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Blackpool Pleasure Beach: General Discussion
- Thread starter John
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Plastic Person
TS Member
I agree, although it never really opens in the evenings these days anyhow, and that same admission fee definitely has something to do with it.
MakoMania
TS Member
6/7pm is still evening in my books, but I get what you're sayingI agree, although it never really opens in the evenings these days anyhow, and that same admission fee definitely has something to do with it.
I'm going to argue just that.
The buzz about the place in the 90''s was electric, you could even feel it on the seafront as you approached. Seeing the Big One fully illuminated, being shoulder to shoulder with people all walking towards the park.
Once inside the sounds of Kit Kat Radio, the smells of countless catering units and the site of endless rides all illuminated as if they were all competing for your custom, each one trying to draw you in with sounds, buzz, and electric atmosphere.
Now you walk around and in some cases it's a game of spot the customer. It's like drinking a flat bottle of coke on some evenings. Last year we had a drink at the Pizza Kitchen beer garden, the place was soulless. We were the only ones in the beer garden and the pathway past the toilets was empty. The only thing breaking the silence was the Streak sending a half empty train past every few minutes.
Rewind 20 years. You'd almost certainly have that beer garden rammed, along with the King Cotton pub it served full of families all enjoying the evening out. The takeaway window always had a queue, the Space Invader was a huge draw to that area, while the Cableway dropped new custom into that area every few seconds.
I know which of the two I'd rather see, not only for my own experience bit for the good of the business.
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Smilertron
TS Member
Tbh Ash, i think that may have been more to do with the fact that seaside holidays were still popular in the 90s. I miss the days of going on holiday to Cala Gran holiday park. One day was always dedicated to going to the Pleasure Beach. Seaside holidays just arent that attractive to people any more. It could potential become popular again one day but not with the prices of hiring a caravan these days. Unless you know someone who owns a caravan or have your own, you are paying as much for a weekend as you would for a week in Spain. As for the B&Bs, well........
Really? Based on what?
Error
TS Member
This.
Once upon a time Great Yarmouth used to be a no go area due to congestion in the summer.
Plastic Person
TS Member
Some of my favourite memories are of the Pleasure Beach in the nineties, and your description is very evocative, and accurate. Surely the Pleasure Beach needed to change, though? Not only had the resort itself and seaside holidays in general become less popular very quickly, but the park was suddenly saddled with the debt triggered by GT's death, which very nearly sent them under.
I agree though, it is a shame. This might sound unbelievable to younger members here, but despite it's reputation (especially among @Matt N's parents), the park was well ahead of the curve in terms of food and shows, and was always aiming for a customer base beyond the rides. The admission charge improved a few things, but seemed to close a few doors, too. C'est la vie. I think we'd need access to the parks books and boardrooms in the early 00s to know the reality of the situation. The park are always experimenting, though, and I hope their fortunes improve even further following the opening of Icon.
Dan_PMBO
TS Member
Without going round in circles about business models, changes in holiday trends ect I don’t think anyone can argue against the evening atmosphere of a free entry bpb being beat by today’s soulless half hearted offering...the two video links of the same area 16 years apart point out perfect! I know which bpb I’d rather be in!
1997
2013
1997
2013
Rick
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Crux
But you must concur that Blackpool is different, not just the Pleasure Beach.
No argument.
But let me ask you this question.
Why is it that on a sunny mummers evening, or a busy illumination weekend, the south end of the prom is tucked up in bed long before the central pier?
Dan_PMBO
TS Member
I don’t overly think it is, I think the days of week long stays ect have massively reduced for the resort but your weekend / day trip custom has been steadily improving for Blackpool over the last few years minus south shore a lot of it’s continued decline I think is the product of POP Pleasure Beach.
shakey
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Wild Mouse - Blackpool - :(
I think there is a general feeling from many of the parks fans that it should open later more often at peak times, especially during the summer holidays and the illuminations half term.
Regarding the entry fee, I can see why they did it but they have priced the casual rider that just wants to do a couple of rides totally out of the market. I think they should give anyone paying the £6 the equivalent back in ride tickets. I also think most of the bigger rides are over priced when in comes to using the tickets so they are potentially losing out on a second revenue stream IMO.
The question is will the park ever change its current way of thinking even if continues to struggle to make a profit ?
Spin-Ride-Lover
TS Member
Space Invader being removed can't have helpt matters ether, How many people bother with that airea now?
I know I haven't, the only time I have been the former space invader building is when PBE had lunch at the BPK.
Plastic Person
TS Member
The difference on these videos is striking, yes, but as well as highlighting the relatively huge decline in crowd numbers, the BBC's Pleasure Beach series also finds drama in a plethora of issues such as missing children, drinking and violence. These are exactly the sort of things that the park deal with much less regularly today, precisely because of the way the gate is now operated. There's also a bomb threat, but you can probably clock that one up to the IRA keeping their heads down these days.
(Trivia: The bomb scare episode is entirely recreated. The park did recieve a call, but it was during the one weekend the film crew were away!)
shakey
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Wild Mouse - Blackpool - :(
MakoMania
TS Member
Based on the fact that the company were saddled with debt, had to close multiple parks and only avoided going under due to agressive cost control.
I can never get many 1990s visitors to go with me back to the Pleasure Beach, but whenever they do they are always most surprised at the newfound socially acceptable & family friendly atmosphere.
Spin-Ride-Lover
TS Member
Hopfully someday but It may take a change in the MD position.
And thats not a dig at Amanda or anything, it might also be some of the people in middle manegment as well.
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