Peco to close Pecorama

[John Luxton]

I am sure that many of us have visited Pecorama, I know I have. As a youngster my parents used to take me to the old shop in Seaton on Station road at the end of the 1960s.

My last visit was about 10 years ago as I am not currently dabbling in model railways.

Pecorama is also home to the Beer Heights Light Railway and the Pullman Car

However, this has just been posted on Facebook and on their web site:

This is another West Country tourist attraction to close - there have been quite a few in recent years,

It is with great sadness and after much soul-searching we have decided to close Pecorama, our well-loved family attraction, for the 2026 season.
With the challenging economic climate and costs continuing to rise, the PECO parent company cannot continue to support the financial losses of Pecorama. There is sincere hope that Pecorama can reopen in future in a new format which will continue to give lots of inspiration, fun and pleasure to our visitors. But, for the moment PECO will be focusing on growing the core businesses of manufacturing and publishing.
Our sincere thanks go out to all our staff and volunteers for their dedication and hard work in making Pecorama a wonderful, friendly place to visit.
If you hold a Gold Card membership with us, we are happy to offer a refund for any months that cannot be used. Please email us at info@pecorama.co.uk for details.
Finally, we want to thank our lovely visitors for bringing the site to life and we look forward to welcoming you all again in some form in the future.
For the full statement visit our website: www.pecorama.co.uk

 

[John R]

This is another West Country tourist attraction to close - there have been quite a few in recent years,

See also South and West Wales...

It seems that the combination of the increase in minimum wage, and increases to NI, the latter which is particularly steep on the type of low paid casual employee that a lot of these tourist attractions employ, has been the last nail for many of them.

 

[dgl]

Pecorama in Beer is to close, at least for the 2026 season. It only has been making a profit 4 months of the year and Peco can't continue to subsidise it. Sad times, went there a few times as a kid. Probably did better before COVID and when the Poole to Exeter bus still ran.

Their official statement on the pecorama.co.uk home page

Pecorama Public Statement: November 2025​

It is with great sadness and after much soul-searching we have decided to close Pecorama, our well-loved family attraction, for the 2026 season. Despite Pecorama having had a busy year of trading involving its 50 th anniversary of the Beer Heights Railway and concluding this past half term week with rewarding Halloween events, the business continues to make a loss.

What is generally not known is that Pecorama is only profitable for about 4 months of the year and the remaining months has to be supported financially. This has been the case for many years.

With the challenging economic climate and costs continuing to rise, the PECO parent company cannot continue to give this support each year to Pecorama. There is sincere hope that Pecorama can reopen in future in a new format which will continue to give lots of inspiration, fun and pleasure to our visitors. But, for the moment PECO will be focusing on growing the core businesses of manufacturing and publishing. This decision of immediate closure sadly means that a few members of loyal staff have opted for voluntary redundancy, and we must point out that this decision is no reflection on the efforts and commitment of our staff who have worked extra hard this year.

Our sincere thanks go out to all our staff and volunteers for their dedication and hard work in making Pecorama a wonderful, friendly place to visit.

If you hold a Gold Card membership with us, we are happy to offer a refund for any months that cannot be used. Please email us at info@pecorama.co.uk for details.

Finally, we want to thank our lovely visitors for bringing the site to life and we look forward to welcoming you all again in some form in the future.

For further information please contact Will Lane, Chief Operating Officer on: will.lane@peco.co

 

[Trainlog]

This is indeed rather sad news to hear, as I used to visit Pecorama a fair bit whenever I was in the South-West.

There will be plenty that I will miss. The exhibition layouts were always a source of inspiration. Personal favourites for me were the GWR O gauge layout, the G gauge one you could operate for 20p, I think? And the Spanish one. The Gardens themselves were fantastic; the bird aviary was a nice attraction until it was withdrawn 10 years ago.

For me, the main highlight will always be the miniature railway. Excellent gradients, a scenic route, and live steam locos instead of horrible steam outlines with Honda generators or lawnmower engines.

I would like to think that a new miniature railway is opened up somewhere else in the South-West to accommodate the locomotives rather than becoming barn finds, in bits, in roughly 20 years' time. This miniature railway is iconic, whether it be through the Teddy Mac series or through locals/tourists who enjoyed a trip along the line if they decided to visit Pecorama. As I say, I hope such a disposal is done with as much care and thought as possible.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Another childhood casualty.

Late 1970s and very early 1980s family visits involved Beer Heights Light Railway and, our final visit, inside Pullman car Orion

 

[John Luxton]

Another childhood casualty.

