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Blackpool Pleasure Beach: General Discussion

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Also, I can't think of a single occasion in any of my 25+ visits to BPB that I've seen someone using ride tickets to enter a ride. The percentage figure of riders using standard wristbands must be 95% plus. If they do finally scrap the wristband model then I suspect the "loss" of the few people that do get extorted by the current ticket system will be made up by people being forced to buy full price entry anyway.
 
The trouble with that argument is that, in effect, they already operate as a pay-one-price park, and have done for many years - the low price of a wristband compared with ride tickets means that it's a no-brainer for anyone wanting to do more than two or three rides. I don't think the current (previous?) availability of tickets alongside wristbands would deter anyone from visiting, though I do know people who wouldn't visit simply because it's in Blackpool (due to the negative stereotypes surrounding the town). This is unlikely to change simply by ditching ride tickets.

In normal circumstances, removing the pay per ride option could run the risk of a backlash from the sort of people who say "I've been visiting for years but never go on any of the rides". In all honesty such people are probably worth little/nothing to the park in terms of revenue but the adverse publicity they generate could be problematic. I wouldn't be surprised if this just turns out to be a convenient excuse to finally ditch the ticket system for good though, it's not been their focus for a long time.
 
Matt N said:
I know that they might lose that small percentage of walk-up trade, but they could attract a completely new type of customer with a fully pay-one-price model like Merlin has. It would make the park seem like more of a destination in itself as opposed to being lumped in alongside the town, and I think that it might make more people feel compelled to go there. The recent additions and the park’s whole brand as of late definitely lend themselves to a more major, pay-one-price park in terms of feel, but I feel like having the remnants of wristbands and pay-per-ride does still hold them back in that seaside amusement park territory.
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I don't think its puts people off, the wristband system is basically pay-one-price. Unfortuantly it will take a lot more to make BPB feel more like a destination in its own right maybe. Although The Big One was probably the main thing that did. Having that headline coaster makes the park comparable to Alton Towers and Drayton Manor (who both also added headline coasters in 1994) but blackpool didn't really add the right things in the 25 years since unfortuantly.
 
I think the Beach has a few thousand season pass holders, but only a few hundred are regulars.
Going back to D4n's post, the majority of the Beach punters are actually day trippers local to the north west, there are an awful lot of people within 90 minutes of the Beach thanks to the local motorways.
Tickets and entry only may well go with this.
Historically, the town has always had a poor reputation.
Cheap, cheerful, flearidden, boozy Blackpool.
My customers wont be seen dead there, only for a decent show because it is a real local centre for performance in general.
They all go to Lytham, St Annes, Cleveleys or even Fleetwood as an alternative coast trip.
And I knew they would resort to winter weekends again!
The Beach also makes a considerable amount of money from older riders who no longer do rides but do do beer.
You get far more generations at the Beach than at the Towers.
One last note (in the wrong topic!)...Tower has gone cashless.
No suprises there.
 
I think it will be interesting to see how many people turn up in December. But good on them they have the chance to extend and a few weekends won’t hurt.
 
Typically very quiet.
Often get kids dropped off while parents go Christmas shopping behind the Tower.
Might even only do south park?
So I have served half of the next closed season in advance then.
Nice one.
Hot sarsaparillas with vodka through the autumn.
 
Fair play Pleasure Beach. Looks like you will be getting some money from me this year after all.

Wasn't going to bother this year but I just might when all the other parks are closed.
 
Wow; that should help them bring back some lost revenue! Great move, Pleasure Beach!

Also, do we know if this will be the full ride lineup? And are the “illuminations” they’re referring to the Blackpool Illuminations, or are they fitting lights within the park itself?

Regardless, it’s nice to see a major UK park trying a full Christmas event (of sorts); maybe the Merlin parks might follow suit if this goes well?
 
Matt N said:
Wow; that should help them bring back some lost revenue! Great move, Pleasure Beach!

