Irn-Bru Fun Factory opens at Falkirk Wheel

Younger visitors to The Falkirk Wheel should prepare for an adventure filled trip following the grand opening of The Irn-Bru Fun Factory – a spectacular new adventure playground at the home of the world’s first rotating boat lift.

The play area, which opened on 11 April is sponsored by Barr Soft Drinks and has been designed with kids of all ages in mind. Three specially constructed areas containing a huge tower, giant slides, tunnels, ropes and stepping stones will offer varying levels of adventure for pre fives through to fourteen year olds.

A host of street entertainers including clowns and jugglers joined in the fun on the opening day with the first 100 children through the doors receiving special goodie bags containing a pencil case, pen, key-ring baseball cap and a 250ml bottle of Irn-Bru - the carbonated beverage sometimes known as “Scotland's other national drink.”

The Falkirk Wheel, which opened in 2002, is located close to the site of a former Irn-Bru factory.

Edna Cunningham, public relations manager at Barr Soft Drinks added: "Like British Waterways, Barr Soft Drinks has a long and close association with Falkirk and its people. We are delighted to have the opportunity to provide a facility which will bring huge amounts of fun to the younger members of the community, not to mention an association with one of the country's leading visitor attractions. I am sure the Irn-Bru Fun Factory will be a huge hit at The Falkirk Wheel, attracting many thousands of Falkirk residents and other visitors in the years to come."

Entry to The Irn-Bru Fun Factory and the Visitor Centre is free. Boat trips on The Falkirk Wheel itself should be prebooked and cost £8 for adults, £4 for children and £6 concession. Children under five go free. A family ticket (two adults and two children) is priced at £21.