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Blackpool Pleasure Beach: 2025 Discussion

Smiley said:
Being a softy southerner, I don't get up there often. But when I do it's for the Nash, Dipper and all the rides that make BPB iconic and steeped in history. (Hello, River Caves and Mouse!). Admit I'm not the average punter, but SBNO rides are a dearth for the overall feel of a theme park. As for Azkaban or whatever the new Gyro swing is called, I've done CraZanity at 6FMM (a bit taller), and was unimpressed - prefer Rush at TP
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Crazanity is a Zamperla Giant Discovery, Aviktas is an intamin Gyro Swing a much better swing ride in my opinion. Loki and Tigeran are the examples
 
The last couple of pages are the first instances I’ve really heard of people suggesting the Gyroswing won’t be a good ride. The two I’ve ridden are the best flat rides I’ve ever experienced. Yes, they’re big, so you could claim that they’re intimidating, but then Icon has been criticised in quarters for being too tame. Yes, it’s spinny, but it’s a flat ride and in honesty the spinning element is hardly noticeable; it rotates more than spins. The reality is that it can’t be all things to all people.

I have no doubt this is going to be one of the best pieces of ride hardware that the park has acquired in quite some time. It won’t fail based on the ride, but it’s very conceivable that the park’s pretty appalling marketing efforts may mean it doesn’t get the attention and traction that it should do.

It’s also not lost on me that both this and Icon are versions of rides that Amanda’s good friend has built in Liseberg. If you want to speculate on what may come, looking to Gothenburg may give us some clues.
 
venny said:
The last couple of pages are the first instances I’ve really heard of people suggesting the Gyroswing won’t be a good ride. The two I’ve ridden are the best flat rides I’ve ever experienced. Yes, they’re big, so you could claim that they’re intimidating, but then Icon has been criticised in quarters for being too tame. Yes, it’s spinny, but it’s a flat ride and in honesty the spinning element is hardly noticeable; it rotates more than spins. The reality is that it can’t be all things to all people.

I have no doubt this is going to be one of the best pieces of ride hardware that the park has acquired in quite some time. It won’t fail based on the ride, but it’s very conceivable that the park’s pretty appalling marketing efforts may mean it doesn’t get the attention and traction that it should do.

It’s also not lost on me that both this and Icon are versions of rides that Amanda’s good friend has built in Liseberg. If you want to speculate on what may come, looking to Gothenburg may give us some clues.
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Pleasure Beach should aim to be like Liseberg old school style park with a modern twist
 
rob666 said:
Bit tricky when those worn, old buildings in the old design are heritage listed.
Going nowhere, the Casino, Ark, Flying Machines, National etc.
The entrance has been in the same place for a hundred years, people have managed so far.
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I wasn't suggesting they remove the current entrance, they just need to invest in it

for instance if they were to make the casino building the entrance or make the arcade building (I think that is what it was) an entrance (either new build, or remodelling), it could be much more clear, larger (it is quite cramped) and give better impressions. (And I don't mean those bad "modern" restyles where they just glue modern panels to the wall and call it modern, if done properly I think it could look quite nice)

when I went, you had the casino building which looked in a bad state, next to the arcade which also didn't look that cared for, tbh if they refreshed both the buildings it would probably be a big improvement.

as I said though first impressions are important, the past you had multiple entrances and it was PPR so the entrance wasn't that important, similar to the entrance of a mall where you could just walk in. but now since it is POP that entrance has to be an advertisement, and it is the clear boundary of entering the park giving the first impressions.
venny said:
I have no doubt this is going to be one of the best pieces of ride hardware that the park has acquired in quite some time. It won’t fail based on the ride, but it’s very conceivable that the park’s pretty appalling marketing efforts may mean it doesn’t get the attention and traction that it should do.
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I would agree with this, I think it will good for the park, and the fact it can be seen from the prom hopefully will get people through the turnstiles, however I feel it won't fix the problems with BPB.
 
The casino building was the entrance building until very recently.
Icon was a flop because you can't even see it from the prom when the masses sail through the lights.
Combine that with the poor marketing, and half their intended punters didn't know it existed.
 
rob666 said:
The casino building was the entrance building until very recently.
Icon was a flop because you can't even see it from the prom when the masses sail through the lights.
Combine that with the poor marketing, and half their intended punters didn't know it existed.
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You can see it from the front the Top Hat at least from promenade
 
Where exactly?
I'm six foot four, the only clear spot was from the old south entrance gates.
Big One, Playstation...and even the Millennium Bug and Log Flume...when the "Big New Thing" could be seen from outside.
Icon is invisible from outside the park, apart from a single spot, if you know what to look for.
It doesn't stand out on the skyline from anywhere, on or off the park, there is bigger stuff all around.
 
Park opening times have been released up to the end of June next year. All 5pm closes apart from the 4th of April and the 23rd of May when its 9pm.

