Blackpool Pleasure Beach: General Discussion

[Craig]

As a national broadcaster, the BBC need to quit with this leaking of information before it's announced. The way these announcements are handled are an absolute shambles when businesses need to know officially whether they're able to open or not.

 

[Benjsh]

BBC are now reporting that Greater Manchester will be going into tier 3 imminently. With Lancashire potentially to follow.

Yep just heard it on radio. London n Essex moving to Tier 2 by Sunday too.

Pleasure Beach may as well just close for the season. They will lose money if they get nobody from Liverpool area, Manchester area or Scotland.

 

[shakey]

I think the park may have to rethink the 10pm closures on the 24th and 31st, that's assuming it will still be allowed to open.

Those winter weekends are looking less likely all the time.

 

[Poisson]

Went up to the PB on Tuesday after a day at Towers Monday. Queues were short and besides Nash being dead shaped availability was good and queues were short. For Scottish H/T before the visiting restrictions, wasn't good to see as it was so quiet.

With Nash down for weekdays for the foreseeable along with Ice Arena, Impossible and Valhalla, North park is pretty much desolate and South park has a good atmosphere. A proper Jekyll and Hyde situation, it's sad to see really.

 

[Tom]

As a national broadcaster, the BBC need to quit with this leaking of information before it's announced. The way these announcements are handled are an absolute shambles when businesses need to know officially whether they're able to open or not.

I'd argue it's the responsibility of the government to A) not allow this information to leak and B) communicate to businesses in the manner you rightly suggest.

 

[Craig]

I'd argue it's the responsibility of the government to A) not allow this information to leak and B) communicate to businesses in the manner you rightly suggest.

Oh absolutely, not solely the BBC's fault. However, it's also the responsibility of a national broadcaster to report news that is factual. They had to backtrack on that breaking news tweet as it was not based on any official announcement and it turns out that discussions are still ongoing.

Its uncertainty and incorrect reporting such as this that will kill theme parks, especially the likes of BPB who are in an area that could potentially be severely affected.

 

[Dipper_Dave]

With Nash down for weekdays for the foreseeable along with Ice Arena, Impossible and Valhalla, North park is pretty much desolate and South park has a good atmosphere. A proper Jekyll and Hyde situation, it's sad to see really.

I presume Nash closure is a cost saving thing. Can anyone confirm? Disappointing to see one of the first rides you get to when you enter the park shut for no apparent reason.

North Park really feels dead with Valhalla shut, no Mouse and Flying Machines liable to close at the slightest breeze (not sure it used to close that easily in pay per ride days). All the buzz seems to be in South Park around The Big One and Icon to a lesser degree. North needs a Coaster. They are well versed in making rides fit into the park somehow. A dive coaster or wing rider for me please

 

[Plastic Person]

North needs a Coaster. They are well versed in making rides fit into the park somehow. A dive coaster or wing rider for me please

You're going to be waiting a while...

 

[shakey]

You're going to be waiting a while...

The next few years will be interesting to see what happens and whether the flop of Icon and now covid has snuffed out any potential for big investments.

I just hope we don't have to wait 20+ years for the next big coaster or I may not be riding it!

In terms of things coming soon(ish), Valhalla is still reportedly re-opening in 2021 - although I think that will largely depend on how long the covid problem lasts. Noticed earlier this week that they appear to be extending the station roof laterally in both directions by a couple of metres or so.

They have also emptied the dome arcade. The shutters were partly up on Monday so you could see that they had emptied it. There have been reports the dome has been earmarked for something, so we will have to wait and see what exactly that is.

 

[Tom]

The problem with Icon is that it was massively overpriced for the experience it offered, but that's Mack for you. IT has no real unique selling point and is not particularly marketable to boot. The people it most pleases are the ones that have been going for the majority of the years without a new rollercoaster, and would have continued to do so in any event.

For me they would have been better off spending half or even a third on the ride hardware using another manufacturer and diverting the rest onto innovation, theming, terrain, etc.

