'I tried Blackpool Pleasure Beach's newest ride - it's not for the timid'
It's been a bumper year for UK theme parks, with Universal Studios announcing its arrival and major new attractions popping up at Alton Towers and Thorpe Park. Closer to Greater Manchester, Blackpool's Pleasure Beach Resort has also been making waves, particularly this week with the grand reveal of its revamped and rebranded Launch Pad.
I was among the first to test the ride on Wednesday morning (May 7), just hours before it officially opened its doors to the public, writes the Manchester Evening News's Adam Maidment. It's a heart-pounding adrenaline rush as riders are catapulted 210ft into the air at a blistering 80mph.
READ MORE: 'Gorgeous' £9 body spray perfume 'just as good if not better than Sol de Janeiro'
A word of advice - keep breakfast light before hopping on. If you're a regular at Pleasure Beach Resort, you might already be acquainted with Launch Pad, albeit under a different guise.
Since its debut in 1997, it's gone through several name changes - starting life as Playstation: The Ride and later becoming known as Tango Ice Blast and then simply Ice Blast.
But 28 years after its initial unveiling, bosses told me on opening day that it's been given a 'new lease of life'. In fact, it's undergone such a transformation that it's best considered a brand new ride.
There's a fresh theme, vibrant new colours, a catchy new soundtrack and even a new cylinder. Diving into the mechanics without getting bogged down in jargon, the thrill of the ride is largely due to the pressure cylinder operating at a whopping 105 PSI, exerting a force of 105 pounds.
Karl Murphy, Pleasure Beach Resort's engineering director, has previously remarked: "We've increased the force, which means the acceleration is greater."
As someone who'd never experienced the ride's earlier incarnations, I was essentially going in blind, save for the anticipation of being catapulted skywards. Its longstanding popularity hinted at an extraordinary experience awaiting.
The ride's space theme is a perfect match, easily conjuring images of being aboard a rocket about to blast off. A brief countdown from mission control and suddenly, it's lift-off time.
The immediate surge of speed is electrifying, prompting involuntary shouts of excitement (or terror). The sensation of the G-force is palpable, offering a taste of astronaut life without leaving Earth.
And if you manage to regain your composure while suspended 210ft high, do take a moment to appreciate Blackpool's beauty on a clear day – the sandy stretches, the iconic Tower, and the expansive views are truly breathtaking.
The new attraction may be brief, but it is so engaging that you'll likely fancy multiple rides if the queues are manageable.
Beyond Launch Pad, visitors can enjoy other attractions such as Valhalla, previously crowned the best water ride in Europe, and the legendary The Big One roller coaster which, at 213 feet tall, has endured admirably for 31 years.
Pleasure Beach Resort recently refreshed Valhalla two years ago - a move that has seen it reclaim its title as the best water ride in Europe - and is maintaining its momentum by updating classic attractions, with River Caves next in line.
At the Launch Pad debut gathering, Pleasure Beach Resort CEO Amanda Thompson OBE underscored the significance of these revitalisations: "Re-imaginings like this one are fantastic for our industry. Not only do they create a new and incredibly powerful ride experience, they're sustainable, and they allow us to re-invent beloved attractions for generations to come."
Even to newcomers who missed the ride's earlier versions, the care and investment poured into reimagining Launch Pad is evident; the attraction has been reborn with abundant new features that almost render it a brand-new experience.
Pleasure Beach Resort is certainly pulling out all the stops to maintain its standing as one of the top theme parks in the UK, and perhaps even further afield.
They're also gearing up to unveil a brand-new Gyro Swing next year, with a hefty price tag of £8.72m, set to be the largest of its kind on these shores.
You'd do well to add Launch Pad to your itinerary for your next jaunt to Pleasure Beach Resort - it's sure to sweep away the cobwebs.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
21 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Parents with toddlers can visit Alton Towers all year for less than price of a day ticket
From half price day tickets to an entire year of fun, little ones cost less with this limited time deal Alton Towers is offering a deal that allows parents with younger children to enjoy the park for less. As part of the deal, each adult can snap up an annual pass for less than the price of the single £68 entry fee ticket that visitors would pay if they purchased tickets on the gate. Home to CBeebies Land, the theme park offers a wonderful day out for toddlers. The colourful area is full of themed rides, interactive play zones and live shows inspired by popular children's TV characters including Postman Pat, Octonauts and In The Night Garden. To make fun more affordable, one child and accompanying adult can enjoy entry into Alton Towers Resort on off-peak days with an Annual Parent and Toddler Pass for £59. Anyone planning just a single visit can also save with a One Day Parent and Toddler Pass reduced from £59 to £29. Scottish brand has shoppers 'stop using shower gel' for natural alternative Next is selling beauty box with £90 worth of makeup, skincare and more for £20 Each pass is valid for one toddler (90cm to 5 years) and one accompanying parent or guardian. Although these passes aren't valid on weekends or during school holidays, they do offer a way to enjoy the park without worrying about bigger crowds. Additional toddlers are also welcome and charged at just an extra £5 per visit. Perfect for even the youngest of visitors, many rides have no height restrictions including the gentle In the Night Garden Magical Boat Ride, the whimsical Bugbie Go Round carousel, Postman Pat Parcel Post, the classic Royal Carousel and the relaxing Skyride with panoramic views of the park. For toddlers over 90cm, there are additional attractions including the Go Jetters Vroomster Zoom Ride, the Octonauts Rollercoaster Adventure, Peter Rabbit Hippity Hop, the swinging Heave Ho pirate ship and the interactive water-based Battle Galleons ride. Beyond the rides, CBeebies Land offers live shows and interactive play experiences, including Big Fun Showtime, Hey Duggee's Big Adventure Badge, the Something Special Sensory Garden, JoJo & Gran Gran at Home, and Andy's Adventure Dinosaur Dig, giving toddlers plenty of opportunities to engage, explore and learn. These passes can be purchased online via the Alton Towers website. However, shoppers should note that the Seasonal Pass does not cover certain dates, such as the August Bank Holiday weekend and Halloween festivities. For those who fancy something a little different, Wowcher's Theme Park Breaks could be the perfect choice. They're currently promoting a Gulliver's Valley Resort Stay and Theme Park Entry deal starting at £139, with options available during school holidays for a family of four looking for an exciting break. If your family is keen on outdoor adventures, consider a National Trust Family Membership starting at £103 annually. Alton Towers has been praised as 'magical' by visitors on TripAdvisor. One thrilled guest gushed: "Amazing. I have no words. If you want to have a fun day with family or friends or just on your own. Alton Towers is the place. It's a must!" Another satisfied visitor chimed in: "What a fantastic day out with the family! Not been there in years but we have had the most fantastic time at the theme park. Clean and today the kids absolutely had the most wonderful time on all the rides." However, not everyone was as impressed. One disgruntled visitor remarked: "As expected, when you go to a theme park they are very long queues. What you don't expect is no seating on a two hour queue. Waiting is not a problem, standing for two hours for one ride with no chance to sit down and rest your legs and back, really is!" The £59 Parent and Toddler Pass also includes up to 10% off in retail shop and up to 20% off food & beverage.
