Donoghue admitted that the figures made "sobering reading" and showed that "the summer of 2012 has been a difficult time financially for our most popular and best-loved visitor attractions. It is our belief that for gardens and outdoor attractions across the UK, the appalling weather during much of the year has led to one of the worst trading periods since 2001 and foot and mouth. For London attractions the Olympic period was one of their worst trading periods in living memory and for visitor attractions the summer is their equivalent of retailers' Christmas; once lost the business can't be won back."
(Oct 9, 2012 Guardian)