Cambridgeshire zoo owner sees 'bright future' after mixed summer
Johnsons of Old Hurst has seen around 30,000 visitors over the holidays
With more Brits planning to spend this August bank holiday weekend in the UK, one of Cambridgeshire's tourist attractions has faced a mixed summer.
A survey by VisitEngland found 9.7 million people living in Britain are planning a holiday at home rather than abroad.
Johnson's of Old Hurst has attractions such as a butchery, tea rooms and farm shop, as well as a zoo which is home to animals including around 100 crocodiles.
Andy Johnson helps run the business:
"Earlier in the summer holidays we never hit the weather we were hoping for.
"Barbecue trade wasn't there, numbers were lower than what we'd have thought, but the last two weeks have been very kind.
"People are travelling out and hopefully we get an Indian summer.
"We've ridden a storm, come out and I'm very pleased with the support we've been given by the public and I hope they enjoy the experience we're giving back."
The figures from VisitEngland's August Bank Holiday Trip Tracker Survey show an increase of 4.4 million on last year’s results whereas in 2019, 8.6 million people planned an overnight holiday trip.
Patricia Yates, chief executive of VisitEngland, believes the Bank Holiday weekend will give an economic boost to firms:
“We know how important Bank Holidays are in bringing an economic boost with the money generated going in to local economies and supporting jobs," she said.
"Businesses will also be looking to the long weekend for a critical late summer lift, building vital cash flow."
One of the ways Andy is running his business in Old Hurst is using biomass boilers to help reduce electricity bills during the cost of living crisis.
It's taken a large investment, but by welcoming around 30,000 visitors over the summer holidays, he's confident of a bright future ahead.
"Last year a big hit for us was our turkeys because we had to worry about bird flu and on top of that, our turkey food was twice the money it was the year before," Andy said.
"But most things have settled down and I think we've got to be positive."