The south west's only inland surfing lake faces shock closure due to a row over finances, with all existing bookings cancelled and its website shutting down.
The Wave in Bristol closed its waters suddenly on Thursday 26 June 2025, with its majority owners, Sullivan Street Partners, claiming the closure 'follows problems surrounding the bankruptcy of a director of another funding partner, JAR Wave.'
Taking to Instagram to announce the news, it said 'All customers with surf bookings have been contacted by email with further information.'
Penning a statement to the BBC, the majority owners said: 'The Wave Group team apologises unreservedly for any upset caused and is doing its best to ensure the situation can be remedied.'
Another statement said that The Wave Group 'has lined up a refinancing alongside its exciting London developments, which would see all creditors repaid in full within a week and is offering to continue to operate the park.'
Powered by solar, the venue cost £26 million to build and first opened in 2019 — and it celebrated its five-year anniversary in October 2024.
Since opening, The Wave has generated nearly 10 million waves across 650,000 surf sessions with around 250,000 surfers.
It's hosted the National Para Surfing Championships and the Blue Earth Summit — both of which it was set to host again in 2025.
It also received the Commonwealth Games Relay Baton in 2022 and became the first wave park to achieve a B Corp certification in August 2024.
