Blackpool Pleasure Beach: 2025 Discussion

[D4n]

The sudden appearance in this thread of multiple vocal members with very little posting history who seem intent on blindly supporting and justifying the indefensible management decisions of the park feels a little... suspect? Actually arguing that the removal of filler rides without replacement is a good thing is beyond comprehension.

It's ok to love a place and still question the decision making sometimes. In fact, it's healthy to do so, particularly when the Pleasure Beach appears as an outsider to be accelerating into a death spiral.

 

[venny]

I mean, if you did “vote me” for MD, I could promise: -

- not closing rides which had minimal operational running costs

- not demolishing classic and beloved attractions clandestinely

- reinvesting the fortune spent on Hot Ice into park operations

- a coherent marketing strategy

- rides running at full capacity

- a return of the walk around pass

- the reinstatement of the animatronic piano-playing gorilla from King Cotton to entertain punters in Big Pizza Kitchen

Or of course, vote for Mrs.T and cross your fingers Grand National isn’t next on the block. Don’t worry though, they’ll reinvest in “something exciting”, just like they’ve done with Space Invader, Vikingar, Wild Mouse, Trauma Towers, the Dodgems, Cableway, Millenium Bug, and all the other rides we’ve lost.

 

[rob666]

...and don't forget the Reel, replaced by dodgy flats for a few years, then a big tent.

Sorry Matty17p, but on that manifesto, Venny wins with a clear majority, and I think you just lost your deposit.

And I would take Mr Camms comments on £100,000 spent on timber for each coaster each year with a very large pinch of salt...that is showman talk, in a business suit.
Blue Streak gets that much on timber a year?
Simply no.
Likewise the Streak, new wood in Nickland orange would show up.
I buy and fit exterior timber a great deal as part of my job.
I would have noticed that amount of new lumber on a ride.
Nope.

All the closed flats could have been opened on rotation.

The Grand Prix was clapped out, the batteries on the cars only lasted a few hours a day so capacity was extremely limited, and the very long wait in a short queueline caused a bucketload of complaints...two hours stuck in a fifty foot queue over the bridge wasn't very good.

Other rides have just vanished...the dodgems isn't in the closures list...

If the park wants to succeed, it need to bring the consultants in, allow them to do their job, and then they need to follow the actual advice the paid consultants have given.

Or not, as the case may be.

Allegedly.

 

[Hid]

but a lot of those rides won't cost that much to run, the carousel is essentially a motor, a gear box and some cranks, same with stobart. nothing more compared to the rollercoasters it will cost essentially pennies to run, I understand they will need to staff it but that will be one staff member, and it could open during more busy times, and allow people who may not want to go on coasters to have some fun.

red arrows I think I would agree with it being expensive (although no where near a rollercoaster), but my question is why are they having to close a ride only 10 years old, like it should still be pretty popular as it is quite a unique ride, and looks pretty good from the outside.

you also have to consider what effect having 5 rides SBNO has on a park, consider if you go now you are met with old facards with quite a bit of wear, an rollercoaster SBNO (nash), a rollercoaster that is half rust at this point (revolution), the big one and avalanche with a 60 minuite queue running one train, multiple rides not open just dotted about the place, steeple chase running only one track.
I gives a very worn out appearance of a park and isn't really a place people may want to go back to (especially in the modern era where people want everything to look nice,)

I think another problem is that you mention that they can use the savings to re-invest but they don't replace closed rides, the reason people are annoyed is because they will probably not replace them, unless you think fountains are a good replacment they aren't reinvesting and just removing the rides.

Consider the maintenance each rides requires every year, those rides require full strip downs also no one was riding so why keep them open if literally daily they only had 1 rider per day doesn't make sense to keep them. Skyforcd as well only a small number of people rode it. Compared to the other filler rides.