Late 1970s and very early 1980s family visits involved Beer Heights Light Railway and, our final visit, inside Pullman car Orion

My childhood visits started when Peco had their shop and factory in Station (now Harbour) Road, Seaton in summer 1969 when I was 9 a few years before the site at Beer was opened as their retail outlet and model display. Even met the two Mr Pritchards a few times senior and junior.

Always remember my first visit to the shop which had a model railway in a back room. It was N gauge and my father saw a Rivarossi - Atlas Indiana Harbour Belt Railroad 0-8-0 loco pulling a very long train and bought it for me I am sure it was £8 guineas probably my most expensive loco up to that point. Unfortunately my rather modest N gauge layout, I also had a oo one as well, was nothing more than an oval of track on a coffee table. The loco was overkill and the 0-8-0 configuration didn't run very smoothly on the tight curves.

Carried on visiting after the move to Beer as a youngster and my parents continued to be generous - always the highlight of our regular west country holidays.

Visits tailed off a bit in the late 1970s and they became more once in every few years, though did manage a couple of visits in the 2010s - my last in October 2019.

Had been thinking of visiting again last year when I was the Seaton Tramway - but spent too long on the trams - that day and ran out of time.

I still visit the West Country regularly - but the number of visitor attractions which have closed in the last few years is significant and Pecorama just appears to be an addition to the casualty list, surprising really as unlike others it was more than just a visitor attraction being part of the much larger business.

One just hopes that this isn't an indication of a greater problem in the whole company; whilst I don't model at the moment it is something I have contemplated going back to and the thought of there being no Peco would be unimaginable!

 

[Trainlog]

My childhood visits started when Peco had their shop and factory in Station (now Harbour) Road, Seaton in summer 1969 when I was 9 a few years before the site at Beer was opened as their retail outlet and model display. Even met the two Mr Pritchards a few times senior and junior.

Always remember my first visit to the shop which had a model railway in a back room. It was N gauge and my father saw a Rivarossi - Atlas Indiana Harbour Belt Railroad 0-8-0 loco pulling a very long train and bought it for me I am sure it was £8 guineas probably my most expensive loco up to that point. Unfortunately my rather modest N gauge layout, I also had a oo one as well, was nothing more than an oval of track on a coffee table. The loco was overkill and the 0-8-0 configuration didn't run very smoothly on the tight curves.

Carried on visiting after the move to Beer as a youngster and my parents continued to be generous - always the highlight of our regular west country holidays.

Visits tailed off a bit in the late 1970s and they became more once in every few years, though did manage a couple of visits in the 2010s - my last in October 2019.

Had been thinking of visiting again last year when I was the Seaton Tramway - but spent too long on the trams - that day and ran out of time.

I still visit the West Country regularly - but the number of visitor attractions which have closed in the last few years is significant and Pecorama just appears to be an addition to the casualty list, surprising really as unlike others it was more than just a visitor attraction being part of the much larger business.

One just hopes that this isn't an indication of a greater problem in the whole company; whilst I don't model at the moment it is something I have contemplated going back to and the thought of there being no Peco would be unimaginable!

Hopefully, when it comes to Peco, there are still many parts of the model railway industry that its prominence is more noticeable. Sure, OO gauge is still a massive core part of its business, but for me, where it stands out is taking on more niche scales, such as OO9, N gauge, NG7, O gauge, and now TT:120.

What is available in these ranges is great, I quite like Peco's N gauge wagons and their track. I wish they could do some retooling or collaborate with other manufacturers, such as Sonic models, to bring back classics like the GWR 2251 class. They could even make a train set with the Peco track and some wagons out of it.

Even in areas where its range is not exactly broad, it still has a loyal audience that will use Peco. In 16mm, its track is still the go-to for users such as Sm32 and more serious G45 users. It's only really scales such as Gauge 3 or larger that Peco doesn't cater to, and to be honest, many manufacturers already do cater to these scales anyway.

 

[Titfield]

See also South and West Wales...

It seems that the combination of the increase in minimum wage, and increases to NI, the latter which is particularly steep on the type of low paid casual employee that a lot of these tourist attractions employ, has been the last nail for many of them.

Yes the last nail but the earlier nail has been the decline in patronage over many years. To what extent this is due to less disposable income or due to changing tastes is hard to say. Many of those spending their leisure pounds seem to have much higher expectations of what they get for their money and perhaps more traditional attractions do not meet that expectation.

 

[david1212]

Back mid/late 1970's visited at least twice. More recently only stayed in Weymouth and each time primarily went to Sidmouth. On the way back just short stops in Beer and Seaton.

