I don't go to BPB as often as I'd like to as an enthusiast from the South, but the current situation does worry me, as I truly love the park. With the Merlin parks and Drayton pushing big investment and the Universal Resort becoming closer to being a reality, it does worry me that Blackpool will get left behind.
Thanks Scott, I agree, I don't like the re-brand. However, its obvious what they are trying to do. They clearly want to be like Alton Towers or even Disney Paris. However you can take the Pleasure Beach out of Blackpool but you cant take the Blackpool out of the Pleasure Beach!
They say they’ve done research? And they still aren’t going to reinstate the walk around pass? Maybe they only asked the questions they needed to justify the rebrand rather than getting accurate customer feedback. I’d love to see the raw data from the research. 🤔
Top 10 in the world, top 5 in Europe. Sorry, but that was maybe the case 25 years ago. Not now. The parking at the hotels is such a carry on with not a space guarantee, having to pay extra and leaving when you check out, you can't really call this a resort. With resort I expect the whole thing to flow better, more secure for obtaining a parking space and they probably should have bought the Sandcastle pool to really justify this type of name. Pay once, regardless of how much, hotel, parking, swimming, riding rides, breakfast, in before the rest of the public, free Hot Ice show. Then maybe "resort" is appropriate.
I absolutely agree 100% with everything you say Scott! Most definitely regarding removing 'Blackpool' from the name and the pricing. When we visit we bring elderly parents, not interested in rides, but love being part of the day. Another utterly irritating thing is, as you say, early closing. A summers evening, Blackpool packed and pleasure beach closed! Lunacy! Come on Pleasure Beach pull your finger out! 🎢
I love the nostalga of this park been going since i was a kid and my kids love ot now too not just pb bit blackpool as a whole.. Last time we went we payed nearly 200 pounds entry for the family and it was mainly only nickelodeon land for the kids we left after half a day. It absolutely meeds a non rider entry
@@blinard1 Feedback always appreciated, but there was nothing clickbait about this video. I said it’s the end of BPB as we know it which ties in with the title.
@@yourexperienceguide mate, this is the worst thing about youtube clickbait. Rather than just admitting you know what your doing to try and get more views, you try and justify it.....look at the title of the video! No good you explqin it straight away once someones clicked it....clues in the name....CLICKbait
More thoughts! There’s a tendency for similar businesses to gravitate towards similar offerings. Low cost airlines is a good example. All pretty much the same apart from the colour. BPB have obviously decided to align themselves to the theme park resort segment. The risk they take is that they just get lost. They aren’t a true theme park so they lose to Alton Towers or Thorpe. The best way to compete is to stand out and for BPB they should launch off their amusement park heritage. Hype that up! The UK’s Last True Amusement Park! Wrist bands and Walk Around Tickets work at amusement parks. Do it. And whilst they’re at it. Get some more flats in and find a travelling mouse to sit where the Wild Mouse used to be. Fill in the blanks with, YES, amusement park rides.
Spot on sir, that's exactly how I would rebrand it. The heroics of generations of maintenance personnel who, for decades have kept these wonderful rides going WAY beyond what was meant for them, should, in my humble opinion, be celebrated and be proudly advertised like you say as the last amusement park. Could you please win the lottery and buy the current owners out?😊
I think a major thing blackpool need to improve on too is the operations, i visited 3 times in 2023 and 2 out of the 3 days were very busy and the big one (a very long ride) was only running 1 train, same with icon and same with infusion
There is a lot of competition for entertainment in Blackpool - it is silly that they don't open late in the summer and do half l-price tickets after a specific time to try and catch an evening rush. It seems to work for Adventure Island 🤷♂️
Also, they shoulda stuck with Blackpool Pleasure Beach 'cos "Pleasure Beach Resort" is generic as fuck and unmemorable - look at other theme park names in this country and they are immediately recognisable when someone brings them up in convo :/
They’ve completely gone away from what has worked in the past, and seem to continue along the road of alienating their customers with every bad decision
I think you've actually nailed it! I can't get on the rides, so therefore, being charged full price feels wrong - I like watching the rides, I like watching peoples faces change from calm/excited/happy to 'I wanna get off!!' to 'I feel sick!' and so the 'coat holder' ticket needs to be brought back if they want to increase footfall. as for the rebranding, it's as if they've been pushing the word 'Blackpool' to the end of the sentence in order to push it off the edge of the signage for ages - like a cat slowly knocking a glass of water off a table. it's not like we don't know where it is, but, it's going to confuse some people - but not many, just the uninitiated!
Spot on with everything you said Scott. I have booked for a date in March the last two years I have been wheeled on every ride. My gripe is I am registered disabled but can’t get the pass as not on PIP. I do not want to jump the queue but can’t get the wheelchair through some of the ride queues. And sure Blackpool PB is a good name
IMO its just more money down the drain. A shiny new logo and merchandise isn't going to get people in the park. Completely agree its all about the entrance fee's
It’s a shame they are struggling but there are so many small things putting people off and one large problem, rides are outdated. They say they have the most rollercoasters in the UK at 10, most are extremely outdated and similar to each other.. compared to Alton towers 9 fairly modern and unique coasters with a 10th on the “horizon”. They are focused too much on the old which I feel is the main problem. Huge investment needed, maybe the only saving grace would be for Amanda to sell up as I don’t think the money needed to make a difference is there otherwise. The name change won’t change a thing, if anything it’s looking to confuse people between other pleasure beaches around the UK. Also, the trip advisor claim is just absurd.. and this top 10 in the world and top 5 in Europe nonsense, surely they don’t really believe this
@allthingsblackpool It’s honestly incredible that big dipper is as old as it is and I get that but we rode it in November and it was painful for all of the family, mostly my back. The only rides we travel for are icon and Valhalla, in reality the rest of the line up is irrelevant which makes travelling a bit of a waste of time. If we were local it wouldn’t matter so much and we’d visit more often but to appeal to the country they really need to step their game up across the whole park.. dark rides, flat rides and coasters need pulling down and replacing. Other parks are extremely aware of the age of rides and only the special last over 30 years, no other major park hangs on to rides as much and this is a huge downfall for BPB
@@HushHushFamily fore me it's icon which i don't really like, big one, infusion, nick streak and revolution everything else i give a miss as there rough and poor [ even though i think infusion is good]
@allthingsblackpool It’s a huge shame as it’s an iconic park. You won’t be the only people not renewing passes. It wasn’t long ago there was uproar with the comments made regarding pass holders and how they moan too much. Pass holders moan for a reason.
It's a dump. Only people that are blindly in love with the park like Scott etc (no offence meant) still sing about it. It's be better 75% of it getting pulled down and start over and modernise. The whole of Blackpool, hotels, attractions etc are stuck in the 80's. It's tragic. You'll never pull in the new generations with the crap that's on offer now there. The pleasure beach is not even on the top 10 parks in Europe, how dare they say top 5😂😂
I know, I’ve already said this on Facebook, but both Amanda and her management team really need to go now, it’s clear more than ever now that the place is on the downward spiral as long as they stay in charge. The sooner Morgan and maybe Mick take over in the future, the better , i’m convinced we would have a whole new era where Pleasure Beach would go back to its roots and be far more successful and enjoyable again. The only way in my opinion of that happening is for there to be a change in both the management team and the managing director.
I’m not sure what the answer is Doug, some people have too much power and are too influential. I’m not naming names but some of the concepts and decisions pushed onto AJT are a big problem (pay one price, ride scanning etc)
@@yourexperienceguide i agree to that, but it would be best to bring someone in with a lot of money to help out, look at Torquay united today, no money = no club
The lack of “new” experiences is going to keep on damaging bpb .. I know they’ve invested in big one and Valhalla in recent years but to have only 1 new ride in the last decade is not good . And likely one of the reasons many arnt visiting . That and the gate prices
Its marketing too Scott I have so many times heard and even seen Efteling advertisements on the TV & Radio I know I live down south but would like to hear more adverts from Pleasure Beach. I do think the non rider pass should come back but keep the 2 price tiers of Adult and Child price for the rides.