I'll wait and see what they do with these ride area Pleasure Beach needs to modernise with bigger more reliable, easier to maintain machines, a few of these rides could have been end of service life. So it's a wait n see what they do next

 

[Hid]

but a lot of those rides won't cost that much to run, the carousel is essentially a motor, a gear box and some cranks, same with stobart. nothing more compared to the rollercoasters it will cost essentially pennies to run, I understand they will need to staff it but that will be one staff member, and it could open during more busy times, and allow people who may not want to go on coasters to have some fun.

red arrows I think I would agree with it being expensive (although no where near a rollercoaster), but my question is why are they having to close a ride only 10 years old, like it should still be pretty popular as it is quite a unique ride, and looks pretty good from the outside.

you also have to consider what effect having 5 rides SBNO has on a park, consider if you go now you are met with old facards with quite a bit of wear, an rollercoaster SBNO (nash), a rollercoaster that is half rust at this point (revolution), the big one and avalanche with a 60 minuite queue running one train, multiple rides not open just dotted about the place, steeple chase running only one track.
I gives a very worn out appearance of a park and isn't really a place people may want to go back to (especially in the modern era where people want everything to look nice,)

I think another problem is that you mention that they can use the savings to re-invest but they don't replace closed rides, the reason people are annoyed is because they will probably not replace them, unless you think fountains are a good replacment they aren't reinvesting and just removing the rides.

Those SBNO Rides could of been end of Service life or just not used so why keep them if no one is riding.

I mean, if you did “vote me” for MD, I could promise: -

- not closing rides which had minimal operational running costs

- not demolishing classic and beloved attractions clandestinely

- reinvesting the fortune spent on Hot Ice into park operations

- a coherent marketing strategy

- rides running at full capacity

- a return of the walk around pass

- the reinstatement of the animatronic piano-playing gorilla from King Cotton to entertain punters in Big Pizza Kitchen

Or of course, vote for Mrs.T and cross your fingers Grand National isn’t next on the block. Don’t worry though, they’ll reinvest in “something exciting”, just like they’ve done with Space Invader, Vikingar, Wild Mouse, Trauma Towers, the Dodgems, Cableway, Millenium Bug, and all the other rides we’ve lost.

You've bankrupted the park by doing that remember Pleasure Beach does not have endless money this is why none of us own a park none of us would have any idea what we are doing.

The sudden appearance in this thread of multiple vocal members with very little posting history who seem intent on blindly supporting and justifying the indefensible management decisions of the park feels a little... suspect? Actually arguing that the removal of filler rides without replacement is a good thing is beyond comprehension.

It's ok to love a place and still question the decision making sometimes. In fact, it's healthy to do so, particularly when the Pleasure Beach appears as an outsider to be accelerating into a death spiral.

I am sorry the park is far from a death spiral they are investing in the park now Gyro Swing first you will see more invesment after. Be patient. The park financially is in a better state that the late 2000's when they did almost go bankrupt and that was with big new additions such as Valhalla, Bling and Spin Doctor

 

[Themeparksandy1981]

I have no problem with them closing/removing or leaving rides SBNO but the park since the removal of Trauma Towers building and the mouse in 2018 have a habit of leaving areas empty or replaced with gardens or water features.
When it was free to enter with tickets everywhere you turned there was a ride.

 

[Hid]

I have no problem with them closing/removing or leaving rides SBNO but the park since the removal of Trauma Towers building and the mouse in 2018 have a habit of leaving areas empty or replaced with gardens or water features.
When it was free to enter with tickets everywhere you turned there was a ride.

To be honest FY4 area is awkward to work with what would fit in the Wild Mouse plot.

 

[Themeparksandy1981]

Wasn’t the FY4 area where the entertainment stage area use to be?

 

[Ares]

Those SBNO Rides could of been end of Service life or just not used so why keep them if no one is riding.

You've bankrupted the park by doing that remember Pleasure Beach does not have endless money this is why none of us own a park none of us would have any idea what we are doing.


I am sorry the park is far from a death spiral they are investing in the park now Gyro Swing first you will see more invesment after. Be patient. The park financially is in a better state that the late 2000's when they did almost go bankrupt and that was with big new additions such as Valhalla, Bling and Spin Doctor

"Financially in a better state..." I wouldn't be so sure about that.

