One of the most iconic amusement parks in the UK has caused fierce setback after establishing a ‘RIP-Off’ ticket price for non-riders.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach now asks all guests an access fee – whether they intend to drive.
Until 2009, the popular attraction to the beach allowed visitors to wander freely on the website, ideal for anyone who preferred not to take the rides to accompany more friends and family.
A £ 10 non-rider was briefly introduced before being scrapped in 2019 in accordance with the broader theme park industry.
Since then, the park has charged a fixed price price, currently £ 50 on the day or £ 30 if it is booked two weeks in advance for adults and children older than 11, while prices for children aged 11 and younger are £ 45 and £ 30 respectively.
The standard fee ticket has ended large groups that hang around on the site, which have collected a series of complaints from visitors.
Now Park bosses say they “listened to guest feedback” and respond by introducing the £ 25 non-rider ticket.
Although it does not allow access to the rides, it does contain several additions, such as a £ 5 voucher for food and beverages and access to the hot ion matinee show during the summer.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach now asks all guests an access fee – whether they intend to drive – which causes outrage among fans of the popular attraction
Bosses introduced a new £ 25 ticket to ‘Listening to Guest Feeder’
It also gives visitors unlimited access to the Pleasure Beach Express Railway, the Chinese Puzzle Court and Bradley and Bella’s learning garden, as well as opportunities to meet popular costumed characters, such as the Paw Patrol Pups.
Despite the extras, hundreds of furious fans took to the popular Facebook page, Welcome to BlackpooL, to condemn the ‘shameful’ prices, while others discriminate for the elderly and people with disabilities.
One person wrote: ‘Ridiculous £ 25 to walk around and try to sell it with £ 5 credit, which will be happy to buy you a mucus, and a ticket for hot ice that most honestly doesn’t want is £ 5 to walk around.
Another said, “Hate it when they say,” We listened carefully to parkingers “who have a bunch of cod. Who in the right thoughts are these people who call £ 25, a fantastic incentive just to hold coats? ‘
A third said, ‘Day light robbery. Shame, “While a third is a frost, it’s a rip off.”
A fourth said: ‘Forests never listen. Must be free to walk around … end of the pleasure beach, ‘while another added,’ the brand completely missed. They had the chance to fix it and pull it completely. Well done. ‘
Another added: ‘As discriminatory against someone like me in a powerchair and no way on earth can come on the rides. So I pay £ 25 for the privilege of being disabled. You must reconsider your policy. ‘
However, others have supported the new fee, as one wrote: “I am in the minority, but if they do not ask for something, and everyone is free to wander in the park, they will unfortunately use and abuse it.”
Fans took to the Facebook page, Welcome to Blackpool, to condemn the ‘shameful’ prizes, while others discriminated with the elderly and people with disabilities
“I know that I felt a little safer with my kids … maybe they should adjust it, like grandparents are free with paying children, etc., but I’m just trying to see why they do it from another point of view.”
Pleasure Beach CEO Amanda Thompson announced the new prizes and defended the decision, saying: ‘This year we have placed a strong focus on visits more affordable for families without compromising the guest experience.
‘We believe that we have done this in ways that allow us to keep thriving – not just as an important destination in Blackpool, but as an employer of hundreds of local people.
‘We listened carefully to our guests, and it is clear that flexibility and choice are more important than ever. Therefore, we made the decision not to launch our Rider labels with more extra benefits -a move that distinguishes us in the industry. ‘
