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OUT AND ABOUT DUDLEY ZOO
DUDLEY ZOO OUT AND ABOUT
Feeding time
AT THE ZOO
Amadeus began working with Dudley Zoological
Gardens in 2014 and since then the relationship
has flourished. The zoo is full of exciting sights and
sounds and Amadeus match the fun activities with a
quality food offering that adds to the overall experience
“We believe
visitors want
to understand
the provenance
and animal
welfare of the
food offering
Dudley Zoo is set around an 11th century
castle on 40 acres of land. Thousands of
visitors travel each year to the unusual
surroundings of the castle in a zoo. The
wooden fortification on the site was built
not long after the Norman Conquest of
1066 and was recorded in the Domesday
Book of 1086. The first stone castle was
built on the site a while after this – this
was destroyed by order of King Henry VII
and another castle was erected. Over
the years the castle was beseiged and
survived several attacks but eventually
became uninhabitable after a fire in the
late 18th century.
The zoo opened in 1937 and is now home to
hundreds of animals. Much of the collection
is linked to international conservation and
breeding programmes. Endangered species
include Asiatic lions, Sumatran tigers, Tibetan
red pandas and Madagascan lemurs.
The food offering available is very much
an extension of Dudley Zoological Gardens
rather than a separate entity and is now
an important element of the overall zoo
experience. Many visitors take a ride on the
chairlift connecting the zoo’s upper (where
the castle stands) and lower
levels – they mostly take it up
rather than down and this could be
to avoid the steep walk up Castle
Hill! The chairlift was the first
passenger-carrying aerial ropeway to be
installed in England when it opened in 1958.
Back then passengers paid sixpence for their
journey, but today it’s free and offers panoramic
views across Sandwell to Birmingham. While
travelling on the quirky ride, visitors can look
over the flamingos and Gelada
baboons. Amadeus has food
options dotted nearby the lift so
after the two-minute ride visitors
can grab a bite. If you’re visiting the
zoo you can relax knowing the food
offering provides a great selection and includes
a few classic favourites. A wide range of British
dishes should tempt most visitors, especially
the sustainable fish and chips, the famous
Brummie balti and the award-winning sausage
DUDLEY ZOO 01384 215313
OPEN FROM 10AM EVERY DAY
DUDLEYZOO.ORG.UK
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
Dudley Zoo offers a Close Encounter experience,
which makes a vital contribution to their
conservation work. Popular as birthday and
anniversary gifts, the 30-minute experience goes
towards special animal treats, toys, bedding, health
checks, food bills, heating and more. Visitors can
enjoy a unique experience with packages including
the choice of feeding the lemurs, spider monkeys,
giraffes, a big cat, the bats and the sea lions.
Visitors can also choose to meet the orangutans,
the chimps or even opt to explore for a reptile
encounter. Other activities include grooming and
behind the scenes access and each participant
receives a Close Encounter certificate, detailed
animal fact sheet, gift card and zoo entry ticket.
GHOST HUNTING
Looking for something different to do for
Halloween this year? Look no further than
Haunted Happenings at Dudley Zoo with Ghost
Hunt and Suppers. An experienced team of
investigators guide visitors safely through the
ghost hunt in what is thought to be one of
the most haunted locations in the
Midlands. Working in small teams
throughout the night, guests are
able to carry out séances and
vigils in the castle and use
forms of communication
including ouija boards
and table tipping!
LORIKEETS LAND!
The first Australian rainbow lorikeets
arrived at Dudley Zoo in the
summer to take up a residence
in the new Lorikeet Lookout.
The £40,000 new home is one
of many new enclosures to be
developed and open at the
zoo this year. Flamingo Falls
has already been a popular
hit having opened in March
to excellent feedback
from visitors. With its
running waterfall
and a bigger
den for the birds
as well as a new internal pool,
visitors can see the birds even when they’re inside.
MATCHES MADE IN HEAVEN
You can make a trip to Dudley Zoo even more
memorable by popping the question to your
loved one. The Zoo proudly supports those who
choose to propose there and can enable you to do
so surrounded by some of the rarest animals in
the world before celebrating with
a glass of fizz. From Humboldt
penguins to Rothschild’s
giraffes, the zoo then puts
together a meet and
greet with some
animal magic.
and mash. Overall visitors to the
zoo have increased since Amadeus
started providing the food offering
and their hearty, simple food made
from the best quality ingredients
is a hit with the outlets
consistently beating revenue budgets.
There are many choices for dining,
including The Queen Mary restaurant,
which can hold 200 people, The Grey Lady
Tavern, which can fit 20 and there is also
a marquee for events. The food has a clear
identity but is also sympathetic to the zoo.
A good example is The Oak Kitchen in The
Queen Mary Restaurant on the zoo’s upper
level opposite the sea lion moat pools.
This area was the base for creating a new
and exciting dining experience on shared
22 GLORIOUS
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