Back to newsOSBF has provided vital funding for a Devon-based animal park

We’re delighted to have provided £1.2m of vital funding to secure the future of Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park, Devon.

The venue was on the verge of closure, with the animals at risk of losing their homes, since a high street bank the park had been using for funding had declined to extend their support.

The family run park is set in the Combe Martin valley in over 28 acres of spectacular gardens within the North Devon Area of Outstanding Beauty. As well as leopards, wolves, sea lions, primates, penguins and more, the park also has an impressive selection of model dinosaurs.

The wellbeing of the animals was at stake, with funding needed to repay an existing loan and provide working capital.

The business is looking to build lodges on the land in order to generate another revenue stream for the park and expand the offering to customers.

OSBF MD Andrew Mackenzie, personally visited the site to get to know the business – and the animals! He said: “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 (including feeding the leopards!), we saw the potential for the wildlife park and were happy with the agreed exit and delighted to be able to help.”

Owner Alan Gilbert, said: “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”

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