In this article we will discuss about:- 1. History of the Pleasure Beach 2. The Current Park of the Pleasure Beach 3. Admission 4. Attractions.
History of the Pleasure Beach:
The park was initially found in 1896 by William George Bean after he failed in his attempt to become an advertising man on New York’s Madison Avenue. He returned to the UK in 1897 and opened two separate amusement parks; one adjacent to Euston Road in Great Yarmouth and another in Blackpool.
The Yarmouth amusement park consisted simply of a switchback railway and bicycle railway called the Hotchkiss’s Patented Railroad. Bean stayed in Yarmouth until the end of the century before moving to Blackpool full time.
In 1903 Bean, along with businessman John Outhwaite, purchased 30 acres of land known as the “Watson Estate” to be rented out by various trade stalls and traditional fairground rides and in 1905 the name “Blackpool Pleasure Beach” was chosen.
In 1910, Blackpool Pleasure Beach LTD was found by Bean and Outhwaite, and to this day remains the name of the company which the Thompson family uses to manage the park. Outhwaite died in 1911, leaving the initial business to Bean, however the Outhwaite family still had ownership in shares of the park. Further investment included the building of The Casino, The Whip, Virginia Reel, Noah’s Ark, Big Dipper and Dodgems.
In 1923 land was reclaimed from the sea front. It was at this period that the park moved to its 44 acre current location above what became Watson Road, which was built under the Pleasure Beach in 1932. In 1929 Bean died suddenly of pneumonia leaving the park to his daughter, Lillian ‘Doris’ Bean, who had previously married a young businessman, Leonard Thompson, in 1928.
Thompson was an Oxford natural sciences graduate who after Bean’s death immediately took over the Pleasure Beach with his wife. The park came under full control of the Thompson family after the remaining Outwaited family sold their share of the park. Leonard Thompson became the managing director and Lillian Dorris, who later became known as Mrs. L.D Thompson, OBE, became a secondary manager and director. The couple had a son named Geoffrey.
The Geoffrey Thompson Era:
In 1976 Leonard Thompson died unexpectedly and six months later the company secretary also died suddenly, leaving Doris Thompson commercially in charge of the whole business. Appointed chairman; she gave the role of managing director to her eldest son, Geoffrey.
He had previously administered the New Era Laundries in London before returning to the Pleasure Beach as head of catering at the Casino Building. He married his wife, Barbara, shortly afterwards and they had three children, Amanda, Nicholas and Fiona.
After Leonard’s death, Geoffrey and his mother steadily extended the Pleasure Beach business, opening both, Pleasureland Southport and Frontierland, Morecambe and invested into food-and-ride trade at the Pleasure Beach. He saw the opening of the Steeplechase, Avalanche, Revolution (now Irn-Bru Revolution), Pepsi Max Big One, PlayStation: The Ride! (Now Tango Ice Blast – The Ride) and Valhalla.
He also became a worldwide figure in the tourism industry and was involved in promoting tourism nationally. He sat on almost all the relevant agencies, such as the English Tourist Board and the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions, and was awarded an OBE for this work.
His daughter Amanda Thompson showcased the park by expanding her theatrical company, ‘Stageworks Worldwide Productions’ to be situated primarily at the Pleasure Beach. Stageworks created almost all of the shows which would become a famous trademark within Pleasure Beach, including the world-famous Hot Ice dancing extravaganza which shows as a matinee and evening performance in the Pleasure Beach arena.
The Amanda Thompson Era:
Geoffrey Thompson died on 12 June 2004 immediately passing the role of Managing Director to Amanda Thompson. Nicholas Thompson became the Deputy Managing Director and Fiona Thompson became a fundamental architect (she has been praised over her work on both the Pepsi Max Big One’s station and the Infusion station.) Nine days later, on 23 June, Mrs. L.D Thompson, OBE died leaving the entire business to Amanda Thompson (who is the current managing director) and Nicholas Thompson who remains as the deputy managing director.
Amanda Thompson has overseen the transformation of the park to a modern, aesthetically pleasing amusement park. However, her reign has seen the removal of some rides including the Whip, Log Flume, Space Invader 2, Turtle Chase, Black Hole and Superbowl.
In 2007, she introduced Infusion (relocated from the now defunct Pleasureland Southport) and in 2009 transformed the north end of the park by introducing a new area, Bean Street FY4, which houses numerous catering outlets and bars and the Spectacular Dancing Water Show which was an eighty thousand pound investment.
In 2010 she further developed the north end of the park by redesigning the area which formerly housed the old dodgems ride. The site is now a garden area with numerous water features and fanciful sculptures.
