Latest news with #AmandaThompson
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Major UK theme park where adult tickets are reduced to the same price as kids
One of the UK's most iconic theme parks is rolling back ticket prices this summer as part of a heartwarming new campaign. Pleasure Beach Resort in Blackpool has announced a special offer for May and June, allowing adults to purchase tickets at the same price as juniors. If booked in advance, adult visitors can snap up a full park ticket for as little as £30. The incredible deal is part of a nostalgic new campaign inspired by its founder's 129-year-old mission statement. The campaign, launched as the the park gears up for its peak season, upholds the words of William George Bean, who founded the amusement park in 1896 with the promise to 'make adults feel like children again.' Now, more than a century later, his great-granddaughter and current CEO Amanda Thompson OBE is honouring that legacy. Speaking to the Express, she said that her great-grandfather was 'very clear that in creating our amusement park he wanted to make adults feel like children again.' She added: 'To continue that mission, we're launching this new campaign, and I hope it will bring the same joy to families in 2025 as it has been doing for centuries.' The new promotion at Pleasure Beach Resort offers significant savings, with standard adult tickets usually priced at £50 on the day or £35 if booked online. Thanks to this initiative, adults can now enjoy full access to the park at the junior rate of £30, provided they book in advance through the park's online system. Pleasure Beach Resort, famed for classic rides and seaside charm, was inspired by Bean's travels to American amusement parks in the late 19th century. His first attraction was a motorcycle monorail placed on Blackpool's south beach. As tourism boomed, he expanded the park with new rides, including the legendary Sir Hiram Maxim's Captive Flying Machines, which are still in operation today. Operating under a dynamic pricing model, the park encourages early booking to secure the best prices. But with this latest offer, all online ticket prices will reflect the junior rate from now until the end of June - giving families even more of a reason to plan ahead for a seaside escape. It comes as an ambitious Welsh resident has vowed to revive an abandoned theme park and transform it into a 'booming' tourist hub. Thanks to this initiative, adults can now enjoy full access to the park at the junior rate, provided they book in advance through the park's online system The anonymous local is determined to re-open Oakwood Theme Park, based in the heart of Pembrokeshire. Spread across 90 acres of countryside, the park first opened in April 1987, and went on to become a hugely popular and successful attraction in Wales, reaching its peak with over 400,000 visitors annually. Spread across 90 acres of countryside, the park was known for its variety of family-friendly options, along with thrill rides such as Vertigo, Bounce, and Dizzy Disk. It was also home to key attractions such as Speed, the fastest ride in Wales, and Megafobia, a world-renowned wooden roller coaster often ranked among the best in Europe and the UK.
Scottish Sun
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
I was one of the first to try the revamped ride at Blackpool Pleasure Beach – with new 80mph launch
Plus, a mum has revealed how to pay just £10pp on theme park days out BLAST OFF I was one of the first to try the revamped ride at Blackpool Pleasure Beach – with new 80mph launch IT'S launch day, but this isn't my first rodeo on Blackpool Pleasure Beach's 'new' shot tower ride, Launch Pad. Known as Ice Blast until 2023 and PlayStation: The Ride before that, anyone familiar with Blackpool will know this vertical steel giant well. Advertisement 7 The ride was known as Ice Blast until 2023 Credit: Lee Bell 7 The ride has been at the park since 1997 Credit: Lee Bell 7 Over the past year it has had a huge makeover Credit: Lee Bell It's one of the park's classic thrill rides, and it's been flinging riders to jaw-dropping heights since 1997. But after one year off, it's back, having had a huge makeover that's aims to get your stomach churning like never before. Lucky for me - I was one of the first to give it a spin ahead of its public opening this week. Besides an updated name, theme and fresh blue and red paint job, the daunting 210-foot structure has been overhauled with a brand-new launch cylinder to give it an extra kick. Blackpool Pleasure Beach claims this 'reimagined' ride now serves a punchier, more intimidating experience as it hurls you 20 storeys skywards. Advertisement And I have to say, after multiple rides at its official press launch, I can't argue with that. With a rocket-like blast off that catapults you vertically at speeds of up to 80mph in mere seconds before a sudden, stomach-lurching plunge