I would like to see you try and run a park like Pleasure Beach I can guarantee it would go bankrupt within months. Operating Parks in the UK ie expensive
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Blackpool Pleasure Beach: 2025 Discussion
They are in much better position now then they were in the late 2000's where in 2009 they did nearly go bankrupt
flyingguitar
TS Member
It may be expensive, however closing down half your park and not creating something new is exaccally how you loose people, it dosn'e happen instantly, however people will notice all of their favourite rides have gone and have been replaced by fountains, or in grand prix case... grass
to make money you have to invest to attract people, one big investment can bring an insane amount of people and put BPB back on the map (PMBO has done that for like 30 years)
it may be possible to save the park, however they need to actually build stuff and put down the sledge hammer.
Worrying to see the late night riding days aren't as busy this year as previous years have been. First of these in a long time where Big One's queue extension wasn't needed at all.
On another note, a change was made to the operation of the ride turnstiles a few weeks back. Staff can no longer manually release. Fine in theory, but if somebody scans their ticket too quickly before the person in front goes through, it won't release again, so there's no option but to go under or over it. The rate at which this is happening would suggest to me the process needs more thought, or at least program the system to detect whether the turnstile has actually rotated or not..
This was causing a lot of grief for the staff today
On another note, a change was made to the operation of the ride turnstiles a few weeks back. Staff can no longer manually release. Fine in theory, but if somebody scans their ticket too quickly before the person in front goes through, it won't release again, so there's no option but to go under or over it. The rate at which this is happening would suggest to me the process needs more thought, or at least program the system to detect whether the turnstile has actually rotated or not..
This was causing a lot of grief for the staff today
I am shocked, shocked!
My wankle would stop me going over or under...hardly reasonable access for the less mobile, or lard ridden.
I wondered how long it would be before this happened, or a supervisor had to release...
Back around 1970, my first rides on the Nash, I was often told to squeeze through the turnstile with my sister, which I always did on request, without thought.
Turnstile operator pockets two shillings.
Not much difference with a manual release button, and someone on a nickland/entry ticket, and a small cash tip in reward.
The poorly paid staff have to make a living wage somehow.
I must say I haven't had an issue once this year with my paper ticket.
Any evidence for this?
The last I heard, from a very (very) solid source on the park, is that they are a little bit on the skint side, again, to put it mildly.
Hard times for the casual visitor.
Punters not attending like they did...(see last night), and not spending anything like as much when they do.
I was in Blackpool yesterday, didn't even get to the Beach because I knew there would be queues (not that bad in the end), but the top end of town was very busy by 11am...tartan accents everywhere.
This summer and illuminations season are being relied on to pay for a shiny new spinny swing.
The Beach has always made its real money over a dozen or so peak busy days a year.
If those days are not a hit, then the park struggles to make money over the season, as simple as that.
It makes a considerable loss on non peak days.
Citation very much needed here, again.
Any evidence for this?
The last I heard, from a very (very) solid source on the park, is that they are a little bit on the skint side, again, to put it mildly.
Hard times for the casual visitor.
Punters not attending like they did...(see last night), and not spending anything like as much when they do.
I was in Blackpool yesterday, didn't even get to the Beach because I knew there would be queues (not that bad in the end), but the top end of town was very busy by 11am...tartan accents everywhere.
This summer and illuminations season are being relied on to pay for a shiny new spinny swing.
The Beach has always made its real money over a dozen or so peak busy days a year.
If those days are not a hit, then the park struggles to make money over the season, as simple as that.
It makes a considerable loss on non peak days.
Katy
TS Member
They seem to have a minimum time between rides programmed, as on a quiet day recently (whenever I last visited, actually can't remember as it's been a while) I've had my e-ticket locked out in the time it took me to get from two rides on walk-on Icon to Steeplechase, where I got to go through the side gate rather than having to climb under or over.By the time I got to the next ride this seemed to have fixed itself, as I was at Steeplechase for about 10-15 minutes.
flyingguitar
TS Member
I would imagine that is to prevent a couple of people from buying a non rider pass and rider pass, then passing the rider pass to their friends.
what 15-20 mins+ dose seem quite long for me,
I know people wanted a non ride pass, but I really feel like they aren't pushing it enough (It is also quite expensive) and the turnstiles are a massive hit on capacity, guest experience, cost of maitanence, etc.