I hope that they stay successful and truly give the people what they want in the end. Sometime in the next 5 years or so I would like to make my first trip to England and BPPB is on my bucket list! Cheers from ARIZONA, USA. And Scott, I enjoy all of your vids very much!
my personal problem with the pleasure beach is that gate price... it costs more than going to alton towers (for me as a student). can i justify visiting regularly? no! can i justify paying £200 for the season pass? no! i was going to buy the season pass, but i wasn't aware of the price hike dates since it wasnt properly publicised. it's really sad, i grew up loving pleasure beach and still do. the price doesnt fit the product currently. i would pay £150 for that season pass, especially with the foreign park offers on it, but £200 is way too much for me. i also believe they failed royally in advertising the reopening of valhalla. what they have done to that ride is AMAZING in my opinion. why didnt i see ANY marketing? atleast they marketed the opening of icon. to not advertise it makes it feel like it's just the same ride (which imo is barely comparable to the original ride). who decided to not give them any marketing budget to go along with an investment?
They’ve got the pricing all wrong as far as on the gate goes, and the pass increase has put so many people off renewing. They need an affordable gate price with a non rider ticket available in my opinion
brill mate, they can try as hard as they like but the words that will automatically role off our tongues when we speak of any pleasure beach is BLACKPOOL. For sure we need a walk round pass entry and hotel access . Wonder what Amandas father Geoffrey ( ALL HAIL) would think of it all
They have probably had a falling out with Blackpool Council. I am struggling to understand the logic in taking the location out of an attraction, i.e riding hyperia at park. It appears they are starting to fall behind and they need to spend some money on new rides if they want to get people in the park. Also where did the press event go at the start of the season, surely this would have been an ideal event to reveal their new branding..
Why not keep the wristband to ride all day and instead of walk round pass, £15-£20 minimum ride tickets & free entry. Quite often I’ve been to Blackpool and only fancy a couple of hours and a few rides in the park but there’s no option other than a full wristband. If I turn up at 1pm on a whim and the park closes at 5, I’m not paying for a full day pass. £15 for a go on the big one and something else for a couple of hours? Yeah that sounds good. They’d need to think about the price point to avoid cannibalising wristbands but it’s doable.
I doubt a name change will get butts in seats.....might raise awareness of the hotel accommodation but there is a hell of alot of competition and let's not forget thease hotels are quite expensive combined with park tickets. food. Etc
Completely agree with you Scott regarding their entry policy. I really don't know why they don't change things. Surely they would profit from getting more people in the park spending money which is what they desperately need.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach is amazing and always was but its not like Alton Towers or Thorpe Park. It cannot be treated like those parks. Blackpool's holiday makers will not go especially if they are charging the same sort of price as the big theme park resorts. They have shot themselves in the foot which is a shame. I no longer go to the South end of Blackpool 😢 and if I do it's only on the way to Lytham on the tram, it's such a shame as I'd do all the rides and loved the shows they put on, unless there's a drastic change closer to what they had before I can't see me going again and a lot of others seem to have the same thoughts change isn't often for the best people don't mind paying if they get value for money but they don't see it as being good value for money so they won't go.
I’d honestly say to people to just go to the park and enjoy it for what it is and don’t get too emotionally invested in things that are out of your control.
Alton Towers, Thorpe and Drayton all offering new rides this year. What is Pleasure Beach offering ? £3 off the admission price and a horrific new logo. No wonder the park is struggling to get numbers through the gates.
If they want to become a resort the hotel need to offer park tickets as standard when staying over or if you are just staying for the hotel only it should be much cheaper as think the prices can be very expensive except for the odd bargain. It can be better value for a family to stay at a local blackpool hotel and buy tickets or for the full all in one package sometimes towers maybe cheaper.
My concern with the rebrand is that it doesn't address the big issues with the park. The gradual removal and non replacement of rides. Thier flat ride offering seems ro be dwindling each year and as you said one new coaster since 1994 is really poor. They have held onro rides like Steeplechase, Avalanche and the Grand Prix for far too long.
Lots of rides removed resulting in big, empty spaces around the park. Wild Mouse was removed to make way for “future developments”, that was 6 years ago.
When you said about growing up not far away and your parents randomly saying "waethers nice, come on! lets go to Blackpool" was exaxctly the same as when I was young and we would go to Southend-On-Sea. 45 mins in the car and we would be parked up walking down the seafront. he fact that Adventure Playground was free to walk around was a big factor in this as well. We would nip in there, see if there was anything we wanted to go on and get tokens if we did. BPB needs to go back to that method too! will deffo increase footfall and income if they do!! The new logo is.... basic. They could have easily popped "Blackpool" into the ! at the end where they used to have "Pleaseure Beach" but nope. Blank and boring. Hopefully they make some more changes over the course of the year and listen to feedback!
A well balanced video buddy. Removing Blackpool from the name is a very strange choice that GP and enthusiasts can't quite understand. Shying away from your heritage and what got you to this point seems like shooting yourself in the foot, whilst that statement certainly seems as though the park are going to go ahead with more forward-thinking investments it's hard to have that as a key focus when the park is full of... for the nicer word... historical relics in the shape of coasters and flats where some are listed and continue to showcase the very heritage and history they're stepping away from
they're feeling the pressure from alton towers and thorpe park to change up their image, that's all I think it is. just peer pressure. they're all in the 'amusement park business' so yes they DO have to compete as businesses.
Since you recorded thus, they have changed the logo again to green and pink, seems as though the marketing team carnt handle criticism and people taking the piss saying it’s IKEA or Megabus Resort, I really don’t see how this logo in a rainbow of colours is getting anywhere to looking professional, I am guessing they are trying to copy Thorpe Pearl by changing the logo and brand and that had a very mixed response with a fair amount of people being negative or taking the piss. I personally think there was other things to address than the parks branding such as Park Admission Policies
Completely agree that they havent relied on their heritage enough. At the end of the day, theres a plethora of things to do in Blackpool and parks with better offerings in the UK. Their USP *is* their heritage and location.
Also its just going to be the same as the big one. It will still be known as Blackpool Please Beach to many just as many call the big one the Pepsi Max
Amanda Thompson knows what she's doing... Thank Christ I have golden memories of the Pleasure Beach from the late 70's and early 80's. Keep at it Amanda! Pfffft!
I agree with most of what you have said there. Although I think there's bigger things to worry about than what they call themselves. It could well be a very difficult year for the park. Big projects at several other parks and PB have been at a standstill for 6 years now. They are not going to be at the top of anyone's visiting bucket list this year. I just hope there is something in the pipeline and at some point this year they at least start leaking some info. But I think the only way to put the park back on the map is to go for the UK coaster height record again. Whether they have the finances or the ambition remains to be seen.
Don’t understand the context of “there’s bigger things to worry about” comment, we are a theme park focused channel which has always covered the latest BPB topics and this is definitely one of those. I just wish BPB would look at what worked in the past and revert to it, that above all will help them move in the right direction.
@@yourexperienceguide I meant that the park have bigger things to worry about than what they call themselves. Like everything you covered in your video. I don't think a name change is going to bring the crowds back.
@@yourexperienceguide I probably didn't word it very well. I think the biggest mistake they make is to ignore (or even shut out) walk up trade. But I can't see them changing anytime soon. They are convinced that the correct model is to run the place like an inland theme park. I think everyone can see the problem with that , apart from the owners of the park.
Hi Scott, I was gutted when you decided to rebrand and was worried you’d stray from doing as many pleasure beach vlogs etc. I was wrong to think that. Perhaps Pleasure Beach Resort and looking to expand, could they buy The Sandcastle? Every resort needs a swimming pool!
I don't don't think that opening late is the solution anymore as i think Blackpool is becoming more of a day visit location now rather than place people stay, I know that the town is now not busy after 6pm even peak season, This is not helped by the fact the Merlin seem to think that its a 9 to 5 at the moment, attractions like the tower, sea life, Tussauds, even in August peak season they only open 10am 7-pm and fri and sat they stay open until 9pm. Sea life is only open 9.30am to 5.30pm and Tussauds in August only open 10am to 5.30pm. These are all attractions that encourage family's to visit but if they are closing that early even in August there are fewer places for people to visit, so not encouraging them to stay on the prom, but head back to there camp site where free entertainment is available or just go back to the hotel get a takeaway and stay in there until everything opens the next day, and if your a day visitor then you might as well just leave at 5.30pm or 6 as most of the things you might want to visit are not open.
