We are all used to reading, currently, about the roles and ways of private equity and “investment vehicles” and this week one big story concerned our Leisure sector.

The property assets of some key attractions owned by Blackstone, an American private equity group, including Alton Towers, Warwick Castle, Madame Tussaud’s and Thorpe Park, were sold for £622m to Prestbury, owned by property entrepreneur Nick Leslau.

Why? The owner (who also runs attractions in New York, Las Vegas, Amsterdam and Hong Kong) wanted funds for a £270m investment programme, to enhance their attractions, and to repay debt. They are renting back the attractions and will continue operations.

Let’s not be surprised - ours is now, as we keep saying, a major industry, bigger than oil & gas and agriculture, with more than two million employees, providing one in four of all new jobs.

Present and future growth will depend considerably on the energy and resources of the private sector, as well as the skills and infrastructure and traditions of the public and voluntary sectors.

Leisure must, and will, keep pace with the financial times ... and of course, the needs and wishes of the customer.