Generally do fewer children / teenagers have an interest in model railways compared to 50 so years ago? When I look at current prices I wonder how my parents and family through money given for birthday and Christmas could afford what I had.
Against that is there a greater interest by those in retirement no least with improved health and increased life expectancy?

See also South and West Wales...

It seems that the combination of the increase in minimum wage, and increases to NI, the latter which is particularly steep on the type of low paid casual employee that a lot of these tourist attractions employ, has been the last nail for many of them.

Yes the last nail but the earlier nail has been the decline in patronage over many years. To what extent this is due to less disposable income or due to changing tastes is hard to say. Many of those spending their leisure pounds seem to have much higher expectations of what they get for their money and perhaps more traditional attractions do not meet that expectation.

As you both say a combination of factors but the combined increases in the minimum wage and employer NI payments so higher admission prices when disposable income has fallen work against growing the economy at least in the tourism / leisure sector.

 

[Titfield]

There does seem though to be a reluctance from attractions closing down (or indeed attractions in general) to disclose their visitor numbers.

I dont doubt that the increase in employers NI and the level at which it becomes payable from has had an influence but there are a number of other indicators which suggest that people are choosing to spend their leisure spend differently. For example consider the number of premier league football clubs who have or have plans to increase the capacity of their stadium because they can sell the additional seats. https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/35150470/future-premier-league-stadiums-man-utd-newcastle/ Airport passenger numbers ex UK increased their highest ever numbers for the period April - June this year. https://www.insidermedia.com/news/n...ssenger-numbers-delays-also-down-year-on-year. Consider also the willingness of fans to spend huge amounts of money for tickets to concerts and other events as evidenced by the Govt stepping in to prevent ticket touting. Touts wouldn't command the prices they charge if there werent buyers. I did wonder if it was model railways that had dropped in popularity but then of course there is Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg which may disprove that theory.

I think many smaller attractions have an admission fee value for money problem. The charge they make (and need to make to cover their costs) just doesn't represent good value for money given the alternatives available. Rather than having say 3 days out (admission) at £30 per head = £90 are people choosing to have one day out (admission) at £90 per head ie quality over quantity.

Having visited a well known heritage railway on a non peak day I have to say it did not feel like money well spent. One loco in service with a bare timetable, an air of decay around the place. Too much derelict rolling stock (albeit sheeted over) in sidings obscuring the view. Station toilets that quite frankly had the mix of an unpleasant smell and strong bleach to try and cover the unpleasant smell. A cafe with a very limited range of hot food.

How much of the problem is the spiral of decline: a fall in visitors numbers which means less money to spend on the place which means it is less welcoming which means fewer visitors in the future.

 

[nanstallon]

There does seem though to be a reluctance from attractions closing down (or indeed attractions in general) to disclose their visitor numbers.

I dont doubt that the increase in employers NI and the level at which it becomes payable from has had an influence but there are a number of other indicators which suggest that people are choosing to spend their leisure spend differently. For example consider the number of premier league football clubs who have or have plans to increase the capacity of their stadium because they can sell the additional seats. https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/35150470/future-premier-league-stadiums-man-utd-newcastle/ Airport passenger numbers ex UK increased their highest ever numbers for the period April - June this year. https://www.insidermedia.com/news/n...ssenger-numbers-delays-also-down-year-on-year. Consider also the willingness of fans to spend huge amounts of money for tickets to concerts and other events as evidenced by the Govt stepping in to prevent ticket touting. Touts wouldn't command the prices they charge if there werent buyers. I did wonder if it was model railways that had dropped in popularity but then of course there is Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg which may disprove that theory.

I think many smaller attractions have an admission fee value for money problem. The charge they make (and need to make to cover their costs) just doesn't represent good value for money given the alternatives available. Rather than having say 3 days out (admission) at £30 per head = £90 are people choosing to have one day out (admission) at £90 per head ie quality over quantity.

Having visited a well known heritage railway on a non peak day I have to say it did not feel like money well spent. One loco in service with a bare timetable, an air of decay around the place. Too much derelict rolling stock (albeit sheeted over) in sidings obscuring the view. Station toilets that quite frankly had the mix of an unpleasant smell and strong bleach to try and cover the unpleasant smell. A cafe with a very limited range of hot food.

How much of the problem is the spiral of decline: a fall in visitors numbers which means less money to spend on the place which means it is less welcoming which means fewer visitors in the future.

I think there is a vicious circle with heritage railways - once in decline they can't afford to maintain the facility properly. The world does not owe anybody a living, and sadly the general public won't spend their money (of which there is less disposable these days) on grot.

 

[Amlag]

Peco,state their Pecorama railway business is only profitable for four months of the year.

