Peterhead Prison at Risk of Closure as Funding Gap Threatens Future

Peterhead Prison, one of Scotland’s most significant historic visitor attractions, is at risk of closure within the next six weeks unless urgent funding can be secured.

Cove Attractions, which operates part of the prison attraction, has spent the past year working with the charity that owns the site to put a long-term solution in place, one designed to secure the future of the building, protect local jobs, and enable much-needed investment into the prison.

An agreement to safeguard Peterhead Prison was reached over a year ago. However, repeated delays in completing that agreement have had a severe cumulative impact, placing the future of the attraction in jeopardy.

The delays have arisen during a prolonged legal process required to complete the transfer of the site. While compliance and due diligence are essential, the length and complexity of this process have materially increased costs and consumed valuable time, leaving the future of the attraction in a far more precarious position than when the agreement was first reached.

Peterhead Prison has operated at a loss since 2021 and has relied on ongoing financial support to remain open. In October 2024, the charity that owns the prison ran out of funds and faced imminent closure. Cove Attractions, part of Cove Group and specialists in operating penal heritage attractions, was asked to step in to prevent closure and job losses.

Cove Attractions agreed to support the charity and developed a clear plan to stabilise the attraction and secure the long-term future of the prison for generations to come. However, prolonged delays in completing the agreed transfer have not only stalled progress but have added approximately £70,000 in additional costs, creating a critical funding gap that now threatens the viability of the entire arrangement.

Over the past twelve months:

  • Cove Attractions has provided over £200,000 in financial support to keep the prison open and operational
  • Local businessman and trustee Conrad Ritchie has personally contributed over £130,000 to support the charity since 2021

Despite this significant intervention, continued delays mean the original deal is now at real risk of collapse.

“Peterhead Prison matters not just to the Northeast, but to Scotland as a whole. Losing this piece of history would be devastating,” said Joel Campbell, CEO of Cove Group.

“We stepped in knowing this would be challenging, but the delays over the past year have left the situation extremely fragile. Unless we can close the remaining funding gap, the prison is genuinely at risk.”

If the attraction were to close:

  • 12 local jobs would be lost
  • The Northeast would lose one of its largest visitor attractions
  • A nationally significant piece of Scottish penal heritage would be placed at risk
  • The future of the Lifeboat Museum housed within the prison site would also be uncertain

Cove Attractions is urging the public to visit and support Peterhead Prison over the coming weeks. To encourage visitors they are offering, kids go free and eat free during February half term.

“We’re asking people to come out and support the prison, the team who work here, and the future of this site,” added Campbell. “If we cannot close this funding gap, the prison could be forced to close in the coming weeks potentially for good.”

 

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