 

[rob666]

To be honest FY4 area is awkward to work with what would fit in the Wild Mouse plot.

The Wild Mouse, silly.

 

[Benzin]

I'll wait and see what they do with these ride area Pleasure Beach needs to modernise with bigger more reliable, easier to maintain machines, a few of these rides could have been end of service life. So it's a wait n see what they do next

Are modern rides "easier" to maintain? Often far more complex than a motor on a stick most old attractions tend to be.

To be honest FY4 area is awkward to work with what would fit in the Wild Mouse plot.

It really isn't. Especially if you use the old Trauma Towers site instead.


The problem with waiting and seeing is that the park have historically proven that they will remove stuff and NOT replace it. So it's little wonder there's concern.

As mentioned too, holding up the Beach as a financially prudent and sensible business is quite funny.

 

[Hid]

"Financially in a better state..." I wouldn't be so sure about that.

They realese them to get taxes reduced that's why, and yes they are in better financial state because they did nearly go bankrupt in 2009. They are in a transitional period of changing the park

Are modern rides "easier" to maintain? Often far more complex than a motor on a stick most old attractions tend to be.



It really isn't. Especially if you use the old Trauma Towers site instead.


The problem with waiting and seeing is that the park have historically proven that they will remove stuff and NOT replace it. So it's little wonder there's concern.

As mentioned too, holding up the Beach as a financially prudent and sensible business is quite funny.

When I say easier to maintain take a new flat ride the parts are easier to come by if the manufacturer still creates the Ride type.

Good things come to those that wait.

 

[shakey]

Regarding the "5" closed rides , its not 5 is it ?

Here are some rides that have been closed and not currently replaced with any other ride.....

Thompsons Carousel (SBNO)
Gallopers (Removed and now just a roof)
Eddie Stobard (SBNO)
Alpine Ralley (SBNO)
Sky Force (SBNO)
Grand Prix (Removed, looks like it will be grass and a fountain)
Dodgems (Removed and now just a roof)
Wild Mouse (Now a bar area that rarely opens)
Trauma Towers (Now AstroTurf)
Monorail (track still standing)
Tea Cups (now a seating area)
Noah's Ark (SBNO)
Astro Swirl (Removed - Dome still standing but not used)
Space Invader (Now a restaurant)
Black Hole (SBNO , now being demolished)
The Haunted Swing (SBNO)
Spin Doctor (Removed)
Vikingar (Now just out buildings)
The Cableway (Now toilets at one end and Lokis bar at the other)
The Greatest Show on Earth (Now burger king)
The Reel (Now a theatre)

That's at least 21 !!

And in recent years we have also seen rides closed for long periods

Valhalla -- 3 years.
River Caves -- at least 2 years maybe more, who knows.
Ice Blast -- over a year
Big Dipper -- over half a year (and has only operated on one train for the last year)
And now Nash is closed for allegedly "maintenance"

If the closed rides they recently announced were the only ones closed in recent years then I don't think anyone would be complaining, but the fact is that these rides are just the latest in a long list of rides that have not been replaced.

 

[Themeparksandy1981]

I not been to Blackpool since 2010 but really the only ride they installed since I do want to ride is Icon but 1 ride is not gonna make up drive up north. Launch Pad been on it many times before the re-theme and the new ride next year. I feel rough nowadays getting off Maelstrom at Drayton Manor so I’m not gonna rush back to ride a bigger version.
They will need to install a world class dark ride or a world class coaster for me to return to the pleasure beach.

 

[rob666]

Free beer in Crevettes for old gits, grumblers and others today at noon.
Better than mowing lawns, I've nearly caught up.

 

[shakey]

Free beer in Crevettes for old gits, grumblers and others today at noon.
Better than mowing lawns, I've nearly caught up.

Have a good one Rob. See if you can find a ride that's open !

 

[Hid]

Regarding the "5" closed rides , its not 5 is it ?