That is the case with many heritage rlys and other mainly Tourist businesses, but they are kept open for more than just their profitable peak days.
Peco have lost a lot of potential extra business by not advising in advance of their advertised end of season operating date, their intended closure for 2026 / forever.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Peco,state their Pecorama railway business is only profitable for four months of the year.

That is the case with many heritage rlys and other mainly Tourist businesses, but they are kept open for more than just their profitable peak days.
Peco have lost a lot of potential extra business by not advising in advance of their advertised end of season operating date, their intended closure for 2026 / forever.

This is true- if for example they'd announced well in advance that "2025 (or 2026) will be our final year" I'd have made the effort to have one final visit before it closes and I'm sure many others would too. However we don't know if such a thing was within Peco's control. Would that just be piling more losses on? It's a shame to lose Pecorama, but it would be a bigger shame to lose Peco.

 

[Gloster]

The news item in the latest Railway Modeller (January 2026 (dated), p. 78) states that ‘the gardens, miniature railway and model railway exhibition will continue to be fully maintained’. It adds that ‘some Peco Experiences, such as Locomotive Driving Experiences and Factory Tours‘ are still planned.

 

[nanstallon]

Elsewhere in Devon, there is a miniature railway at the Trago Mills shopping centre near Newton Abbot, Devon which has an interesting collection of engines. Trago Mills have been reviewing their operations, and the leisure park at Newton Abbot is to close. However it seems that the railway is not closing although management are looking at other ways of running it.

 

[simple simon]

I've been there many times in the past and was hoping to return in 2026. I actually made it to the Seaton Tramway but as a day trip by train (from London) and local bus but it was just too much to also go to Pecorama on the same day.

Some years ago I created some web pages showing some of the photographs that I took there. I have added links to these in the Photography Sites, Blogs & Videos section.

Pecorama Photographs

It is a very big shame that Pecorama has closed, however my understanding is that it is to be maintained in a way that will facilitate reopening again, when the economy has improved. I have made many visits over the years and in the end created several web pages of photographs. Most views were...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[SwindonManor]

I don't know if anyone knows this but Pecorama still operates model manufacturing tours, loco experiences etc.
They aren't open for tourism, but BHLR is due to return for 3 weekends THIS YEAR in May, July and August for galas. I was so happy when I read that!

2.5K views · 653 reactions | Exciting news! Pecorama, Beer, Devon. Beer Heights Light Railway are hosting 3 Gala weekend events at Pecorama Gardens A great day for Enthusiasts to enjoy 6 chances of a BHLR Gala event. May, July and August Dates

Exciting news! Pecorama, Beer, Devon. Beer Heights Light Railway are hosting 3 Gala weekend events at Pecorama Gardens A great day for Enthusiasts to enjoy 6 chances of a BHLR Gala event. May,...

www.facebook.com

Exciting news!
Pecorama, Beer, Devon.
Beer Heights Light Railway are hosting 3 Gala weekend events at Pecorama Gardens
A great day for Enthusiasts to enjoy 6 chances of a BHLR Gala event.
May, July and August Dates
Visiting Steam Engines, Engaging Model Railway Exhibition, Award Winning Gardens, Mini Golf and a chance to shop in TheModelRailwayShop who have the largest range of PECO Model Railways Stock with 10% for ticket holders.
Head to the Pecorama website to book your tickets today!
Pecorama.co.uk

 

[nanstallon]

That's great. I'd been kicking myself for missing this piece of track!

 

[SwindonManor]

That's great. I'd been kicking myself for missing this piece of track!

You haven't yet done it I assume by that comment then?
It is worth it I must say. They have a nice line up and the trip is great too. With these events on as well there will be a more intensive service. Before they closed you had 1 free ride in your ticket with others classed as add ons (for money). I'm not sure if this point still stands though.

 

[vikingsmb]

I went last year with dad, as we were on holiday in brixham so decided to go there (I wanted to have a look in the shop and spend) It is not exactly easiest to get to by car, its on a hill which people who are less mobile will struggle.
the model railway was looking a bit tired and one layout the 47 was stalling all the time, I informed the gent looking after it though. went into the shop to have a nose, the prices are silly in there for locos/stock etc. walked out with nothing, I know there is a bit of a discussion on rmweb (those of you who are on there).
it would make sense if they moved to somewhere like paignton/totnes or even exeter where public transport etc is better.

 

[SwindonManor]

They couldn't just pick up BHLR/Pecorama as a tourist destination in general and move it.

On a different note
In their statement they said they were

only profitable 4 months of the year

So why not open for just those 4 months and run experiences and events the other times?

