More than 25,000 tourists through doors at Shrewsbury's Dana since prison closed
More than 25,000 people have visited Shrewsbury's Dana Prison since it opened as a tourist attraction.
Joel Campbell, owner of Jailhouse Tours, the company which has been running the prison since last summer, says they are expecting to agree a deal which will see it remain open until the end of the year.
He also said they were thrilled at having welcomed more than 25,000 people to the prison in the first six months.
He said: "It has been great so far and we have been delighted with the support we have received. Hopefully we will finish somewhere around double that amount of people."
Mr Campbell said they are busy planning forthcoming events, with a full day prisoner experience in the pipeline, along with a laser combat event and a horror film experience.
He said: "The prisoner experience is looking like it will be one of the most popular events we hold. It is going to be as close as you can get to a real life prisoner experience.
"People will be here for a 12 and a half hours from when they come in and as soon as they walk through the gates, they will be treated like a prisoner for the next 12 and a half hours.
"We have had it planned for a while but this is the first time we are doing it. People will come in, they will have all their stuff taken off them – mobile telephones, personal items."
He added: "They will go through the metal detectors, have their picture taken, be given the uniform and a prison number. The day will see them put in their cell with another person then they will go into groups and go to work.
"They will have prison lunch then they will go back to work, have association time, before being released – if the parole board agrees."
Mr Campbell said the prisoner experience, which will take place on May 2, is the only type of its kind operating anywhere.
He said: "You cannot do this anywhere in the world. This is the only place you can do this and it is the only one that will be this realistic."
As part of the event former prison governor, Gerry Hardy will be returning to run the prison for the day, along with a number of former prison officers.