@@yourexperienceguide well given that the management should be asking why are people not coming into the PB the answer should be obvious its the cost and the fact that non riders have to pay full price if they want to go in, they need to drop prices and bring back a non rider ticket, and have consistant pricing on line and walk up not every one has access to the internet, and some of those who have dont like paying for things on line.
Another thing i found with the hotels was parking. We had one night booked, then a day at the park the next day... Was treated like it was an inconvenience to leave my car in the carpark. They expected me to get up first thing, drive my car to park elsewhere, then go into the park. Stupid
Hard to disagree with this. Going further, what does this rebrand do to drive up attendance on last year? Not a lot. The entry structure needs to change because Blackpool will never be Dubai.
Spot on! I do agree. The feeling that Blackpool and Pleasure Beach are growing further apart is only enhanced for me by this recent decision. So many times be it Illuminations or Summer Days, Airshow Weekend etc, you feel like Blackpool is having a party....but one of its biggest guests just won't join the table anymore. Its the first real time in over 30 years I feel a little..sad? Disillusioned? Worried?
They've probably spent lots of money rebranding. I think they should have used some of that money to experiment with reducing the ticket price for part of the season to see if that has an impact on visitor numbers. The new name is crap. It's not a "resort". No UK theme park is! They've got some nerve to claim they're one of the top 10 theme parks in the world. Give over.
I like the rebrand of the pleasure beach logo because this is similar logo to alton towers resort and even disneyland and can the stagework productions shows are going back to the globe theatre or maybe want different for a change like cirque du soleil can you imagine cirque du soleil shows will be held at the globe theatre in blackpool
I don’t think the name change will make any difference to me personally (I’ll always say I’m visiting ‘Blackpool’ regardless). I hope they can make it work for other visitors though.
Unfortunately they went America with charging everyone to enter. My mum doesnt like rides but enjoyed watching the rest of us and spent money in the Pleasure Beach I agree needs to keep part s of the way old but needs new rides.
They just need to change it to a resort with later openings, hotel perk’s with guest entrances and nighttime entertainment to match. It has an offering but at 5pm generally turns into a ghost town so everyone including hotel guests head to the piers or the Velvet Coaster (2nd March prime example opening weekend) rather than spending time on property and at the so called resort as there is nothing to do.
Including resort into their name means they’ve got to deliver a package that gives amusement park access alongside all day hotel access, show, food etc. Offer resort packages.
The big reason why there are a lot of people in blackpool on holiday is maybe they do what our family does. We buy the blackppol pass. Free entry to sealife and the tower and many other attractions. My Mrs don't do rides. So we avoid it. The pleasure beach should resort back to not ride entry pass.
It really saddens me to see the lack of enthusiasm for the place now, as well as the drop in numbers. Particularly when Blackpool as a whole is experiencing record visitor numbers. I get that younger people love it, and don't remember it's past days. I can't help but think that this is not going to end well for them in the next 20 years unless something changes with entry policy and opening hours. It's shut itself off from the day trip market and passing trade for too long. Used to love the place, and still do have a soft spot for it, but nothings tempting me back after years of not visiting. (Maybe PMBO 30th 🤔😁😂👍) P. S. Needs the 90's BPB logo with "Resort" incorporated into it. 👌
@@yourexperienceguide Yes, and I don't see any of those core problems being addressed anytime soon as they are clearly emarked on this course to go upmarket long term whatever the results. I see they have changed the logo yet again... 🙈😔🙄
A lot of very valid points that I don't disagree with. There's a lot of negativity about PBR, but that's because they are getting more wrong than right. Compared to other parks around the world. Over the years, Amanda has made it known she wants to attract the typical well off families from down south and I think dropping Blackpool from the name is another try at that. The park is in Blackpool, not Brighton or Bournemouth and you can cater to the Blackpool Market and make a lot of money if you just accept it and make the required changes.
It’s crazy to me that BPB are willing to reject the customers on their doorstep and aim for a “better class of customer”. Won’t be long before they’ve got Basil Fawlty at the entrance saying no riff raff 🤦🏻♂️
I love Blackpool Pleasure Beach but have to agree the rebrand & direction is not roght for them. Year on year BPB is making changes to act like a Theme Park, which it is not & to now call a resort just because of 2 hotels. Like you have mentioned you have to leave the park to go to the hotel & for me a resort is normally remote where you have to stay on site. BPB has plenty of other accomodations surrounding it.
If they actually incorporate the hotels and park with all day access between both, the resort thing will not be an issue IMO. Cutting out Blackpool from the name is madness though, or that’s how it seems.
Should just stick to Blackpool Pleasure Beach, it’s almost like there seems to be associated with the very tone that the park was built and has grown over the last 123 years.
I used to go to the park regularly in the 70s, 80s and 90s, it has completely changed now and not for the better in my opinion, the management are now getting desperate to increase attendance and going completely the wrong way about it. The park is now a joke.
You can take 'Blackpool' out of the park. You can't take the park out of 'Blackpool'. It would be nice if they focused on short break stay packages. Including combined tickets to the park and other shows, attractions on offer. It will as always boil down to the cost. I am pretty sure being on the end of the promenade, has brought them plenty of extra business. A theme park built next to a beach for that purpose.
It wouldn’t surprise me if another hotel was built for the resort. All I say the owners of the piers must be sat there smiling when the piers are heaving with tourists spending and the pleasure beach is dead or shut.
It will ALWAYS be known as Blackpool Pleasure Beach because it's been called that for decades. The new 'Resort' name and branding will take years for people to get used to it, but this will only apply to the younger generation who have yet to visit and will only know the new Resort name going forward. People who have visited the park in the past will always call it Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
Very good point about the admissions policy - if you're going to blackpool for one day only, you wouldn't want to be in pleasure beach from 10am to 5pm. Why would you pay for 7 hours access if you're only going to visit for a couple of hours?
I wanna buy merch with BPPB on, if they only have Pleasure Beach branding, what the point of buying it from BPPB when I can get it cheaper at Great Yarmouth. Sounds like the end to a historical place.
@@yourexperienceguideon the subject of merch, will they be knocking out the old stuff cheap? Fear I already know the answer to this. I, like you Scott, will not be buying anything with the new logo branding.
Blackpool had record visits last year and on target to beat that record this year and is one of the most visited places in Europe so on footfall and visits they are probably right if they mean popularity.
Who knows maybe we will all be shocked when they announce the first UK RMC. I think ultimately it comes down to the park wanting to be something they are not. The one price entry just doesnt sit right with a park in the middle of a town that isnt an immersive theme park. If they want to move away from heritage and history, then they cant have 4 coasters close to 100 years old. For the genral public its not what IS good, its what LOOKS good and despite rides like Grand National being one of the best in the UK, people just see it as this old rickety ride. They need to modernise things becuse two over priced hotels just isnt going to be enough to bring people in.
There’s literally no kerb appeal, the Big One is covered in rust, signage over Watson Road is rusted over and the Grand National looks abandoned from Bond Street.
@@yourexperienceguide as much as it will never happen, some form of collaboration with Merlin to allow reduced entry with a Merlin pass would go a long way to tie it in with every other attraction in Blackpool except the Sandcastle which has a ridiculous pricing structure as well.
@@yourexperienceguide yeah I'm sure does it just seems a very expensive day out especially since they introduced the 3 hour restricted time limit during COVID and have stuck with it ever since. £100 for 3 hours for a family of 4 is a lot however good the park is.
Adventure Golf? Where the hell is that? Opening times should be 11.00 - 18.00 Weekdays and 11.00 to 20.00 weekends or 19.00 if its quiet and 21.00/22.00 if its busy.
I think this change is OK, the name sounds more professional having 'resort' like alton towers resort, but it is the biggest pleasure Beach in the UK so I think it could work quite well
They got absolutely slaughtered on social media’s over this daft rebrand. Then they changed the colour and it’s still not great because it’s missing Blackpool
Blackpool Pleasure Beach is not a resort they're trying to make themselves like merlin which they're not and they're not a theme park they're a seaside amusement park and as for removing the Blackpool name they're losing their identity
The more they try and copy Merlin, the worse things are becoming. Merlin are good at what they do, BPB was better as a seaside amusement park not a wannabe theme park.
