A theme park has issued a landmark dietary warning on its record-breaking new rollercoaster as "not suitable for vegans" - due to the unavoidable presence of flying insects. Signs now warn vegan thrill-seekers at Thorpe Park, in Surrey, wanting a high-speed ride on its Hyperia rollercoaster to beware that the sheer speed and intensity of the ride means dodging airborne insects is not an option.

And at 236ft tall and zooming at over 80mph (130km/h), riders may unwillingly encounter a "few unexpected high-protein snacks along the way". The new sign reads: "Warning - Not suitable for vegans. This ride may contain unexpected protein."

Head of Food and Beverage at Thorpe Park, Ava Kado, said: "We’ve always encouraged guests to embrace their fearlessness on our rides, but this time we’re also asking them to embrace the unpredictable.

"At Thorpe Park, we pride ourselves on catering to a wide range of dietary preferences, but we felt it was only fair to give our vegan visitors a heads-up.

"While we can promise the ride of a lifetime, we can’t promise a completely bug-free experience, so if you’re strictly plant-based, sorry, this one’s not for you."

The core belief of veganism is to avoid eating animals or their products, so would tend to extend to knowingly consuming insects.

The hypercoaster - a rollercoaster with a height or drop measuring at least 200 feet - opened as the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the UK in May 2024.

Hyperia's height became a new record last year, beating The Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach by 23 feet.

While its maximum speed, reportedly exceeding 80mph, overtook the previous UK speed holder Stealth, also at Thorpe Park.

The coaster runs with two 20-passenger trains and boasts two inversions: a barrel roll downdrop and a stalled dive loop.

The theme park explained: "Thorpe Park is no stranger to pushing boundaries, and now, it’s testing the limits of dietary preferences too.

"A special warning sign has been unveiled at the entrance of the park’s latest record-breaking attraction, Hyperia, cautioning vegan guests to think twice before boarding.

"With the sheer speed and intensity of the ride, dodging airborne insects is not an option."

If you’re ready to defy gravity - and possibly your diet - you can secure Thorpe Park tickets, hotel stays, or annual passes now. www.thorpepark.com is open from 28th March to 2nd November 2025.