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Pleasure Beach Blackpool WTF?

Dan1989

Dan1989

Mega Poster
I have been to the Pleasure Beach 3 times this year, (once in June, once for the big dippers 90th and the other on my birthday in early October). I cannot believe what is happening to the place. Even during high season most of the rides were walk on.

It has just completely lost its atmosphere, Some of the big coaster were not even operating on them particular days, plus we were lucky to get on any of the smaller attractions. I go to Alton Towers 2 or 3 times a month and live in Blackpool. Amanda Thompson has completely destroyed the place, selling off rides buy the year and not putting any investment in the place. It used to be my favorite park out of the lot and it's a huge shame to see the place as it is today. I dont see how they can afford to stay in business with how dead the park is, I was hoping for a nice coaster filled day on my birthday, but all it gave me was a headache!
 
Be fair, Nickelodeon Land is a big investment and has pulled people into the park.

Wallace and Grommit is a massively overpriced dark ride but the investment is happening, just not at a similar sort of pace as Merlin can manage.

But yeah I went last year when it was dead, whilst the novelty and nostalgia of the style of park was fun at first, we ended up leaving the park early feeling a bit tender after various re-rides.
 
I went on a Sunday in August and most of the coasters were walk-ons or had very short queues (5 mins). Honestly, it was the only highlight in Blackpool. This city is a dump...
 
Just such a shame to see the place dying, back in the 90's in had such a buzzing atmosphere. They really need a big new coaster there.
 
I agree about the park losing its atmosphere, but I'd have to question about "not putting any investment in the place" or the perceived decline in visitor numbers.

The park was very busy at the CF-Live back in July, and I saw a picture the other day where the park was rammed and queue lines full up.

I'd hardly consider June, some weekend in September or early October as "high season" for any theme park in the UK. Peak periods are usually bank holiday weekends and school holidays, none of which fall when you went to the park.

If you want to look at a theme park company making parks lose their atmosphere, just look at Merlin, who seem to be far more concerned with earning a quick buck than giving their guests a good experience in one of their parks.
 
I actually like the atmosphere of Merlin Parks, the staff all seem friendly enough and know there stuff about the things they are operating, were at PB the staff just don't seem interested at all
 
The "problem" with Blackpool is the rebranding. It's gone from a lovable mishmash of park to a clean(ish), polished "business model". Yes, I know PBB needed to change its ways to stop hemorrhaging money, but I reckon some of the charm has been rinsed out from it and replaced with plastic.

Of course this won't put people off visiting. An entry fee might put peope off, but as PBB don't release their figures anymore so that can't be confirmed.

Tbh, I find PBB rides walk-on most of the time. It's more of a story where there are actual queues!
 
Blackpool and queues is a really recent thing to be honest. It's since the introduction of the wristbands.

It's a park I've been going to (until about 2007) year in year out since the 70's. It's never been a park where you have to queue. Until 2007 or so, it had also not really changed massively in all that time.

As Ian says, it's changed to become a more modern, clean and consistent park. I can't complain, as the place was a bit grotty - so you could imagine a lot of people put off by that in the "modern age".

It lost some charm with the clean up, and a few great rides (that nobody ever went on), but at least there's structural investment that brings it up to modern standards. That encourages people to visit again, and with the wristbands (paid entry), you need to offer a "professional" park experience.

They've been making a decent amount of money over the years (I follow their finances) and Amanda has overcome some pretty tough business barriers and has turned the park around financially. Fair play to her, she's not just kept the park on its feet, but has got a decent turnover going too. Investments like Nick Land and W&G do add to the park. We all want new coasters and new thrill rides, but if there's no money in that coming back immediately, then there's no need to look at investment in that area.

My problem was that I just became bored with the park. Done the rides too many times (with no queues), so didn't want to queue for them. I adored the quirkiness, but that all went (those rides that closed, I was one of the few that rode them :( ). I can still have a decent enough day there with the family, but it's a bit loud and crowded (in terms of rides all around) and sends the kids insane :lol:
 
I've been going since I was tiny, and do agree it's in a good shape at the moment - but has lost some of the charm, somehow. My favourite area is the bit in the middle where the train goes round as it still seems to have an old-fashioned charm, but I think the atmosphere of the park has changed by not letting the GP just wander through. However, it's cleaner now so that's the pay off!

One thing that they do need to sharpen up is the operations: even pre-booking takes ages to get in and then not all the rides are operating all day. When you pay for a full day's entry you should at least expect the rides to be open in that time.

(Oh, needs a new adult coaster too but that's by-the-by - they seem to be playing catch-up with ride ideas whereas once they were innovators).
 
I love the Pleasure Beach, it's hands down the best park in the UK for me and I can only speak positively about the changes Amanda has made. The park was in a difficult financial situation when she took over the reigns, and this was her fathers doing, yes he revolutionised the British theme park industry, but did so at huge financial cost. Amanda has straightened out the park and is slowly investing for the future, Nickelodeon Land was a stroke of genius, I can honestly say I spend half the day in that area of the park, so much fun!

As for the coaster lineup, you can get your B&M and Intamin fix at the Merlin parks, the Pleasure Beach offers something unique not just to the UK, but anywhere. I love what they have, no other park in the world can beat what the Pleasure Beach has for nostalgia and variety. And I'll go as far as to say that Amanda doesn't need to add another coaster, she did a great job with Infusion but at the expense of a classic log flume, would you really want to lose another classic ride for a mediocre coaster? Because let's face it, although the park will have money to invest in one in the future, the money available isn't going to be enough to buy a world beating coaster. I would love Amanda's next move to be the re-tracking of the Big Dipper & Grand National, I'm sure I heard Jerry (ECG) talking about the huge improvement it's made to the Coney Island Cyclone.
 
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