IMO either go PPR or get rid of the turnstiles
what 15-20 mins+ dose seem quite long for me,
I know people wanted a non ride pass, but I really feel like they aren't pushing it enough (It is also quite expensive) and the turnstiles are a massive hit on capacity, guest experience, cost of maitanence, etc.
IMO either go PPR or get rid of the turnstiles
Katy
TS Member
I understand why they'd have the ticket lock out, but to have that and also prevent staff from overriding it after they've checked the photo is a bit annoying
That limit was previously 15 mins, it was quietly lowered recently but it does still exist. Another reason to practice the high jump
Of course, an easy way to prevent this problem would be to link it to the estimated queue time.
I'll never understand how they don't seem to notice/care about these things that add up, and shape a guest's experience. So many friction points would be low/zero cost to fix. In completely unrelated news, Hot Ice opens this week
Ares
TS Member
I'm going to be that person to mention POP vs PPR again. But watching YEG's recent videos touring parks in America - Knoebels seem to have an interesting setup of POP on weekdays, and PPR with ticket books on weekends. Would such a setup with free park access on weekends lead to a revival? I know there has been countless discussion of the drunkards, tight fisted visitors or trouble caused by it in prior times, but would it really go amiss at this point to try it?
That feels like it would only add to the confusion around pricing for BPB given that the price of POP changes by the hour. I can only imagine the confusion that having PPR on weekends then people turning up with leftover tickets the next day would cause given BPBs track record of communication and marketing.
John_P
TS Member
Knoebels lets you use ride tickets every day of the week, you don't have to buy a ride wristband during the week. It's just something that's available.
Still think everyone who thinks ppr should return would be in for a nasty shock at how much they'd end up paying to spend a day at Pleasure Beach if it was brought in. The $50 at Knoebels quickly starts to disappear, plus I must've gotten about $50 worth of goes on Phoenix during the ert, and a free ticket to ride Twister.
It's more of a destination as well, people were lining up for the pool to open (unsure of that price) when we were headed over to Phoenix for the ert. No ones randomly turning up to ride Phoenix and leave, unless you live in the vicinity.
Still think everyone who thinks ppr should return would be in for a nasty shock at how much they'd end up paying to spend a day at Pleasure Beach if it was brought in. The $50 at Knoebels quickly starts to disappear, plus I must've gotten about $50 worth of goes on Phoenix during the ert, and a free ticket to ride Twister.
It's more of a destination as well, people were lining up for the pool to open (unsure of that price) when we were headed over to Phoenix for the ert. No ones randomly turning up to ride Phoenix and leave, unless you live in the vicinity.
John
TS Member
Knoebels rides are CHEAP too, looks like they've raised ride prices a fair bit since I was last there but $5 for the headline coasters is a very good price in 2025 - if PPR was still a major option at BPB I don't think you'd get on something much more thrilling than Derby Racer for that sort of money
jon81uk
TS Member
The old ticket sheets at BPB were comparable in price to most other theme parks, you would get so many of each ride tier for about £25 I think, plus a free admission to one of the three shows. It didn't feel much any more expensive that Alton Towers did back in 2001.
Paper tickets at the Beach were phased out, like cash beforehand, basically because of fiddles...top notch forgeries sold on the seafront, and staff "recycling" them with a "squeeze" on the turnstiles to make accounts balance.
Tenner entry with the flying machines & derby racer...or pop at thirty five quid...simple, good value and fair.
The park would be much busier.
There were different types of ticket books, family, pink knuckle and white knuckle, sometimes "June half price savers"...Handy to buy at half price when they lasted the rest of the current season..."a mix of a,b and c...even d I think for a couple of years.
Big one was double a when it opened, as was Valhalla I think.
Tenner entry with the flying machines & derby racer...or pop at thirty five quid...simple, good value and fair.
The park would be much busier.
There were different types of ticket books, family, pink knuckle and white knuckle, sometimes "June half price savers"...Handy to buy at half price when they lasted the rest of the current season..."a mix of a,b and c...even d I think for a couple of years.
Big one was double a when it opened, as was Valhalla I think.