Its simple why it's empty, allow people in and pay for the rides they want. Families don't bother anymore because it would cost to much. During the summer the prom, piers, and town centre were rammed with people but the pleasure beach looked shut it was that empty. Years ago virtually everyone that went to Blackpool, went to the pleasure beach, not anymore.
@@coaster_dad we were going to take our grandchildren on last year for them to go on the rides and us to watch (to old now, ha ha.) it would have cost us over £200 for a couple of hours. We would have still used other facilities, bars, cafes, arcades etc. it's a shame, used to be the biggest attraction in Blackpool but nowadays people just forget it's there and do other things.
For those choosing the park for a full day, pay per ride would be way way more expensive. At Easter took my daughter to local travelling fair, £3 - £3.50 per ride and went through £50 easily in 2 hours. People always say about going back to pay per ride but it would necessarily be cheaper. However it would be good to have that option for those wanting to just visit for a couple hours and do 2 or 3 rides. Would be easy for them to implement with the scanners.
@@LauGarSifu agree on the ticket price for them that want to ride, think it's very good value actually but we didn't go in because of the price for non riders as well so they missed out on approx £150, (that is just one family think of the thousands of others doing the same) plus the money we would have spent on other amenities. Its only since they brought this full charge in it's been so empty. Do agree with you on most points though.
@@LauGarSifu 100%. I definitely want to keep the unlimited rides, but as you say for someone who's only going in for one or two hours it would be good to have the choice 😁
I think that'd be great, but for the park it wouldn't be easy, they have staff they pay regular wages and a pay per ride system would me they'd have to rethink many parts of their business, the rides would only be a tiny part of it
Hi enjoyed your video. I am nearly 44 years old and have been going to blackpool since was 4 years old. I remember when tickets were A B C D. A and B were white knuckle rides grand national big dipper etc. I liked the fact that the pleasure beach used to cater for all families whether spectating or enjoying the rides. Very sad to see a once fantastic theme park which also claimed to have the tallest fastest roller coaster in the world. 😢. Everything seems to be in decline with little communication from Ms Thompson. From staggered opening times to early closing the pleasure beach has had its day😢 . Also i remember hot ice in the Arena used to run from March to November every year. Now its 3 months. Again enjoyed your video and best wishes for the future
Yes I remember when hot ice ran from March to November, I went to Hot Ice this summer and it wasn't busy , years ago the show used to be packed , sad to BPB in decline, hope it picks up .
I've said this before on another channel, having the park gated stops people passing through who just want to enjoy the atmosphere and maybe grab a bite to eat this may or may not result in them doing the rides but they are still spending money in the park. BPB have outpriced allot of families and with Blackpool's tumbling fortunes it's a recipe for disaster.
I agree the pricing is not working, but I'm not sure free entry is viable these days with the amount of trouble in the area. That said they need to reduce the entry and bring back non rider options!
Been going to blackpool since i was 3 but after visiting with my grandkids in july i will NEVER return the whole place is run down & very very tired, the family bar is filthy & there is nothing decent for the kids, changed days from its glory days. RIP Blackpool
It makes me sad how much Pleasure Beach and Towers have declined in the last few years. I really hope they can get back on track as it was only a few years ago that they were 2 of my favourite theme parks in Europe.
That would be a very BOLD move to replace The Big One as it's now part of the Blackpool Skyline, it's one of the most recognisable landmarks in Blackpool, if they're struggling to replace rides like Grand Prix & Wild Mouse & doubts over the Playstation/Ice Blast ride what exactly would they replace it with?
Their decision to go "cashless" was stupid. Their decision to not allow people free access to walk around was the nail in the coffin. Better off going to Thorpe Park for Hyperia, lol
Big one needs RMCing, it would be by far the cheapest way to get the country's second world class coaster, they could extend the lift hill and make it not only the country's tallest coaster again, but the world's tallest/fastest RMC, and the first steel refurb. I reckon RMC would really want to take it as it'll open their doors to redoing all the other terrible arrow jank around the world. The big one is the perfect RMC candidate, it's a massive, solid structure with loads of supports, but a shitty layout. Just imagine what they could do... Steel vengeance only cost around $10M to convert and is around the same length as big one, these conversions are so much cheaper as the foundations are already done which are often half the cost of new rides, especially at blackpool with their bad ground
@@chrisogrady28 I would extend the ride so it goes around the full perimeter of the park and add a couple of loops & twists to it, they might have to update the cars to accommodate the extras but that shouldn't be a problem.
If Geoffrey was still with us, and JR was still in charge everything would be running and it would be mobbed. It seems to be run into the ground these days.
We took our grandson to Blackpool a couple of weeks ago. Didn't bother with pleasure beach. Entry fee far to expensive. Once youve paid best part of £100 to enter the place you soon find that you don't get much bang for your buck
Killed it themselves with the pricing, People can no longer afford to pay to just walk around and see what the action is, or a large prepaid ticket, However if it was free like before then people would visit, pay for a couple of rides for the children, then spend on lunch burgers, or fish n chips, a can of juice some candy floss oh and mum wants a quick shot at the bingo BINGO you have footfall again
Yeah I hear you. I can’t see free working nowadays with all the problems in the area (ie it would bring trouble makers and drunks into the park) but it is very expensive for what it is. And discourages families who won’t all ride from entering.
Just returned from Disneyland Paris paid £58 for one day at one park , open from early hours till 11 at night with fireworks, free shows , didn't have to scan my pass for every. Ride , Blackpool Pleasure beach , pay £50 on the day for a park that opens at 10 ahd closes at 5 , rides closed , some rides not working, having to scan pass on everu ride , is it really worth £50 ? Years ago BPB was amazing, they really need to get their act together. So sad to see jt empty, BPB could be amazing again,.
I took my family down last month and sad to say it'll probably be my last visit to Blackpool and its legendary Pleasure Beach. I've a high pain threshold but the Big One and Big Dipper shoogled me to the point my head hurt. Ice Blast and River Caves being shut down was a major disappointment. Valhalla has leaky boats that leave you utterly drenched no matter what you do. I had such great fun here in the 90s, but it has absolutely had its day. Parks like Tivoli Gardens and Europa put this place to shame.
I never go on rides but enjoy seeing people who do, i used to enjoy a wander around the pleasure beach. Not any more as they charge stupid prices and i for one will NEVER be back.
Last time our family of 5 were there 2 years ago now, it was just a constant squeeze for money we didnt have. £200 basic entry, extra for a fast pass, money for food and drink, money for anything extra...honestly surprised toilets were free. And prices through the roof too - £3 for a bottle of warm water. We got on 5 rides all day as the schools were in. Its just loss its personability. Its small things like wristbands, free park maps, being able to bring a picnic, a wee discount for other attractions if you paid for the park...there was none of that last time, it was just pump as much money out of guests and give them as little as possible in return. When we used to come when i was younger, it was wristbands, food was reasonable, park maps had discounts for ripleys, sometimes you got a token for hot ice, the laughing man was free! They literally dont care about guests now - you pay to get in and then you are just a captive market to pump for as much money as possible. Grim.
Yeah it’s pretty expensive now. I kinda wouldn’t mind as much if they were visibly investing and there’s rumours some changes are coming but nothing official yet and so far it’s just looking run down. 😔
Lots of people used to go and watch other people on the rides which made the park busier and added to the atmosphere and also they played the arcades and bought food.no one would pay money just to walk round and watch
Paying to enter doesn't seem to impact too badly on... every other theme park in existence. Besides, having just renewed my season pass for £100, covering entry for every single day of the 2025 season, I don't see it as that expensive.
It was quite busy for Late Night riding two Saturday ago. Major issues for me were Grand National is now rough to the point where it's not enjoyable, as an enthusiast I expect it to be rough but it's now in desperate need of some work. Didn't go on Big Dipper as I expected it to be exact same as Grand National. Personally don't echo the negatives about the Big One, Personally thought it is running quite well given the age and other factors. The other Elephant in the room is the cost. £30-£50 entry, £10+ for Lunch, £10 for Tea if staying late. Take into account a Family of 4, that's upwards of £300 for the day. It's just not worth it anymore.
Cost is undoubtedly a factor. And I’m curious about the big one. Someone said it may be on quieter days when it’s one train. Maybe they have 2good trains and one rough one?
Think it’s a combination of everything. Entry price,Operating hours,Carpark is very expensive,Food & Drink prices, In this modern world we live in do people want to ride old rides. It’s the sort of place when you have been would you want to keep visiting. Competition is very high in Blackpool especially on the piers who have token deals on.
Communication FROM the Park along with how the Park LOOKS! just isn't good enough for these days, ''POOR VALUE'' It kinds of says . . . . We can't be arsed! So if they can't be arsed, I can't be arsed visiting, and spending! Thanks again Chris, a very honest review that genuinely saddens me. Cheers!
Totally agree, my last visit was last September, and i said then, i will not be back. Far too expensive for families and lack of attention round the rides and the whole park. Used to spend entire days in here, not anymore. They need someone who actually cares about value for money to take the park forward. Sad to see it like this, i am now 60 and been coming here since i was 12 Years old. Its certainly not a "Pleasure" anymore.