Holding on to old rides and not buying new more exciting stuff will break the buisness down slowly but surely and its been happening awhile now. Check out the hotel prices just for a night how many people can afford that and ice shows omg how exciting hehe.
Rides aren’t the issue, their refusal to cater to families visiting Blackpool on a day trip or holiday is the biggest issue. Lack of entry pass will continue to be an issue. Some rides do need to be replaced though.
As many have already pointed out, there are far bigger issues the owners MUST tackle before wasting time and money on a name change, especially one that cannot be justified. I think i speak for a majority of BPB fans that the top two most important issues that need addressing are, 1- charging non riders ( this should be free not just slightly reduced) and 2- show a bit of pride in the place and paint the rides, PROPERLY. Just look how good the Big Dipper looks now. If the park looks like its being looked after and well maintained then the public will be more inclined to use the park . Im no director but even an idiot can figure that one out!
I agree with this Steve, I’ve seen comments (not on this video) indirectly posted about us saying “BPB know what they’re doing”, they probably do, but as paying customers we have a right to comment on things and the two points in your comment are huge issues which 99% of people can see!
It's just common sense really, if you didn't know the place would you put your family on a ride that looks on the verge of collapse? Great video again Scott, your pov videos were actually superb for us during COVID cos we put the settees right up to our Telly, our boys on the floor in front, and rode the rides! Leaning on all the right places actually made it quite good!😊
The name Blackpool should always be a part of the name, either Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort or Pleasure Beach Resort Blackpool, hope the change does well for the park, but I doubt it
Great video Scott! TBH I can't see the reasoning behind this change. The logo does look like IKEA/Ryanair, people will confuse it with other Pleasure Beaches in the UK, and who isn't still gonna call it Blackpool Pleasure Beach?! I love the park, but they still have a long way to go when it comes to becoming a "resort" (a handy themepark-hotel pathway like you mentioned, bringing back the walk around pass, and of course they need rides that are new and modern.) I'd love to hear your thoughts on this!
If they’re sticking with the resort name, they have to put in a purpose built entrance at South Entrance that hotel guests can use all day whilst the park is open
After watching many of your videos about Blackpool it seems the only way forward is with new ownership. Blackpool needs investment to make more money, downward cycle till Amanda sells.
@@yourexperienceguide yep...they just don't seem to listen to popular opinions from all the people that constantly put there money where there mouth is .. can't decide if its stubbornness or stupidity or a mixture of both...I pray they have a great season though whatever I and others think
BUT YOU KNOW WHY THEY CLOSE AT 5PM, IT JUST DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH MONEY THEY MAKE ON FOOD AND MERCHANDISE, NOTHING ELSE MATTERS THEY HAVE YOUR MONEY ALREADY.THEY JUST CLOSE RIDES AND SEND US HOME, IF IT IS NOT BUSY.
trying to compare itself to Disneyland is a bad route... that steeplechase ride- what is that? That ride epitomises the state of the place. Probably the space is a limiting factor- get rid of that dump of a restaurant, use that car park- have car parking underground...expand... but the UK never invests- so will pay the price. Will be a block of flats in 10 years.
They need to bring wal round price back and they need to extend open hours 5pm is awful time to close esp in peak times as so busy to get round everything I love merch saying Blackpool pleasure beach with mr funshine or the big one pic don’t want something with just pleasure beach resort as it don’t state Blackpool
Blackpool have never looked in to there heritage, all they think about is there Money in there Pockets but this is Failing & they wont wake up, bring back NON Riders Passes' - as we know they wont bring back Free Entrance - so at least this could start bringing back Families into the Park once more.
I don't go to BPB as often as I'd like to as an enthusiast from the South, but the current situation does worry me, as I truly love the park. With the Merlin parks and Drayton pushing big investment and the Universal Resort becoming closer to being a reality, it does worry me that Blackpool will get left behind.
Thanks Scott, I agree, I don't like the re-brand. However, its obvious what they are trying to do. They clearly want to be like Alton Towers or even Disney Paris. However you can take the Pleasure Beach out of Blackpool but you cant take the Blackpool out of the Pleasure Beach!
It would work if they were on the level of those resorts, but I’d still expect Blackpool to be in the name 🤞🏼
i think that sums it up great
They say they’ve done research? And they still aren’t going to reinstate the walk around pass? Maybe they only asked the questions they needed to justify the rebrand rather than getting accurate customer feedback. I’d love to see the raw data from the research. 🤔
Research would show them the entry pass being reinstated is essential 🤔
Im guessing it's Amanda Thompson who decides on whether to bring back entry passes and it's a BIG fat No !
@@davidGPS95 Not just her, the decisions are made collectively by the board members
I absolutely love Blackpool, so many childhood memories.i hope it doesn't change too much.i love Blackpool residents too met many over the years .
Top 10 in the world, top 5 in Europe. Sorry, but that was maybe the case 25 years ago. Not now. The parking at the hotels is such a carry on with not a space guarantee, having to pay extra and leaving when you check out, you can't really call this a resort. With resort I expect the whole thing to flow better, more secure for obtaining a parking space and they probably should have bought the Sandcastle pool to really justify this type of name. Pay once, regardless of how much, hotel, parking, swimming, riding rides, breakfast, in before the rest of the public, free Hot Ice show. Then maybe "resort" is appropriate.
Hit nail on the head
👏
I absolutely agree 100% with everything you say Scott! Most definitely regarding removing 'Blackpool' from the name and the pricing.
When we visit we bring elderly parents, not interested in rides, but love being part of the day.
Another utterly irritating thing is, as you say, early closing. A summers evening, Blackpool packed and pleasure beach closed! Lunacy!
Come on Pleasure Beach pull your finger out! 🎢
I love the nostalga of this park been going since i was a kid and my kids love ot now too not just pb bit blackpool as a whole..
Last time we went we payed nearly 200 pounds entry for the family and it was mainly only nickelodeon land for the kids we left after half a day.
It absolutely meeds a non rider entry
That’s a lot of money especially not to get on everything
I love your channel. Long time subbed. You really dont need to go down the clickbait road, your content speaks for itself
I literally start the video by saying some of the video title 😉
@@yourexperienceguide im trying to give you some feedback. And the fact its the 2nd most liked comment on this video maybe says something too.
@@blinard1 Feedback always appreciated, but there was nothing clickbait about this video. I said it’s the end of BPB as we know it which ties in with the title.
@@yourexperienceguide mate, this is the worst thing about youtube clickbait. Rather than just admitting you know what your doing to try and get more views, you try and justify it.....look at the title of the video! No good you explqin it straight away once someones clicked it....clues in the name....CLICKbait
More thoughts! There’s a tendency for similar businesses to gravitate towards similar offerings. Low cost airlines is a good example. All pretty much the same apart from the colour. BPB have obviously decided to align themselves to the theme park resort segment. The risk they take is that they just get lost. They aren’t a true theme park so they lose to Alton Towers or Thorpe. The best way to compete is to stand out and for BPB they should launch off their amusement park heritage. Hype that up! The UK’s Last True Amusement Park! Wrist bands and Walk Around Tickets work at amusement parks. Do it.
And whilst they’re at it. Get some more flats in and find a travelling mouse to sit where the Wild Mouse used to be. Fill in the blanks with, YES, amusement park rides.
Completely agree about the resort branding, I honestly don’t get why they’re trying to push away customers who’ve supported them for a very long time.
you think on the same lines as me it seems
@@colettemikaelson160 thank you! 😀
Spot on sir, that's exactly how I would rebrand it. The heroics of generations of maintenance personnel who, for decades have kept these wonderful rides going WAY beyond what was meant for them, should, in my humble opinion, be celebrated and be proudly advertised like you say as the last amusement park.
Could you please win the lottery and buy the current owners out?😊
@@stevehadfield5963thanks!
I think a major thing blackpool need to improve on too is the operations, i visited 3 times in 2023 and 2 out of the 3 days were very busy and the big one (a very long ride) was only running 1 train, same with icon and same with infusion
I live in Blackpool and I got to South Pier and central pier I don't go to the Pleasure Beach anymore
A lot of people say this to us 😕
@@yourexperienceguide I bet mate
The two are not comparable. And for what you spend on a pier in an hour u wouldn’t bother.
