DistortAMG
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- POTC Disneyland Paris
-
ℹ️ Heads up...
This is a popular topic that is fast moving Guest - before posting, please ensure that you check out the first post in the topic for a quick reminder of guidelines, and importantly a summary of the known facts and information so far. Thanks.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach: 2025 Discussion
- Thread starter rob666
- Start date
Benjsh
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
Let's hope this is the start of an amazing comeback by Mandy and the Park. I have been hugely critical of them for a while now but it still remains a park that is close to my heart even though I don't visit as often as I used to.
From next year they could be the UK park with:
The best Dark / Water Ride in Valhalla
The best Drop Tower in Launch Pad
The best flat ride with the new Gyro Swing
And whilst they don't have the best stand alone coaster (Hyperia), they have quite a varied selection with probably one of the two most iconic ones in The Big One. Nemmy obviously being the other at Towers.
They just need to keep making sensible decisions. Bringing back the non rider pass to me seems an absolute no brainer. The amount of comments I see on socials from grandparents saying they won't go back until it returns is crazy. They are throwing away money as Grandparents love spoiling their grandkids.
From next year they could be the UK park with:
The best Dark / Water Ride in Valhalla
The best Drop Tower in Launch Pad
The best flat ride with the new Gyro Swing
And whilst they don't have the best stand alone coaster (Hyperia), they have quite a varied selection with probably one of the two most iconic ones in The Big One. Nemmy obviously being the other at Towers.
They just need to keep making sensible decisions. Bringing back the non rider pass to me seems an absolute no brainer. The amount of comments I see on socials from grandparents saying they won't go back until it returns is crazy. They are throwing away money as Grandparents love spoiling their grandkids.
flyingguitar
TS Member
I feel like BPB has a problem with a lack of head line attractions. They have plenty of filler rides (such as revolution, avalanche, etc) and flat rides. But there is not much that drives the crowd each year.
You have multiple very old rides, and a couple very generic ride but the last ride that properly drew crowds is the big one.
The rest to me feel like filler that hasn't gotten much coverage from the public.
Icon or valhalla are the main exception but their marketing was so poor that they ruined its chances.
The other installations (although let's face it mainly removals) were quite generic and didn't really capture the market.
I think they need something big with a good marketing campaign to start attracting new crowds. The uks tallest gyro may be a good start but they need big rides to wow and attract people (consider since the big one AT has had oblivion, air, 13, wickerman, smiler.
You have multiple very old rides, and a couple very generic ride but the last ride that properly drew crowds is the big one.
The rest to me feel like filler that hasn't gotten much coverage from the public.
Icon or valhalla are the main exception but their marketing was so poor that they ruined its chances.
The other installations (although let's face it mainly removals) were quite generic and didn't really capture the market.
I think they need something big with a good marketing campaign to start attracting new crowds. The uks tallest gyro may be a good start but they need big rides to wow and attract people (consider since the big one AT has had oblivion, air, 13, wickerman, smiler.
The Big One has been the headline attraction on the Beach for the last thirty years.
It is what has attracted crowds to the park all that time...biggest in the country for a long time, yet you barely mention it!
Valhalla a popular second since the millennium.
Icon should have been more visible, higher and marketed properly.
Three clear headline attractions, then another half dozen coasters as back up.
It is what has attracted crowds to the park all that time...biggest in the country for a long time, yet you barely mention it!
Valhalla a popular second since the millennium.
Icon should have been more visible, higher and marketed properly.
Three clear headline attractions, then another half dozen coasters as back up.
flyingguitar
TS Member
That is my point, they have had 3 headline attractions in 31years, 2 of those attractions haven't really been marketed that well, so to the general public the only really know about the big one, a 31 year old ride at this point, not really new with many more exciting newer rides being made since.
