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Blackpool pleasure beach

436 replies

Roundthemoon · 12/10/2024 21:25

I just visited Blackpool and I Had a nice time going around the beach and activities.

But honestly- Blackpool pleasure beach - what are they thinking! Some of the rides are so old and dangerous, I don't know how they are allowed at all.

It was the first time that I went .

I went on one ride, and it went extremely high. It was like an old fashioned rollrr coaster, but you were sitting on a horse. It's called steeple chase.

. There was the tiniest old fashioned seat belt on the horse, like a car seat belt. Except it was just a horizontal belt. The material of the belt looked old, worn and thin. And it didn't hold you on properly.

You had to grip with your hands onto the handle bars. This ride went extremely high and it was extremely fast and jerky, and i was nearly jerked out of the seat several times. If the ride jerked and you fell out of the seat , you would slip through the seat belt and you would fall a very long way down. I was holding on for dear life. I very nearly came off and fell once.

People were getting off the ride at the end and were crying and looking extremely stressed.

The guy running the ride laughed and said to us "you won't do that ride again in a hurry will you haha". Because he knew it was bad

I saw other rides in the park, where the metal holding the ride up looked completely rusted through.

I don't know how the park is allowed from a health and safety standpoint?

OP posts:
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Vgbeat · 13/10/2024 21:18

Funny enough you don't see people being flung from it everyday. It's been going years, they have to test the rides daily and have to comply with allsorts of health safety. It might not be for you but it doesn't mean it's unsafe.

SENlife · 13/10/2024 21:18

@Roundthemoon Amanda does like a good Tweet/X you can send any concerns on there. She does get snappy though! The rides will have rust the salt makes sure of that. The Flying Machines don't have or need belts or restraints.
The little boy that died had stood up on the Space Invader Ride and the Park was found not at fault.
For other comments : River Caves is closed this year for repairs. Ice Blasts future is uncertain. Trauma Towers went years ago. The Laughing Man is still there.

Roundthemoon · 13/10/2024 21:17

IlovePond · 13/10/2024 21:02

There are @Roundthemoon and if you ever get as far as Lytham, (not in Blackpool, but just up the coast), there are some really lovely shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants.

On a related note:

In Blackpool, Yorkshire Fisheries on Topping Street used to be THE best place ever for chips, mushy peas and cheese &onion pie/fish. It wasn’t as good as it used to be the last time I went, but still worth a visit. (I used to go there with my nana from a toddler upwards and it’s not really changed much in terms of decor, layout, good service.)

Yeah I heard that Lytham is lovely. I didn't have time on this trip, but next time I will try and do a few more coastal towns in the area.

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notbelieved · 13/10/2024 21:16

No. Its not part of the thrill. Its because its very old and hasnt been updated to todays standards

Are you something in amusement Park health and safety? Because unless you are, a ride that hasn't had any accidents in forever must be meeting safety standards, don't you think?

Roundthemoon · 13/10/2024 21:16

Rantypanties · 13/10/2024 21:13

And many, many posters have said the ride is not a problem. Along with the excellent safety record.

It’s a shame you didn’t do this much googling before you went into the ride, which would have saved you from this ‘terrible’ experience.

You're the one that's from Blackpool isn't that right?

That's why you're so defensive. You can't hear anything bad said about your theme park!

Bless.

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therocinante · 13/10/2024 21:15

The Valhalla breaks down a LOT (or it did when I worked there 20 years ago). Then the poor staff have to go traipsing through the emergency exit walkways to get the tourists out. Bloody nightmare.

Rantypanties · 13/10/2024 21:13

And many, many posters have said the ride is not a problem. Along with the excellent safety record.

It’s a shame you didn’t do this much googling before you went into the ride, which would have saved you from this ‘terrible’ experience.

IlovePond · 13/10/2024 21:02

There are @Roundthemoon and if you ever get as far as Lytham, (not in Blackpool, but just up the coast), there are some really lovely shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants.

On a related note:

In Blackpool, Yorkshire Fisheries on Topping Street used to be THE best place ever for chips, mushy peas and cheese &onion pie/fish. It wasn’t as good as it used to be the last time I went, but still worth a visit. (I used to go there with my nana from a toddler upwards and it’s not really changed much in terms of decor, layout, good service.)

Roundthemoon · 13/10/2024 21:00

ThisHangryPinkBalonz · 13/10/2024 21:00

Haha, tad bit dramatic, I'm disabled with horrendous raynauds and arthritis in my hands and I didn't have to hold on like that 😂

I don't think I'm dramatic at all whem many many other posters on this thread have said the exact same thing as me.

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ThisHangryPinkBalonz · 13/10/2024 21:00

Roundthemoon · 13/10/2024 20:51

There's a difference with "feel like you're going to fall" while being at the top of a new rollercoaster, when you are very well strapped in with a safety harness

And "feeling like you're going to fall" on a ride where you can literally feel yourself falling off, and you are using every ounce of strength to hold yourself on.

