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Article: It started with a fish... 'My poor wife has seen more theme parks than anyone,' says the boss who built Merlin from a tiddler running Sea Life centres into a giant second only to Disney.(Business)
- Article from:
- The Mail on Sunday (London, England)
- Article date:
- July 5, 2009
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 Solo Syndication Limited. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: The Interview BY SARAH BRIDGE
NICK Varney, the man behind Merlin Entertainments Group, owner of tourist attractions such as the London Eye, Alton Towers and Madame Tussauds, leans over a water tank at the London Aquarium and starts singing to the stingrays.
'It started with a fish,' he croons. He gets a few odd looks from passers-by, but the fish swim on regardless. 'It really did though,' he says, as we continue through the aquarium towards its latest exhibit, the 'shark bridge' in which mini-Jaws swim beneath your feet. 'It started with Sea Life centres and now look where we are.'
Every year, more than 35 million people visit the 55 ...