In the same time AT has build 7, Thorpe has build pretty much all of their coasters. Now AT has the opposite problem with too little filler rides but the headliners are how you attract people
To the general public I think they mainly see it as an old park with very few new rides which they are not wrong about
In the same time AT has build 7, Thorpe has build pretty much all of their coasters. Now AT has the opposite problem with too little filler rides but the headliners are how you attract people
To the general public I think they mainly see it as an old park with very few new rides which they are not wrong about
PB issue isn't headline attractions, they still have those. It everything else especially all the rides that have been removed and not replaced. Your paying more for less and goes up year on year. That said a giant Gyro Swing is exactly what the park needs and hopefully marks a new era where we get new things instead of removals and fountains
Ares
TS Member
Just came here to post the same. Here are the full stats from the article for those interested. Sorry if this is a repost at all.
Attachments
Adam James
TS Contributor
- Favourite Ride
- Wild Mouse, BPB
Here's my quick breakdown of the current state of play...
28 Rides Open
1 Ride opening next season
3 Rides SBNO but confirmed to be reopening this year or soon after
6 Rides recently closed
10 locations where rides used to be prime for development
However when you look at the wider landscape, 30 rides at major British parks is sadly par for the course, with Alton, Chessington & Lightwater not far off. With higher NI contributions, living wage, utility increases, etc across the board, it's either make cutbacks or follow the fate of Flambards and Oakwood.
Last edited:
This hasn't happened overnight with PB those rides have been removed over a 15 year period. Pleasure beach as they say should have made hay when the sun shines. PB still has a good lineup compared to other parks but it certainly not the same offering as the early 2000s, the lack of new attractions is why people don't bother goingHere's my quick breakdown of the current state of play...
28 Rides Open
1 Ride opening next season
3 Rides SBNO but confirmed to be reopening this year or soon after
6 Rides recently closed
10 locations where rides used to be prime for development
However when you look at the wider landscape, 30 rides at major British parks is sadly par for the course, with Alton, Chessington & Lightwater not far off. With higher NI contributions, living wage, utility increases, etc across the board, it's either make cutbacks or follow the fate of Flambards and Oakwood.
Adam James
TS Contributor
- Favourite Ride
- Wild Mouse, BPB
Very true. But it's more timely this season. I can't recall the last time any UK park closed five rides in one season without the land being needed for new developments.
Basically a photo of nothing, but here's Gallopers this week
The op's cabin and the queue fencing is still there (for now).
I'm not convinced its new this week but Grand National has fresh looking red paint just before the station. No sign of moment anywhere else on it though.
The op's cabin and the queue fencing is still there (for now).
I'm not convinced its new this week but Grand National has fresh looking red paint just before the station. No sign of moment anywhere else on it though.
Enter Valhalla
TS Member
I have very little interest in flat rides, but if it’s there I guess I’ll give it a go.
Is it the same as the one at BonBon Land? Honestly my knowledge of flat rides is almost non-existent. I know I’ve walked past plenty of these at Six Flags parks, but I think that BonBon’s is the only one I’ve actually ever bothered to go on, because I just have no interest.
Is it the same as the one at BonBon Land? Honestly my knowledge of flat rides is almost non-existent. I know I’ve walked past plenty of these at Six Flags parks, but I think that BonBon’s is the only one I’ve actually ever bothered to go on, because I just have no interest.
shakey
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Wild Mouse - Blackpool - :(
As far as I am aware there has been no confirmation as to when river caves will reopen, only that it is being "Reimagined". Which we all know is code for "Closed for as long as we can get away with to save as much money as we can"
I hope it will open in 2026 but with a new ride already confirmed for 2026 it would be no surprise if the park pushes river caves re-opening back to the following year so it can claim it's the "new" ride for 2027.
Those are the Zamperla equivalent, but the same idea. Think they're a few feet taller
rctneil
TS Member
It's a very similar concept but in my opinion the Intamin has two benefits over the Zamperla:
1. Restraints, the Intamin has over the shoulder lapbars. So much freedom.
2. Reaches max swings and slows down much MUCH faster. You spend more of the ride cycle at the full height swings whereas the Zamperla's take much longer.
The one at BonBon is very decent though, but I can assure you, this Intamin one will be much better.
I personally don't think Pleasure Beach could have made a better choice! Great quality, great ride!