Blackpool Pleasure Beach: General Discussion

[Coaster]

Tastes.

Most of the coasters at Blackpool either bore me or just hurt me. Variation is great if the rides are actually enjoyable in the first place.

As you have said, that is an individual preference, but I don’t think the park’s ride line-up is the issue here. Although it has diminished a lot from what it used to be, the rides on offer are still as well loved and popular as they have always been.

Smaller seaside amusement parks with a far smaller ride offering are successful, so there’s absolutely no reason why BPB shouldn’t be successful with such a diverse offering of rides. Honestly, I feel that their obsession with “modernisation” has caused them to focus on the wrong areas and has harmed the business as a result.

I’d also say that the so-called “roughness” of Pleasure Beach’s rides is made a fuss of by enthusiasts, but not the bulk of the park’s customers. Sure, there is occasionally a comment made online about the Nash or Dipper being rough, but it’s no different to rides like Colossus, Saw or The Smiler which get exactly the same comments. It again comes down to the subjectiveness of rides, but I really don’t think it’s as much of an issue as some enthusiasts like to make out. You watch a train pull back into the station on Nash or Dipper, you’ll see a train full of happy smiling faces.

I really don’t think that removing a class line-up of unique coasters and replacing them with half as many basic modern coasters is the answer, nor do I think it is something that BPB could viably do. The ride line-up is the park’s greatest strength, and far better than that which other (successful) seaside parks have. This is not the issue.

 

[rob666]

BPB desperately needs to invest in a multi-storey car park with the limited space they have.

You do know how much multi storey car parks cost don't you Mako?
They don't come cheap, and they already have four flat ones, that only get filled completely on about ten days a year.
The issues the park have are nothing to do with parking, there is plenty of parking in Blackpool, there is plenty of parking at the Beach.

 

[Benjsh]

BPB desperately needs to invest in a multi-storey car park with the limited space they have.

As you have said, that is an individual preference, but I don’t think the park’s ride line-up is the issue here. Although it has diminished a lot from what it used to be, the rides on offer are still as well loved and popular as they have always been.

Smaller seaside amusement parks with a far smaller ride offering are successful, so there’s absolutely no reason why BPB shouldn’t be successful with such a diverse offering of rides. Honestly, I feel that their obsession with “modernisation” has caused them to focus on the wrong areas and has harmed the business as a result.

I’d also say that the so-called “roughness” of Pleasure Beach’s rides is made a fuss of by enthusiasts, but not the bulk of the park’s customers. Sure, there is occasionally a comment made online about the Nash or Dipper being rough, but it’s no different to rides like Colossus, Saw or The Smiler which get exactly the same comments. It again comes down to the subjectiveness of rides, but I really don’t think it’s as much of an issue as some enthusiasts like to make out. You watch a train pull back into the station on Nash or Dipper, you’ll see a train full of happy smiling faces.

I really don’t think that removing a class line-up of unique coasters and replacing them with half as many basic modern coasters is the answer, nor do I think it is something that BPB could viably do. The ride line-up is the park’s greatest strength, and far better than that which other (successful) seaside parks have. This is not the issue.

You say the roughness of these select rides is not an issue and that they are still loved yet the park is declining and struggling.

What gives then?

I totally disagree with your assessment. I think the GP have started to look elsewhere for thrills.

I'd take a batman clone B&M invert any day of the week over most of PB's coasters and I am an enthusiast.

 

[rob666]

Apart from opening day, when 99% of the Beach visitors are freaks, geeks and happy clappers, I would guess that about 95% of the visitors to the Beach are not enthusiasts.
Parks have gone out of fashion, there are so many alternatives for leisure these days.

 

[Benjsh]

Apart from opening day, when 99% of the Beach visitors are freaks, geeks and happy clappers, I would guess that about 95% of the visitors to the Beach are not enthusiasts.
Parks have gone out of fashion, there are so many alternatives for leisure these days.

Totally agreed.

I think we sometimes forget that our TP community bubble isnt very big at all. The GP aren't into Theme Parks like they once were. Certainly not in this country anyway.

The population continues to soar yet park visitor figures aren't even as high as 15 years ago in many cases.

The drop off has been huge.

 

[Matt N]

Totally agreed.

I think we sometimes forget that our TP community bubble isnt very big at all. The GP aren't into Theme Parks like they once were. Certainly not in this country anyway.

The population continues to soar yet park visitor figures aren't even as high as 15 years ago in many cases.

The drop off has been huge.

In the UK this may well be true, but across the world, many parks have absolutely soared compared to a decade or two ago. Even parks that were established household names years ago like Magic Kingdom still continue to grow, and parks like Europa Park have also grown very consistently. Add to that places like PortAventura, Phantasialand, Liseberg, and many other parks abroad.