back to earth, I can confirm that the experience is better than ever. Launch Pad isn't the first time Blackpool has updated an old ride to offer visitors a new experience. The park's legendary water ride, Valhalla, received a £4million re-imagining in 2023, and Pleasure Beach announced at its 2025 season launch that fan-favourite River Caves will also be getting a revamp later this year. Advertisement The park's bosses say overhauling existing rides isn't just about a new name and a fresh paint job. Reusing Launch Pad's structure also means less waste - something the park's CEO, Amanda Thompson, said is better for the planet, right before cutting the ribbon. Seaside theme park gets reimagined ride She added that this is something Pleasure Beach is focusing on more and more - giving old favourites a new lease of life. And that's what they did with Launch Pad. Instead of scrapping a classic, they gave the ride a proper upgrade that feels familiar, but hits different. Advertisement Launch Pad is open now - and if you've ridden it before, don't expect the same experience. This is faster, louder, and more intense. After Blackpool Pleasure Beach CEO, Amanda Thompson, cut the ribbon and announced Launch Pad as officially open, we were let loose inside the ride area, which has a cool new 'space exploration' theme. Added oomph Alongside the galactic soundtrack, there's updated seats and restraints, and a themed launch sequence, which counts you down to take-off - alongside theatrical smoke - just like you're blasting off into the stars. However, the biggest update to Launch Pad is an upgraded pneumatic cylinder, now operating at a whopping 105 pounds per square inch (PSI). I'm told that this boost in pressure means a much faster ascent, with riders fired upwards with more force. And you really feel it. Advertisement The increase in kinetic energy is what makes the launch feel completely different. Comparing it to previous years, it now feels sharper and way more aggressive - from the g-force that pushes you down into your seat at lift off, to the floaty weightlessness you feel when you hit the top. 7 Part of the upgrade includes a faster ascent Credit: Lee Bell 7 Riders will reach 210 feet, with views across the park Credit: Lee Bell Advertisement And no matter how many times you ride it, it doesn't lose its edge. Sure, your stomach is left on the floor, but before long, you're rewarded with epic views across the whole of Blackpool, its beaches and beyond. Blackpool Pleasure Beach recently reopened for the season, including welcoming visitors to the Nickelodeon Land area of the park for the first time in over 10-years. In addition, Blackpool Pleasure Beach has been crowned as the best family-owned theme park in the country. The amusement park first opened in 1896 and has been kept in the same family since. Advertisement Blackpool's Pleasure Beach Resort prices start from £28 for kids and £30 for adults. A mum recently revealed how she pays just £10pp on theme park days out for a family-of-five. Plus, the major UK theme park to get huge new land by 2027 with rollercoasters, kids rides and indoor attractions. 7 Blackpool Pleasure Beach recently reopened for the season Credit: Lee Bell Advertisement
The Irish Sun
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I was one of the first to try the revamped ride at Blackpool Pleasure Beach – with new 80mph launch
IT'S launch day, but this isn't my first rodeo on Blackpool Pleasure Beach's 'new' shot tower ride, Launch Pad. Known as Ice Blast until 2023 and PlayStation: The Ride before that, anyone familiar with Blackpool will know this vertical steel giant well. 7 The ride was known as Ice Blast until 2023 Credit: Lee Bell 7 The ride has been at the park since 1997 Credit: Lee Bell 7 Over the past year it has had a huge makeover Credit: Lee Bell It's one of the park's classic thrill rides, and it's been flinging riders to jaw-dropping heights since 1997. But after one year off, it's back, having had a huge makeover that's aims to get your stomach churning like never before. Lucky for me - I was one of the first to give it a spin ahead of its public opening this week. Besides an updated name, theme and fresh blue and red paint job, the daunting 210-foot structure has been overhauled with a brand-new launch cylinder to give it an extra kick. Read more on Blackpool And I have to say, after multiple rides at its official press launch, I can't argue with that. With a rocket-like blast off that catapults you vertically at speeds of up to 80mph in mere seconds before a sudden, stomach-lurching plunge back to earth , I can confirm that the experience is better than ever. Launch Pad isn't the first time Blackpool has updated an old ride to offer visitors a new experience. The park's legendary Most read in News Travel The park's bosses say overhauling existing rides isn't just about a new name and a fresh paint job. Reusing