Latest news with #PleasureBeach
BBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Blackpool theme park to broadcast personal messages from space
Members of the public are being urged to take part in a project which will see their personal messages broadcast from space on a specially designed digital screen.A dedicated recording booth is being set up at Blackpool Pleasure Beach on 11 August for anyone who wants to submit " something meaningful, heartfelt or hilarious". Using a hydrogen-filled high-altitude balloon, the messages will then be launched into the stratosphere - about 33.5km (110,000ft) above the Earth's surface - on 15 August, or the following week, depending on weather idea has been inspired by Launch Pad, a new space-themed ride, which opened this year at the Blackpool amusement park. 'Big reveals' The team at the theme park are looking for submissions from people of all ages, and hope to include "dedications and secrets, to big reveals, or even just funny one-liners". "This is about giving people the chance to say something meaningful, heartfelt or hilarious - and knowing that, even for a moment, your voice made it all the way to space," said Pleasure Beach boss Amanda to 8 August, people can also submit a short video or written message, a spokesman said. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
We tried the new 'Big Ben' ride at Skegness - It's good but not worth the £10 ticket
Skegness is famous for many things, from its beach and donkey rides to endless arcades and its lively atmosphere, but arguably one of the best well known parts of the town is the amusement park right on the seafront. Skegness Pleasure Beach has a huge range of rides and rollercoasters for the whole family to enjoy. Located off Grand Parade, the site is a must visit stop for most tourists in the town, and it has recently had its Jurassic Resurrection ride nominated for best new attraction in the 2025 UK Theme Park Awards after it opened in May. However, this is still not the newest attraction at the park, with its 'Big Ben' ride officially opening on Thursday, July 3. It is 262 feet tall and has already become an iconic part of the Skegness skyline as it can be seen from across the town. We decided to try out the new tower, which is a star flyer style ride with seats that swing out above the town. READ MORE: Dunelm's 'beautiful' wall mirror which has 'calming effect' is now on sale READ MORE: We found the cheapest fish and chips deals by the seafront in Skegness Thanks to its gigantic height, the tower was super easy to find and despite visiting on a Friday there was no queue when I got there, just three people already sat on the ride waiting. Whilst some rides cost tokens at the site, this ride is £10 per ticket, which I thought was a bit of a hefty price tag, but surely this meant it would be a great ride. After getting buckled and strapped in I re-evaluated why I thought wearing a long sundress would be a good idea, and then it was not long before the music changed and we were all slowly lifted into the sky. It didn't take too long to get to the top although it felt as if we would never get there as we kept getting lifted higher and higher, with the seats gradually turning quicker. The wind picked up pretty quickly so I was pleased that I had my sunglasses safe in my bag, and the views of Skegness were absolutely amazing, although the novelty wore off after a few spins around. It was great fun and I cannot get over how breath-taking the views were. Although I was also clinging onto the bar as it was so windy and because I was sat alone in my chair it was pushing me around a bit more than the seats of two. The ride started to slowly descend and I managed to take a couple of photos of the view around two thirds up, and then it started speeding up again for a second run before returning to the ground. It was fun and the views were great, but the whole experience lasted less than five minutes and it's the sort of thing someone might do once but probably not again, especially with it being £10 per person per time. At the end of the day, it was essentially a chair being swirled around high up, whereas at least with a rollercoaster you have some unexpected twists and turns.
Edinburgh Live
13-07-2025
- Edinburgh Live
Scottish couple say 'it's not how it used to be' after holidaying in Blackpool
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Before the rise of affordable package holidays and overseas travel, seaside towns like Blackpool were the go-to holiday destinations for plenty of Scottish families. The coastal spot was all the rage in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, witnessing significant growth. The 1800s saw the construction of iconic landmarks such as Blackpool Tower, the Pleasure Beach, Winter Gardens and all three famous piers. Blackpool was particularly favoured by the working classes of the North, who enjoyed the health benefits of sea bathing and fresh air, a stark contrast to the smog-filled, industrial landscapes of Manchester. In 1801, Blackpool had a mere population of 473. However, by the 1890s, the town housed 35,000 residents and welcomed an impressive quarter of a million holidaymakers annually, according to Lancs Live. Two of the town's most iconic hotels were built in the latter half of the 19th century - the Grand Metropole in 1873, an extension of a hotel first opened in 1785, and the Imperial Hotel erected in 1867, reports the Manchester Evening News. However, Blackpool's golden era was not to last. Despite its decline, Blackpool continues to draw hundreds of thousands of tourists, many of whom have been visiting since their childhood. But now, some holidaymakers say they've had enough of the Lancashire town. One couple from Manchester, seasoned holidaymakers to Blackpool who wished to remain anonymous, expressed their disappointment with the seaside spot. "It's not what it used to be," they lamented. "It's worse than it was before, a lot worse. It's all alkies and druggies now." 'The hotels have gone to hell'. June and Tony from Waterfoot near Rawtenstall, frequent visitors to Blackpool, have observed the resort's decline. "It's really handy for us and it's a friendly place but we have seen a decline," June commented. "It's very, very sad. My heart goes out to Blackpool." Tony remarked: "It's a real shame. The hotels on the Prom have gone to hell." 