Edited

Haha, tad bit dramatic, I'm disabled with horrendous raynauds and arthritis in my hands and I didn't have to hold on like that 😂

Roundthemoon · 13/10/2024 20:52

IlovePond · 13/10/2024 20:37

Re: Visiting Blackpool

Blackpool has many good qualities and some beautiful hidden gems - such as Stanley Park - plus the locals are - mostly - extremely friendly. It’s suffering, like many other seaside towns, from decades of economic neglect and social deprivation, but I’m a ‘sandgrown’un’, so choose to focus on its good points where I can.

There's some really nice restaurants in Blackpool.

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Roundthemoon · 13/10/2024 20:51

spanieleyes · 13/10/2024 20:38

The "feel like they're falling off" is part if the thrill though! Clearly you are NOT actually doing so, the ride isn't littered with bodies on the ground! It just feels like you are 🫣

There's a difference with "feel like you're going to fall" while being at the top of a new rollercoaster, when you are very well strapped in with a safety harness

And "feeling like you're going to fall" on a ride where you can literally feel yourself falling off, and you are using every ounce of strength to hold yourself on.

OP posts:
Roundthemoon · 13/10/2024 20:50

spanieleyes · 13/10/2024 20:38

The "feel like they're falling off" is part if the thrill though! Clearly you are NOT actually doing so, the ride isn't littered with bodies on the ground! It just feels like you are 🫣

No. Its not part of the thrill. Its because its very old and hasnt been updated to todays standards. I only didn't fall because I held myself on with a vice grip and my arms were really sore.

The seatbelt wasn't holding me at all.

I've been on lots of rides, and this is the only one that I felt strongly that the safety is not good enough.

OP posts:
spanieleyes · 13/10/2024 20:38

The "feel like they're falling off" is part if the thrill though! Clearly you are NOT actually doing so, the ride isn't littered with bodies on the ground! It just feels like you are 🫣

IlovePond · 13/10/2024 20:37

Re: Visiting Blackpool

Blackpool has many good qualities and some beautiful hidden gems - such as Stanley Park - plus the locals are - mostly - extremely friendly. It’s suffering, like many other seaside towns, from decades of economic neglect and social deprivation, but I’m a ‘sandgrown’un’, so choose to focus on its good points where I can.

Roundthemoon · 13/10/2024 20:32

Isitreallythiscrap · 13/10/2024 20:30

I've been going to the pleasure beach for over 40 years and the steeple chase is one of my favorites, all my dc have been on it as well. It's a fabulous ride!

The ride idea itself is fine.

Wouldn't it be better if they put a better seatbelt on it though?

See all the posts in this thread from people who felt like they were going to fall off.

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Isitreallythiscrap · 13/10/2024 20:30

I've been going to the pleasure beach for over 40 years and the steeple chase is one of my favorites, all my dc have been on it as well. It's a fabulous ride!

IlovePond · 13/10/2024 20:29

@Babbadoobabbadock - I was there for Red Rum turning on the Lights. His jockey took him past a sensor in a ‘Winning Post’. He was a beautiful horse, but probably shouldn’t have been taken so close to all those crowds. (Not something you think about as a small child.)

Roundthemoon · 13/10/2024 20:26

JMSA · 13/10/2024 16:00

I thought it sounded horrific and terrifying ... until I watched the video Grin

Yeah looks are deceiving. I thought it looked like a lovely gentle horse ride until I went on it.

It's absolutely awful when you're on it. The seatbelt doesn't hold you in properly, it's really fast, youre high up and the machinery is extremely jerky so you are flung back and forth. Imagine flying around a bed and you can feel yourself literally coming off the seat. Holding onto the handlebars with a white knuckle grip is the only thing that stops you falling from a height.

I was on a much newer rollercoaster than that old one, the new one didn't scare me at all, because the safety harness held me in fine. I wasn't slipping all over the place

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Roundthemoon · 13/10/2024 20:23

Listen4etterinthepost · 13/10/2024 17:04

How do you think real people ride horses ?

You don't get a "seat belt" on a real horse

You don't go up high on a monorail on a real horse, do you.

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PurpleFlower1983 · 13/10/2024 20:02

Whammyammy · 13/10/2024 14:15

Blackpool in a nutshell is just simply awful. We were staying nearby to attend a funeral and visited. Must be the worst town in the UK.

It didn’t used to be though. It’s sad visiting these days.

FionnulaTheCooler · 13/10/2024 17:19

Magnastorm · 13/10/2024 16:45

Never been to kirkcaldy then.

In Kirkcaldy's defence, at least it isn't Glenrothes.

Listen4etterinthepost · 13/10/2024 17:04

How do you think real people ride horses ?

You don't get a "seat belt" on a real horse

Magnastorm · 13/10/2024 16:45

Whammyammy · 13/10/2024 14:15

Blackpool in a nutshell is just simply awful. We were staying nearby to attend a funeral and visited. Must be the worst town in the UK.

Never been to kirkcaldy then.

Mumfles · 13/10/2024 16:06

Nice lady starts thread about theme park health and safety. Turns into pointless bun fight. Welcome to Mumsnet.

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