The same year, Amanda brought a new dodgems ride to the park (which is now situated under the Revolution attraction.) In 2011, Nickelodeon Land will debut replacing the entire Beaver Creek area of the park. Amanda has focused on the historically important aspects of the park, the overall look of the park, the park branding; taking the park from Blackpool Pleasure Beach to Pleasure Beach Blackpool and its current marketing name, Pleasure Beach Resort.
Amanda has attempted to monetonise the park all year round by introducing ice skating at the Arena; she also introduced Adventure Golf in 2008, all of which are available to the public when the initial park is closed.
The Current Park of the Pleasure Beach:
Pleasure Beach is situated along the South Shore area of Blackpool along the Fylde coast, adjacent to the promenade, opposite South Pier along Ocean Boulevard and directly above Watson road. The main entrance is to the front of the Initial Park and approximately 38 metres from the Pleasure Beach Casino.
The ticket sales are opposite to the entrance (below the Noah’s Ark attraction) and are adjacent to the Globe Theatre. The main car park is to the left side of the White Tower restaurant, behind Valhalla and to the right of the Grand National station.
The additional coach park is to the back of the park adjacent to the trim break section of the Pepsi Max Big One and in front of Rollercoaster. Numerous self-catering kiosks are situated near to the entrance of the park. The entrance plaza is directly behind the Casino building and is themed to correspond with the Noah’s Ark ride which site on top of the structure.
The park is lined with tall metal gates that connect to the entrance building and the main gift shop, underneath the Noah’s Ark ride. The staff entrance is towards the back of the park, behind the Grand National. Blackpool Pleasure Beach railway station is nearby.
The park is currently home to nearly 40 rides and attractions, including twelve roller coasters, of which five are wooden – the Grand National, Big Dipper, Rollercoaster, Wild Mouse and Zipper Dipper. The newest roller coaster, ‘Infusion’ was opened in 2007 (having been re-located from defunct sister-park, Pleasure land Southport, where it was known as Trauma Tizer). When it opened in 1994, Pepsi Max Big One was the tallest, fastest and steepest roller coaster of any park in the world. It was also substantially one of the longest, measuring 5,497 feet long. Currently, the ride holds the crown as the tallest in the UK, measuring 213 ft, (235 ft above sea level.) and features a drop of 205 ft.
The Pleasure Beach is one of the few parks left in the world to operate a traditional wooden Wild Mouse coaster. The ride was built entirely in house, post-World War II and is still in complete working order, it was also the first park in Europe to introduce a full inverting steel coaster, Irn-Bru Revolution, and the first to install a Space Shot ride, Tango Ice Blast which was manufactured by S&S Sports of Utah.
The park went on to launch Valhalla, which was designed by Sarner – a UK based Theme Park Design Company. Valhalla is sponsored by the Daily Star and remains prominently the ‘biggest and most spectacular dark ride in the world.’ At a cost of £15 million it is also the most expensive in-house attraction in the world.
Later, the Pleasure Beach opened Bling, a Zierer Star Shape spin ride of which only two are operated in the world. The latest record is taken by Infusion which is the world’s first suspended looping coaster entirely over water. The park has a wide variety of modern and classic-age rides and operates a separate children-themed section called ‘Beaver Creek’ towards the back of the park.
This section of the park includes numerous small attractions suitably aimed at younger children, including a Log Flume-type attraction a 1,099 feet long junior wooden coaster and various small carousel-type attractions. The park also has its own costumed mascots which follow on from Disney’s theory of character costuming regarding entertainment for younger guests.
The park has numerous food stalls, restaurants and cafes including the ‘Italian Job’ Italian themed restaurant, and the UK’s largest Burger King Chain restaurant, with two levels. It also owns the ‘White Tower Restaurant’ a tall white building near the front of the park which became private at the end of 2008.
Admission in the Pleasure Beach:
Unlimited Ride Wristbands:
Most commonly used is the ‘Unlimited Ride Wristband’ option, whereby wristbands are sold at costs between £15 and £30 depending on the time of year and promotional season. These wristbands are valid only for one day, and include a printed bar-code unique to the day.
Access to each ride is via a turnstile, which must be unlocked by scanning the bar-code. At the end of each day, a computer calculates how many guests have used the ride during the day. Each day a new code is printed on the wristband, meaning wristbands from previous days are now invalid.
A warning section is printed on each wristband, telling guests that removing the wristband or peeling the bar-coded sticker will deem the band void and invalid. Unlimited Ride Wristbands allow access to both the interior park and to Beaver Creek, the children’s themed area of the park.
Junior Wristband:
At a cost of £20, younger guests may access the park with a special junior wristband which allows entry to both the Beaver Creek children’s park and the interior park. Access to larger rides is permitted but must be afflicted with the general safety/height restrictions.
