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Blackpool Pleasure Beach: 2025 Discussion
jon81uk
TS Member
Again, what is BPB transitioning from and to?
Paultons is not in a similar situation, they are building on good development with more good development.
Chessington is removing older attractions and yes moving to something newer (and potentially transitioning away from being a zoo if the rumours are true.
But at BPB it seems they are going from a thriving park, to an OK one, to a poor one with a new gyroswing.
Dipper_Dave
TS Member
I also would like to know what exactly they are transitioning from & to?
This phrase cannot and should not excuse poor operations. The park have opened one fully brand new coaster in the last 31 years. They have repeatedly removed rides and not replaced them.
We have no idea when River Caves will reopen. We have no idea why Dodgems mysteriously vanished from the ride lineup. They are now closing a very historic coaster (Big Dipper) midweek until further notice.
How long would you say we ‘have to be patient’ for when the park is getting worse all the time? The ride lineup is the worse it has been in the whole time I’ve been visiting (not far off 4 decades).
Yeah I don't see how anyone could claim that Blackpool are in transition - there’s various bits of goings on with rides but no coherent overarching strategy (that we’re aware of) that they’re working towards. The refurb of Launch Pad, planned gyro swing and the like are welcome additions but not a sign of a park transforming or transitioning to anything imo.
Chessington is a fair example of a park that is in transition at the moment, Walt Disney Studio’s is another one, fundamental changes that will alter the park’s overall feel and offering, hopefully for the better.
Chessington is a fair example of a park that is in transition at the moment, Walt Disney Studio’s is another one, fundamental changes that will alter the park’s overall feel and offering, hopefully for the better.
flyingguitar
TS Member
They are in a transition... from one of Brittan's best parks to a city park with some fountains.
Putting the Park back into Amusement Park
...and a nice new pergola.
edit...
I know I heard from somewhere...but for the life of me I can't remember who...they are planning on eventually having far fewer rides, but all those rides are meant to be headline, high heritage or high capacity rides.
Smaller filler is set to completely vanish.
Dipper_Dave
TS Member
Eventually?! They already have far fewer rides than say 20 years ago. Also a few filler rides / kiddy rides have gone this season.
GooseOnTheLoose
TS Member
Is modernising the park not one
GooseOnTheLoose
TS Member
Barry: "The Parks transitioning Paul!"
Paul: "What from Barry, and what to?"
Barry: "From me, to you"
Paul: "To you, to me. To you, to me"
Barry: "I know. Let's put up a pergola. That'll keep everyone entertained".
www.bbc.co.uk/news/chuckle-brother-fakes-own-death-to-run-amusement-park
Matty17p
TS Member
Has anyone stopped to think that maybe the reason the dipper is on 1 train is because the ride itself needs essential/major work done to it bring it back on a 2 train service. And potentially it's listed status is stopping said essential/major work being done.
If this is too be the case get comfy, getting a listed status removed is rare and not easy to do. removing a listing isn't done lightly and would normally involve some heritage experts and in some cases the public being invited to give their say before a final decisions is made.
Things took into account when d-listing:
1. New facts show it shouldn’t have been listed in the first place, like mistakes about its history or importance.
2.The building has been changed so much (through renovations, extensions, or damage) that it’s lost the features that made it special.
3. Heritage experts have reassessed it, and it’s no longer considered as significant as it once was.
Things not taken into account when d-listing:
1.The building’s current condition
2.The owner's personal views or inconvenience
3.The cost of maintenance or restoration
4.Future development plans
5.The building being empty or unused
6.Neglect, even intentional
There has to be a solid reason as to why its only on 1 train, I don't think it's because the park doesn't care about customer service or because they "cba". My reasons above me be an actual reason as to why, but maybe I could be wrong.
Some numbers for you all,
1.There is around 460,00 buildings listed in the UK
2.Over the past 5 years there has only been around 1,000 buildings be De-listed
I'm sure we all seen that article about the Nash and its listed trying to be removed, who knows maybe the park wanted to do more work to the ride and couldn't because of its status so they tried to remove it (It's listed status)?
Anyone got any opinions on this?
If this is too be the case get comfy, getting a listed status removed is rare and not easy to do. removing a listing isn't done lightly and would normally involve some heritage experts and in some cases the public being invited to give their say before a final decisions is made.
Things took into account when d-listing:
1. New facts show it shouldn’t have been listed in the first place, like mistakes about its history or importance.
2.The building has been changed so much (through renovations, extensions, or damage) that it’s lost the features that made it special.
