Lollipoppet Castle Gets a Makeover!
02 February 2026
The Bagnalls team recently paid a visit to Sundown Adventureland: a delightful theme park for under-10s in Retford. But we weren’t just there to enjoy the brilliant atmosphere; we had a very important job to do.
Lollipoppet Castle is a much-loved section of the theme park, home to the little Lollipoppets: distant relatives of The Borrowers, who like to build their homes out of sweets!
Bagnalls was thrilled to give the castle a much-needed makeover, as part of Sundown Adventureland’s £1m refurbishment programme. Our team was tasked with the exterior redecoration of the castle and we found its unique, liquorice-themed, fairytale design a true pleasure to work with.
Before we began our work, safe access to the project site was facilitated using scaffolding to support work at height. This was installed by a contractor appointed by the customer.
The Bagnalls team began by prepping the various surfaces of the castle; this varied depending on the type of material. All brickwork was first stabilised to ensure sound substrate. The team then applied Pliolite Masonry Paint, which was selected because of its durability and protective qualities.
Areas of woodwork were initially sanded and filled, in preparation for the high-quality finish that Bagnalls is known for. A resilient and aesthetically appealing surface was achieved through the application of opaque woodwork coatings.
This unique project required precise design work, such as the meticulous picking out of mortar joints and the painting of individual bricks in multiple pastel colours. This labour-intensive approach demanded significant skill and attention from our brilliant, directly employed painting team.
We also encountered some unexpected challenges during the project, with the discovery of additional roofing repairs, which had to be incorporated into the maintenance schedule. The Bagnalls team had to put our work on hold while this was fixed by an appointed roofing contractor.
The great British weather also posed a few problems for us, as variable temperatures led to sweating on freshly painted surfaces. This resulted in the need for further remedial works once environmental conditions had stabilised.
All these challenges led to a need for flexible scheduling and additional quality assurance measures. Bagnalls is proud to have completely fulfilled these needs, resulting in a fantastic project outcome!
Despite the varied complexities, we successfully completed the redecoration of Lollipoppet Castle, ensuring a vibrant and durable finish, providing long-term appeal to both the young guests of the park and their parents.
This brilliantly unusual project highlights Bagnalls’ technical expertise, meticulous attention to detail and agile project management capabilities.
Want to find out how we can assist with your own commercial painting project? Get in touch with our experienced team today to find your nearest branch. Did you know we also coordinate nationwide painting projects, courtesy of our National Painting Division? Discover how we can support you today by giving us a call on 01274 714 800.