I’d argue not just right now, but the last 15 to 20 years, it’s been a gradual downward spiral😞
There’s been some highs but the mismanagement of the park in recent years is depressing
@@yourexperienceguide for me, the few highs that they have had do not make up for all the bad stuff that has happened over the last nearly 2 decades.
@@dougbriglmen716Understandable
There is a lot of competition for entertainment in Blackpool - it is silly that they don't open late in the summer and do half l-price tickets after a specific time to try and catch an evening rush. It seems to work for Adventure Island 🤷♂️
Also, they shoulda stuck with Blackpool Pleasure Beach 'cos "Pleasure Beach Resort" is generic as fuck and unmemorable - look at other theme park names in this country and they are immediately recognisable when someone brings them up in convo :/
They’ve completely gone away from what has worked in the past, and seem to continue along the road of alienating their customers with every bad decision
I think you've actually nailed it! I can't get on the rides, so therefore, being charged full price feels wrong - I like watching the rides, I like watching peoples faces change from calm/excited/happy to 'I wanna get off!!' to 'I feel sick!' and so the 'coat holder' ticket needs to be brought back if they want to increase footfall.
as for the rebranding, it's as if they've been pushing the word 'Blackpool' to the end of the sentence in order to push it off the edge of the signage for ages - like a cat slowly knocking a glass of water off a table. it's not like we don't know where it is, but, it's going to confuse some people - but not many, just the uninitiated!
They’re not at the top of people’s list for rides and attractions, this rebrand won’t help change that IMO
Spot on with everything you said Scott. I have booked for a date in March the last two years I have been wheeled on every ride. My gripe is I am registered disabled but can’t get the pass as not on PIP. I do not want to jump the queue but can’t get the wheelchair through some of the ride queues. And sure Blackpool PB is a good name
Thank you 🙏
IMO its just more money down the drain. A shiny new logo and merchandise isn't going to get people in the park. Completely agree its all about the entrance fee's
It’s a strange decision
I'm still trying to get over how bad the valhalla refurbishment is
It’s still an unreliable ride sadly
It’s a shame they are struggling but there are so many small things putting people off and one large problem, rides are outdated. They say they have the most rollercoasters in the UK at 10, most are extremely outdated and similar to each other.. compared to Alton towers 9 fairly modern and unique coasters with a 10th on the “horizon”. They are focused too much on the old which I feel is the main problem. Huge investment needed, maybe the only saving grace would be for Amanda to sell up as I don’t think the money needed to make a difference is there otherwise. The name change won’t change a thing, if anything it’s looking to confuse people between other pleasure beaches around the UK. Also, the trip advisor claim is just absurd.. and this top 10 in the world and top 5 in Europe nonsense, surely they don’t really believe this
@allthingsblackpool It’s honestly incredible that big dipper is as old as it is and I get that but we rode it in November and it was painful for all of the family, mostly my back. The only rides we travel for are icon and Valhalla, in reality the rest of the line up is irrelevant which makes travelling a bit of a waste of time. If we were local it wouldn’t matter so much and we’d visit more often but to appeal to the country they really need to step their game up across the whole park.. dark rides, flat rides and coasters need pulling down and replacing. Other parks are extremely aware of the age of rides and only the special last over 30 years, no other major park hangs on to rides as much and this is a huge downfall for BPB
@@HushHushFamily fore me it's icon which i don't really like, big one, infusion, nick streak and revolution everything else i give a miss as there rough and poor [ even though i think infusion is good]
It’s a stupid idea. Can see zero benefits
@allthingsblackpool It’s a huge shame as it’s an iconic park. You won’t be the only people not renewing passes. It wasn’t long ago there was uproar with the comments made regarding pass holders and how they moan too much. Pass holders moan for a reason.
It's a dump. Only people that are blindly in love with the park like Scott etc (no offence meant) still sing about it. It's be better 75% of it getting pulled down and start over and modernise. The whole of Blackpool, hotels, attractions etc are stuck in the 80's. It's tragic. You'll never pull in the new generations with the crap that's on offer now there. The pleasure beach is not even on the top 10 parks in Europe, how dare they say top 5😂😂
I know, I’ve already said this on Facebook, but both Amanda and her management team really need to go now, it’s clear more than ever now that the place is on the downward spiral as long as they stay in charge.
The sooner Morgan and maybe Mick take over in the future, the better , i’m convinced we would have a whole new era where Pleasure Beach would go back to its roots and be far more successful and enjoyable again.
The only way in my opinion of that happening is for there to be a change in both the management team and the managing director.
I’m not sure what the answer is Doug, some people have too much power and are too influential. I’m not naming names but some of the concepts and decisions pushed onto AJT are a big problem (pay one price, ride scanning etc)
bpb is a family run buisness, but since COVID and Cost of living it's not sustainable
@@Heavyweight37716It is if they stop making bad decisions
@@yourexperienceguide i agree to that, but it would be best to bring someone in with a lot of money to help out, look at Torquay united today, no money = no club
@@Heavyweight37716Get the basics right and the money will come
well we know they won't change it back because they are stubborn , but i also don't think it will affect it.
Hopefully it’ll be back to BPB for 2025
The lack of “new” experiences is going to keep on damaging bpb .. I know they’ve invested in big one and Valhalla in recent years but to have only 1 new ride in the last decade is not good . And likely one of the reasons many arnt visiting . That and the gate prices
Its marketing too Scott I have so many times heard and even seen Efteling advertisements on the TV & Radio I know I live down south but would like to hear more adverts from Pleasure Beach. I do think the non rider pass should come back but keep the 2 price tiers of Adult and Child price for the rides.
So many missed opportunities.
Dancing on tiktok isn’t a successful at bringing people to the park.
I hope that they stay successful and truly give the people what they want in the end. Sometime in the next 5 years or so I would like to make my first trip to England and BPPB is on my bucket list! Cheers from ARIZONA, USA. And Scott, I enjoy all of your vids very much!
Thank you 🙏
my personal problem with the pleasure beach is that gate price... it costs more than going to alton towers (for me as a student). can i justify visiting regularly? no! can i justify paying £200 for the season pass? no! i was going to buy the season pass, but i wasn't aware of the price hike dates since it wasnt properly publicised. it's really sad, i grew up loving pleasure beach and still do. the price doesnt fit the product currently. i would pay £150 for that season pass, especially with the foreign park offers on it, but £200 is way too much for me.
i also believe they failed royally in advertising the reopening of valhalla. what they have done to that ride is AMAZING in my opinion. why didnt i see ANY marketing? atleast they marketed the opening of icon. to not advertise it makes it feel like it's just the same ride (which imo is barely comparable to the original ride). who decided to not give them any marketing budget to go along with an investment?
They’ve got the pricing all wrong as far as on the gate goes, and the pass increase has put so many people off renewing.
They need an affordable gate price with a non rider ticket available in my opinion
brill mate, they can try as hard as they like but the words that will automatically role off our tongues when we speak of any pleasure beach is BLACKPOOL. For sure we need a walk round pass entry and hotel access . Wonder what Amandas father Geoffrey ( ALL HAIL) would think of it all
It’ll always be Blackpool Pleasure Beach to me and I’ll continue to call it that in videos
They have probably had a falling out with Blackpool Council. I am struggling to understand the logic in taking the location out of an attraction, i.e riding hyperia at park. It appears they are starting to fall behind and they need to spend some money on new rides if they want to get people in the park. Also where did the press event go at the start of the season, surely this would have been an ideal event to reveal their new branding..
BUT THEY WASTED IT ON VALHALLA.
Their season launch is taking place in 3 weeks time
Why not keep the wristband to ride all day and instead of walk round pass, £15-£20 minimum ride tickets & free entry.
Quite often I’ve been to Blackpool and only fancy a couple of hours and a few rides in the park but there’s no option other than a full wristband.
If I turn up at 1pm on a whim and the park closes at 5, I’m not paying for a full day pass.
£15 for a go on the big one and something else for a couple of hours? Yeah that sounds good.
They’d need to think about the price point to avoid cannibalising wristbands but it’s doable.