I think the UK is more the exception than the rule here, personally, as there are many parks abroad that have still grown substantially despite being pretty established already.

I wonder what’s different in Britain than the rest of the world?

 

[Craig]

There's a strong reason why other parks do so well, and that's because they offer a full package. Paying to get in and only having rides to go on is no longer considered value. You need a whole package of food, drink, accommodation and entertainment so that people feel they're getting their money's worth, and thanks to staying longer end up spending more.

For Blackpool, that's difficult. They clearly struggle with a small budget, Spoons down the road and most importantly space. Blackpool, Thorpe and Towers had the same idea this year by adding Oktoberfest, and you only have to look at how popular the likes of Scarefest and Fright Nights are to see that's where the market is these days. Get those events right and market them correctly and they're a real money spinner.

I think next season across parks in general we'll see a real move into encouraging additional guest spend while in the park, with the admission merely providing a base to start from. And I'm not talking about gouge-your-eyes-out fastpasses, more things such as your food and drink etc. Stuff that is accessible to everyone, and not seen as a rip off like fastpass is by many.

Whether Blackpool can do it with the space and budget restrictions, I'm not so sure. But it's clearly something that they're trying to do. Who knows, if they make a success of it, maybe once they can secure that additional spend we'll eventually see a change to pay on entry off the back of it?

 

[Coaster]

You say the roughness of these select rides is not an issue and that they are still loved yet the park is declining and struggling.

What gives then?

I totally disagree with your assessment. I think the GP have started to look elsewhere for thrills.

I'd take a batman clone B&M invert any day of the week over most of PB's coasters and I am an enthusiast.

It has been pointed out many times on this forum that the business model is contributing massively towards the loss in visitors. They are in Blackpool, but BPB's business model doesn't cater for them. The declining standards of operational service (e.g. cutting back hours at the last minute) can't help reputation or guest figures either.

It's interesting that you should mention that you would "take a batman clone B&M" over BPB's ride line-up, as it is often heard whilst queueing for Infusion, non-enthusiasts commenting that it is just like Nemesis. I stand by my point, that the ride offering is not the issue.

 

[venny]

There's a strong reason why other parks do so well, and that's because they offer a full package. Paying to get in and only having rides to go on is no longer considered value. You need a whole package of food, drink, accommodation and entertainment so that people feel they're getting their money's worth, and thanks to staying longer end up spending more.

For Blackpool, that's difficult. They clearly struggle with a small budget, Spoons down the road and most importantly space. Blackpool, Thorpe and Towers had the same idea this year by adding Oktoberfest, and you only have to look at how popular the likes of Scarefest and Fright Nights are to see that's where the market is these days. Get those events right and market them correctly and they're a real money spinner.

I think next season across parks in general we'll see a real move into encouraging additional guest spend while in the park, with the admission merely providing a base to start from. And I'm not talking about gouge-your-eyes-out fastpasses, more things such as your food and drink etc. Stuff that is accessible to everyone, and not seen as a rip off like fastpass is by many.

Whether Blackpool can do it with the space and budget restrictions, I'm not so sure. But it's clearly something that they're trying to do. Who knows, if they make a success of it, maybe once they can secure that additional spend we'll eventually see a change to pay on entry off the back of it?

I think in terms of spaces to locate these type of events, BPB probably have one of the better selection of options. There are a multitude of indoor venues they can use in the Casino, the Arena, Loki’s, Planet Rock, Big Pizza Kitchen, the Globe, the old Dome arcade etc.

The issue, as always, is that their promotion of said events is often dire. I would absolutely love for them to expand on these type of offerings though, as their Oktoberfest event was, although small, pretty enjoyable.

 

[Craig]

Yeah indoor space is fine, it's more big outdoor spaces. Sure they've got the plaza/hub but I think that needs a little more thought put into it as an events space. I get the feeling Oktoberfest was done on a very small budget, but with a bit more thought - and like you said that all important marketing, it really could turn into a fun and fairly substantial event for them.

 

[jon81uk]

I think next season across parks in general we'll see a real move into encouraging additional guest spend while in the park, with the admission merely providing a base to start from. And I'm not talking about gouge-your-eyes-out fastpasses, more things such as your food and drink etc. Stuff that is accessible to everyone, and not seen as a rip off like fastpass is by many.

Whether Blackpool can do it with the space and budget restrictions, I'm not so sure. But it's clearly something that they're trying to do. Who knows, if they make a success of it, maybe once they can secure that additional spend we'll eventually see a change to pay on entry off the back of it?

It would have been interesting if Blackpool Pleasure Beach has added a rollercoaster restaurant instead of AT. It would have been great in the bowldrome area so there is easy access from outside the park too.