@@AlanRunciman Yeah I hear ya fella, not been back myself since September 2018 - My first ever visit was back in 1975 when I was 6 Lived and worked in Blackpool be that in the past ''late 80's'' - it's very sad how the Town looks now and very difficult seeing it recover. Do miss the place but even back in 2018 it just wasn't a nice place to be or spend time & money. I still enjoy watching old footage or watch channels like this hoping for better news, Id love another visit if things pick up but time is running out.
My opinion hasn't changed on the pleasure beach. It's as simple as no one wants to go Blackpool anymore and no one is bothered about the older rides anymore. The big one has reached it's end of life now. I know I'm being negative but as a former fan of the pleasure beach it's sad to see how it is now. I want to be a fan again but I just find everything about the place grinds my gears
Blackpool as a whole is in a state of no return, because no one is too bothered what happens to the place. The pleasure beach used to be free admission, there were always crowds in there, but since they have put an admission fee on it, no one goes in because they cant afford the absorbitant fee charged, and a lot of rides are not working - why pay a high admission for half the rides\park.
I agree the current price is too high although I can’t see free entry working these days with all the other issues in Blackpool that the pleasure beach will be trying to keep out. It’s sad to see 😔
Ok so this this is quite controversial, but i think its time for the thompson family to give it up. Sell it to big business that will invest and bring it up to par to compeate with the big players. Something is going on in that place and im not sure its a positive thing. But its concering.
Give it up? You make it sound like the park is a part time job! haha. It's Their park. They'll do what they want. I don't understand how so many people believe they owe us anything? If people don't wanna go..then don't go.
I do sort of agree that Amanda should have stuck to the Hot Ice show, because running the parak seems to be a bit too much for her, but handing it over to big business? Like who?
You made your day there a postivie one but overall from a brochure perspective the experience is no selling feature for BPB. Rides not even open as well as closing early. No atmosphere and not new attractions. If they don't have something new or a trick up their sleeve for next season I'd say PB is on skid row
I remember in the 80's and early 90's, me and my mates would go to the pleasure beach the first weekend of the season and all rides were 50p and then jumped up to full price a couple of days later.
In the late 50’s and early 60’s we’d travel from Manchester to spend the day at St Anne’s and go to the pleasure beach at night where you’d pay for each ride.
Since the grand parents passed the greed from the family to start charging just to enter has wrecked the place, it is all about the money with them and the grand parents would turn in their grave is they saw whats happened..
Strange staggered Opening & closing times for rides, Ride availability, Down time of Ice Blast & River, winding down rides like Dogems 4 weeks prior to winter close down, lack of comms, and having a Faulty Ghost train near Halloween and still charging people full price - it's as many people say amateur hour from the Management at Blackpool pleasure beach - continuation at current time of slow death of Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
😂 I say this to my kids every time I take them on it. When I was a kid I used to love smashing through those doors!! ... They have also turned the ride music and sound effects down to almost zero!! Piss poor BPB
Not been to Blackpool since the early nineties. You could just walk into the pleasure for free.On a fortnights holiday I used to go into the pleasure beach every day with my niece who was then 8 and go on the Grand National .We would spend hours in it with the book of tickets ABC rides etc. I understand in later years they were getting drunks druggies etc wandering in and being anti social.So it became gated to stop that. But they need non riding passes for family members that cant go on the rides.
This place is finished. As a previous HUGE fan, I hate saying that. However, as you say, a little bit of communication would be great. I cannot understand why they don't as they would be the beneficiaries of increased interest.
I may be wrong but to me the park looks like a place that's on the slow decline to closure. Bad upkeep and attractions closed with no real explanation or updates on the future and little evidence on replacements
Those of us who are old enough will recognisde this demise as it reflects what was The Greatest Show In The World' Belvue Zoo and funfair in Manchester ... that park was also run down to closure
I think its very sad how Pleasure beach can charge the amount they do to go in the park. No wonder they are offering cheap season passes in flash sales. This place will end up shutting soon if they dont sort it out soon and let the decent folk who pay for season passes know what is happening
I've never seen a Fairground or adventure park so dead even at the end of season, they used to do cheap rate years ago as a final pay day....but half started projects and cosmetic issue's don't sound good to be honest, they'd get more trade free entry and buy tokens than spending X amount on a pass, a family will burn through a £20 note killing a hour of boredom much easier than the same family at the gate working out value for money and walking away.
Hello let me introduce myself I'm Ian from Derby. I enjoy your content its very informative and funny at the same time. I love Blackpool pleasure beach I'm 62yrs young so have been coming for years I suffer massively from anxiety issues which impacts my time at the park. My wife is disabled so obviously shes not going to pay £35 to around the park and not go on any rides. This brings me to the non rider situation back in the 80s the trams were full of people coming to the park when people could just walk in and out of the park great atmosphere like you have said in this vlog its now dead. If they did bring back the non rider my wife could watch me on the rides so I wouldn't feel so anxious we would have lunch so spending money in the park it makes me so angry I even emailed the pleasure beach my predicament obviously they haven't replied. Amanda Thompson is ruining the park all she is bothered about his the hotels and ice shows.. my favourite ride is the big one I went on it when it first opened it was was better before they proviled the first drop I agree its rough but for me its iconic on south shore. Thanks again for your vlogs Ian& Sarah from Derby 🖤🤍🐏🐏
Cheers Ian, glad you enjoyed 😀 I agree on the non rider, I doubt they'll ever return to free entry, but non rider seems so obvious and was a thing up until Covid so no reason not to bring it back. After all they still have the scanners to verify you've paid (which are pointless right now when EVERYONE has paid 🙈 )
Went for the first time on Friday and the park was dead but we still had to wait about 30/45 mins each time for the big one even tho queue time said 10 mins as was only running 1 train half full with sand bags in back half of the train for some reason, same with every other coaster was on 1 train and they wouldn’t just send out the ride, we would have to sit for about 15 mins in the stations waiting for more people to come on who just weren’t ahah. Enjoyable day but pretty poor operations in that regard
You seemed a bit deflated during this visit and I don't blame you, maybe just lack of sleep. An empty park lacks the atmosphere to generate the enthusiasm and excitement to enjoy the day, but the upside is all the rides are basically walk-on. I'm a bit like you regarding The Big One, I can take it or leave it as it's overrated and has become too rough, even with the new sections re-tracked. If the queue is relatively short I'll go on it but if it's rammed I'll not bother, not missing much really, I'm there purely for the woodies. I hope Ice Blast gets a new name when it reopens.
The likes of JR (Jim Rowland), Keith Allen and all the staff that featured in the BBC documentary back in the 1990s must shudder to see the state of the place these days. Back then it was always heaving with people, and run like a military operation. I know it's all rose tinted glasses etc. but I really do feel that things were better back then.
I know what you mean. When I watch those videos there definitely were things that weren’t great. But profits and atmosphere were much much better than they are nowadays!
Free entry wouldn’t work anymore with all the trouble in the area. But cheaper non rider entry was an option until Covid and I have no idea why they’ve not brought it back. 🤷♂️
They need to be way more transparent with what's going on - they need to give the people something to make them want to return/buy season passes for next year - enjoyed the video mate 🙂
Thank you. And yeah doesn’t have to be super detailed but tease something, get the interest back. They did the thing when Hyperia opened but nothing since. 🤷♂️
Ticket books like at Disneyland. I’d say that’s what they need. My mum and I were talking about this and she said how in the 90’s my grandad and grandma used to come with but they wouldn’t go on anything, they’d watch and take photographs. They’d spend the money on the donuts and the merchandise. It just makes sense to remove the full entrance fee. Some people like my boyfriend don’t want to pay to walk around the park because they won’t do the majority of the rides only the smaller ones. It just makes sense to open it to the public.
No families in there hardly anymore.. mostly teenagers and daytrippers. It’s not the same as when you could go in and take in the atmosphere, eat food have a drink and watch your kids go on the rides. That was what the pleasure beach was about. It’s a shame it’s died.
Hey there. I really like your videos, you are so upfront and don't try to be over fancy, like loads of these other vblog people. I'm not going to repeat a load of other stuff already said in these comments, just thank you for taking the time to do this video for us all. Cheers 👍😁
@@coaster_dad I was in Blackpool (well Bispham) last night walking around the lights. Intend to do the Pleasure Beach end within next couple weeks. Think I will just look at the rides from outside the park, I do like lighting of the Big One in the night sky 👍😊
Told you about Diego and the dodgems! Hadn't thought about winter maintenance - seems incredibly early. There are becoming too many rides unavailable now
I’ve lived in Blackpool all my life and d I’m nearly 50. Spent so much of my childhood at the Pleasure Beach. We’ve not been since they started this ridiculous charging of an entrance fee. So sad to see it in such a sad state of decline.