 

[John Luxton]

I went last year with dad, as we were on holiday in brixham so decided to go there (I wanted to have a look in the shop and spend) It is not exactly easiest to get to by car, its on a hill which people who are less mobile will struggle.
the model railway was looking a bit tired and one layout the 47 was stalling all the time, I informed the gent looking after it though. went into the shop to have a nose, the prices are silly in there for locos/stock etc. walked out with nothing, I know there is a bit of a discussion on rmweb (those of you who are on there).
it would make sense if they moved to somewhere like paignton/totnes or even exeter where public transport etc is better.

The attractions were set up as an adjunct to the factory in the early 1970s it was never primarily set up as a tourist atraction.

I reacall my parents taking me to Peco's original shop and factory which used to be in Station Road (now renamed Harbour Road), Seaton which was in town centre, there was a small display of layouts in there. The building still remains near where the Tramway Depot / Station is in the Car park.

But the move to Beer was expand their production facilities the tourist attraction was very much secondary. The Beer Heights Lightrailway Started as a short out and back line the gardens and much expanded track came later.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

So why not open for just those 4 months and run experiences and events the other times?

Maybe it's not profitable if you have to concentrate the annual and fixed expenses over 4 months instead of 12?

 

[Krokodil]

Maybe it's not profitable if you have to concentrate the annual and fixed expenses over 4 months instead of 12?

Presumably a lot of the fixed expenditure will still be due if they're running on three weekends this summer.

 

[Cowley]

On a slightly different note. Probably something like 80 percent of UK model railways use Peco track.

Purely from a selfish point of view, I hope they still manage to keep that side of the business going.

 

[sprinterguy]

On a slightly different note. Probably something like 80 percent of UK model railways use Peco track.

Purely from a selfish point of view, I hope they still manage to keep that side of the business going.

No financial issues noted with their core range of track products, as far as I know. Just as well as I'd be knackered without them, particularly in my OO9 narrow gauge endeavours, but their OO flexitrack and Streamline pointwork range are an absolute boon to the hobby, too. Even their set-track stuff feels like it's made with more thought and care than the Hornby equivalent.

Have put a date in my diary to attend their July open weekend, I missed my chance last time I was in Beer a few years ago and it lends itself quite well between other engagements, but will be largely dependent on my wife's yet-to-be-announced shift patterns for that month.

 

[Cowley]

No financial issues noted with their core range of track products, as far as I know. Just as well as I'd be knackered without them, particularly in my OO9 narrow gauge endeavours, but their OO flexitrack and Streamline pointwork range are an absolute boon to the hobby, too. Even their set-track stuff feels like it's made with more thought and care than the Hornby equivalent.

That’s good news.

I think they make quite a lot of it in house don’t they, although I’m not sure how many people they employ? There’s also the range of accessories, wagons and whatnots they do as well.

You’d like to think that someone would step in to fill that somewhat important gap in the market, because probably like you, I don’t want to have to learn how to make my own track!

Have put a date in my diary to attend their July open weekend, I missed my chance last time I was in Beer a few years ago and it lends itself quite well between other engagements, but will be largely dependent on my wife's yet-to-be-announced shift patterns for that month.

I have the same thing with Mrs C and shifts. Hope you enjoy your trip to Beer though.
The village itself and the beach are really nice if you do make it there.

 

[sprinterguy]

That’s good news.

I think they make quite a lot of it in house don’t they, although I’m not sure how many people they employ? There’s also the range of accessories, wagons and whatnots they do as well.

Yeah the track (and other new items - I do have several building kits and a number of OO9 wagons of theirs, now you mention it) is all designed and produced on site at Beer as far as I'm aware, and I think they have around 150 permanent staff on the payroll.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Apr 2026 ==

Hope you enjoy your trip to Beer though.
The village itself and the beach are really nice if you do make it there.

Thanks, certainly struck me as a thoroughly pleasant setting on our first visit.

 

[Harpo]

BLS has a members only visit on 8th May. Of the narrow gauge element it says:

We are not yet able to confirm which lines will be covered at the site, but in true BLS style, we will do our best to cover some of the rarer track elements during our visit.

BLS Fixtures List

 

[Gloster]

A brochure celebrating 80 years of Peco arrived with the latest Railway Modeller: I haven’t read it yet but I have spotted two items of interest. The number of staff is around 150 in total, although it isn’t clear if this includes the 17 at Buckfastleigh. It also says that the closure of the gardens and railway is hoped to only be temporary. (A related thought is whether they might or could react to a possible increase in domestic holidays due to Trump’s little war.)