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Wonka film provides golden ticket for St Albans park

Danny Fullbrook
BBC News, Hertfordshire
Lynne Wilde The Wonka set in St AlbansLynne Wilde
The majority of filming for the Wonka trailer at Verulamium Park, in St Albans, took place at night

Filming for the new Wonka movie has provided a golden ticket for a £25,000 park upgrade.

Verulamium Park in St Albans was used for scenes in the new Charlie & the Chocolate Factory prequel starring Timothée Chalamet as Willy Wonka.

St Albans City & District Council has revealed it was paid £41,000 for use of the park, with £25,000 ring-fenced specifically for park improvements.

Councillor Helen Campbell said the money would be put to "very good use".

She said she could not reveal the projects being considered, but said it would not be used for routine maintenance and there were "lots of things on our potential wish list".

Warner bros A still from the Wonka trailerWarner bros
St Albans City and District councillor Helen Campbell said it was "unmistakably the lake in our park"

The contribution will be combined with money made from other events held at the park, such as Pub in the Park and Comedy Garden, taking the total available spend to upwards of £35,000.

Ms Campbell said the money was "really welcome" at a time when authorities faced financial pressures.

Crews working on Wonka, which was primarily filmed at Leavesden Studios in Hertfordshire, spent about a day filming in the park and nearby Abbey Mill Lane.

Warner Bros Timothée Chalamet in St Albans in a still from the Wonka trailerWarner Bros
Some local landmarks can be spotted in the Wonka trailer, such as the bridge across the River Ver and the map of Verulamium Park

Ms Campbell said the council was doing "enhanced marketing" to appeal to more films crews.

"We'll keep on pushing St Albans as a wonderful location - it's close to London, it's got all that heritage that historic backdrop that crews are looking for," she said.

Lynne Wilde The set in front of St Albans CathedralLynne Wilde
The other £16,000 of the financial contribution went towards reimbursing park staff, parking and reinstatement after filming was complete

The film, inspired by Roald Dahl's much-loved children's book Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, has been directed by Paddington film-maker Paul King.

It also stars Oscar winner Olivia Colman, Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins and Mr Bean star Rowan Atkinson, as well as former Great British Bake Off presenter Matt Lucas.

Reuters Calah Lane (L) and Timothee Chalamet, promoting the movie Wonka, attend a Warner Bros presentation during CinemaCon, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners, in Las Vegas, NevadaReuters
Calah Lane stars alongside Timothee Chalamet in the Wonka movie

Hugh Grant also appears in the film as Oompa Loompa.

In taking on the central role, Chalamet follows in the footsteps of Gene Wilder, who starred in 1971's Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory; and Johnny Depp, who appeared in Tim Burton's 2005 adaptation.

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