 

[Benjsh]

It's interesting that you should mention that you would "take a batman clone B&M" over BPB's ride line-up, as it is often heard whilst queueing for Infusion, non-enthusiasts commenting that it is just like Nemesis. I stand by my point, that the ride offering is not the issue.

Well it is a lot like Nemesis in the sense it's a suspended looping coaster. They are incredibly similar ride types. Only difference being one of them is a world class coaster and one of them is a laughing stock which kind of backs up my point. Nobody is getting off it and thinking it's better than Nemesis are they?
-

 

[Coaster]

Well it is a lot like Nemesis in the sense it's a suspended looping coaster. They are incredibly similar ride types. Only difference being one of them is a world class coaster and one of them is a laughing stock which kind of backs up my point. Nobody is getting off it and thinking it's better than Nemesis are they?
-

Actually, that is something I have heard said before!

 

[rob666]

I have known a number of young fools who have said exactly that...
A queue over water, with a beach and big fish, with fountains and the ride all around you.
Short queue, two train swift service, fantastic front seat view.
A big first drop, with a hairpin bend, that nearly crashes into the Dipper station.
A really weird first double loop, that you don't see anywhere else.(!)
Waterfall, over water, with fountains, that soak you when it's windy.
A mad fast helix, then a double corkscrew to finish.
...
As against a dark, dirty coaster in a grubby hole full of litter, that isn't even tall.
Strange but true.
Nemesis is held in high regard by the coaster geeks.
The other 99.9 percent of the population really don't give a damn.

 

[Enter Valhalla]

There’s no real scientific way of measuring this, but from what I’ve heard (and I can only repeat my own experiences), the non-enthusiast members of the public I know who’ve visited BPB describe it as old, tatty and full of “rubbish old wooden coasters”

This is, of course, not an opinion I share. However, a few modern coasters, mixed with the classics would benefit the park’s reputation.

I know that people say that Icon hasn’t been a success and, if we base that entirely on short term marketing quick return on investment, then you could say it wasn’t a success in that respect.

But in terms of long term benefit to the park, Icon I think has healed to keep the park relevant.

But, who knows, that’s just a guess. How much of a long term benefit Icon has made to the park vs how the park would have performed without it, I guess, is something we’ll never know.

 

[Dave]

I have known a number of young fools who have said exactly that...
A queue over water, with a beach and big fish, with fountains and the ride all around you.
Short queue, two train swift service, fantastic front seat view.
A big first drop, with a hairpin bend, that nearly crashes into the Dipper station.
A really weird first double loop, that you don't see anywhere else.(!)
Waterfall, over water, with fountains, that soak you when it's windy.
A mad fast helix, then a double corkscrew to finish.
...
As against a dark, dirty coaster in a grubby hole full of litter, that isn't even tall.
Strange but true.
Nemesis is held in high regard by the coaster geeks.
The other 99.9 percent of the population really don't give a damn.

I have heard all sorts of opinions on all sorts of rides. Unless you stood at a ride exit all day for a week and randomly sample the people coming off a ride there is no way you can gauge a general opinion of anything.

 

[Plastic Person]

Unless you stood at a ride exit all day for a week and randomly sample the people coming off a ride there is no way you can gauge a general opinion of anything.

To be fair, this is exactly what @rob666 does, only in the bar.

 

[rob666]

I have heard all sorts of opinions on all sorts of rides. Unless you stood at a ride exit all day for a week and randomly sample the people coming off a ride there is no way you can gauge a general opinion of anything.

This was from the kids I used to work with, when trying to get them to go to the Towers once in a while, instead of the Beach.
Their preference for Blackpool was mainly geographic, half an hours drive instead of two hours, and there was more for the non riders to do on the coast.
Needless to say, my personal preference is for Nemesis.

 

[Poisson]

I agree with previous posters, rides are not the problem at BPB. They aren't getting repeat visitors as they simply aren't attracting them in the first place. You look at Towers, with it's headline attractions getting towards to 30 years old and pulling crowds. The problem with PB is getting the folks to the park in the first place. As I said before, where's the advertising, where's the events. So much of PB is unknown to those who haven't been, even down to people knowing the "red coaster" and "yellow coaster" at Fantasy Island but they'd know nothing of PB. The park desperately needs a direction, a vision, rather than it has now.

 

[Dave]

I do think marketing is weak at Pleasure beach, I live well within a 2hr drive of Blackpool and didn’t once see an advert for Icon. Even the targeted Facebook ads where using Iceblast for the first 3 months Icon was open without a single mention of a new roller coaster.



Merlin are mediocre operators but they know how to market.