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Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
‘I ignored warnings and ordered €1 beer at Benidorm bar'
Journalist Adam Maidment felt like a "daylight robber" after ignoring warnings and ordering a €1 beer in Benidorm but the cut-price pint turned out to be far better than expected While researching his trip to Benidorm, journalist Adam Maidment came across cautionary advice urging tourists to steer clear of the famously cheap drinks. Many claimed these €1 offers at the popular Spanish resort were best avoided, describing them as subpar or suspiciously watered down. Benidorm, with its beachside bars, themed pubs and sprawling expat scene, is a well-oiled machine when it comes to luring in tourists. More than 830,000 British tourists visit Benidorm each year, with many attracted by the number of sports bars, Irish pubs, and other themed venues offering lucrative deals. However, many warn that the bargain booze may not be all it's cracked up to be. In one popular TikTok video, viewed more than 450,000 times, creator Frank the Stag Man bluntly told 227,000 followers: 'You get what you pay for', labelling the drinks 'absolute rubbish'. Still, not everyone heeded Frank's warning. Adam, though, a true professional, decided to fall at the first hurdle in the name of journalism. In an article penned for the Manchester Evening News, Adam wrote: 'I practically fell at the first hurdle and ignored all warnings after a very sunny afternoon stroll through Levante Beach, it's perhaps the very exact reason why these bars have beer at such a ridiculous price point in the first place.' Hoping to head into the Old Town, Adam spotted a venue advertising a too-tempting deal. 'I spotted the La Parada lounge bar, which offered both €1 beer and even €1 Pintxos dishes. Whilst not feeling brave enough to try my chances with the culinary options, I was prepared to give the very cheap beer a go - all in the name of journalism, of course.' The bar, located just up from the beachfront near Tiki Town Beach Club, was in a shaded spot and not too crowded. A scattering of locals were inside enjoying the calm. Adam said: 'The very lovely server was happy to take my order for a €1 beer and, not quite knowing what I had set myself in for, I contemplated what would be arriving at my table and whether it would be as watered down or ominous as social media had suggested it would be.' The beer arrived in minutes. 'The dinky little glass of beer was pretty much as expected: certainly not a pint, and perhaps not even a half (maybe more of a third). But it was a freshly-poured serving of Amstel, so it certainly wasn't the worst choice of beer.' Most importantly, it tasted fine. 'It was ice cold and it tasted normal - I didn't get the impression it was watered down.' And the price? Almost laughably low. Adam said: 'Most impressively, it was an absolute bargain of a drink for what was the equivalent of essentially just 84p - a price that nowhere in Manchester [or anywhere in the UK] would ever consider charging.' Curious how the economics worked, Adam asked the server why they bothered offering such a low price. Her response was basic marketing: 'It gets people in." Once through the door, people then order food and smoothies or become repeat customers. The bar's menu and signage promoted other items, like €3 hotdogs and €5 smoothies, far more than the beer, but perhaps what keeps the tills ringing. After sipping his drink in a relaxed atmosphere, Adam faced a very first world problem. He said: 'Then came the moral dilemma that has been playing in my mind ever since: how do you pay for an 84p beer without feeling like you've just committed daylight robbery?' He considered ghosting the bar with a euro left behind. He said: 'I considered leaving the euro on the table and just making a dash for it in order to avoid having to make any pleasantries, but that just felt rude.' He even thought about tipping. 'I also contemplated tipping an extra euro in order to lessen the guilt I felt, which I appreciate is the very epitome of a first-world problem.' In the end, instead of dashing, Adam used his cool logic to reason. He reflected: 'It was their offer, they chose to sell it, and they decided to promote it to get punters in - and it certainly worked, even if I didn't stay to branch out into €5 smoothie territory.' While he said he wouldn't recommend spending an entire day bouncing between €1 beer bars, he gave La Parada credit for being a calm and pleasant place to sit and sip. 'Whilst I definitely wouldn't want to spend a whole afternoon stocking up on €1 beers, my time at La Parada was good. It certainly wasn't one of the rowdier venues in the town; it was chilled and quiet, so I am sure there might be other popular options for people when it comes to going cheap on the beer.' But he added a word of caution. 'Of course, I cannot vouch for €1 beers at the other bars, and I'm sure there are some which warrant the level of caution.' Adam also rightly pointed out: 'It also goes without saying that it is always important to drink responsibly too, whether you are in Benidorm drinking €1 beer or not.'
Daily Mirror
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'I tried Blackpool Pleasure Beach's newest ride - it's not for the timid'
The UK's favourite amusement park has had a big new addition to its line-up this week, as one of its iconic attractions was officially unveiled with a new look - and a brand new name 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.