Metro
2 days ago
- Metro
Justin Bieber parties with controversial Disney actor as concern intensifies
Justin Bieber has been spotted partying with controversial Disney Channel child star Kyle Massey following months of concern for the Canadian singer. The Baby hitmaker, 31, hung out with Massey at West Hollywood nightclub Zouk, where they attended an album release party for rapper Gunna's latest project The Last Wun. A video and picture on his Instagram page saw Justin topless and partying at the event, while posing with controversial actor Massey. In the caption, Justin wrote: 'I'll never forget forever @kylemassey.' In 2021 Massey – who is known for playing Cory Baxter in That's So Raven – was charged for allegedly sending explicit photos, texts and videos to a 13-year-old girl. The plaintiff alleged she met Massey at Universal Studios when she was four years old, and stayed in touch because she wanted to pursue a career in entertainment. It was alleged that Massey knew that the girl was underage when he allegedly sent her pornographic content. At the time the allegations were first made in 2019 in a civil suit the actor 'categorically denied' them, saying in a statement via his attorney Lee A. Hutton: 'No child should ever be exposed to sexually explicit materials and I unequivocally and categorically deny any alleged misconduct.' Massey's lawyer said his client believed the allegations are motivated by revenge because the accuser didn't succeed in a civil suit in 2019 – which he claimed at the time was an extortion attempt – and vowed to 'aggressively defend these accusations again and will seek civil damages from those that refuse to hear the facts.' The lawyer added: 'We plan to seek an early dismissal finally putting this bad behavior to rest.' This comes as concern for Justin mounts after a number of erratic social media posts from the star over the past few months. In June the singer stressed that he was 'broken' but warned fans not to try to 'heal' his anger issues. Justin wrote: 'People keep telling me to heal. Don't you think if I could have fixed myself I would have already? I know I'm broken. I know I have anger issues. 'I tried to do the work my whole life to be like the people who told me I needed to be fixed like them. And it just keeps making me more tired and more angry. The harder I try to grow, the more focused on myself I am. 'Jesus is the only person who keeps me wanting to make my life about others. Because honestly I'm exhausted with thinking about myself lately aren't you?' Last month Justin released his seventh album, which he said was shaped by him and Hailey Bieber welcoming their 11-month-old son, Jack Blues. This came after he and Hailey, 28, were the subject of break-up rumours, which they have both since shut down. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. View More »
BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Ampthill council worried about impact of proposed Universal park
A town council has expressed concerns about traffic and holiday lets if the proposed Universal Studios theme park is Town Council is particularly worried that roads through its town centre, that are regarded as a bottleneck, could become worse when millions of visitors drive to the resort when it opens at a former brickworks site near Bedford - planned for a statement about Universal's planning documents, the council said Ampthill had not been considered as part of the traffic modelling or US entertainment firm has been approached for comment. Universal has applied for a special development order from central government to fast-track approval for a new destination near Bedford at Kempston Hardwick, bypassing the normal planning authority - Bedford Borough Council in this consultation is due to run until 31 August, after which the government will decide whether or not to grant planning new resort, which could include structures reaching up to 377ft (115m), will be visible from Ampthill Park and Greensand Ridge some five miles to the council also had concerns about noise and light pollution, especially from firework displays mentioned in the plans. The town council also cited an estimated 200% increase in Airbnb listings in Ampthill, which it claimed could displace residents and alter the town's council, which usually has an imput into planning decisions but no final say, was worried its residents were not due to receive any direct benefits from the park and requested the firm considered annual free family passes for authority also said it would welcome a discretionary fund from Universal to support activities that promote report concluded the town was "at significant risk of being adversely affected by both operational and construction traffic associated with the Universal Destinations Theme Park"."The current planning documents do not adequately assess or mitigate these impacts," it said. "We urge the planning authority and Universal Destinations to engage directly with Ampthill Town Council to ensure that our concerns are addressed and that our community benefits from this major development." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