I came to Blackpool earlier in the year with some of my family and 3 grandchildren. Two of the grandchildren are old enough to be going on some of the rides, but considering myself and their grandma are not into fairground rides anymore we abandoned the idea of taking them in. In one respect it`s a loss for me as I want to see them enjoy themselves but I can`t justify paying for myself and others to enter if we are just going to walk about. So Pleasure Beach lost out on money that particular day for two ride passes and obviously we would all have had something to eat and drink while in the place. I am sure there are a lot of other people like me who can not justify the additional spend just to enter the place. Shame really so I hope they come up with something to address these problems.
@@stevensmith7460 Hi Steven, yeah you`re right what you say there has to be a lot of families with the same attitude. It`s not greed or anything like that it just feels like we are being taken for mugs being forced to pay for something. I remember when I was a kid in the 70s visiting the place and it was jam packed every time I went there. It felt a little sad watching this video as it looks as if the place is in a terminal decline. I hope it`s not terminal and that Amanda can do something positive instead or ruining what her father built up.
@@coaster_dad Same here Coaster Dad I really hope they can get it back to being similar to what it used to be, making a lot of money especially for new investments and as you say reevaluate the pricing structure where everyone is happy. Anyway thank you so much for creating really good content, it`s appreciated 👍👍
@@woody41165 hi woody, it's not only that but the pleasure beach used to be like a magnet, you started off around north or central then moved south during the day. Now visitors mainly find their amusements around central to north piers. It has killed south Blackpool, look at Yates etc. The pleasure beach used to be the biggest attraction for Blackpool, people are forgetting it's there now.
Summer 97 was filled with people, tourist, donkeys, beach was full, don't know something wrong with Blackpool these days, mind you 90s long time ago now
Blackpool is the same as other British seaside towns, a majority of people visit for just a day or two nowadays. The pleasure beach used to be the main attraction for Blackpool but with their admission charges most people just forget it's there and do other things. £200+ for a family of 4 with mum and dad just watching but spending money on other things, ridiculous.
Went on Grand national 4 years ago. Cracked a rib and a large bruise appeared on my side. Lower back has never been right since. No back problems before that. So much hatred for that ride because of this.
@coaster_dad went on first with my niece second seat from front and was fine. Second time with sister sat near the back. That'll do it! I did used to love it 😒
I also visited the park a few weeks ago on a Wednesday and it was dead yet when I left at 5pm and drove down the promenade Blackpool itself was pretty busy especially during midweek
I would usually say a place is quiet because of out of season. BPB is running out of excuses, going by the last two seasons. Too many rides down for maintenance, results in too many queues. TIME is an essence. I am not going to spend that kind of money, to spend 5-6 hours in a place, come rain or shine! £99 I don't blame you renewing your season pass! Considering BPB is meant to be an enticing new resort, with its hotels on complex. The prices are just sky high.
Yeah I think pricing is their main issue, sure there are a number of issues with ride availability but that could be reflected in the price. And I'm hoping some of the rumours about what's coming are true and we're about to turn a corner 🤞
Should the coasters not have netting on them when crossing over a footpath. That one coaster at the 5:40 mark is literally maybe 10ft at the highest point above the pedestrian path. No that would be allowed here in Canada. You can literally almost touch the track. Also here if park closes at 10 the ride line is open till 10 and they run the line til empty. So certain busy rides could be running for another hour after closing. This seems like a very janky park.
Same here for most parks in terms of queues closing with the park and the running til empty. As for the netting it’s odd because many places have it over here too. 🤷♂️
I think that the best of the UK parks has been gone. Drayton Manor is now just a kids park, Lightwater Valley... reduced to a toddler's park. Alton Towers and Thorpe park only opens rides when they feel like it. BpB is dead. Where the UK was the example of theme parks for Europe, it's now the way it's not supposed to be.
I went on 21st September for late night riding. It was fantastic. Really busy great atmosphere. Icon was on 3 trains and was queuing out the door . Big one was on 2 trains and 60 mins all day. Really felt like blackpool back in the day. Icon and revolution in the dark were excellent. 😊
I think the big one should get a full retrack by Morgan, kind of like Phantoms revenge . Then I think they should replace Grand prix with an rmc single rail, then just try making the rides more reliable
Just a thought... All these unusual little things in random areas around the park ( dodgems closed, Diego closed, ice blast, caves, bowadrome etc etc) could possibly be areas planned for footings to support a park-wide coaster? Remember early days of ICON construction how footings randomly appeared dotted around well before we knew what for. I don't care what anyone says. I predict caves, grand prix site, bowladrome all in such close proximity and all being closed has got to mean they are all being removed for whatever is planned. I reckon she's gunna go big. Losing the tallest coaster title has clearly stuck in her throat. I think Its going to be a very busy and interesting closed season.
I am curious to see what happens. I’ve thought similar although I think river is staying. But lots of run down areas that as you say could be intentional.
Me and my gf visited last week. Only other ppl there was a school trip. Most rides were walk on until Big One broke around 1pm and the spill over all went to Icon. Fun lapping rides all day though
The park is worryingly quite, I wouldn't have thought that was a Sunday. I think a lot of people have now had enough of the PB and the way it is run and disappointment year after year with rides disappearing and not being replaced. There is no real incentive to go anymore and the atmosphere of the 70s 80s and 90s has been ripped out the park.
I was in Blackpool two weeks ago I Walked past the PB on a Wednesday afternoon one end to the other, It was so dead I thought it might have been closed till finally I saw the Big One drop
In response, yes there are new models in the train (couple lions and a leopard i think) and looks like others have been cleaned up. So you are not going senile 😅 The cars have been removed from the dodgems for a good couple months now, who knows 🤷
we went twice over the weekend, Friday and Sunday, Friday was literally empty and even Icon was on one train plus it was the Enso train too so the queue wasn't move especially fast given it was only short. Avalanche we rode the first time and there was 4 of us on it and we walked around again as it was so quiet and then we were the ONLY people on it and was having a laugh with the crew before getting on. Yesterday was a little busier although still quiet, Daughter managed 11 rides in a little over 3 hours which is ridiculous but great at the same time. I did notice yesterday too that on Avalanche the second train has gone so whether that's started it's winter maintenance early too I don't know. Icon again was on a single train
So true last time i went on a sunday *it was pretty hot so expected to be lots of people* but it wasnt. All the rides were walk on apart from wallace and gromit whuch was 5 mins lol
Great vid…. Grand National is a glorious former great, but it now belongs in a museum; sell parts off as antiques & herald it as a pivotal cog in British history; maybe even keep a section in situ as a statue & landmark. Same with Big Dipper, scrap it and leave the ice cream cone in place as a memorial. Streak can stay; nowhere near as intense as GN but it’s smoother & still good fun. The Big One’s lifespan has long since expired. Used to be my absolute favourite, but it’s aged dreadfully, it’s ridiculously rough & actually (now that we have so many modern rides with more thrilling elements) after that first massive drop it really doesn’t do much else. Unfortunately it just isn’t a sustainable ride, though I don’t have any faith at all that they have the $£€ available to replace it with anything anywhere near as majestic. Sad state of affairs for such an iconic park
I do worry about the future of the park but I'm trying to remain optimistic that they are running certain things down in preparation for a new investment 🤞
If we the public can see the problem of low attendance how on earth can the directors not ?.free entry coupled with coded wristbands or bar scannable tickets to enable selective riding.
I can only assume their focus is elsewhere. And playing devils advocate we don’t run a theme park, so there could easily be other challenges we can’t see. But I do think changes to the pricing structure is an obvious and easy win 🤷♂️
@@coaster_dad in my 60s and in my lifetime i have seen the demise of Morecambes Frontierland, Camelot, Southport (demolished but resurrected poorly ) Pleasureland, New Brighton, BelleVue.....some genuine big parks have gone... Blackpool is in real danger if nothings done.
Yep, definitely some new "scenery" on the PB Express, noticed it on our last trip mid September. The Alice walk through was fantastic, there are sooooo many things you miss when in the ride normally.
We went last week thursday and it rained all day everything a walk on which i like---Only thing i waited for was the Big One it only opened at 1-45 and only had six rows open so the Queue was not massive but its a long ride so took ages would have liked to see them fill all 12 seats instead of people sitting on there own
They've cancelled the famous Circus Of Horrors show this year for this bloody Scarefest. It had already sold out, so why cancel it for this 'so called' Scarefest. More dissapointed fans missing out on that this year. Can't wait for the reviews of this Halloween at BPB.
Love you're video's, brilliant, but blackpool pleasure beach is just getting dearer, and Shitter , let people wonder ,enjoy the atmosphere, feel free to eat, or pay whatever they can afford 😊😊, 👍 thanks for the video, staysafe, 👍
Well the insane prices they charge for everything in Blackpool certainly don't help. Plus they have a massive problem with young men spilling out of the pubs pissed out their minds and actively looking for fights - and I say that from direct experience after going there with family. And the police and council have no interest in doing anything about it.
