Graveley Fruit Farm near Hitchin, Hertfordshire, has defended a Titanic-themed slide ride after facing accusations online that the attraction disrespects the more than 1,500 people who died when the ocean liner sank in 1912. Manager Will Campbell-Gray said the farm has no intention of removing or renaming the ride, insisting it serves as a tribute rather than mockery of the disaster.
The attraction, built from a replica of the ship, tilts sharply at one end so that riders slide downward in a motion meant to evoke the vessel's sinking after it struck an iceberg during its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York.
What is the ride and why has it caused controversy?
The ride was built last year using repurposed farm materials, including strawberry polytunnel hoops and an old tipper lorry trailer. Some visitors and social media users have branded it "disrespectful" and "odd," arguing that turning a maritime tragedy into a children's attraction trivialises the deaths involved.
Campbell-Gray rejected that framing, saying the ride instead keeps the memory of the disaster alive for younger visitors.
We're keeping the memory of Titanic alive and we're not making fun of the dead at all.
He also pointed to what he described as an educational benefit, noting that some children with a strong interest in the ship's history have been drawn to the attraction because of its subject matter.
We've had autistic children who are obsessed with Titanic... they love coming here and going on it because they know all the facts and all the figures.
According to Metro, criticism of the ride was still circulating in mid-August 2026, with reports confirming the attraction costs £2 per go and continues to operate under the name "Titanic" rather than the temporary alternative used the previous year. A further local report from ITV's Anglia news team on 19 August 2026 covered the same ongoing dispute, indicating the story had not settled even months after the ride's construction.
Separately, one report described the ride's mechanics in more detail, noting that riders travel down four slides before landing on a crash mat, with tickets issued in the style of boarding passes, according to the Daily Mail. The farm's own activity listing markets the attraction as a "thrill-filled experience" priced at £2 a go or £5 for three goes, according to Graveley Strawberries' website, framing it primarily as a family day-out attraction rather than a solemn memorial.
Why did the farm rename then reverse the name of the ride?
Campbell-Gray said the ride was briefly renamed The Big Tipper last year after complaints were made online, with new signage produced to reflect the change. However, he said reversing the name caused an even stronger reaction than the original complaints.
My wife, who does the social media, got threats... death threats saying that we should change it back.
He said the family ultimately decided the original name should stand, arguing that the ride was never intended as an insult to those who died.
So we actually thought long and hard and thought, actually, we're not making fun of the dead or anything.
Actually it's a nice thing to be a memory of the Titanic and keep the Titanic memory alive.
Campbell-Gray said he had not anticipated any negative reaction when the ride was first built.
It never even crossed our minds that there would be any backlash.
The farm's owners estimate that roughly 500 people use the ride each day.
One further account, published by RedState, said the ride had returned to the farm in May 2026 after having operated in previous years, suggesting the attraction is not a wholly new addition but one that has drawn renewed attention this year.
What is the history behind the Titanic disaster?
The Titanic measured 269 metres (882ft) in length, 28 metres (91ft) in width and more than 53 metres (173ft) in height, and took approximately three years to build. Its construction cost around £1.5m at the time, equivalent to roughly £170m today.
Separately, the technical plans of the Titanic and its sister ships are due to become publicly accessible for the first time through the Harland and Wolff archive housed at the Ulster Folk Museum, supported by a major cataloguing project, according to earlier reporting on the ship's original blueprints.
What happens next for the ride?
The farm's published activity listings show the ride remains open on weekends and daily throughout school holidays, with no indication of any scheduled review, hearing or further decision on its future name or operation. For now, the attraction continues to run as originally named, despite the continuing online criticism.
- The ride is located at Graveley Fruit Farm near Hitchin, Hertfordshire.
- More than 1,500 people died when the Titanic sank in 1912 after striking an iceberg.
- The ride was briefly renamed The Big Tipper last year before reverting to its original name.
- The farm estimates about 500 people use the ride daily, at a cost of £2 per go.
- Criticism of the attraction was still being reported by other outlets as late as 19 August 2026.
