Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park has been saved from the brink of closure thanks to £1.2 million in crucial funding from One Stop Business Finance.
The family-run park, located in the scenic Combe Martin valley within North Devon’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, was facing an uncertain future after its high street bank declined to extend financial support. Without urgent funding, the park’s diverse range of animals—including leopards, wolves, sea lions, primates, and penguins—were at risk of losing their home.
The funding provided by One Stop Business Finance has allowed the park to refinance an existing loan and secure much-needed working capital. Looking ahead, the business plans to develop lodges on-site, creating an additional revenue stream and enhancing visitor experiences.
Andrew Mackenzie, Managing Director at One Stop Business Finance, personally visited the park to understand its challenges and meet some of its residents.
He commented: ” We will always appraise business needs on a case-by-case basis. On this occasion, whilst there were a number of issues that we had to tackle, we saw the potential for the wildlife park and were happy with the agreed exit and delighted to be able to help.”
Park owner Alan Gilbert expressed his appreciation, saying: “We had exhausted our options with the high street lender we were working with, and approached One Stop Business Finance to see if they could step in.
“Working with Business Development Director Chris Meyer and the rest of the team has been a really positive experience, and we appreciated Andrew coming to visit us personally to find out more about what we needed. We certainly value this human approach.”
One Stop Business Finance operates across England and Wales, specialising in fully secured, short-term loans for SMEs. Its funding model is unique, supported by a mix of high-net-worth individuals and small private lenders, alongside backing from institutions such as Shawbrook, Renaissance (Arbuthnot Latham), and Hampshire Trust Bank.