We are going this weekend for the Northern Soul weekender and were planning going back to the pleasure beach after a 40 year absence. We really just wanted to just have a wander round and take in the smells and sounds for the memory and were shocked to see it would cost £35. We might still go but not sure.
Persoanlly I think the BPB pass is a ripp off. It's only any good if yuo live in Blackpool and can get to the PB enough times a year to make it worth the cost, At least with a Merlin pass you can use it at attractions all over the country
Many people say the same. I doubt free would make sense nowadays, but at the same time charging a flat fee for all visitors also isn’t right. It excludes families with grandparent who just want to spectate 🤷♂️
Great vlog as always, you said you were going on the flying machines at the end but they closed early so you went on the Grand National. Then you said the park was closing but the flying machines were going around with people on them, the park really needs to get it together. I thought Mr Starmer was the most arrogant person ever but nobody can outdo Amanda Thompson, she should be letting everybody know what is going on in the park as people travel a long way and spend a lot of their hard-earned money there.
Yeah I didn’t notice the flying machines until I was editing then I got very confused. Only thing I can think is that there was a queue up there so they closed early 🤷♂️ but normally you can sneak in last minute so that would be odd.
As much as you’re not a fan of haloween I think you should embrace it, it would really be fun to see your dry sense of humour judging the mazes etc, you’re missing out on more clicks
If there is one ride that needs modification it's the ghost train. Can you imagine what a horror ride it could be with today's technology. I know its a PB icon but to me its out of date, it was out of date in the 80s if not before.(I'll get battered for this, 😂😂).
Good video @coasterdad. Hoping to take my daughter up in the half term, weather permitting. Can cancel hotel a few days in advance. But as mentioned a few months back on a previous vid, we missed out on the big one with high winds. So fingers crossed, come the end of October, the weather is calm, and we can make it up. Place has so much potential, just needs someone with the ambition and able to put the work in!
I’m not unhappy. I’m more concerned. I have a lot of childhood memories from the park and I want to see it survive. But it’s not in a great state right now 😔
What they should do is charge almost as much for an annual pass that does not include the preposterous parking charges as Merlin does for a Gold pass which allows access to all their theme parks with free parking. That is guaranteed to attract more people. 🙄
@@coaster_dad They're completely off their heads. What is annoying too is the chargeable car parks at the hotels and if you stay you and pay you still have to move your car when you check out. At Premiere Inn I've often asked if I can leave my car for the rest of the day on checkout day and has never been a problem. Just not a "resort" the way it is at all.
Blackpool actually gets more visitors than alot of other parks in the country, heres the thing tho and this is a problem with all coastal tourist vacations. Noone is wanting to go to the seaside in mid October, this is fairly obvious.
People should give the fair a wide birth and spend Thier money elsewhere till the park owners change the payment .it should be free to walk around and spend Thier hard earned cash on what they want more people would go to the fair.
Many say it's like a Halloween graveyard already; Blackpool and Southport making big mistakes in going for the All in 1 day Theme park ticket option for £30+ per person. Seems like Blackpool lack of gains will be missing more and more people off - especially the traditional rock solid theme park riders and also new comers.
I agree charging anyone to enter is not helping, but this is a Sunday a week or two after the schools have gone back and just after the late night riding event, so crowds will be thinner this time of year
I’ve visited about 5 or 6 times this year and only one visit was “busy” and even then not anywhere near the kind of busy Blackpool used to be known for.
Blackpool is a rundown dive, and the theme park is also rough, old and run down. Unless the government/ police make the town better and the theme park is update it will slowly die. I get it, the rides are old and iconic, but only to a few people. The biggest que at Thorpe Park right now is Hiperia not the oldest flying fish ride. Old and rough is not what people want. Do the owners and council want a good town and a good theme park or a museum and a turd town.
Nows the best time to go mid week for good ride counts before the 2 week October school holiday. Ive had season pass every year since 2008 and I've always seen it quiet around this time - kids back in school.
Very true. And I know some people have mentioned busy days this season but I’ve clearly been lucky, I’ve visited 4 or 5 times this season and never had any long queues 🤷♂️
@@coaster_dad September mid weeks you still get coaches of school kids, for just leisurely going round the patk calmly is now before Halloween and October hols. 74 Wild mouse 1 day around this time 2014.
@@coaster_dad walking was fine would have had more but the ride ops did something silly with empty cars managent seen, I think got themselves sacked same day. Finished day with 10 Ice Blasts.
Its simple why it's empty, allow people in and pay for the rides they want. Families don't bother anymore because it would cost to much. During the summer the prom, piers, and town centre were rammed with people but the pleasure beach looked shut it was that empty. Years ago virtually everyone that went to Blackpool, went to the pleasure beach, not anymore.
aye £35-£50 flat for all visitors is not working
@@coaster_dad we were going to take our grandchildren on last year for them to go on the rides and us to watch (to old now, ha ha.) it would have cost us over £200 for a couple of hours. We would have still used other facilities, bars, cafes, arcades etc. it's a shame, used to be the biggest attraction in Blackpool but nowadays people just forget it's there and do other things.
For those choosing the park for a full day, pay per ride would be way way more expensive. At Easter took my daughter to local travelling fair, £3 - £3.50 per ride and went through £50 easily in 2 hours. People always say about going back to pay per ride but it would necessarily be cheaper. However it would be good to have that option for those wanting to just visit for a couple hours and do 2 or 3 rides. Would be easy for them to implement with the scanners.
@@LauGarSifu agree on the ticket price for them that want to ride, think it's very good value actually but we didn't go in because of the price for non riders as well so they missed out on approx £150, (that is just one family think of the thousands of others doing the same) plus the money we would have spent on other amenities. Its only since they brought this full charge in it's been so empty. Do agree with you on most points though.
@@LauGarSifu 100%. I definitely want to keep the unlimited rides, but as you say for someone who's only going in for one or two hours it would be good to have the choice 😁
Scrap the enterence fee and bring back option of pay per ride. Easy
I don’t think free entry will ever return. But I agree the pay per ride or a non rider should be reconsidered.
I think that'd be great, but for the park it wouldn't be easy, they have staff they pay regular wages and a pay per ride system would me they'd have to rethink many parts of their business, the rides would only be a tiny part of it
There are 1000's of i l le gal i m mi grants being housed in blpl. They would hang around the pb if it was free
Hi enjoyed your video. I am nearly 44 years old and have been going to blackpool since was 4 years old. I remember when tickets were A B C D. A and B were white knuckle rides grand national big dipper etc. I liked the fact that the pleasure beach used to cater for all families whether spectating or enjoying the rides. Very sad to see a once fantastic theme park which also claimed to have the tallest fastest roller coaster in the world. 😢. Everything seems to be in decline with little communication from Ms Thompson. From staggered opening times to early closing the pleasure beach has had its day😢 . Also i remember hot ice in the Arena used to run from March to November every year. Now its 3 months. Again enjoyed your video and best wishes for the future
I do hope they’re about to turn a corner 🤞
They was the best days. Loved the 80's
Yes I remember when hot ice ran from March to November, I went to Hot Ice this summer and it wasn't busy , years ago the show used to be packed , sad to BPB in decline, hope it picks up .
Great to visit this park in late 70's - mid 80's - excellent Ghost train and Log ride were my favorite
I've said this before on another channel, having the park gated stops people passing through who just want to enjoy the atmosphere and maybe grab a bite to eat this may or may not result in them doing the rides but they are still spending money in the park. BPB have outpriced allot of families and with Blackpool's tumbling fortunes it's a recipe for disaster.
I agree the pricing is not working, but I'm not sure free entry is viable these days with the amount of trouble in the area. That said they need to reduce the entry and bring back non rider options!
it also stops the pickpockets and illegal immigrants who took over the park before it was introduced
Used to be a good Amusement Park, with very fond memories.. Unfortunately in my opinion it's on a terminal decline...
It’s a worry and I do hope they manage to turn things around so the park sticks around for years to come 🤞
Been going to blackpool since i was 3 but after visiting with my grandkids in july i will NEVER return the whole place is run down & very very tired, the family bar is filthy & there is nothing decent for the kids, changed days from its glory days. RIP Blackpool
😔
If they don't re-open river caves, that will be a huge mistake in my opinion. Not many old school dark rides like that left, certainly not in the UK
I'm sure it'll be back, but they're obviously having issues :(
It makes me sad how much Pleasure Beach and Towers have declined in the last few years. I really hope they can get back on track as it was only a few years ago that they were 2 of my favourite theme parks in Europe.
That would be a very BOLD move to replace The Big One as it's now part of the Blackpool Skyline, it's one of the most recognisable landmarks in Blackpool, if they're struggling to replace rides like Grand Prix & Wild Mouse & doubts over the Playstation/Ice Blast ride what exactly would they replace it with?
Yeah it’s a funny one. I agree the big one is key part of the skyline. But it’s not ageing well even with the retrack
Their decision to go "cashless" was stupid. Their decision to not allow people free access to walk around was the nail in the coffin. Better off going to Thorpe Park for Hyperia, lol
@@tinseltits9855 Ive never been. How much does it cost just to walk around Thorpe Park?
