Forget escape rooms and bowling alleys. Learn why a theme park is perfect for a team-building day out.

Author: Simon Edward

For decades, Adventure Coast Southport has been a place to make memories that last a lifetime.

Visit and you’ll have rides, adventure, games, prizes and great food at your fingertips. It’s the perfect place to enjoy an amazing family day out.

The focus is on fun. So, you might be surprised to learn that Pleasureland also specialises in corporate events and team-building days.

Think a theme park is too silly for serious business? Think again.

In this article, we explain why Adventure Coast Southport is ideal for corporate days out. We also share a few best practices for planning a work retreat.

Welcome to Southport

Southport is a pretty seaside town tucked between Blackpool and Liverpool on the northwest coast. It boasts a botanical garden, a golf club and plenty of beach for a wonderful coastal feel.

In essence, Southport is big enough to be interesting but small enough to keep planning simple and enjoyable plan. If you’re looking for a fun and interesting destination that won’t cause logistical headaches, you’ve found it.

Adventures, escapes and some excellent eats

Southport, of course, is home to Adventure Coast Southport.

Pleasureland is a theme park with attractions for groups of all ages and interests – think rides, food, games and an unforgettable atmosphere.

One of our most exciting offerings is our set of four themed lands.

Viking Landing is inspired by ancient seafaring warriors and filled with Scandinavian paraphernalia. You’ll get into the Viking spirit as you enjoy some of our most adventurous attractions.

Pirate Cove is a world of rigging, cannonballs and swashbuckling adventures. It’s also home to one of our newest rides: a rocking pirate ship called Ghostly Galleon. Join in on the piratical fun and you might even get to meet a certain captain of a doomed ship.

Cartoon Boardwalk takes everyone back to their childhood with fun and games that guarantee to bring joy. Whether you’re kicking goals into a football net or traversing the fun house, you’ll feel like a kid again.

Finally, Steampunk Bay immerses guests in an experience that will have them feeling like they’ve entered a whole new world. The Ghost Train is a thrill to behold.

And then, of course, there’s the food. Proper foodies and fans of good old-fashioned fish and chips will be delighted with the array of options before them.

Looking for an American-style diner? We’ve got it! Lunch or breakfast? We’ve got both – including a coffee and waffle bar. Or how about a sugary treat? Our sweet shop is packed with classics like candy floss, lollipops and ice cream.

Join us for a work retreat and you’ll have options. You can let everyone wander the park and feast at their own pace – or you can hire our spacious venue and enjoy tea, coffee and a buffet-style lunch.

The science behind work retreats

But why take the time for a work retreat in the first place?

Well, you’ll be pleased to know that this kind of business-based fun has real psychological research behind it.

In 1954, two groups of boys were selected to participate in an experiment. They were told they were to be a part of a summer camp experience.

Each group went to a separate area around a lake. The group of boys on each side of the lake were not told about the other side.

Eventually, as the summer progressed, the boys learned about one another and began to interact. Rivalries quickly developed. The two sides became opposed to one another.

Then, the researchers changed the parameters of the experiment. The water supply was cut off and the groups were told they needed to work together to have it turned back on. More challenges were instated that required teamwork. Researchers noticed that the two camps began to get along when forced to accomplish something together.

This research led to what we now refer to as team-building exercises.

A few things should be noted about the researchers’ conclusions – and how they’ve fostered different approaches to team building.

First, researchers noticed that rivalries developed early due to the development of “sides” or “teams.” Each campsite had a name – and therefore a sense of allegiance. These allegiances were much stronger than researchers initially anticipated.

This is important in implementing a retreat for a business. If there’s already a sense of competition in your business, there’s no need to create further competition in a corporate retreat by making up teams and games. Instead, you can create activities which increase the sense of company identity already instilled.

Second, researchers noted that rivalries dissolved once a requirement to work together was introduced. However, when professional leadership groups use the camp experiment as a template, they often forget this simple fact: the stakes were high.

Although the water wasn’t actually unavailable to the children, the boys thought they would be without water if they couldn’t work together. This is difficult, but not impossible, to simulate in a corporate retreat structure.

You essentially have three options.

 

1. Make the competition incentive-based. Force the stakes by giving something really exciting to a winner.
2. Make any competitions or work at a retreat openly light-hearted. This may lead to a different, and sometimes deeper, kind of bonding among people.
3. Save some of your most creative tasks and projects for corporate retreats. If you have something that needs a team’s attention – but the project isn’t time-sensitive – consider saving it. That way, your employees can work together on something with some real stakes.

Corporate amenities at Pleasureland

Want to put your team-building ideas to the test? Want to inspire staff with fun rewards or hold a conference in a space that’s truly unforgettable?

Here at Adventure Coast Southport, we have a raft of corporate hire options – and all packages can be tailored to suit your unique needs.

For non-cash incentives and employee-of-the-month prizes, go for our advance ticket booking option. You’ll enjoy generous bulk discounts, so it’s an affordable way to boost engagement and morale.

Conference, meeting or team-building event? Our Valhalla Venue is two spaces in one. Hire each room individually for smaller events or combine them to form one large conference space. The venue has a licensed bar and A/V facilities (including a DJ booth) – and catering can be provided if required.

Finally, there’s the all-singing, all-dancing option: exclusive theme park hire. Give staff the keys to Adventure Coast Southport and you’ll be the most popular boss on the planet.

Learn more about corporate venue hire at Adventure Coast Southport. Or get in touch with our friendly team to discuss a tailored package at very competitive rates.