‘It’s a joke’: Visitors left furious as Blackpool Pleasure Beach reopens without two major attractions
02.03.2024 - 20:15
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Fans of Blackpool Pleasure Beach have been left ‘hurt’ and disappointed after arriving at the resort on this season's opening day only to find several of the rides not running.
Thousands of thrill-seekers are expected to descend on the iconic attraction this weekend as it reopens its gates after the closed season.
Teams at the park have been testing rides and carrying out maintenance since November but several, including the resort’s most famous roller coaster ‘The Big One', have failed to get up and running in time.
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Today (Saturday) visitors were told 'The Big One' and 'The Ice Blast' will not be running in a series of Tweets on X by the resort’s chief executive Amanda Thompson.
Amanda, who is the great-granddaughter of Blackpool Pleasure Beach's founder, broke the news in a Tweet this morning that read: “Wishing all the Pleasure Beach team a fantastic 2024 season. Thank you for all your hard work in getting the park ready. I am so sorry the #BigOne isn’t quite ready….. that was truly beyond my control.”
In a further blow she later added in a second Tweet that the ‘Grand Prix’ will not operate this year as the park is planning a new attraction and ‘The Play Station’, known to most as 'The Ice Blast', will not be operating until later this season as the resort is still awaiting parts.
Her second Tweet reads: "To all PleasureBeach fans, the Grand Prix will not operate this year as we are planning a new attraction. Don’t ask me any more questions about this, I will tell you when I have made the decision.
“Re the play station or as you all call it the