Big one needs RMCing, it would be by far the cheapest way to get the country's second world class coaster, they could extend the lift hill and make it not only the country's tallest coaster again, but the world's tallest/fastest RMC, and the first steel refurb. I reckon RMC would really want to take it as it'll open their doors to redoing all the other terrible arrow jank around the world.
The big one is the perfect RMC candidate, it's a massive, solid structure with loads of supports, but a shitty layout. Just imagine what they could do...
Steel vengeance only cost around $10M to convert and is around the same length as big one, these conversions are so much cheaper as the foundations are already done which are often half the cost of new rides, especially at blackpool with their bad ground
@@chrisogrady28 I would extend the ride so it goes around the full perimeter of the park and add a couple of loops & twists to it, they might have to update the cars to accommodate the extras but that shouldn't be a problem.
If Geoffrey was still with us, and JR was still in charge everything would be running and it would be mobbed. It seems to be run into the ground these days.
I do wonder about that. The 90s was a very different time. So I am curious if older strategies would still work. 🤷♂️
It’s all over for Blackpool pleasure beach. It’s all being fucked up.
🙈
We took our grandson to Blackpool a couple of weeks ago. Didn't bother with pleasure beach. Entry fee far to expensive. Once youve paid best part of £100 to enter the place you soon find that you don't get much bang for your buck
It can be crazy expensive nowadays 😔
Wow y'know it's almost like charging £50 on the gate is a really bad idea or something...
😂 touche
Killed it themselves with the pricing, People can no longer afford to pay to just walk around and see what the action is, or a large prepaid ticket, However if it was free like before then people would visit, pay for a couple of rides for the children, then spend on lunch burgers, or fish n chips, a can of juice some candy floss oh and mum wants a quick shot at the bingo
BINGO you have footfall again
Yeah I hear you. I can’t see free working nowadays with all the problems in the area (ie it would bring trouble makers and drunks into the park) but it is very expensive for what it is. And discourages families who won’t all ride from entering.
Just returned from Disneyland Paris paid £58 for one day at one park , open from early hours till 11 at night with fireworks, free shows , didn't have to scan my pass for every. Ride ,
Blackpool Pleasure beach , pay £50 on the day for a park that opens at 10 ahd closes at 5 , rides closed , some rides not working, having to scan pass on everu ride , is it really worth £50 ?
Years ago BPB was amazing, they really need to get their act together. So sad to see jt empty, BPB could be amazing again,.
I hear you. I’ve got my fingers crossed they turn a corner soon 🤞
I took my family down last month and sad to say it'll probably be my last visit to Blackpool and its legendary Pleasure Beach. I've a high pain threshold but the Big One and Big Dipper shoogled me to the point my head hurt. Ice Blast and River Caves being shut down was a major disappointment. Valhalla has leaky boats that leave you utterly drenched no matter what you do.
I had such great fun here in the 90s, but it has absolutely had its day. Parks like Tivoli Gardens and Europa put this place to shame.
European parks are on a different level!
@@coaster_dadTry Energia Landia fabulous
I never go on rides but enjoy seeing people who do, i used to enjoy a wander around the pleasure beach. Not any more as they charge stupid prices and i for one will NEVER be back.
Aye it’s crazy that they scrapped the non rider option. We can only hope they bring it back at some point 🤞
If you’re not spending money on the park they won’t exactly miss you
@@incognito8763 My wife and i were buying snacks, ice cream etc. Yes i see your point.
Last time our family of 5 were there 2 years ago now, it was just a constant squeeze for money we didnt have. £200 basic entry, extra for a fast pass, money for food and drink, money for anything extra...honestly surprised toilets were free. And prices through the roof too - £3 for a bottle of warm water. We got on 5 rides all day as the schools were in. Its just loss its personability. Its small things like wristbands, free park maps, being able to bring a picnic, a wee discount for other attractions if you paid for the park...there was none of that last time, it was just pump as much money out of guests and give them as little as possible in return. When we used to come when i was younger, it was wristbands, food was reasonable, park maps had discounts for ripleys, sometimes you got a token for hot ice, the laughing man was free! They literally dont care about guests now - you pay to get in and then you are just a captive market to pump for as much money as possible. Grim.
Yeah it’s pretty expensive now. I kinda wouldn’t mind as much if they were visibly investing and there’s rumours some changes are coming but nothing official yet and so far it’s just looking run down. 😔
Lots of people used to go and watch other people on the rides which made the park busier and added to the atmosphere and also they played the arcades and bought food.no one would pay money just to walk round and watch
Aye, much though I doubt free entry will ever happen again, they should reconsider the non rider ticket
And that was Blackpools down fall
No way is that worth 50pound. 😂
Paying to enter doesn't seem to impact too badly on... every other theme park in existence. Besides, having just renewed my season pass for £100, covering entry for every single day of the 2025 season, I don't see it as that expensive.
@streamsofconsciousness8651 true but this is Blackpool😅😅
It was quite busy for Late Night riding two Saturday ago. Major issues for me were Grand National is now rough to the point where it's not enjoyable, as an enthusiast I expect it to be rough but it's now in desperate need of some work. Didn't go on Big Dipper as I expected it to be exact same as Grand National. Personally don't echo the negatives about the Big One, Personally thought it is running quite well given the age and other factors. The other Elephant in the room is the cost. £30-£50 entry, £10+ for Lunch, £10 for Tea if staying late. Take into account a Family of 4, that's upwards of £300 for the day. It's just not worth it anymore.
Cost is undoubtedly a factor. And I’m curious about the big one. Someone said it may be on quieter days when it’s one train. Maybe they have 2good trains and one rough one?
Think it’s a combination of everything. Entry price,Operating hours,Carpark is very expensive,Food & Drink prices, In this modern world we live in do people want to ride old rides. It’s the sort of place when you have been would you want to keep visiting. Competition is very high in Blackpool especially on the piers who have token deals on.
All valid points
Terrible management by the owners who have got more and more greedy as time has passed
😔 it’s definitely more expensive these days
Communication FROM the Park along with how the Park LOOKS! just isn't good enough for these days, ''POOR VALUE''
It kinds of says . . . . We can't be arsed!
So if they can't be arsed, I can't be arsed visiting, and spending!
Thanks again Chris, a very honest review that genuinely saddens me.
Cheers!
I’m trying to be optimistic and there are a number of rumours circulating about what’s coming next. But yeah, right not it’s not great 😔
Totally agree, my last visit was last September, and i said then, i will not be back. Far too expensive for families and lack of attention round the rides and the whole park. Used to spend entire days in here, not anymore. They need someone who actually cares about value for money to take the park forward. Sad to see it like this, i am now 60 and been coming here since i was 12 Years old. Its certainly not a "Pleasure" anymore.
@@AlanRunciman Yeah I hear ya fella, not been back myself since September 2018 - My first ever visit was back in 1975 when I was 6
Lived and worked in Blackpool be that in the past ''late 80's'' - it's very sad how the Town looks now and very difficult seeing it recover.
Do miss the place but even back in 2018 it just wasn't a nice place to be or spend time & money.
I still enjoy watching old footage or watch channels like this hoping for better news, Id love another visit if things pick up but time is running out.
I agree with coaster dad just even if they put up a advertisement board saying XYZ BPB will be gone in 10 years 😢
@@EVERYDAYGames00 The Park won't last another 5 years, today's date ''10th Oct 2024''
My opinion hasn't changed on the pleasure beach. It's as simple as no one wants to go Blackpool anymore and no one is bothered about the older rides anymore.
The big one has reached it's end of life now.
I know I'm being negative but as a former fan of the pleasure beach it's sad to see how it is now. I want to be a fan again but I just find everything about the place grinds my gears
I hear you. I do hope they turn things around
Blackpool as a whole is in a state of no return, because no one is too bothered what happens to the place. The pleasure beach used to be free admission, there were always crowds in there, but since they have put an admission fee on it, no one goes in because they cant afford the absorbitant fee charged, and a lot of rides are not working - why pay a high admission for half the rides\park.
I agree the current price is too high although I can’t see free entry working these days with all the other issues in Blackpool that the pleasure beach will be trying to keep out. It’s sad to see 😔
Ok so this this is quite controversial, but i think its time for the thompson family to give it up. Sell it to big business that will invest and bring it up to par to compeate with the big players. Something is going on in that place and im not sure its a positive thing. But its concering.
😔
Give it up? You make it sound like the park is a part time job! haha. It's Their park. They'll do what they want. I don't understand how so many people believe they owe us anything? If people don't wanna go..then don't go.
@@stevenw75 "if people don't want to go, don't go" yea that's exactly what people are doing 😂😂😂
I do sort of agree that Amanda should have stuck to the Hot Ice show, because running the parak seems to be a bit too much for her, but handing it over to big business? Like who?
@@stevenw75 of course they owe us something. we're the ones paying their living and keeping their business going.