Having an all day eTicket makes sense, but having an entry pass with pay per ride alongside it should be there too
I doubt a name change will get butts in seats.....might raise awareness of the hotel accommodation but there is a hell of alot of competition and let's not forget thease hotels are quite expensive combined with park tickets. food. Etc
I’ll be amazed if it becomes a huge success, I hope so but I’m doubtful
Completely agree with you Scott regarding their entry policy. I really don't know why they don't change things. Surely they would profit from getting more people in the park spending money which is what they desperately need.
I agree removing Blackpool doesn’t seem a good idea when it comes to google. I also agree having to pay if not riding is harsh.
Can’t see the rebrand lasting longer than a year or two
Blackpool Pleasure Beach is amazing and always was but its not like Alton Towers or Thorpe Park. It cannot be treated like those parks. Blackpool's holiday makers will not go especially if they are charging the same sort of price as the big theme park resorts. They have shot themselves in the foot which is a shame. I no longer go to the South end of Blackpool 😢 and if I do it's only on the way to Lytham on the tram, it's such a shame as I'd do all the rides and loved the shows they put on, unless there's a drastic change closer to what they had before I can't see me going again and a lot of others seem to have the same thoughts change isn't often for the best people don't mind paying if they get value for money but they don't see it as being good value for money so they won't go.
I’m really not seeing how their “research” has told them that a rebrand will get thousands back into the park
I’d honestly say to people to just go to the park and enjoy it for what it is and don’t get too emotionally invested in things that are out of your control.
for the pricing, no chance
@@Heavyweight37716 either way it’s not gonna affect the branding.
@@ourhousetv could do, finances for the park aren't good as it is
Reported on BPB since 2004, not going to stop now especially whilst it’s my job
Alton Towers, Thorpe and Drayton all offering new rides this year. What is Pleasure Beach offering ? £3 off the admission price and a horrific new logo. No wonder the park is struggling to get numbers through the gates.
It’s not a good situation
Miles away
If they want to become a resort the hotel need to offer park tickets as standard when staying over or if you are just staying for the hotel only it should be much cheaper as think the prices can be very expensive except for the odd bargain. It can be better value for a family to stay at a local blackpool hotel and buy tickets or for the full all in one package sometimes towers maybe cheaper.
It would make a lot of sense to have a package available that includes park tickets with a hotel stay
My concern with the rebrand is that it doesn't address the big issues with the park. The gradual removal and non replacement of rides. Thier flat ride offering seems ro be dwindling each year and as you said one new coaster since 1994 is really poor. They have held onro rides like Steeplechase, Avalanche and the Grand Prix for far too long.
Lots of rides removed resulting in big, empty spaces around the park.
Wild Mouse was removed to make way for “future developments”, that was 6 years ago.
When you said about growing up not far away and your parents randomly saying "waethers nice, come on! lets go to Blackpool" was exaxctly the same as when I was young and we would go to Southend-On-Sea. 45 mins in the car and we would be parked up walking down the seafront. he fact that Adventure Playground was free to walk around was a big factor in this as well. We would nip in there, see if there was anything we wanted to go on and get tokens if we did.
BPB needs to go back to that method too! will deffo increase footfall and income if they do!!
The new logo is.... basic. They could have easily popped "Blackpool" into the ! at the end where they used to have "Pleaseure Beach" but nope. Blank and boring.
Hopefully they make some more changes over the course of the year and listen to feedback!
It’s just the norm for families near a seaside resort isn’t it? Good times too!
A well balanced video buddy. Removing Blackpool from the name is a very strange choice that GP and enthusiasts can't quite understand. Shying away from your heritage and what got you to this point seems like shooting yourself in the foot, whilst that statement certainly seems as though the park are going to go ahead with more forward-thinking investments it's hard to have that as a key focus when the park is full of... for the nicer word... historical relics in the shape of coasters and flats where some are listed and continue to showcase the very heritage and history they're stepping away from
Agreed mate, and thank you 🙏
they're feeling the pressure from alton towers and thorpe park to change up their image, that's all I think it is. just peer pressure.
they're all in the 'amusement park business' so yes they DO have to compete as businesses.
They don’t need to compete with Merlin. It’s pointless.
They just need to get the basics right. And they’ll be successful.
@yourexperienceguide 👍
Since you recorded thus, they have changed the logo again to green and pink, seems as though the marketing team carnt handle criticism and people taking the piss saying it’s IKEA or Megabus Resort, I really don’t see how this logo in a rainbow of colours is getting anywhere to looking professional, I am guessing they are trying to copy Thorpe Pearl by changing the logo and brand and that had a very mixed response with a fair amount of people being negative or taking the piss. I personally think there was other things to address than the parks branding such as Park Admission Policies
Changing it within 48 hours doesn’t exactly show confidence in it all 😮
Completely agree that they havent relied on their heritage enough. At the end of the day, theres a plethora of things to do in Blackpool and parks with better offerings in the UK. Their USP *is* their heritage and location.
Also its just going to be the same as the big one. It will still be known as Blackpool Please Beach to many just as many call the big one the Pepsi Max
Completely agree
Amanda Thompson knows what she's doing... Thank Christ I have golden memories of the Pleasure Beach from the late 70's and early 80's. Keep at it Amanda! Pfffft!
theyve got two or three good rollercoasters and their attendance is dropping, I doubt she knows what she's doing.
I’ll always say this; decisions are made at board level and not just by one person.
@@Coastographyhe’s being sarcastic.
@@yourexperienceguide NOT FROM WHAT WE HEAR, AMANDA GETS WHAT SHE WANTS, OR THROWS A STROP.
@@yourexperienceguide i have to agree, i think Amanda cops all the flack and its not just her.
I agree with most of what you have said there. Although I think there's bigger things to worry about than what they call themselves. It could well be a very difficult year for the park. Big projects at several other parks and PB have been at a standstill for 6 years now. They are not going to be at the top of anyone's visiting bucket list this year. I just hope there is something in the pipeline and at some point this year they at least start leaking some info. But I think the only way to put the park back on the map is to go for the UK coaster height record again. Whether they have the finances or the ambition remains to be seen.
Don’t understand the context of “there’s bigger things to worry about” comment, we are a theme park focused channel which has always covered the latest BPB topics and this is definitely one of those.
I just wish BPB would look at what worked in the past and revert to it, that above all will help them move in the right direction.
@@yourexperienceguide I meant that the park have bigger things to worry about than what they call themselves. Like everything you covered in your video. I don't think a name change is going to bring the crowds back.
@@theaverageparkrunner Sorry for the confusion there 🤦🏻♂️
Completely agree with you
@@yourexperienceguide I probably didn't word it very well. I think the biggest mistake they make is to ignore (or even shut out) walk up trade. But I can't see them changing anytime soon. They are convinced that the correct model is to run the place like an inland theme park. I think everyone can see the problem with that , apart from the owners of the park.
@@theaverageparkrunner Completely agree, and again apologies for the misread 😊
Do you know when the big 1 retrack will be done by
We filmed it already ruclips.net/video/MGRE8AJ1Ff0/видео.htmlsi=dmqR8Gq688jaIay7
I visited the park in April last year. It was a wet day. Did not like the security bag checks. Will not visit again unless this is changed xx
Hi Scott, I was gutted when you decided to rebrand and was worried you’d stray from doing as many pleasure beach vlogs etc. I was wrong to think that. Perhaps Pleasure Beach Resort and looking to expand, could they buy The Sandcastle? Every resort needs a swimming pool!
Hi John, I promised in December 2022 that I’d still focus on the hot BPB topics and vlog at the park. I intend to stick to this in 2024 too 😊
I don't don't think that opening late is the solution anymore as i think Blackpool is becoming more of a day visit location now rather than place people stay, I know that the town is now not busy after 6pm even peak season, This is not helped by the fact the Merlin seem to think that its a 9 to 5 at the moment, attractions like the tower, sea life, Tussauds, even in August peak season they only open 10am 7-pm and fri and sat they stay open until 9pm. Sea life is only open 9.30am to 5.30pm and Tussauds in August only open 10am to 5.30pm. These are all attractions that encourage family's to visit but if they are closing that early even in August there are fewer places for people to visit, so not encouraging them to stay on the prom, but head back to there camp site where free entertainment is available or just go back to the hotel get a takeaway and stay in there until everything opens the next day, and if your a day visitor then you might as well just leave at 5.30pm or 6 as most of the things you might want to visit are not open.
