The borough council has said visitor numbers at Campus West in Welwyn Garden City have fallen due to “good weather.”

Councillors were updated on ticket sales and income at the council’s attractions during a community cabinet panel meeting on Wednesday (October 23).

In the second quarter of this year, visitor numbers were down, and fewer cinema, roller-city, and soft-play tickets were sold.

However, the costs of running the entertainment venue have been lower than expected, and they are predicted to be £150,000 below the £497,000 yearly budget.

The underspend has been caused, in part, by bills and film fees that are lower than expected.

In better news for the council, Campus West’s income during the second quarter this year was £96,000 higher than in the second quarter last year.

Council officer James Tiplady told councillors the increase has primarily been caused by an increase in pantomime ticket sales, and higher than expected food and drink income.

Regarding the fall in visitor numbers, Mr Tiplady said: “It was a lot nicer this year, so a lot of people were going outside rather than staying inside over the summer months.

“We didn’t have any blockbuster films compared to last year, where we had Barbie and Oppenheimer, and that was the effect of that.”

Cllr Russ Platt added that it was “good news” that Campus West was on track for higher income despite not having ‘Barbenheimer’ to raise ticket sales.

Warmer weather was also blamed for a fall in leisure centre usage during the summer – and pointed to as a reason for an increase in customers at Panshanger golf course.