Blackpool Pleasure Beach (BPB) Discussion Thread

[Canobie Coaster]

I don't recall Big One being painful. It definitely had some awkward transitions, but I could see them coming a mile away.

 

What is painful on an Arrow hyper is getting airtime into that hard, metal lap bar if you don't know about the seat belt trick. However, that isn't an issue on Big One since it doesn't exactly have airtime.

[michaellynn4]

^ Yea, but you have a Superman-like tolerance for pain on coasters.

 

Big One last year was... not great. I rode it twice because it was an iconic coaster for younger Mike, we had the time saver passes, and I really hoped the first ride was just an anomaly, but Rikki and I were decidedly done after that second ride.

[Visionist]

Big One is only a back seat ride, and only for the insane "slamtime" going through the twist in the first drop.

 

The rest of the ride is the world's most impressive sculpture.

 

I didn't get the chance to ride it in the dark, due to the fireworks.

[TheoB]

Valhalla is apparently going to be SBNO for 2020, not sure on whether this is true but a true shame. Apparently it needs 900k in renovations and obviously has the high running costs as it is.

 

[AdventuresinAirtime]

I can't say i've ever found The Big One painful.... it's bumpy and rough but if you hold on it's fine. First drop in the back row is great!

[Garet]

Valhalla is apparently going to be SBNO for 2020, not sure on whether this is true but a true shame. Apparently it needs 900k in renovations and obviously has the high running costs as it is.

 

 

I loved Valhalla, it was one of my favorite rides as a child when it opened, the water tunnel, the electric room, actually feeling cold in the ice-room, and so many real flames... but that was years ago, under a different management, and with every-year parts have disappeared until it became mostly just dark rooms. If it's a shadow of its past self and it's not financially viable to run it at full effect then isn't perhaps retheming it better than no ride at all?

 

I wouldn't be surprised if we see this happening more and more to effect heavy dark rides like these. Pharoah's Fury here in Lotte World used to have real fire and other effects and they've all been switched out for fakes or projections (a boulder rolling towards the car is now just a projection of a swirl)

[jedimaster1227]

 

Blackpool Pleasure Beach is proud to announce that the ride Valhalla is being given a sprinkling of magic Christmas dust and will experience a reimagining during the 2020 season with the ride reopening in 2021, in time for Blackpool Pleasure Beach's 125th anniversary year.

[SharkTums]

This ride is insane, anything they can do to keep it going for the future is appreciated. I know that some times it barely works and there were rumors of getting rid of it so hopefully this extended downtime will actually bring it back to full glory and keep it going.

[Hilltopper39]

Glad to see they're spending some money on refreshing this attraction. This is one of the few attractions left out there that I still basically know nothing about. I know it's a flume ride that does stuff but that's about it. Kind of cool that there's still rides like that out there in the world with all of the information people have now.

[Canobie Coaster]

It feels like a flume mixed with a night spectacular. It was easily my favorite ride there and it can't be cheap to run.

[COASTER FREAK 11]

This ride is insane, anything they can do to keep it going for the future is appreciated. I know that some times it barely works and there were rumors of getting rid of it so hopefully this extended downtime will actually bring it back to full glory and keep it going.

 

I can not even imagine the cost of keeping this ride going, so this is great to hear!!

[Nrthwnd]

Big One had a Lifthill 'Pause' earlier today. Riders were led down the stairwell beside the track.

Ick. Not a situation I'd like to be in. Made the news, of course. Hope everybody was okay, etc.

Photo from the web.

[tndank]

Man, I'd love to do that.  People pay good money to walk up lift hills and they got to walk it for free.

 

[KarlaKoaster]

Oh wow, that's pretty high to be fair. Blackpool do actually do Big One lift walks, so knowing them they charged the riders for the walk down.

[robbalvey]

Every roller coaster at Blackpool Pleasure Beach:

 

[Nrthwnd]

Great POV views, Robb! Unfortunately, a couple of the newer ones I haven't ridden (yet) but old faves (or not) I do remember, with smiles.

