Mystery surrounds Funland closure

Mystery surrounds the closure last week of Funland, the FEC at the Trocadero in London.

The reason given initially by operator West End Amusement Parks Ltd was a power failure. However, it now appears that Funland is in administration and the power was switched off by Trocadero’s parent company, Criterion Capital, following weeks of non-payment of rent.

Robert Hoadley, Criterion’s head of asset management, told InterGame: “Funland continued to trade, taking many thousands of pounds per day in cash, while the rent was not being paid.”

In a letter dated July 2 from Criterion’s solicitors, Mishcon de Reya, to the legal representatives of West End Amusement Parks, it was stated: “Our client has this evening decided to end its supply of electricity to your client.”