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Blackpool Pleasure Beach: 2025 Discussion

rob666 said:
Kebab Hut...
Rob loves the place, and has eaten there for many years, nearest dodgy kebab to the main entrance.
Dippy has been a more recent convert, and is about to step into the discovery of the full menu.
Shakey looked up the official scores on the doors review, and quickly ran off...
I haven't died yet.
Kebabs to be eaten under the protection of the curved sea well, above the beach steps, or the seagulls with flick knives come in over the shoulder.

Then dippy complains that the volvo seatbelts are too tight.
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I am happy to report that the food hygiene rating has risen to 4 out of 5 . (Think it was 2 a couple of years ago)
 
Dipper_Dave said:
Really disappointed in operations this season, particularly the staggered openings / early ride closures.

I called in on Mon 2 June during the afternoon, on a 5pm close. The Big One (single train) only had the front 2 cars open, which is an absolute joke when the station was mostly full (to the scanner, so just the back line vacant). As I got on, it did look like staff were about to make the middle car available, but from what I could see, the queue justified at least 4 cars, and possibly the full train.

Due to the absurd amount of time I had to wait to get on one of only 6 rows available, I didn’t get off in time to ride Steeplechase which closed at 4. Big Dipper, which is normally great for rides in the last hour, also closed at 4.

Streak closed at 4 along with the whole of Nick Land (I’ve never understood why that area shuts an hour before the rest of the park). Grand National still shut for maintenance. No woodies available after 4pm. Ghost Train also shut at 4. What used to be a fun late afternoon on the park has become a frustrating game of ‘spot the open ride’.

On Tue 17 June, lots of school trips, Big One queue to the bottom of the ramp, but by mid afternoon it had closed.

Big Dipper (still single train) dispatch poor due to scanner operator chatting to ops cabin staff for several minutes after emptying punters off train, and then chatting again after checking train empty. Dipper was on 12-4, so basically nobody could enjoy that last hour on it after the trips had left. Really poor, especially with Nash shut & Streak also shutting at 4, Big Dipper should be open to the end.

They don’t do themselves any favours at all. At least the company and kebabs were good. I hope renewals don’t rocket next season or I’m out
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Can somebody that knows far more about coaster operations than me explain why on earth you’d voluntarily run a coaster with certain cars not operational?
 
Mick said:
Can somebody that knows far more about coaster operations than me explain why on earth you’d voluntarily run a coaster with certain cars not operational?
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Any of the following.....

1. One of the trains is not fit.
2. A problem with the system that is not allowing them to run two trains due to safety reasons.
3. To purposely increase the queues to sell more speedypass/fasttrack
4. Can't be arsed.
 
Big One is unusual as they don't want the train to be too light to get round, on days when it's forecast to be quiet they close off cars to artificially reduce capacity and ensure each train goes round full. Sometimes they even run it on 1 1/2 trains on medium-busy days.

Generally they take some sandbags out if the queue gets longer but they don't always bother
 
Now, perhaps the mechanics team and whatnot has been pared down to an absolute minimum, and they just haven't got enough manpower and resources to run a full complement of trains on all the coasters, all the time.
That would also explain later opening on some rides...not signed off yet has been heard more than once.
Perhaps if they only open one single adult wooden coaster, for only four hours, they could minimise the ride team to half what it used to be, with no need to give statutory breaks.
Then there is the matter of short queues mean fewer speedypass sales.
Then the frequent changes in staff due to poor wages, and better offers of employment mid season from other local employers.
Also less power use overall.

But mainly...can't be arsed, as shakey said.
 
All the signs of a business struggling with cashflow. Short-term fixes that do nothing for the medium-term (i.e. customer satisfaction/repeat business). I expect most tickets are now sold on-line, in advance, so they are clearly running the park knowing the numbers of punters. Pure speculation, of course!
 
IDB said:
I can’t work out from the website if it ever got approved?

I can see though that it received a single objection (which is 21 pages long) from you never guess who!!

The Big Ben Star Flyer is now in the UK currently being built up for testing for the first time, so would be interesting to see if it turns up on the prom.
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As a side note. The Big Ben Star Flyer has turned up on the east coast at Skegness for the Summer.
 
rob666 said:
No Big One is no deal in this wind, all the rest are open bar the National, which may actually open on Friday.
Allegedly.
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Nash has now been removed from the ride availability page (well yesterday at some point), so finger crossed its open tomorrow.

Wallace & Gromit is closed on Monday, wonder is they are updating a scene or two....
 
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