3. Heritage experts have reassessed it, and it’s no longer considered as significant as it once was.
Things not taken into account when d-listing:
1.The building’s current condition
2.The owner's personal views or inconvenience
3.The cost of maintenance or restoration
4.Future development plans
5.The building being empty or unused
6.Neglect, even intentional
There has to be a solid reason as to why its only on 1 train, I don't think it's because the park doesn't care about customer service or because they "cba". My reasons above me be an actual reason as to why, but maybe I could be wrong.
Some numbers for you all,
1.There is around 460,00 buildings listed in the UK
2.Over the past 5 years there has only been around 1,000 buildings be De-listed
I'm sure we all seen that article about the Nash and its listed trying to be removed, who knows maybe the park wanted to do more work to the ride and couldn't because of its status so they tried to remove it (It's listed status)?
Anyone got any opinions on this?
I do kinda agree rides shouldn't be listed but Nash and Dipper both have received new braking systems which the listed status didn't effect and both received lap bars. But at the same time there are not many woodies that offer the same bite as these 2 at Pleasure Beach
Though the listed status did save a woodie in the UK from being demolished that being Scenic Railway which the Dreamland did close for a bit.
Matty17p
TS Member
The Nash and Dipper were both listed in 2017 so any work done prior to 2017 didn't impact them getting listed, It's getting the work done after it's been listed is when the issues start.
Dipper
Nash
The Grand National, Non Civil Parish - 1436382 | Historic England
List entry 1436382. Grade II Listed Building: The Grand National. May include summary, reasons for designation and history.
historicengland.org.uk
I do wonder why they got them listed as I'm sure it does cause them a fair few problems, the only real benefits I see from them listing them are:
1. A small marketing advantage
2. Assets value ( Not a real benefit unless they sell the park)
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John_P
TS Member
They did plenty of work to the Big Dipper for its 100th anniversary in 2023. Same to the Grand National this close season.
The park didn't list them another group did.
The park didn't list them another group did.
Matty17p
TS Member
Correct and look how long the work took on the Nash for a small part of the ride to be re-tracked, for that to be done the pleasure beach would of had to get consent from Historic England. It can take up to 8 weeks for LBC and it's clearly a very lengthy processes for IMO a small amount of work.
Now take the Nash for example if the ride had been listed in 2004 there's no way the work that was done on it after the fire would of happened, Historic England don't take the ride being able to operate as a priory. But when it comes to the Dipper 95% of that work was cosmetic (painting and the tear drop) and that also need LBC.
When it comes to major changes to listed ride like the trains, station building or operating system these types of things can effect the heritage value and make them non original and that doesn't fit with Historic England.
Would be interesting to know how many times the park has been knocked back by LBC.
flyingguitar
TS Member
I think you are over estimating the limitations of historical england,
the fire damage would have very likely been allowed to be fixed (and probably encouraged to), often they may require historical tequniques to be used (although given they can retrack the ride, I would guess it wouldn't be too much of a problem)
In addition operating systems for nash wouldn't be too complex to change, depending on how its systems work (e.g PLC, Relay, etc) as it works similarly to modern coasters.
dipper may be more complex, as it is manual and installing an automated braking system would require sensors, additional wiring and a mechanism capable of actuating the brakes which would be difficult and custom (potentially requiring a compressor if pneumatic) that would defiantly effect the structure.
if it was issues with running 2 trains I could imagine modifications to dipper, for example not allowing a train to leave the lift if the brakes in the unload station aren't on. these would be less, however require a sensor (which would be a very minor addition)
I personally just think it is them trying to save the maintenance cost of having to inspect and maintain another train for each ride, it also probably saves them insurance money as they can say it will only run one train, reducing collisions.
Yes, a shortage of mechanics on the park, due to the place being in a very tricky situation economically...as in...income is barely covering expenditure.
Not as many mechanics as they used to have, so a great deal of the maintenance that used to be done in the closed season is now done in the season, simple.
I personally think this is nothing to do with listings, it is all to do with hard cash...the lack of it.
And the Beach have never, ever, been famous for customer service...
Fresh bunch of mugs washed up on every tide.
No refunds, check your terms and conditions, send in a complaint by email...which they then ignore.
That is their style, so one closed coaster is not going to bother them much in the grand scheme of things,,,which they haven't actually got.
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