BPB paid entry from 2009

coastergraham · BPB paid entry from 2009

Somebody on the BPB guide forum has posted a topic saying that they have had confirmation that from 2009 BPB will become a paid entry park, details below.

smiler

O dear in some ways good and in some ways bad. They may need to whack in a massive new attraction for that year to try get passing trade etc. I use to love walking round there before we watched a show etc.

Bunnie

£5 is quite steep, was expecting something like £2 which is what Pleasureland, Southport did. I think a lot of trade will be lost if this is introduced.

nemesis scribe

Shocking!! Yet another rip off charge for the UK.

What about if you are part of a family who never rides anything?

I agree with smiler, as it is nice to walk around there even if you are not intending to ride anything.

I agree with bunnie too as this could introduce lost trade.

Perhaps merlin and BPB are in ca-hoots???

Cool

coastergraham

This has now been confirmed from BPB in the text below sent by email to a fellow BPB guider.

• Pleasure Beach, Blackpool • Best Deals • Opening Times

SEE YOU AGAIN SOON!

We hope you had a great time when you visited Pleasure Beach, Blackpool.

Why not come back and enjoy a Sunday return?

That's why we're offering each person in your party a special bonus offer, an unlimited ride wristband for just Â£15 per person!

You can choose any Sunday throughout the season to come back - just click here to get your unique promotional code which you can redeem in the online store as normal.

Weâ€™re always looking at ways to improve Pleasure Bach and your feedback is very important to us.Please tell us what you thought of your visit and You could win a free visit to Pleasure Beach with an overnight stay at the luxurious Big Blue Hotel.

For 2009 Pleasure Beach will be operating a new entry system.

Guests will be required to purchase either an Unlimited Ride Wristband or a Â£5 Freedom Pass to enter Pleasure Beach.

The Freedom Pass includes entry to the Following attractions:
Chinese Puzzle Maze,
Pleasure Beach Express,
Monorail,
Noah's Ark and the Stage Show at Planet Rock.

adey

i can see the pleasure beach going the same way that southport did if this is intruduced. people will just walk past. not everyone goes on the pleasure beach for the rides some people just like to have a walk round ,have a bite to eat play a few games in the arcades. Rolling Eyes

c anderson

The £5 is not a good idea and where Blackpool claim huge attendances each year it will slash the numbers going through the barriers.

Happy Helen

I agree, it probally will slash the number of visitors each considering some people don't always go on the rides as not everbody likes the same ones.

Magic

Playing devils advocate here's a few thoughts

Not everyone who goes in the park spends money, but a lot of them will use the toilets etc. Thus PBB make a loss from letting them in the park.

Some people who go in the park may and don't spend any money cause fights leading to a greater increase in security and greater damage in the park. If these people don't go in then the park won't need as much security or as many repairs thus saving money. If they do go in then they've paid towards the security.

Not everyone will want to go on rides, choosing only to watch. Well PBB only charging them £5 is a bargin compared to Alton Towers who'll charge them £34. And for their £5 they still get to go on a few of the rides, the sorts families with younger kids can do together.

So the park will loose it's claim to fame of being the most visited free visitor attraction in the UK, but so what. So visitor numbers will plummet, so what, as every visitor will now pay to go in and not cause wear and tear etc. without paying for the priviledge.

This could help solve a few of the problems at the Pleasure Beach, and help make it more profitable and hopefully enough to be able to justify building a big new coaster.

Auntie Murial

I have to say i totally agree with Magic on this one, £5 in this day and age is not expensive at all and will help reduce alot of the problems he mentioned above.

bluea61

I agree with Magic and Ian, the point about Alton Towers is so true. So what if they never charged in the past, they need to keep up with the market and protect the Pleasure Beaches long term interests. Like Magic said, only let the people in who pay and it will bring in the income to add the new rides. I think £5 is such a small figure and they still allow you to use some of the smaller rides.

coastergraham

Magic that is the reason BPB are doing this.

They realise now that Blackpool and the people who go there are damaging the park and driving the family business away.

By going it alone so to speak they hope that the families will come back and I am sure they will.

bluea61

I'm sure what they lose in passing trade they'll regain in more families attending. I think this is a positive move for them and I don't think it will go the same way as Southport.

I think Blackpool's reputation alone gives them a large part of the trade. I bet 70% of the british population had never realised there was a park at Southport but I bet 90% of people know of Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

hazzzzeeee

I think this a smart move for Blackpool, this will attract many families. like it has been mentioned above, if you dont want to go on anything at thorpe or alton towers, you still need to pay the full price.

This is ideal for say pregnant women, bag holders and people with special needs of all kinds.

Magic

Previosuly bag holders, pregnant women etc. would have to buy silly priced ride tickets or buy a wrsitband to enjoy a handful of rides they can go on. Now these people only have to pay £5 to do a few gentle attractions with the kids and family. And hopefully in a safer more family orientated environment.