Here are some rides that have been closed and not currently replaced with any other ride.....

Thompsons Carousel (SBNO)
Gallopers (Removed and now just a roof)
Eddie Stobard (SBNO)
Alpine Ralley (SBNO)
Sky Force (SBNO)
Grand Prix (Removed, looks like it will be grass and a fountain)
Dodgems (Removed and now just a roof)
Wild Mouse (Now a bar area that rarely opens)
Trauma Towers (Now AstroTurf)
Monorail (track still standing)
Tea Cups (now a seating area)
Noah's Ark (SBNO)
Astro Swirl (Removed - Dome still standing but not used)
Space Invader (Now a restaurant)
Black Hole (SBNO , now being demolished)
The Haunted Swing (SBNO)
Spin Doctor (Removed)
Vikingar (Now just out buildings)
The Cableway (Now toilets at one end and Lokis bar at the other)
The Greatest Show on Earth (Now burger king)
The Reel (Now a theatre)

That's at least 21 !!

And in recent years we have also seen rides closed for long periods

Valhalla -- 3 years.
River Caves -- at least 2 years maybe more, who knows.
Ice Blast -- over a year
Big Dipper -- over half a year (and has only operated on one train for the last year)
And now Nash is closed for allegedly "maintenance"

If the closed rides they recently announced were the only ones closed in recent years then I don't think anyone would be complaining, but the fact is that these rides are just the latest in a long list of rides that have not been replaced.

And each can be explained why they closed either through lack of Ridership, High Maintenance Costs, Popularity, or end of service life. Also some were closed due to Insurance both Wild Mouse and Noah's Ark were.

The Monorail holds wiring on it and so the park can use all this space and replace the rides. It'd a case of too many end of service rides at once.

Many have been replaced with something not nothing

 

[Mick]

The way I see Pleasure Beach and their ride decisions is very similar to Alton Towers at the moment.

The need to invest quite significant amounts in existing rides to keep them going, combined with the need for new attractions to grab headlines and draw in customer numbers, and having to make some tough decisions or removing rides at a not ideal time.

Both parks I think are risking short term pain for some in order to put the park in a better place in a the short to medium term, with a better rounded offering for all types of customer base. But I guess we’ll see.

 

[Matty17p]

Fact of the matter is if things aren't used you close them, if a shop no longer has people using it you close it, if a bus service is no longer used you cancel it, another example would be a restaurants with a large menu with only 30% of the items being order, what do you do? remove the items that are not ordered after a period of time. it's as black and white as that. You want the park to do well? accept change instead of criticizing every thing they do, they've made some bad moves in the past and the park is certainly not perfect but cut back are everywhere in the country from households to business. The park can't continue to spend money on things that simply are not used

The park for the first time in a long time seems to be heading in the right directions, classic rides now getting some TLC, a new, exciting and stand out ride coming to the park next year. It's the first time in 15 years I've actually looked froward to the parks future and without a doubt there is more to come in the future.

Some speculations here but,

Grand prix clsoed
Eddie Stobart Convoy closed
Alpine Rallye closed
Thompson Carousel clsoed
Avalanche defiantly on borrow time, poor performance with ops a family of 4 would take up more than half the train if they rode a car each

Pretty large footprint for something in the future

I do think the rides closing are apart of a bigger picture, just like with Icon go-carts removed the old water buggy's on Tom Sawyer bridge all removed if I remember rightly nobody kicked up a fuss over them closing even with the walk around pass being a thing back then and being able to pay per ride on them mmhhh.

 

[rob666]

And each can be explained why they closed either through lack of Ridership, High Maintenance Costs, Popularity, or end of service life. Also some were closed due to Insurance both Wild Mouse and Noah's Ark were.

The Monorail holds wiring on it and so the park can use all this space and replace the rides. It'd a case of too many end of service rides at once.

Many have been replaced with something not nothing

Good to see young Matt has passed on the blind optimism baton at last.

And both the go carts and water buggies were pay per ride, no loss to wristband lovers.