Thanks for putting this BPB coaster montage together. It's really great! 

EDIT To Ask: Robb, was the indoor coaster that was Alien-based, ever gutted out of it's bldg? I remember being one of the lucky ones on the 2006 UK Tour, and several of us were "right there" in front of it, when it was open and running. Then  some time later, it was shut down, and never re-opened for the day. <sad-for-no-reride>

[cfc]

Just watched the Icon segment, and that ride looks great--better than I'd expected. But I think I'll always be a Steeplechase fan at heart.

[Hilltopper39]

I know Blackpool isn't the best park in England or Europe but that place is pretty high on my bucket list. It just looks so cool, albeit it a bit dingy but that's kind of the charm. And they have a nice collection of unique rides like the steeplechase, and even the wooden coasters seem pretty unique. Cool looking park. 

[jedimaster1227]

Blackpool's Pleasure Beach Resort has announced the addition of a biggest-of-its-kind-in-the-UK gyro swing attraction for 2026. The park has also confirmed several details for attraction enhancements including acknowledging that the River Caves attraction will be the next park experience to be reimagined. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DHa3lBENzI1/ 

https://www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com/2025/03/20/were-getting-a-huge-8-72m-ride-and-work-is-already-underway/

Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach Resort has today unveiled its plans for a new £8.72M ride, which will be the biggest of its kind in the UK.

A Gyro Swing is being added to the park’s line up of rides in 2026, and work has already begun on its delivery.

The ride is a giant spinning pendulum that swings 120 degrees and reaches 138 feet at its highest point.

It can seat 40 riders who face outwards with their legs dangling, and will experience an exhilarating feeling of flying.

Although other swinging pendulum rides exist in the UK, none come close to the Pleasure Beach model in terms of height. For example, Drayton Manor’s Maelstrom reaches approximately 74 feet, with the new ride almost double that in size.

CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort, Amanda Thompson OBE, said: “We’re thrilled to confirm the addition of a Gyro Swing at Pleasure Beach Resort, with work already underway. We’re well known for doing things on a large scale, so becoming home to the largest Gyro Swing in the UK made complete sense.

“The Gyro Swing is one of the most exciting flat rides in existence – it’s dynamic, fast, and incredibly high, as well as being completely weightless at the top. It will be a fantastic addition to our ride line-up and we can’t wait to see people’s reactions when they experience it for the first time.

“We’ll be announcing more details soon and we’re very excited for the future at Pleasure Beach Resort.”

Pleasure Beach had previously teased the arrival of a new ride when it sent a digital van to rivals Thorpe Park on the day it opened its Hyperia rollercoaster, stating “We’ll just have to come up with something else then, won’t we?”

Preparation work began earlier this year with the demolition of the former Bowl-A-Drome building, but Pleasure Beach had remained tight-lipped on the plans until now.

The ride and its location were confirmed at Pleasure Beach’s season launch event earlier today.

It will be located in the north of the park close to the perimeter, meaning riders will feel as though they are being swung over the sea.

Other updates included:

• Confirmation that Pleasure Beach Resort’s newly re-imagined ride, Launch Pad, will open in Spring
• An announcement that new scenes will be added to Wallace & Gromit’s Thrill-O-Matic ride, from the new BAFTA award-winning film, Vengeance Most Fowl
• A further announcement that the beloved River Caves ride will become the next attraction at Pleasure Beach to receive a re-imagining

Pleasure Beach Resort is currently open for weekends in March, before opening both weekends and weekdays from Saturday April 5 onwards.

Tickets can be booked online at www.pleasurebeachresort.com and the earlier tickets are booked, the better the value.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DHdkrQnK-ID/

[KBrylczyk]

While these large pendulums are fun rides, I honestly don't understand the fascination with them.  I've seen lines consistently at 60+ minutes at all the parks I've visited with these attractions.  Great for the parks, I just don't get it.  15-20 minute wait tops.