Pleasure Beach Pass:
Guests who do not wish to purchase ride wristbands are required to purchase a £5 Pleasure Beach Pass. A guest holding a Pleasure Beach Pass is entitled to upgrade to any wristband type or purchase Ride Tickets once inside the park.
The Pleasure Beach Pass allows access to the park and to selected attractions within the park area covering the Spectacular Dancing Water Show, the Chinese Puzzle maze and the Pleasure Beach Express, as well as the South Beach magic show at Planet Rock
Attractions of the Pleasure Beach:
Classic Interactive Scenery:
(i) Avalanche Bears – Classical Singing Bears located near on the Avalanche Building
(ii) Bella & Bradley Beaver – Costumed characters which walk around the park, interacting with guests, particularly in the Beaver Creek area.
(iii) Gorilla Pianist – Currently located inside King Cotton’s is an animatronic gorilla playing the piano, formerly located in an old attraction called The Greatest Show on Earth.
(iv) Gepetto’s Horse – World’s largest rocking horse recently moved from Beaver Creek to facing Avalanche in 2010 Season.
(v) The Laughing Clown – The (animatronic) Laughing Clown has moved locations many times within the park. Its current location is near to Irn Bru Revolution.
(vi) Multi coloured Turtles – Multi coloured turtles in former Turtle Chase site.
(vii) Shark – A huge captured shark is located near to the Valhalla Attraction.
Future Attractions:
Nickelodeon Land – Due to open in April 2011
Other Attractions:
(i) Pasaje Del Terror – Opened in 1998. Interactive horror attraction within the Casino.
(ii) Horror Crypt – £1 Pay Attraction themed around a Haunted residence.
(iii) Bowl-a-Drome – Standard PPR Bowling Attraction located near to Been Street FY4.
(iv) Ripley’s Believe It or Not – A PPR Attraction which deals in bizarre events and items so strange and unusual that readers might question the claims.
(v) Pleasure Beach Arena (Ice rink) skating year round. It is only closed two-five days a year
(vi) Arcades and Midway Sideshows
(vii) Gallery @ the Globe
(viii) Spectacular Dancing Water Show – New Fountain which opened in 2009. Every twenty minutes it performs a dancing water show.
(i) Big Apple (Junior metal rollercoaster) – Opened 2003, closed 2004.
(ii) Cyclone – Opened 1974, closed 1987. Single car trains.
(iii) Log Flume – Opened 1967, closed 3 September 2006. On the day the ride closed, the 24 log flume boats were sold off to the public at £25 each.
(iv) Scenic Railway – Opened 1906, closed 1933. Standard train ride.
(v) Tokaydo Express – Opened 1980, closed 1997.
(vi) Velvet Coaster – Opened 1909, closed 1932. Components of this ride were re-used in the construction of the Rollercoaster.
(vii) Vikingar – Originally purchased from Belle Vue Zoo when its funfair closed in 1977. Opened 1979 (as Water Chute), renamed Vikingar 1997, and closed in 2003.
(viii) Virginia Reel – Opened – 1922, closed – 1982 – A spinning coaster.
(ix) Space Tower – Closed in 1993 and moved to the now- defunct sister park Frontierland in Morecambe where it still stands, however the cabin was removed in 2008.
(x) Fun House – Destroyed by fire in November 1991.
(xi) Tom Sawyer Raft Ride removed in the early 1990s due to construction of the Pepsi Max Big One.
(xii) The Monster – Removed in 1996 and later replaced with the Ice Blast, which was then known as PlayStation: The Ride – An Elderly Monster ride.
(xiii) The Whip – Closed in 2004 and removed in September 2008 for relocation to Dreamland, Margate.
(xiv) Tidal Wave – Opened 1980, closed mid-1990s. A large swinging ship relocated to Pleasureland, Southport.
(xv) Cableway – Operated between 1960 and 2000 and taken down due to high wind speeds made by Von Roll.
(xvi) Spin Doctor – Taken down in December 2006.
(xvii) Alpine Dodgems – Taken down early 2007. Standard bumper car attraction.
(xviii) Black Hole – Removed 2005 to make way for 4D cinema. A Waltzer ride in an enclosed dome.
(xix) Turtle Chase – Removed 2005 due to construction of Infusion. Now a clear area.
(xx) Millennium Bug – Replaced by simulator when it moved to the now defunct Pleasureland, Southport.
(xxi) 4D Cinema – 2006-2007, removed for a new show in the 2008 season.
(xxii) Space Invader 2 – Opened 1984, Closed in 2008, Sold in 2010. Originally called Space Invader. A rollercoaster in the dark.
(xxiii) Trauma Towers – Opened 1998, Closed 2008. a themed funhouse and haunted attraction, Ride was discontinued in 2010.