 

[jon81uk]

The problem with Icon is that it was massively overpriced for the experience it offered, but that's Mack for you. IT has no real unique selling point and is not particularly marketable to boot. The people it most pleases are the ones that have been going for the majority of the years without a new rollercoaster, and would have continued to do so in any event.

For me they would have been better off spending half or even a third on the ride hardware using another manufacturer and diverting the rest onto innovation, theming, terrain, etc.

Would an Intamin coaster for example really be that much cheaper?

 

[Tom]

Would an Intamin coaster for example really be that much cheaper?

Not really, but a Vekoma or wooden one would have been.

 

[jon81uk]

Not really, but a Vekoma or wooden one would have been.

BPB doesn't need more wooden coasters really, although a launched one would at least give a novelty!

Assuming Vekoma wouldn't have brought other issues of relaibility etc then yes maybe a launch coaster from them would have been the better option. But I'm not sure what BPB would have done in terms of theming etc anyway.

 

[shakey]

BPB doesn't need more wooden coasters really

It could do with a wooden wild mouse !!

They have 2 issues that other major parks don't have - Lack of space and building on sand. So whatever they build, if it has a large footprint it is going to cost a lot in preparation alone.

I am sure when they looked at the plans for Icon, they assumed they were building something that would bring the crowds running. The statements coming out of the park before it opened and even the name of the ride would suggest they were expecting something better, although I believe the lack of marketing is equally to blame for the apparent failure of the ride.

If they ever spend that sort of money on a ride again they should make sure it has a better USP. An expensive lesson learned - possibly!

I wonder what Geoffrey would have done ? The Bigger One ?

 

[Benjsh]

Blackpool gone into tier 3 today along with rest of lancashire (Blackburn, Burnley, Lancaster etc) according to the BBC. Surely it's curtains for the season now?

 

[D4n]

Blackpool gone into tier 3 today along with rest of lancashire (Blackburn, Burnley, Lancaster etc) according to the BBC. Surely it's curtains for the season now?

They posted on their Instagram this afternoon that they will remain open.

Whether operations will change and some attractions will close remains to be seen.

 

[rob666]

You can travel within the zone, so the local market can still visit, and dipper dave can visit again.
Mancs will join in soon no doubt.

 

[Dipper_Dave]

You can travel within the zone, so the local market can still visit, and dipper dave can visit again.
Mancs will join in soon no doubt.

BPB sent an email out this afternoon, they are open as they are an ‘outdoor’ attraction (even though many things are indoor). They also said only people from same household / bubble can visit.

I looked up ‘Tier 3’ and it says: “For areas in tier 3, the additional restrictions mean: People are prohibited from socialising with anybody they do not live with, or have not formed a support bubble with, in any indoor setting, private garden or at most outdoor hospitality venues and ticketed events.”

Still (unsurprisingly) rather vague. Does an amusement park count amongst ‘most outdoor hospitality venues and ticketed events’ or not?! Edit: I guess it does, given that the park themselves have said same household visits only

It wouldn’t surprise me if the park shuts for the season before long. Given all that has gone on this year we are lucky to have gone at all.

 

[Pleasure Beach Valhalla]

Blackpool gone into tier 3 today along with rest of lancashire (Blackburn, Burnley, Lancaster etc) according to the BBC. Surely it's curtains for the season now?

I doubt Winter Weekends will happen unless the situation improves. Also if BPB want to improve on something next year they could get makeshift disabled lines for 7 coasters that don't have them because it means people with disabilities cant use the Ride Access Pass option on them now which is Avalanche, Infusion, Big Dipper, Nick Streak, Blue Flyer, Rev and Steeplechase!

 

[DistortAMG]

As a national broadcaster, the BBC need to quit with this leaking of information before it's announced. The way these announcements are handled are an absolute shambles when businesses need to know officially whether they're able to open or not.

I agree. But historically, the morally right thing has never been on the top of the BBC's list. Jimmy Saville springs to mind.