By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
More than three quarters of around 20,000 visitors to Nottingham Castle paid for a ticket in its first month after reopening.
Nottingham City Council took on the historic site after the trust running it collapsed into administration in November last year.
The Ducal Palace and its grounds had undergone a three-year revamp costing more than £30m, but its reopening under the Nottingham Castle Trust failed to attract enough paying visitors.
After the castle was handed back to the Labour-run council, it reopened again on June 26.
The authority revealed around 20,000 people had passed through the castle gates between June 26 and July 26.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service has now been told around 81 per cent, or 16,200, had been paying visitors.
The rest got in for free, having largely been children aged 15 and under.
On the day of reopening 1,000 tickets had been sold for £1 as part of an limited-time offer, meaning around 15,200 visitors paid for a £12 annual pass ticket in a month.
Gareth Morgan, who worked at the castle under the trust as a learning development and visitor experience officer and manager, said the initial figures “seemed positive”.
“I’m really pleased the reopened Castle is bringing visitors back to see the galleries, caves and grounds,” he said.
“I hope the annual pass does bring repeat visits to new temporary exhibitions and events.”
The Nottingham Castle Trust had hoped to have welcomed 300,000 visitors to the site in its first year.
However, after seven months, only 100,000 people had passed through the gates, with daily visitor numbers typically between 500 and 800 people.
The council’s portfolio holder for leisure, culture and planning, Cllr Pavlos Kotsonis (Lab), who has been behind the reopening, says the authority is aiming for around 200,000 visitors in the first year.
He added: “It’s been great to see so many people returning to Nottingham’s premier heritage attraction over the last month.
“Our new tickets, allowing people to return as many times as they like for a year for just £12 and bring the kids for free, is set to particularly benefit local people.
“We hope people will come back again and again over the summer, whether it’s to immerse themselves in the fascinating galleries, descend into the amazing caves beneath the castle, or simply stroll around the beautiful grounds and take in the stunning views over the city.”