Of course its Blackpool so it could all change at the drop of a hat.
 
rob666 said:
Where exactly?
I'm six foot four, the only clear spot was from the old south entrance gates.
Big One, Playstation...and even the Millennium Bug and Log Flume...when the "Big New Thing" could be seen from outside.
Icon is invisible from outside the park, apart from a single spot, if you know what to look for.
It doesn't stand out on the skyline from anywhere, on or off the park, there is bigger stuff all around.
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So all parks have Coasters even if you can't see them are still there, Towers for example most rides you can't see from the outside how do you think the public know there their
 
Hid said:
So all parks have Coasters even if you can't see them are still there, Towers for example most rides you can't see from the outside how do you think the public know there their
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It doesn't matter at towers. Nobody walks past .
 
Hid said:
Pleasure Beach should aim to be like Liseberg old school style park with a modern twist
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The key difference is location. Gothenburg is a thriving, cosmopolitan city in an affluent country. Any park would do well there. Blackpool is a seaside town from a bygone era, with a reputation for having more social problems than anywhere else in the UK. The markets are completely different.

What I will say though is that Liseberg have nailed the wristband levels to attract a good mix of all-day visitors and passing trade. Many of the locals seem to go there just for a jolly and to try to win enormous chocolate bars. Pleasure Beach should really be offering equivalent flexibility in pricing, not shafting people out of £25 just to wander around.
 
The other thing to say about Liseberg is that, despite people following the trope that it respects its history, the fact is that it has demolished nearly all of its historic rides. We should give Blackpool the credit it deserves for many of its historic rides still being standing (even if it feels like some are retained through gritted teeth).

There are some easy changes that Pleasure Beach can make to restore its reputation, which don’t involve spending millions on new rides, for example: -

- adopt a clearer pricing policy, one that doesn’t involve flash sales, convoluted packages and nonsensical inconsistencies

- stop the ridiculous practice of closing rides randomly for “maintenance”

- sort out River Caves to open with Aviktas

- if you’re going to close food outlets randomly, make it clear and accurate on the app what is open, and refer people to said app

- sort out the park audio so it’s consistent across the park and gives a bit of atmosphere, especially on quieter days

- employ competent marketing professionals to shout about what the park does well, what it offers, adopt consistent marketing strategies for new rides etc.

- if you’re not going to open the food outlets around the base of the Casino, remove them, they give the impression of either a closed or closing park.

- value your long serving staff who are the backbone of the park, who have the intimate knowledge of the park, its rides and how to keep them going.

- sort out some of the areas which give a shabby impression of the park. Despite popular opinion I think presentation is good in many places, but the rotting facades on PB Express are in a shocking state now, as too the Alice warehouse backing onto FY4 which I’d assumed would have had a giant Hot Ice poster erected years ago.
 
venny said:
There are some easy changes that Pleasure Beach can make to restore its reputation, which don’t involve spending millions on new rides,
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Easy changes.... none of which they will make.

Almost every change seems to be a change for the worst.

Customer satisfaction seems to be at the bottom of the list of priorities. In fact its not even on the list.
 
I agree with @Hid that Icon was the right addition for the park and that BPB should have a mix of classic and modern rides.

I’m from the south and down here, BPB has long had a reputation for having old, rickety coasters which many people perceive as being dated. Having a modern smoother coaster like Icon draws visitors in who are looking for more modern coasters and then, once inside the park, they’ll then try out the older coasters and, hopefully, realise that they are still enjoyable despite being old. For many people, if the park was perceived as only having old coasters, they wouldn’t visit in the first place.

I agree that it wasn’t marketed well at the time, but as I said in my previous post, it compliments the park’s ride line-up really well and has more longevity than many of the more gimmicky coasters that they could have picked.
 
Enter Valhalla said:
I agree with @Hid that Icon was the right addition for the park and that BPB should have a mix of classic and modern rides.

I’m from the south and down here, BPB has long had a reputation for having old, rickety coasters which many people perceive as being dated. Having a modern smoother coaster like Icon draws visitors in who are looking for more modern coasters and then, once inside the park, they’ll then try out the older coasters and, hopefully, realise that they are still enjoyable despite being old. For many people, if the park was perceived as only having old coasters, they wouldn’t visit in the first place.

I agree that it wasn’t marketed well at the time, but as I said in my previous post, it compliments the park’s ride line-up really well and has more longevity than many of the more gimmicky coasters that they could have picked.
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I would like Pleasure Beach to get a modern woodie to contrast the old school style.

Also a Trackless Dark could be a good addition as they need a modern and new Dark Ride System
 
For what it’s worth, Ikon is my favourite UK coaster and I’ve bought an annual pass next year just so I can marathon it.
 
rob666 said:
OK, it is now October.
Why no Big Dipper?
Oh...now mid October...when did that change?
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Add that to the list for tomorrow. As long as Crevettes is open. Not sure who's round it is but this Yorkshireman is convinced its definitely someone elses 😃
 
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