Future of sold surfing lake remains uncertain

The future of an inland surfing lake remains uncertain as the facility is sold amid a row over finances.

The Wave, on the outskirts of Bristol, shut suddenly on Thursday and cancelled bookings after being placed into technical insolvency.

CEO Hazel Geary announced on Friday evening the site, under the entity Surf Bristol Limited, had been sold to a company called Sea Level Wave Company Ltd.

Negotiations had been taking place with the aim of reopening the facility on Saturday, but the BBC understands those have broken down at the last minute.

Majority owners Sullivan Street Partners claimed the closure followed problems surrounding the bankruptcy of a director of another funding partner, JAR Wave.

The BBC has approached the firm for comment.

There is no clarity as yet for customers and potentially as many as 200 employees of The Wave as to what happens next.

Ms Geary said the site now cannot operate and The Wave Group, owners of the surf park, is unable to "facilitate a smooth handover due to the significant conflicts".

The website is inoperable and Ms Geary claims her access to all digital assets have been blocked, including emails, documents and social media accounts.

In a statement, The Wave Group said these actions have "removed the business from the investors and staff that have built and grown the park".

It added: "Whilst this is very disappointing to lose a managed site in this way, we are mostly sorry for the upset the actions of others have caused for Wavemakers and clients of The Wave.

"We march on and are determined to continue our mission to deliver an amazing inland surf experience for all."

The company says it remains on track to open a separate namesake site in London in 2027 and also has "several other opportunities under development".

Negotiations regarding the immediate future of the The Wave in Bristol are continuing.

The company has been acquired as a part of a financial restructure by a group of investors, who have asked Julian Topham to step into the role of CEO.

Mr Topham has worked within the surf, music and sustainability sectors for many years - most notably founding and running Boardmasters festival and Vision Nine.

He said: "I have known about The Wave since it was just an idea, and have surfed it many times since it opened in 2019.

"There will be a short period of transition as the company changes hands and we get up to speed, but we are doing everything we can to make this as smooth and as fast as possible, and to get The Wave open again."

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