The manager of a major York attraction has spoken out about its plans for new security measures and challenges facing the local tourism industry.
Mark Mattinson, York Dungeon's general manager, said the installation of a security fence in the attraction's rear yard aimed to tackle an increase in drug use there.
The general manager added his attraction and others were facing a number of challenges following figures showing a fall in footfall and visitors in the first half of this year.
It comes after York Dungeon's operator Merlin Entertainments applied to install the 3m-high anti-climb fence and gates in the yard behind its Clifford Street building.
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The attraction shares the yard with the Circuit Nightclub and Secret Bar and plans stated it was attracting vagrants, drug users and assaults.
The application lodged with York Council added people loitering in the yard were blocking the venues' fire exits, creating a safety risk.
It also follows Make It York figures showing an eight per cent year-on-year drop in footfall in the city centre to 15.08m people moving through it from January to June.
Data showed almost 972,800 people visited attractions up to June, down 17 per cent compared to 2025, though the amount rose by two per cent year-on-year from April to June.
General manager Mr Mattinson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) he hoped the fence would improve safety for guests, staff and contractors.
The general manager said: "Sadly, over the last couple of years we have noticed an increase in drug use in this area in both the daytime and the night time.
"We are working collaboratively with our neighbouring businesses to install the new security fencing and exit gates so that we can ensure this activity ceases.
"In the meantime we continue to be well supported by both North Yorkshire Police and the York Business Improvement District (BID) Street Rangers in dealing with these instances as they occur, but sadly this intervention, alongside improved lighting and CCTV, is not enough of a deterrent to completely remove the issue."
York Dungeon saw a 3 per cent fall in visitors year-on-year during the first half of this year (Image: Newsquest)
Mr Mattinson said visits to York Dungeon fell by around three per cent year-on-year up to June.
He added they had passed on VAT reductions and slashed ticket prices for children by half during summer to try and keep costs down.
Visitors have also been offered year-round discounts of 30 per cent to people who have visited attractions and stayed at hotels which have partnered with York Dungeon.
The general manager said: "It was sad to see the report of a fall in both city centre footfall and visits to York attractions, and that perhaps reflects the challenges that families are facing with a rising cost of living, including the increased cost of travel currently with rising fuel prices.
"There are a number of challenges which have been well documented which continue to see increased costs for visitors to come to York.
"We took part in the first ever York Attractions Week in August with a number of fellow attractions.
"We are lucky to be based in a city where so many businesses are willing to collaborate with each other, and have the support of organisations such as Visit York and the York BID, and I think through continued and even better partnership working we can work towards seeing attraction visits increase."
Mr Mattinson said they have launched their Halloween seasonal show Mother Shipton: The Great Prophetess which runs until Tuesday, November 1.
He added they had also created a new Mother Shipton Rum in partnership with Villains Rum and the Our Little Peasants Walking Tours would return from Saturday, October 24 to Saturday, October 31.
The general manager said: "We have also been developing a brand new, online treasure hunt style game, the City Quest by the York Dungeon, with local company York Quests.
"We hope for this to launch in the coming weeks, and features video interactions with Dungeon favourites such as Dick Turpin and Guy Fawkes, along with additional characters such as Robert Aske and Lady Peckitt, and takes guests on a walking tour of York with puzzles to solve.
"It has been really exciting developing a new way to take the York Dungeon's magic out onto the streets of York and we can't wait for our guests to start playing it."