million was spent on the land in Bedford. For starters, Comcast purchased the company, not the land.

Universal have stated they’ve already discussed the idea of building a theme park there with the “national and local stakeholders — including Bedford Borough Council”.

I’m sure they have plans for the area, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t also in “early stages of exploring the feasibility”.