EXPERT INTERVIEW WITH UK BUNGEE CLUB
We thought it was about time to have a chat with John, owner and founder of UK Bungee Club and one our very best experience providers. The level of professionalism and commitment to customer safety that the club projects makes it easy to understand why they are the market leader in bungee jumps. Here at Experience Days, many of our team have been lucky enough to jump and it is truly something we will never forget (you can see our jumps here). Although nerve wracking and nail bitingly scary, the rush of adrenaline is worth the anticipation and will leave you grinning ear-to-ear as you land back in reality. So, if you’ve been thinking about taking a step on the wild side and taking part in a bungee jump, have a read to find out a bit more about the adventure…
Q: Please could you tell us a bit about the history of UK Bungee and what inspired you to join the bungee jumping industry?
A: Bungee first started on 1/4/79 in Bristol when 4 members of the dangerous sports club jumped from the Clifton suspension bridge in Bristol. What most people don’t know is that Bungee jumping is a British invention. I jumped in Australia in 1991 and was hooked. Coming back to the UK The UK Bungee Club had just started operations. I became a Roadie and worked for the club more or less every weekend during the summer of 1992 completing all my exams to become a site controller. By 1993 the bubble had burst with only a handful of operations left in the UK. We decided to put a 300ft Crane next to the Thames in Battersea and we have never looked back. Today we offer 10 locations nationwide including Belfast at heights of 150ft, 300ft and 400ft plus the only Bridge in the UK plus the world’s only indoor Bungee. Overseas operations have included Moscow, Abu Dhabi, Thailand, Brazil, Australia and South Africa to name but a few. The UK Bungee Club continues to be market leader in the UK for Bungee jumping and safety consultation with the health and safety executive.
Q: How has the bungee industry or customers’ understanding of bungee changed over the years?
A: In the early days people were naturally scared of the product which was kind of the point. People were sceptical of the safety approach and the public needed educating. We were regularly inspected by local councils which we welcomed to spread the word regarding safety and that our operations were professional and run with integrity. Bungee is now recognised as a highly safe activity run by professionals. British health and safety is the best in the world and so by its very nature the attention to safety has been very high from inception back in 1992 when the company started. The general public know that with 25 years’ experience we are the company to jump with.
Q: What’s the most frequently asked question by customers?
A: Believe it not have you killed anybody and will I die. Thankfully the answer is no to both of these.
Q: What’s next for the Bungee Industry in the UK? Any exciting news to share with us?
A: We are looking at our 25 year anniversary next year on the 16th July so potentially we are looking at a 400ft Crane jump at Wembley Stadium. Look out for information on the Experience Days website!
Thanks UK Bungee Club for letting us know a bit more about your story. You can buy a bungee jump here which is available from a number of different locations. If you haven’t got the courage to jump on your own, jump with a friend!