Launch Pad's structure also means less waste - something the park's CEO, Amanda Thompson, said is better for the planet, right before cutting the ribbon. Seaside theme park gets reimagined ride She added that this is something Pleasure Beach is focusing on more and more - giving old favourites a new lease of life. And that's what they did with Launch Pad. Instead of scrapping a classic, they gave the Launch Pad is open now - and if you've ridden it before, don't expect the same experience. This is faster, louder, and more intense. After Blackpool Pleasure Beach CEO, Amanda Thompson, cut the ribbon and announced Launch Pad as officially open, we were let loose inside the ride area, which has a cool new Added oomph Alongside the galactic soundtrack, there's updated seats and restraints, and a themed launch sequence, which counts you down to take-off - alongside theatrical smoke - just like you're blasting off into the stars. However, the biggest update to Launch Pad is an upgraded pneumatic cylinder, now operating at a whopping 105 pounds per square inch (PSI). I'm told that this boost in pressure means a much faster ascent, with riders fired upwards with more force. And you really feel it. The increase in kinetic energy is what makes the launch feel completely different. Comparing it to previous years, it now feels sharper and way more aggressive - from the g-force that pushes you down into your seat at lift off, to the floaty weightlessness you feel when you hit the top. 7 Part of the upgrade includes a faster ascent Credit: Lee Bell 7 Riders will reach 210 feet, with views across the park Credit: Lee Bell And no matter how many times you ride it, it doesn't lose its edge. Sure, your stomach is left on the floor, but before long, you're rewarded with epic views across the whole of Blackpool, its Blackpool Pleasure Beach recently reopened for the season, including welcoming visitors to the Nickelodeon Land area of the park for the first time in over 10-years. In addition, Blackpool Pleasure Beach has been crowned as the best family-owned theme park in the country. The amusement park first opened in 1896 and has been kept in the same family since. Blackpool's Pleasure Beach Resort prices start from £28 for kids and £30 for adults. A mum recently revealed how she pays just £10pp on theme park days out for a family-of-five. Plus, the major 7 Blackpool Pleasure Beach recently reopened for the season Credit: Lee Bell 7 The reopening included welcoming visitors to Nickelodeon Land for the first time in 10 years Credit: Lee Bell
CBC
03-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
Yukon's labour supply can't meet existing demand, report shows
A new report from the Conference Board of Canada says Yukon's labour supply can't meet the demand for workers, and says that challenge is expected to continue in the years ahead. Lead researcher Amanda Thompson said the report, called Learning from One Another — Labour Markets in the Yukon, aims to "keep employment and wealth in the North," by identifying labour market demands. She said the goal of the research is to help identify the skills Yukoners need to adapt to a changing economy. Over the past five years, the Yukon has consistently had the highest job vacancy rate in the country, according to the report. Thompson said immigrant labour and workers moving from other parts of the country offers a possible solution, but a "major barrier" is the territory's strained housing market. Whitehorse rental rates at all-time high The report says the cost of purchasing a home in Whitehorse had increased by 75 per cent from 2012 to 2022. It also said Whitehorse rental property rates are at an all-time high. Thompson said that's a deterrent for Canadians from down south who might be interested in moving to the North but can't find a place to live. "In talking to employers, they identified they were able to recruit people with specialized skills, but once it came time to find a house, employees just weren't able to relocate to the territory," said Thompson. The report says education offers one potential solution. The number of working-age adults without a job is greater than the number of vacant jobs, but potential workers may not have the training and skill sets the market requires. Twenty-eight per cent of immigrants in the Yukon with a post-secondary education aren't working in a job that requires a post-secondary education. The report suggests foreign credential recognition could free up highly skilled immigrant labour. The report also highlighted the opportunity to address the gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous working-age adults. "The disparities in education and employment are slightly higher than we see in the southern provinces in Canada," said Thompson. In 2023, the labour market participation rate of the Indigenous population in the territory was 63 per cent, while 75 per cent of the