Also, do we know if this will be the full ride lineup? And are the “illuminations” they’re referring to the Blackpool Illuminations, or are they fitting lights within the park itself?

Regardless, it’s nice to see a major UK park trying a full Christmas event (of sorts); maybe the Merlin parks might follow suit if this goes well?
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the problem is for most parks is what’s the draw to attend. Blackpool got lucky as the illuminations have been extended so that’s the draw or as rob said parents go shopping kids go pleasure beach. Other parks could well open during weekends it’s yet to been seen but the problem is what’s going to entice people to attend. Merlin won’t do anything this year out the blue they like to rely on market research and spreadsheets before making a decision to open a Christmas market or something along them lines.
 
Done winter weekends of many types since the big one opened.
North and south park.
Never that busy apart from occasional mild sunny days,so almost always quiet, but low key fun all the same.
Blackpool also still has a very large stag and hen market.
Those postponed weddings may help out over the autumn.
All that free entertainment coming up in the run up to christmas, Saturday nights on the prom, naked people clingfilmed to lampposts in the gales.
Seen a stunning wedding reception, totaly unbooked, sorted by the staff in the Velvet, in literally five minutes.
Tables shifted, drink orders taken, top table actually set out...all in five minutes!
Quiet day obviously, but stunning service for a group of about twenty.
Really great to watch.
 
rob666 said:
Done winter weekends of many types since the big one opened.
North and south park.
Never that busy apart from occasional mild sunny days,so almost always quiet, but low key fun all the same.
Blackpool also still has a very large stag and hen market.
Those postponed weddings may help out over the autumn.
All that free entertainment coming up in the run up to christmas, Saturday nights on the prom, naked people clingfilmed to lampposts in the gales.
Seen a stunning wedding reception, totaly unbooked, sorted by the staff in the Velvet, in literally five minutes.
Tables shifted, drink orders taken, top table actually set out...all in five minutes!
Quiet day obviously, but stunning service for a group of about twenty.
Really great to watch.
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First time we took our kids to blackpool we was stood on the corner of coral island showing them the flagship where me and the mrs met

As we was doing it a coach pulled up heading north....as it pulled away it left the lone stag...kicked off the coach....arm aloft drinkig a can of lager bollock naked

Perfect comedy timing:D
 
I love Blackpool me.
Group (midweek termtime with preorganised consent...allegedly) taking a slightly dressed rubber woman on the big one.
Had to be allowed on, she had a wristband.
Another time...
Watching a group of stags using a bench as a battering ram to get into the Manchester on the prom.
Ah yes, and the bar staff are really going to serve you once you have got past the doormen!
 
My initial reaction was hugely welcoming. It makes, to me, more sense to operate through December than it does to open in February when it's often colder and more depressing in Blackpool.

However... is there any reason why they are stopping on 13th December? Surely it makes massive sense to capitalise on the christmas holidays?
 
Because by the 14th it is so cold on the north west coast your bits tend to freeze and drop off within minutes.
Blackpool is usually a complete graveyard over the festive holidays.
Only comes to life with the pigeon pushers in late January.
 
Fair play to them for doing this, have booked the Big Blue Hotel for the closing weekend, actually nice to have something planned after seeing everything I'd planned from mid March til July cancelled and refunded.
 
rob666 said:
Because by the 14th it is so cold on the north west coast your bits tend to freeze and drop off within minutes.
Blackpool is usually a complete graveyard over the festive holidays.
Only comes to life with the pigeon pushers in late January.
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What's a pigeon pusher? :confused:
 
Sorry.
Pigeon fanciers annual show at the Winter Gardens is the traditional start of the season.
Northern men of a certain age in beige rainproof macs and flat caps carrying small cardboard boxes with little holes in them.
I usually post the top bird price in here just before the start of the coaster season.
Usually around ten grand for the top bird.
Is a real boost to the pub and b&b trade.
 
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