We left BPB at 7pm in September and the sea front was shoulder to shoulder, BPB had been dead all day
@@yourexperienceguide well given that the management should be asking why are people not coming into the PB the answer should be obvious its the cost and the fact that non riders have to pay full price if they want to go in, they need to drop prices and bring back a non rider ticket, and have consistant pricing on line and walk up not every one has access to the internet, and some of those who have dont like paying for things on line.
Another thing i found with the hotels was parking. We had one night booked, then a day at the park the next day... Was treated like it was an inconvenience to leave my car in the carpark.
They expected me to get up first thing, drive my car to park elsewhere, then go into the park. Stupid
This has always really annoyed me too. Car parks are rubbish with small spaces, and not free either 😮
The marketing destruction continues..i hope to go back with grandparents and kids one day
Hopefully
Hard to disagree with this. Going further, what does this rebrand do to drive up attendance on last year? Not a lot. The entry structure needs to change because Blackpool will never be Dubai.
I really don’t understand how their research has stated this is what they need to do
For moment there you got me worried
Sorry 😅
Spot on! I do agree. The feeling that Blackpool and Pleasure Beach are growing further apart is only enhanced for me by this recent decision.
So many times be it Illuminations or Summer Days, Airshow Weekend etc, you feel like Blackpool is having a party....but one of its biggest guests just won't join the table anymore. Its the first real time in over 30 years I feel a little..sad? Disillusioned? Worried?
Disillusioned is a good way to describe how a lot of people are feeling about it
They've probably spent lots of money rebranding. I think they should have used some of that money to experiment with reducing the ticket price for part of the season to see if that has an impact on visitor numbers.
The new name is crap. It's not a "resort". No UK theme park is!
They've got some nerve to claim they're one of the top 10 theme parks in the world. Give over.
everything in America beats bpb
They’re not a top 5 park in the country anymore never mind in Europe.
I like the rebrand of the pleasure beach logo because this is similar logo to alton towers resort and even disneyland and can the stagework productions shows are going back to the globe theatre or maybe want different for a change like cirque du soleil can you imagine cirque du soleil shows will be held at the globe theatre in blackpool
The new logo is nothing like the Alton Towers logo or branding 😮
It will always be Blackpool Pleasure Beach to me!
Same
I don’t think the name change will make any difference to me personally (I’ll always say I’m visiting ‘Blackpool’ regardless). I hope they can make it work for other visitors though.
I’ll still be calling it Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Unfortunately they went America with charging everyone to enter.
My mum doesnt like rides but enjoyed watching the rest of us and spent money in the Pleasure Beach
I agree needs to keep part s of the way old but needs new rides.
They’ve still not replaced the Wild Mouse, and we keep hearing more rides will be removed in the coming years 😢😮
They just need to change it to a resort with later openings, hotel perk’s with guest entrances and nighttime entertainment to match. It has an offering but at 5pm generally turns into a ghost town so everyone including hotel guests head to the piers or the Velvet Coaster (2nd March prime example opening weekend) rather than spending time on property and at the so called resort as there is nothing to do.
Including resort into their name means they’ve got to deliver a package that gives amusement park access alongside all day hotel access, show, food etc.
Offer resort packages.
The big reason why there are a lot of people in blackpool on holiday is maybe they do what our family does. We buy the blackppol pass. Free entry to sealife and the tower and many other attractions. My Mrs don't do rides. So we avoid it. The pleasure beach should resort back to not ride entry pass.
It really saddens me to see the lack of enthusiasm for the place now, as well as the drop in numbers. Particularly when Blackpool as a whole is experiencing record visitor numbers. I get that younger people love it, and don't remember it's past days. I can't help but think that this is not going to end well for them in the next 20 years unless something changes with entry policy and opening hours. It's shut itself off from the day trip market and passing trade for too long. Used to love the place, and still do have a soft spot for it, but nothings tempting me back after years of not visiting. (Maybe PMBO 30th 🤔😁😂👍)
P. S. Needs the 90's BPB logo with "Resort" incorporated into it. 👌
I’ve only seen a select few being ultra positive about BPB in recent months, most are seeing the problems and calling them out 😢
@@yourexperienceguide Yes, and I don't see any of those core problems being addressed anytime soon as they are clearly emarked on this course to go upmarket long term whatever the results. I see they have changed the logo yet again... 🙈😔🙄
@@RidesUK Good job we aren’t all taking a shot every time they change the logo 😂
@@yourexperienceguide hahaha... Its a good job they can take a joke. 😬👍🤣🤣🤣
@@RidesUK They can? 🥲
Hate what they have done it should always say Blackpool pleasure beach and keep mr funshine as logo rather than exclamation mark!!
👏
A lot of very valid points that I don't disagree with. There's a lot of negativity about PBR, but that's because they are getting more wrong than right. Compared to other parks around the world. Over the years, Amanda has made it known she wants to attract the typical well off families from down south and I think dropping Blackpool from the name is another try at that. The park is in Blackpool, not Brighton or Bournemouth and you can cater to the Blackpool Market and make a lot of money if you just accept it and make the required changes.
It’s crazy to me that BPB are willing to reject the customers on their doorstep and aim for a “better class of customer”. Won’t be long before they’ve got Basil Fawlty at the entrance saying no riff raff 🤦🏻♂️
I love Blackpool Pleasure Beach but have to agree the rebrand & direction is not roght for them. Year on year BPB is making changes to act like a Theme Park, which it is not & to now call a resort just because of 2 hotels. Like you have mentioned you have to leave the park to go to the hotel & for me a resort is normally remote where you have to stay on site. BPB has plenty of other accomodations surrounding it.
If they actually incorporate the hotels and park with all day access between both, the resort thing will not be an issue IMO.
Cutting out Blackpool from the name is madness though, or that’s how it seems.
Should just stick to Blackpool Pleasure Beach, it’s almost like there seems to be associated with the very tone that the park was built and has grown over the last 123 years.
It’s weird to remove a household name and replace it with something so dull
I don’t mind the name. I don’t like the font used around the park. It’s like early naff 90s.
I used to go to the park regularly in the 70s, 80s and 90s, it has completely changed now and not for the better in my opinion, the management are now getting desperate to increase attendance and going completely the wrong way about it. The park is now a joke.
The 90s and early 2000s were great, hasn’t been the same since.
You can take 'Blackpool' out of the park. You can't take the park out of 'Blackpool'.
It would be nice if they focused on short break stay packages. Including combined tickets to the park and other shows, attractions on offer. It will as always boil down to the cost. I am pretty sure being on the end of the promenade, has brought them plenty of extra business. A theme park built next to a beach for that purpose.
Agreed, and packages to include tickets, hotel stay and other stuff would work well if affordable
I suppose you could compare it to pleasure beach experience changing to your experience guide 😉
Ah yes, the successful rebrand which worked exceptionally well for us 🎉
If BPB have more success from here onwards then happy days.
their rebrand made more sense though lol
I will always call it 'Blackpool Pleasure Beach'. Totally agree on entry pass
Most of the bad reviews I've read are about the entry pass
Thank you
It wouldn’t surprise me if another hotel was built for the resort. All I say the owners of the piers must be sat there smiling when the piers are heaving with tourists spending and the pleasure beach is dead or shut.
We know a few people on the piers and they do laugh at BPB’s policies 😫
I can imagine Scott.
It will ALWAYS be known as Blackpool Pleasure Beach because it's been called that for decades. The new 'Resort' name and branding will take years for people to get used to it, but this will only apply to the younger generation who have yet to visit and will only know the new Resort name going forward. People who have visited the park in the past will always call it Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
It’ll always be Blackpool Pleasure Beach to me
Very good point about the admissions policy - if you're going to blackpool for one day only, you wouldn't want to be in pleasure beach from 10am to 5pm. Why would you pay for 7 hours access if you're only going to visit for a couple of hours?
He is talking about holiday makers.
Having a pay one price admission setup isn’t working and won’t work long term
I wanna buy merch with BPPB on, if they only have Pleasure Beach branding, what the point of buying it from BPPB when I can get it cheaper at Great Yarmouth. Sounds like the end to a historical place.
I have no interest in buying “Pleasure Beach Resort” branded merch
@@yourexperienceguideon the subject of merch, will they be knocking out the old stuff cheap? Fear I already know the answer to this.
