A London deal for a London day. As the capital eagerly awaits the announcement of its newly anointed Mayor, and Gordon Brown nervously ponders whether his electoral humiliation will be complete, a London landmark has been sold.
Merlin Entertainments, the Dorset-based group which operates attractions including Madame Tussauds, Alton Towers and Legoland, has scooped up the London Acquarium from County Hall Entertainment. Merlin itself is owned by the Blackstone Group.
No word on what this prime slice of London marine life went for, but Merlin plans to invest £5m in developing the aquarium, which attracts 750,000 visitors a year. It plans to bring its Sea Life approach to the aquarium:
Merlin believes this approach is perfect for the London Aquarium, and sees it as a fantastic showcase for the very best of the SEA LIFE proposition — which has always been to unlock the mysteries of the seas through ‘bite sized’, accessible information, offered throughout a highly immersive attraction.
Immersive? Should parents of marine-loving offspring be concerned?
What we want to know is whether the new and improved London aquarium is prepared to take the defeated of the two larger-than-life, leading mayoral candidates off our hands, and offer him a new home? Livingstone, with his love of newts, is perhaps more of the pond than the ocean.
Which leaves the question, if Boris Johnson were a fish what kind of fish would he be?
Related links
The London Aquarium
Brown suffers humiliating poll defeat – FT.com
Merlin aims to float in three years - FT.com, Jun 2007