Castle to increase defences in bid to stop ticket-sharing
Leeds Castle is reviewing its admissions policy in a bid to stop ticket sharing.
Attraction bosses are rethinking the current system, which allows unlimited annual use for a fixed price, because they believe it is being abused by people avoiding paying for entry.
They say there’s an increasing trend of people offering their tickets out to friends and family on social media sites.
The Kent Messenger found the practice was rife on Facebook, with dozens of people posting requests to borrow tickets as well as some advertising used tickets for sale at discounted rates.
There are also suggestions some people are accessing the castle without tickets through public footpaths that criss-cross the castle grounds.
Full price tickets are £24.50, with concessions for students, seniors, children and disabled visitors, which include access to most events including the food and flower festivals, car shows, jousting days and Easter and Christmas trails.
A spokesman for the Leeds Castle Foundation, the charity which maintains the attraction, said: “As most of the foundation’s income is derived from annual ticket sales, any reduction in income as a result in the increasing trend in allowing tickets to be borrowed or loaned is bound to affect the overall income to the charity.
“In the past we have taken a relatively relaxed approach to ticket swapping, but increased competition and added commercial pressures, in conjunction with what we perceive to be an increase in people entering without purchasing a ticket, means we are losing vital potential income.
“Through advances in technology and ticketing systems, we are reviewing ways of reducing this practice.”
The foundation also indicated it would look at offering concessions for neighbouring residents, who are most affected by the larger events such as the summer concert and firework display.
It comes as Visit Kent revealed a 19% rise in tourists going through the gates of the county’s attractions in July, compared to the same month last year. The organisation put the boom down to good weather and an increase in advertising.
In 2015, more than 560,000 people went through the turnstiles at Leeds Castle, putting it among the 70 most popular attractions in the UK.