As a resident of Blackpool, I can confirm Blackpool is dying 😭
It’s sad to see 😔
@@coaster_dad 💔🤧
People are skint atm, nowhere is booming
@@user-Wojciech BP is worst than most though
@@coaster_dad it has got it's own reputation
You made your day there a postivie one but overall from a brochure perspective the experience is no selling feature for BPB. Rides not even open as well as closing early. No atmosphere and not new attractions. If they don't have something new or a trick up their sleeve for next season I'd say PB is on skid row
Aye, there's a lot of rumours about what's happening and if they come true we may be about to turn a corner, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed 🤞
I remember in the 80's and early 90's, me and my mates would go to the pleasure beach the first weekend of the season and all rides were 50p and then jumped up to full price a couple of days later.
It’s very different now!
In the late 50’s and early 60’s we’d travel from Manchester to spend the day at St Anne’s and go to the pleasure beach at night where you’d pay for each ride.
Since the grand parents passed the greed from the family to start charging just to enter has wrecked the place, it is all about the money with them and the grand parents would turn in their grave is they saw whats happened..
😔
Strange staggered Opening & closing times for rides, Ride availability, Down time of Ice Blast & River, winding down rides like Dogems 4 weeks prior to winter close down, lack of comms, and having a Faulty Ghost train near Halloween and still charging people full price - it's as many people say amateur hour from the Management at Blackpool pleasure beach - continuation at current time of slow death of Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
😔
The ghost train was better when the wooden doors along the track were not automated and your car would just smash through them.
Yeah I thought they used to do that. Glad I wasn’t dreaming!
😂 I say this to my kids every time I take them on it. When I was a kid I used to love smashing through those doors!! ... They have also turned the ride music and sound effects down to almost zero!! Piss poor BPB
Not been to Blackpool since the early nineties. You could just walk into the pleasure for free.On a fortnights holiday I used to go into the pleasure beach every day with my niece who was then 8 and go on the Grand National .We would spend hours in it with the book of tickets ABC rides etc. I understand in later years they were getting drunks druggies etc wandering in and being anti social.So it became gated to stop that. But they need non riding passes for family members that cant go on the rides.
Oh and it was open late at night 10.00pm and had firework shows.
They definitely need to review pricing and non rider seems an obvious thing to bring back 🤷♂️
@kathleendolan8876 nowadays we’re luck to get that 3 or 4 times a year 😔
This place is finished. As a previous HUGE fan, I hate saying that. However, as you say, a little bit of communication would be great. I cannot understand why they don't as they would be the beneficiaries of increased interest.
Yup 😔
I may be wrong but to me the park looks like a place that's on the slow decline to closure. Bad upkeep and attractions closed with no real explanation or updates on the future and little evidence on replacements
I hope not 😔
Those of us who are old enough will recognisde this demise as it reflects what was The Greatest Show In The World' Belvue Zoo and funfair in Manchester ... that park was also run down to closure
makes you wonder if the owners are killing it on purpose .some of the decisions made are very poor.
I am curious what the future holds 🤔
If BPB goes blackpool as a whole will decline because I reckon 60-70 % of people who visit blackpool go for the pleasure beach
I think its very sad how Pleasure beach can charge the amount they do to go in the park. No wonder they are offering cheap season passes in flash sales. This place will end up shutting soon if they dont sort it out soon and let the decent folk who pay for season passes know what is happening
I do hope they change their ticket options soon 🤞
@@coaster_dad definitely its killing the park its not like other theme parks i used to love Blackpool pleasure beach
I've never seen a Fairground or adventure park so dead even at the end of season, they used to do cheap rate years ago as a final pay day....but half started projects and cosmetic issue's don't sound good to be honest, they'd get more trade free entry and buy tokens than spending X amount on a pass, a family will burn through a £20 note killing a hour of boredom much easier than the same family at the gate working out value for money and walking away.
The current pricing is definitely not helping things for sure.
Hello let me introduce myself I'm Ian from Derby. I enjoy your content its very informative and funny at the same time. I love Blackpool pleasure beach I'm 62yrs young so have been coming for years I suffer massively from anxiety issues which impacts my time at the park. My wife is disabled so obviously shes not going to pay £35 to around the park and not go on any rides. This brings me to the non rider situation back in the 80s the trams were full of people coming to the park when people could just walk in and out of the park great atmosphere like you have said in this vlog its now dead. If they did bring back the non rider my wife could watch me on the rides so I wouldn't feel so anxious we would have lunch so spending money in the park it makes me so angry I even emailed the pleasure beach my predicament obviously they haven't replied. Amanda Thompson is ruining the park all she is bothered about his the hotels and ice shows.. my favourite ride is the big one I went on it when it first opened it was was better before they proviled the first drop I agree its rough but for me its iconic on south shore. Thanks again for your vlogs Ian& Sarah from Derby 🖤🤍🐏🐏
Cheers Ian, glad you enjoyed 😀 I agree on the non rider, I doubt they'll ever return to free entry, but non rider seems so obvious and was a thing up until Covid so no reason not to bring it back. After all they still have the scanners to verify you've paid (which are pointless right now when EVERYONE has paid 🙈 )
Went for the first time on Friday and the park was dead but we still had to wait about 30/45 mins each time for the big one even tho queue time said 10 mins as was only running 1 train half full with sand bags in back half of the train for some reason, same with every other coaster was on 1 train and they wouldn’t just send out the ride, we would have to sit for about 15 mins in the stations waiting for more people to come on who just weren’t ahah. Enjoyable day but pretty poor operations in that regard
That's disappointing, I've not had that this season apart from on Airbender on this recent trip :(
You seemed a bit deflated during this visit and I don't blame you, maybe just lack of sleep. An empty park lacks the atmosphere to generate the enthusiasm and excitement to enjoy the day, but the upside is all the rides are basically walk-on. I'm a bit like you regarding The Big One, I can take it or leave it as it's overrated and has become too rough, even with the new sections re-tracked. If the queue is relatively short I'll go on it but if it's rammed I'll not bother, not missing much really, I'm there purely for the woodies. I hope Ice Blast gets a new name when it reopens.
And hopefully a new lease of life, I'm happy for them to keep ice blast if it gets some oomph back, it's been a bit tame in recent years :(
The likes of JR (Jim Rowland), Keith Allen and all the staff that featured in the BBC documentary back in the 1990s must shudder to see the state of the place these days. Back then it was always heaving with people, and run like a military operation. I know it's all rose tinted glasses etc. but I really do feel that things were better back then.
I know what you mean. When I watch those videos there definitely were things that weren’t great. But profits and atmosphere were much much better than they are nowadays!
Agree then the place ran like clockwork it was always rammed busy too l liked JR he was mint
I love those quiet days with zero queuing
It's great to get on stuff for sure
No good for Pleasure beach bank account 😮
Aye that’s the catch 22. Great for visitors, bad for the park 😔
@@coaster_dad is it though? It is off season
@streamsofconsciousness8651 I was in towers the following day and it was also 5 minutes on everything. So definitely a quiet time of year to be fair.
They killed that place when they started charging to get in! I used to like going in king Cotten bar!
Free entry wouldn’t work anymore with all the trouble in the area. But cheaper non rider entry was an option until Covid and I have no idea why they’ve not brought it back. 🤷♂️
They need to be way more transparent with what's going on - they need to give the people something to make them want to return/buy season passes for next year - enjoyed the video mate 🙂
Thank you. And yeah doesn’t have to be super detailed but tease something, get the interest back. They did the thing when Hyperia opened but nothing since. 🤷♂️
Ticket books like at Disneyland. I’d say that’s what they need. My mum and I were talking about this and she said how in the 90’s my grandad and grandma used to come with but they wouldn’t go on anything, they’d watch and take photographs. They’d spend the money on the donuts and the merchandise. It just makes sense to remove the full entrance fee. Some people like my boyfriend don’t want to pay to walk around the park because they won’t do the majority of the rides only the smaller ones. It just makes sense to open it to the public.
They desperately need to bring back an option for non riders. Who knows if it’ll happen though? 🤷♂️
No families in there hardly anymore.. mostly teenagers and daytrippers. It’s not the same as when you could go in and take in the atmosphere, eat food have a drink and watch your kids go on the rides. That was what the pleasure beach was about. It’s a shame it’s died.
Aye it’s a different place for sure
Hey there.
I really like your videos, you are so upfront and don't try to be over fancy, like loads of these other vblog people.
I'm not going to repeat a load of other stuff already said in these comments, just thank you for taking the time to do this video for us all.
Cheers 👍😁
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed 😀
@@coaster_dad I was in Blackpool (well Bispham) last night walking around the lights. Intend to do the Pleasure Beach end within next couple weeks. Think I will just look at the rides from outside the park, I do like lighting of the Big One in the night sky 👍😊
Told you about Diego and the dodgems! Hadn't thought about winter maintenance - seems incredibly early. There are becoming too many rides unavailable now
Aye thanks for the heads up on that one. Does seem early
I’ve lived in Blackpool all my life and d I’m nearly 50. Spent so much of my childhood at the Pleasure Beach. We’ve not been since they started this ridiculous charging of an entrance fee.