non-Indigenous population were participating in the labour market. She said Yukon University is working to make the school more inclusive by integrating Indigenous ways of knowing and doing in its programming, and by educating the university population on the histories and realities of Indigenous people. GDP in relation to employment rates by industry By far the largest employer in the territory is public administration and defence, which employ a third of the working population. Public administration is also the largest contributor to the territory's gross domestic product. While mining is the third-largest contributor to gross domestic product, Thompson says it's not a major employer of Yukoners. "There's a lot of fly-in, fly-out labour going on," said Thompson. When workers don't live in the Yukon, it means they're spending the majority of their paycheques elsewhere. She said in a previous study focused only on the territory's mining industry, researchers found only one in three employees of the Eagle Gold mine — which is no longer operating — resided in the territory. "So it's not going to have a huge impact on the mining labour market [in the Yukon], but it will have some trickle down effects including wholesale, resale and trade, as well as accommodation and services for those fly-in, fly-out workers," said Thomspon. Unions not considered The Yukon Federation of Labour is criticizing the report for not considering the role of unions in building a strong economy in the territory. Thirty per cent of the workforce is employed by the public sector which is, by and large, unionized. Teresa Acheson, president of the federation, said unions negotiate fair compensation and benefits packages for their members, contributing to a standard of living for Yukon workers that meets the cost of living increases, inflation and unique needs of working in the North. "When we're talking about the housing crisis, that's the reason some of the federal workers coming up here actually have housing as part of their union benefits," said Acheson. She said the union is also an advocate for increasing the number of women in trades. The Conference Board report acknowledges women are an overlooked source of labour in the trades. Acheson also said unions have been instrumental historically in helping to narrow wage gaps. In the Yukon, women make on average $54,100 per year compared to men, who make an average $62,150 per year, according to the report.
The Independent
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Biggest-of-its-kind new ride to launch at Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Blackpool's Pleasure Beach Resort is set to launch a brand new £8.72m ride next year, the biggest of its kind in the UK. A new giant swinging pendulum, double the size of other similar gyro swings, will be added to the park in 2026. The new pendulum ride, Project MMXXVI, will spin and swing riders as they reach high points of up to 138 feet. Seating up to 40 thrillseekers at a time, the riders will face outward with their legs dangling, to deliver an 'exhilarating' sensation of flying. The theme park on the Blackpool coast says that while other swinging pendulum rides exist in the UK, none will come close to its new ride in terms of height. At Drayton Manor's Maelstrom, its swinging pendulum ride reaches approximately 74 feet – Pleasure Beach Resort's new ride will be almost double that at its highest point. Amanda Thompson, the CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort, said: 'We're thrilled to confirm the addition of a Gyro Swing at Pleasure Beach Resort, with work already underway. 'We're well known for doing things on a large scale, so becoming home to the largest Gyro Swing in the UK made complete sense. 'The Gyro Swing is one of the most exciting flat rides in existence – it's dynamic, fast, and incredibly high, as well as being completely weightless at the top. 'It will be a fantastic addition to our ride line-up and we can't wait to see people's reactions when they experience it for the first time. 'We'll be announcing more details soon and we're very excited for the future at Pleasure Beach Resort.' Work has already started in preparation for the new ride earlier this year, including the demolition of the former Bowl-A-Drome. The resort says the ride will be found in the north of the park close to the perimeter, to give riders the feeling that they are being swung over the sea. Alongside the announcement, Pleasure Beach Resort said that its Ice Blast ride has been reimagined and updated and will be reintroduced as 'Launch Pad' this spring. Additionally, new scenes from the latest Wallace & Gromit instalment, Vengeance Most Fowl, will be added to its Thrill-O-Matic ride. It also announced that its River Caves ride, a family favourite since 1905, will be the next attraction to receive a re-imagining to keep the experience fresh for returning guests.