'We won't come again'. Mr and Mrs Jones from Gloucestershire, who have been visiting Blackpool since 1980, have decided they will not return following their latest visit. During their stay this week, the couple expressed their disappointment. "We've come twice in a year at times," Mrs Jones said. "But it's gone downhill. It's nowhere near as nice as it used to be. "After not coming for about four years, we've noticed it's deteriorated from up 'here' to down 'there'. I've told [my husband] 'we won't come again'." She continued: "We went to Skegness a few years ago and that's just as bad." Blackpool remains one of England's most deprived areas according to government statistics, which take into account income, employment, education, health, crime, housing access, and living conditions among 317 Local Authority regions. The Office for National Statistics has released figures showing that last year, 28 per cent of the population in Blackpool fell into the 'economically inactive' category, not employed nor actively seeking work. Yet, the charm of this coastal town hasn't faded for everyone. Take Ann and Richard Kelly from Durham, for whom Blackpool still holds magic. "I used to work at the Norbreck Hotel. It was a beautiful hotel back in the day," reminisced Ann. The couple's connection with Blackpool runs deep. "We've been to Blackpool dozens of times and used to bring our kids here when they were growing up. Now we bring our grandkids." Despite their fondness, the rising costs don't go unnoticed. Ann expressed her shock: "But everything costs so much more these days. I was stunned when I saw how much it costs to go to the Pleasure Beach. Blackpool always used to be packed but now when we come here we go 'where is everybody?'." A hush has replaced the buzz she remembers. "It's just so quiet. I've never known it be so quiet. It's completely different to when I used to work here 50 years ago. It's just not the same anymore." Times have certainly shifted, a sentiment echoed by other visitors like Elizabeth and Alex Foulds from Paisley, Scotland. "It's not how it used to be," lamented Elizabeth. "I've been coming here since I was a bairn and it holds such happy memories for me but it's sad to see how things are now." Acknowledging the need for improvement, Blackpool Council is forging ahead with ambitious plans to revitalise the town. Despite a setback with the £300m Blackpool Central Scheme, following the developer's collapse, plans are still moving forward. Demolition work on the old Bonny Street police station begins this week, aiming to attract new investment. The project's vision remains to significantly boost Blackpool's £1.98bn tourism industry, which currently employs over 22,000 locals. Councillor Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council, stressed the project's significance: "Blackpool Central sits right at the heart of our plans to make Blackpool better for everybody. "I believe that this is one of the most exciting leisure development opportunities in the country. "I look forward to finding a company that shares our vision for a world-class leisure development which creates jobs for our local people, extends our tourism season and supports our local economy to grow."
The Independent
04-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Experts warn against hiking in parts of U.S. due to hidden danger
Pleasure Beach in Connecticut will remain closed for the 2025 summer season following the discovery of multiple tick species, including the invasive Asian longhorned tick. The City of Bridgeport plans extensive treatment and containment efforts throughout the area with the goal of reopening the beach next year. The Northeast, encompassing New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey, is currently at a high risk for disease-carrying ticks, with Fordham University 's Tick Index showing a nine out of ten. Nymphal blacklegged ticks are a particular concern as they can transmit up to four different disease agents, including Lyme disease, which saw over 89,000 reported cases in 2023, mostly in the northeastern states. Experts advise limiting outdoor activities, such as hiking, wearing protective clothing, and using permethrin repellent to avoid tick bites, as ticks are highly persistent.
ITV News
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- ITV News
Grand National at Blackpool's Pleasure Beach Resort reopens
Britain's only surviving twin-track rollercoaster has reopened at Blackpool's Pleasure Beach Resort. The iconic Grand National celebrates its 90th birthday in 2025 - and has been under maintenance for a number of months in preparation. Ongoing work involves replacing sections of the wooden track, installing a new drive sprocket, replacing parts of the pull up chain, and painting sections of the ride. Due to the ride's heritage maintenance must be carried out by a specialist team and can sometimes require longer periods of work has been delivered by Pleasure Beach's own engineers, who have had an incredibly busy start to their season. What is the Grand National rollercoaster? The Grand National was designed and constructed by American engineer Charles Paige in 1935. It was a part of the program of new rides being built at the Pleasure Beach and was the main new ride for the beach that year. The rollercoaster's theme and name come from the famous Grand National horse race, with elements of the ride signposted to mimic features of the Aintree course, including Becher's Brook and Canal Turn. It's the only surviving twin-track roller coaster in Britain in which two cars race against one another. This ride has an individual lap bar and seatbelts as the restraints. The ride was designated as a Grade II listed building on 19 April 2017. Amanda Thompson OBE, CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort, said: 'The wonderful thing about Pleasure Beach is that we have a unique blend of old and new. "We're home to some industry-leading, modern coasters like ICON, as well as nostalgic fan favourites such as Grand National.'We know Grand National has created wonderful memories over the years, and we're thrilled to be able to announce that she will re-open in June.' Engineers simultaneously worked on the re-imagining of Launch Pad, which opened in May.
