Our best ever grotto!

Santa’s Grotto at DZG saw more than 12,000 visitors through its doors in a three week period – our best ever figures and a nine per cent increase on last year’s numbers.

The success follows 2013’s introduction of online booking enabling families to pre-book their meet and greet with Father Christmas in his grotto, within the 11th century Dudley Castle at the heart of the gardens, via the zoo’s website.

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Santa success: Three senior keepers who gave birth within eight weeks of each other, met up to share the Winter Wonderland experience with their offspring: (from left) Kellie Piper with daughter Megan, Laura Robbins with daughter Laila and Sophie Dugmore with son Zane.

 

DZG CEO Peter Suddock said: “These are fantastic figures and we’ve had excellent feedback.

“We attracted families from across the country and even a handful from Europe; it was brilliant to see so many visitors on site in the middle of December.”   He added: “We also had the added attraction of our new Safari Shop with a range of bespoke Christmas goods which sold exceptionally well.   “We are truly delighted with the figures, our best ever, and are already working on ideas for 2015, using another area of the castle to cope with growing demand.”