So sad to see it in such a sad state of decline.
Agreed 😔
I came to Blackpool earlier in the year with some of my family and 3 grandchildren. Two of the grandchildren are old enough to be going on some of the rides, but considering myself and their grandma are not into fairground rides anymore we abandoned the idea of taking them in. In one respect it`s a loss for me as I want to see them enjoy themselves but I can`t justify paying for myself and others to enter if we are just going to walk about. So Pleasure Beach lost out on money that particular day for two ride passes and obviously we would all have had something to eat and drink while in the place. I am sure there are a lot of other people like me who can not justify the additional spend just to enter the place. Shame really so I hope they come up with something to address these problems.
That is exactly what I said in my post and replys. so there must be thousands if not millions of families during the year that do the same.
I hear that from a lot of people. I really hope the reevaluate the pricing next year 🤞
@@stevensmith7460 Hi Steven, yeah you`re right what you say there has to be a lot of families with the same attitude. It`s not greed or anything like that it just feels like we are being taken for mugs being forced to pay for something. I remember when I was a kid in the 70s visiting the place and it was jam packed every time I went there. It felt a little sad watching this video as it looks as if the place is in a terminal decline. I hope it`s not terminal and that Amanda can do something positive instead or ruining what her father built up.
@@coaster_dad Same here Coaster Dad I really hope they can get it back to being similar to what it used to be, making a lot of money especially for new investments and as you say reevaluate the pricing structure where everyone is happy. Anyway thank you so much for creating really good content, it`s appreciated 👍👍
@@woody41165 hi woody, it's not only that but the pleasure beach used to be like a magnet, you started off around north or central then moved south during the day. Now visitors mainly find their amusements around central to north piers. It has killed south Blackpool, look at Yates etc. The pleasure beach used to be the biggest attraction for Blackpool, people are forgetting it's there now.
Summer 97 was filled with people, tourist, donkeys, beach was full, don't know something wrong with Blackpool these days, mind you 90s long time ago now
Aye it’s changed a bit since then 😉
@@coaster_dad blast from past with my granny living in caravans, don't know joy soul been ripped out of pleasure beach very sad to see now
Blackpool is the same as other British seaside towns, a majority of people visit for just a day or two nowadays. The pleasure beach used to be the main attraction for Blackpool but with their admission charges most people just forget it's there and do other things. £200+ for a family of 4 with mum and dad just watching but spending money on other things, ridiculous.
Went on Grand national 4 years ago. Cracked a rib and a large bruise appeared on my side. Lower back has never been right since. No back problems before that. So much hatred for that ride because of this.
Ouch 🙈
@coaster_dad went on first with my niece second seat from front and was fine. Second time with sister sat near the back. That'll do it! I did used to love it 😒
I also visited the park a few weeks ago on a Wednesday and it was dead yet when I left at 5pm and drove down the promenade Blackpool itself was pretty busy especially during midweek
Interesting. Cause many people say the rest of BP is just as dead. To be fair I usually turn up, do BPB and leave 😂
I would usually say a place is quiet because of out of season. BPB is running out of excuses, going by the last two seasons. Too many rides down for maintenance, results in too many queues. TIME is an essence. I am not going to spend that kind of money, to spend 5-6 hours in a place, come rain or shine! £99 I don't blame you renewing your season pass! Considering BPB is meant to be an enticing new resort, with its hotels on complex. The prices are just sky high.
Yeah I think pricing is their main issue, sure there are a number of issues with ride availability but that could be reflected in the price. And I'm hoping some of the rumours about what's coming are true and we're about to turn a corner 🤞
Should the coasters not have netting on them when crossing over a footpath. That one coaster at the 5:40 mark is literally maybe 10ft at the highest point above the pedestrian path. No that would be allowed here in Canada. You can literally almost touch the track. Also here if park closes at 10 the ride line is open till 10 and they run the line til empty. So certain busy rides could be running for another hour after closing. This seems like a very janky park.
Same here for most parks in terms of queues closing with the park and the running til empty. As for the netting it’s odd because many places have it over here too. 🤷♂️
I think that the best of the UK parks has been gone. Drayton Manor is now just a kids park, Lightwater Valley... reduced to a toddler's park. Alton Towers and Thorpe park only opens rides when they feel like it. BpB is dead. Where the UK was the example of theme parks for Europe, it's now the way it's not supposed to be.
The UK is very much behind Europe. I’m curious how Universal will impact if it happens. It’ll either wake up the industry or kill it 🙈
It’s sad and worrying to see how quiet it is😢
Agreed, great if you want a lot or rides, but very worrying nonetheless :(
It's really not sad for those on the park who can walk right onto rides without hours of queueing.
I went on 21st September for late night riding. It was fantastic. Really busy great atmosphere. Icon was on 3 trains and was queuing out the door . Big one was on 2 trains and 60 mins all day. Really felt like blackpool back in the day. Icon and revolution in the dark were excellent. 😊
@marksmith9098 I miss busier days. They are rare nowadays.
I think the big one should get a full retrack by Morgan, kind of like Phantoms revenge . Then I think they should replace Grand prix with an rmc single rail, then just try making the rides more reliable
A single rail may happen but possibly intamin instead. And yeah big one is a mess
Just a thought... All these unusual little things in random areas around the park ( dodgems closed, Diego closed, ice blast, caves, bowadrome etc etc) could possibly be areas planned for footings to support a park-wide coaster? Remember early days of ICON construction how footings randomly appeared dotted around well before we knew what for. I don't care what anyone says. I predict caves, grand prix site, bowladrome all in such close proximity and all being closed has got to mean they are all being removed for whatever is planned. I reckon she's gunna go big. Losing the tallest coaster title has clearly stuck in her throat. I think Its going to be a very busy and interesting closed season.
I am curious to see what happens. I’ve thought similar although I think river is staying. But lots of run down areas that as you say could be intentional.
Me and my gf visited last week. Only other ppl there was a school trip. Most rides were walk on until Big One broke around 1pm and the spill over all went to Icon. Fun lapping rides all day though
Aye it can be great when it’s quiet
FINALLY SOMEONE ELSE WHO THINKS THE BIG ONE IS ROUGH!!
Btw My Dad Says The Big One Isn't That Rough
Ha ha. Maybe I’m just getting old but it ain’t smooth to me (unless one train is 🤷♂️)
@@coaster_dad Nah Im In Yr 9 And I Find It Painful
Used to visit when i was very young like 8 to age of 12 it was brilliant! Had the big fun house ! But yeah looks very poor
It’s changed a lot for sure
The park is worryingly quite, I wouldn't have thought that was a Sunday.
I think a lot of people have now had enough of the PB and the way it is run and disappointment year after year with rides disappearing and not being replaced. There is no real incentive to go anymore and the atmosphere of the 70s 80s and 90s has been ripped out the park.
I’m hoping the park is about to turn a corner and that the removals were strategic to set up for something new 🤞 otherwise I agree
I was in Blackpool two weeks ago I Walked past the PB on a Wednesday afternoon one end to the other, It was so dead I thought it might have been closed till finally I saw the Big One drop
Costs too much. End of. overpriced drinks and food too. Family's cannot afford it anymore.
Pricing is definitely a huge issue 😔
In response, yes there are new models in the train (couple lions and a leopard i think) and looks like others have been cleaned up. So you are not going senile 😅
The cars have been removed from the dodgems for a good couple months now, who knows 🤷
Ah glad I’m not going loopy 🤪
we went twice over the weekend, Friday and Sunday, Friday was literally empty and even Icon was on one train plus it was the Enso train too so the queue wasn't move especially fast given it was only short. Avalanche we rode the first time and there was 4 of us on it and we walked around again as it was so quiet and then we were the ONLY people on it and was having a laugh with the crew before getting on. Yesterday was a little busier although still quiet, Daughter managed 11 rides in a little over 3 hours which is ridiculous but great at the same time. I did notice yesterday too that on Avalanche the second train has gone so whether that's started it's winter maintenance early too I don't know. Icon again was on a single train
As I’ve said many times it great but also worrying when it’s that quiet 🙈
Bring back free to walk around (parents and grandparents especially) and buy books of tickets once again (A,B,C&D's)and give it the retro feel!!..☺
They do need to review their pricing. Not sure free will work nowadays. But a non rider option is sadly missing!
So true last time i went on a sunday *it was pretty hot so expected to be lots of people* but it wasnt. All the rides were walk on apart from wallace and gromit whuch was 5 mins lol
🙈
Great vid…. Grand National is a glorious former great, but it now belongs in a museum; sell parts off as antiques & herald it as a pivotal cog in British history; maybe even keep a section in situ as a statue & landmark.
Same with Big Dipper, scrap it and leave the ice cream cone in place as a memorial. Streak can stay; nowhere near as intense as GN but it’s smoother & still good fun.