I, like you Scott, will not be buying anything with the new logo branding.
@@stevehadfield5963 I’ve no interest in buying something that says Pleasure Beach Resort on it
They think, they are a top ten park in the world? Now I’ve heard everything.
Yeah 🏆
Blackpool had record visits last year and on target to beat that record this year and is one of the most visited places in Europe so on footfall and visits they are probably right if they mean popularity.
Seems these parks all have to resort to the word “resort” to expand to hotels and waterparks and the like.
BPB have tried and failed with this before
Who knows maybe we will all be shocked when they announce the first UK RMC. I think ultimately it comes down to the park wanting to be something they are not. The one price entry just doesnt sit right with a park in the middle of a town that isnt an immersive theme park. If they want to move away from heritage and history, then they cant have 4 coasters close to 100 years old. For the genral public its not what IS good, its what LOOKS good and despite rides like Grand National being one of the best in the UK, people just see it as this old rickety ride. They need to modernise things becuse two over priced hotels just isnt going to be enough to bring people in.
There’s literally no kerb appeal, the Big One is covered in rust, signage over Watson Road is rusted over and the Grand National looks abandoned from Bond Street.
@@yourexperienceguide as much as it will never happen, some form of collaboration with Merlin to allow reduced entry with a Merlin pass would go a long way to tie it in with every other attraction in Blackpool except the Sandcastle which has a ridiculous pricing structure as well.
@@bungee316 Sandcastle works perfectly, sells out most days in the summer.
@@yourexperienceguide yeah I'm sure does it just seems a very expensive day out especially since they introduced the 3 hour restricted time limit during COVID and have stuck with it ever since. £100 for 3 hours for a family of 4 is a lot however good the park is.
Adventure Golf? Where the hell is that?
Opening times should be 11.00 - 18.00 Weekdays and 11.00 to 20.00 weekends or 19.00 if its quiet and 21.00/22.00 if its busy.
Across the road from the Pleasure Beach Resort.
Adventure Golf is near to Wetherspoons and across the road from the sandcastle
its where the old ghost train used to sit
@@yourexperienceguide Oh yeah i remember now... didnt realise it was part of Pleasure Beach. Does entry get you a shot on it?
@@flaw3dgenius222 Nope 🥲
I think this change is OK, the name sounds more professional having 'resort' like alton towers resort, but it is the biggest pleasure Beach in the UK so I think it could work quite well
Fair enough, let’s see how it goes
They got absolutely slaughtered on social media’s over this daft rebrand. Then they changed the colour and it’s still not great because it’s missing Blackpool
None of it makes sense 😬
Despite the name change, I'll still call it Blackpool Pleasure Beach bc I like this name better.
Likewise, it’ll always be BPB to us
The Thorpe park logo was bad, this is even worse
Thorpe’s works when it’s used on posters, marketing stuff
Agree. Thorpe Park’s new logo looks like something from Butlins.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach is not a resort they're trying to make themselves like merlin which they're not and they're not a theme park they're a seaside amusement park and as for removing the Blackpool name they're losing their identity
The more they try and copy Merlin, the worse things are becoming.
Merlin are good at what they do, BPB was better as a seaside amusement park not a wannabe theme park.
Holding on to old rides and not buying new more exciting stuff will break the buisness down slowly but surely and its been happening awhile now. Check out the hotel prices just for a night how many people can afford that and ice shows omg how exciting hehe.
Rides aren’t the issue, their refusal to cater to families visiting Blackpool on a day trip or holiday is the biggest issue. Lack of entry pass will continue to be an issue.
Some rides do need to be replaced though.
As many have already pointed out, there are far bigger issues the owners MUST tackle before wasting time and money on a name change, especially one that cannot be justified. I think i speak for a majority of BPB fans that the top two most important issues that need addressing are,
1- charging non riders ( this should be free not just slightly reduced) and
2- show a bit of pride in the place and paint the rides, PROPERLY. Just look how good the Big Dipper looks now.
If the park looks like its being looked after and well maintained then the public will be more inclined to use the park .
Im no director but even an idiot can figure that one out!
I agree with this Steve, I’ve seen comments (not on this video) indirectly posted about us saying “BPB know what they’re doing”, they probably do, but as paying customers we have a right to comment on things and the two points in your comment are huge issues which 99% of people can see!
It's just common sense really, if you didn't know the place would you put your family on a ride that looks on the verge of collapse? Great video again Scott, your pov videos were actually superb for us during COVID cos we put the settees right up to our Telly, our boys on the floor in front, and rode the rides! Leaning on all the right places actually made it quite good!😊
I loveed ut when I went to blackpool
👍
I heard Blackpool Tower will now be called Tower on the Prom .🙄
💀😂
The name Blackpool should always be a part of the name, either Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort or Pleasure Beach Resort Blackpool, hope the change does well for the park, but I doubt it
It won’t surprise me to see things change back again
Great video Scott! TBH I can't see the reasoning behind this change. The logo does look like IKEA/Ryanair, people will confuse it with other Pleasure Beaches in the UK, and who isn't still gonna call it Blackpool Pleasure Beach?!
I love the park, but they still have a long way to go when it comes to becoming a "resort" (a handy themepark-hotel pathway like you mentioned, bringing back the walk around pass, and of course they need rides that are new and modern.)
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this!
If they’re sticking with the resort name, they have to put in a purpose built entrance at South Entrance that hotel guests can use all day whilst the park is open
@@yourexperienceguide Very true.
Only silver lining get half price merch with old name good blog thanks👍
Haha yeah, won’t be buying any Pleasure Beach Resort merch 😕
After watching many of your videos about Blackpool it seems the only way forward is with new ownership. Blackpool needs investment to make more money, downward cycle till Amanda sells.
Returning to successful methods of the past should be considered before rebrands
I stopped going after the charge to walk around and I was loyal not been in for years
I love bpb scott as proved by season pass again but the claim in top 10 in the world🤔.i look forward to spotting pinoccio around the park this year
Absolutely love the park and always will do but I am really fed up of the decisions being made
@@yourexperienceguide yep...they just don't seem to listen to popular opinions from all the people that constantly put there money where there mouth is .. can't decide if its stubbornness or stupidity or a mixture of both...I pray they have a great season though whatever I and others think
@@timduncan9745It’s almost like they do the total opposite of what everyone is asking for in every instance
They should stop walk in entrance fee
Non rider pass should be reinstated
BUT YOU KNOW WHY THEY CLOSE AT 5PM, IT JUST DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH MONEY THEY MAKE ON FOOD AND MERCHANDISE, NOTHING ELSE MATTERS THEY HAVE YOUR MONEY ALREADY.THEY JUST CLOSE RIDES AND SEND US HOME, IF IT IS NOT BUSY.
Closing at 5pm isn’t working
trying to compare itself to Disneyland is a bad route... that steeplechase ride- what is that? That ride epitomises the state of the place. Probably the space is a limiting factor- get rid of that dump of a restaurant, use that car park- have car parking underground...expand... but the UK never invests- so will pay the price. Will be a block of flats in 10 years.
They need to bring wal round price back and they need to extend open hours 5pm is awful time to close esp in peak times as so busy to get round everything I love merch saying Blackpool pleasure beach with mr funshine or the big one pic don’t want something with just pleasure beach resort as it don’t state Blackpool
Not having the entry pass in 2024 will continue to put families off
@@yourexperienceguideagreed, it's put us off.
Pleasure Beach thinks it is one of the top 10 parks in the world?? 😅😅 In their dreams!!
😂
Sad but true
gonna be honest and admit I just don't see pleasure beach surviving in the near future.
It’s a concern
I don't seem to mind the new branding
Fair enough
Amanda Thompson should sell up let Merlyn buy it
Unlikely scenario at this point
Blackpool have never looked in to there heritage, all they think about is there Money in there Pockets but this is Failing & they wont wake up, bring back NON Riders Passes' - as we know they wont bring back Free Entrance - so at least this could start bringing back Families into the Park once more.
Every business wants to make money, BPB could do this by being more accommodating to those who want to go but won’t pay for non riders to go in.
Shame I never got to go to Blackpool pleasure beach 😢
It’s still there but with a strange rebrand
@@yourexperienceguide I figured but I liked that old branding.