The Big One’s lifespan has long since expired. Used to be my absolute favourite, but it’s aged dreadfully, it’s ridiculously rough & actually (now that we have so many modern rides with more thrilling elements) after that first massive drop it really doesn’t do much else. Unfortunately it just isn’t a sustainable ride, though I don’t have any faith at all that they have the $£€ available to replace it with anything anywhere near as majestic.
Sad state of affairs for such an iconic park
I do worry about the future of the park but I'm trying to remain optimistic that they are running certain things down in preparation for a new investment 🤞
If we the public can see the problem of low attendance how on earth can the directors not ?.free entry coupled with coded wristbands or bar scannable tickets to enable selective riding.
I can only assume their focus is elsewhere. And playing devils advocate we don’t run a theme park, so there could easily be other challenges we can’t see. But I do think changes to the pricing structure is an obvious and easy win 🤷♂️
@@coaster_dad in my 60s and in my lifetime i have seen the demise of Morecambes Frontierland, Camelot, Southport (demolished but resurrected poorly ) Pleasureland, New Brighton, BelleVue.....some genuine big parks have gone... Blackpool is in real danger if nothings done.
@sitcorocket aye it’s a worry!
Yep, definitely some new "scenery" on the PB Express, noticed it on our last trip mid September. The Alice walk through was fantastic, there are sooooo many things you miss when in the ride normally.
Yeah jealous I missed that. 😔
Alice, Gromit and the Ghost train - when all props work are superb editions to the park.
@@dafyddthomas7299 agreed
after watching this i was gonna be booking for this wkend but by the looks of it ill be giving it a miss and save my £35. rip river caves
From what I’ve heard (nothing official from the park) it’s got a leak that they’re trying to find. So it should be back! 🤞
We went last week thursday and it rained all day everything a walk on which i like---Only thing i waited for was the Big One it only opened at 1-45 and only had six rows open so the Queue was not massive but its a long ride so took ages would have liked to see them fill all 12 seats instead of people sitting on there own
It’s odd when the big one runs half a train. But I’m sure there are reasons.
They've cancelled the famous Circus Of Horrors show this year for this bloody Scarefest. It had already sold out, so why cancel it for this 'so called' Scarefest. More dissapointed fans missing out on that this year. Can't wait for the reviews of this Halloween at BPB.
Love you're video's, brilliant, but blackpool pleasure beach is just getting dearer, and Shitter , let people wonder ,enjoy the atmosphere, feel free to eat, or pay whatever they can afford 😊😊, 👍 thanks for the video, staysafe, 👍
It’s definitely changed a lot lately and I just hope it regains some of its charm and appeal before it’s too late 😔
Dodgems were not there in the summer when we went , it's as if that's closed too
🤔
Well the insane prices they charge for everything in Blackpool certainly don't help.
Plus they have a massive problem with young men spilling out of the pubs pissed out their minds and actively looking for fights - and I say that from direct experience after going there with family. And the police and council have no interest in doing anything about it.
Aye that’s why free entry would not work any more sadly 😔
We are going this weekend for the Northern Soul weekender and were planning going back to the pleasure beach after a 40 year absence. We really just wanted to just have a wander round and take in the smells and sounds for the memory and were shocked to see it would cost £35. We might still go but not sure.
They’ve introduced a non rider season pass for next year so I’m hoping that means non rider day tickets will return but not confirmed yet
After a trip to energylandia and Europa land, British parks seem very lame.
Aye a very different league over there for sure
Energy Landia is amazing and great value
Persoanlly I think the BPB pass is a ripp off. It's only any good if yuo live in Blackpool and can get to the PB enough times a year to make it worth the cost, At least with a Merlin pass you can use it at attractions all over the country
I get that. For me I’ll visit a few of the included international parks as well as a few trips to BP
When they started the pay on entry l never went Blackpool again
Many people say the same. I doubt free would make sense nowadays, but at the same time charging a flat fee for all visitors also isn’t right. It excludes families with grandparent who just want to spectate 🤷♂️
Love your videos ❤
Thank you so much 😀🙏
Great vlog as always, you said you were going on the flying machines at the end but they closed early so you went on the Grand National. Then you said the park was closing but the flying machines were going around with people on them, the park really needs to get it together. I thought Mr Starmer was the most arrogant person ever but nobody can outdo Amanda Thompson, she should be letting everybody know what is going on in the park as people travel a long way and spend a lot of their hard-earned money there.
Yeah I didn’t notice the flying machines until I was editing then I got very confused. Only thing I can think is that there was a queue up there so they closed early 🤷♂️ but normally you can sneak in last minute so that would be odd.
Looks like you had a good quiet day at the pleasure beach 11:13
I certainly did
As much as you’re not a fan of haloween I think you should embrace it, it would really be fun to see your dry sense of humour judging the mazes etc, you’re missing out on more clicks
Ha ha. Fair. I may visit some 🤔
If there is one ride that needs modification it's the ghost train. Can you imagine what a horror ride it could be with today's technology. I know its a PB icon but to me its out of date, it was out of date in the 80s if not before.(I'll get battered for this, 😂😂).
Ha ha. They could easily combine old and new to cater for both.
Good video @coasterdad. Hoping to take my daughter up in the half term, weather permitting. Can cancel hotel a few days in advance. But as mentioned a few months back on a previous vid, we missed out on the big one with high winds. So fingers crossed, come the end of October, the weather is calm, and we can make it up. Place has so much potential, just needs someone with the ambition and able to put the work in!
I agree on the potential. Let see what the future holds 🤞 (if the rumours are true we may see some improvements soon)
What I don’t understand is , if you are that unhappy about Blackpool why go ?
I’m not unhappy. I’m more concerned. I have a lot of childhood memories from the park and I want to see it survive. But it’s not in a great state right now 😔
Sorry i wouldn't get out of bed to go there now
Aye it’s changed a lot. Got my fingers crossed things turn around 🤞
Brilliant video, thanks 👍
Thank you
What they should do is charge almost as much for an annual pass that does not include the preposterous parking charges as Merlin does for a Gold pass which allows access to all their theme parks with free parking. That is guaranteed to attract more people. 🙄
Aye £18-£20 a visit is a bit much esp when you have a pass!
@@coaster_dad They're completely off their heads. What is annoying too is the chargeable car parks at the hotels and if you stay you and pay you still have to move your car when you check out. At Premiere Inn I've often asked if I can leave my car for the rest of the day on checkout day and has never been a problem. Just not a "resort" the way it is at all.
Blackpool actually gets more visitors than alot of other parks in the country, heres the thing tho and this is a problem with all coastal tourist vacations. Noone is wanting to go to the seaside in mid October, this is fairly obvious.
I get that. But I’ve visited multiple times this year and not had one busy visit (although I see some people have had busy days)
People should give the fair a wide birth and spend Thier money elsewhere till the park owners change the payment .it should be free to walk around and spend Thier hard earned cash on what they want more people would go to the fair.
I don’t see free entry ever coming back, nor working nowadays with all the drinks etc in the area. But I completely agree the pricing needs reviewed!
Many say it's like a Halloween graveyard already; Blackpool and Southport making big mistakes in going for the All in 1 day Theme park ticket option for £30+ per person. Seems like Blackpool lack of gains will be missing more and more people off - especially the traditional rock solid theme park riders and also new comers.
Yup
A real eye opener…..are BPB doing what many B&Bs did over the years - take all the profit and do no significant reinvestment?
There’s a lot of rumours right now around what’s coming and if it’s true then we may be about to see them reinvest quite heavily. 🤞
I agree charging anyone to enter is not helping, but this is a Sunday a week or two after the schools have gone back and just after the late night riding event, so crowds will be thinner this time of year
I’ve visited about 5 or 6 times this year and only one visit was “busy” and even then not anywhere near the kind of busy Blackpool used to be known for.
Blackpool is a rundown dive, and the theme park is also rough, old and run down. Unless the government/ police make the town better and the theme park is update it will slowly die. I get it, the rides are old and iconic, but only to a few people. The biggest que at Thorpe Park right now is Hiperia not the oldest flying fish ride. Old and rough is not what people want. Do the owners and council want a good town and a good theme park or a museum and a turd town.
Aye it's a tricky one, they should balance the old with the new
@@coaster_dad it's a shame as icon is better than hyperia in my opinion and I live next to Thorpe.
Nows the best time to go mid week for good ride counts before the 2 week October school holiday. Ive had season pass every year since 2008 and I've always seen it quiet around this time - kids back in school.
Very true. And I know some people have mentioned busy days this season but I’ve clearly been lucky, I’ve visited 4 or 5 times this season and never had any long queues 🤷♂️
@@coaster_dad September mid weeks you still get coaches of school kids, for just leisurely going round the patk calmly is now before Halloween and October hols. 74 Wild mouse 1 day around this time 2014.
@matthewsakalas3679 Jesus. 74 😳 you probably couldn’t walk for a month after that 😂
@@coaster_dad walking was fine would have had more but the ride ops did something silly with empty cars managent seen, I think got themselves sacked same day. Finished day with 10 Ice Blasts.