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The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Top UK theme park scraps much-loved free entry policy for new £25 tickets and visitors are furious
BLACKPOOL Pleasure Beach has scrapped free-entry and has added a £25 fee for non-riders. The seaside theme park had been free to enter for years, so the addition of new ticket prices hasn't been well received by visitors. 5 Blackpool Pleasure Beach had been free to enter for years Credit: Getty 5 But it has added a general admission fee - even for those not going on rides Credit: Alamy Blackpool Pleasure Beach had been known for its free entry, with people previously just having to pay for the rides they went on. Charges per ride would be between £2 and around £10 per ride. Now, An adult ticket on the day is now £50, or £30 online if paid in advance. Read More on Blackpool But it's the fixed fee for anyone not planning to go on rides that has received the most backlash. The new non-rider ticket of £25 has been designed to offer guests greater 'flexibility when planning their day out.' Included in the price is £5 worth of 'Pleasure Beach Pounds' to put towards food, discounted show tickets and attractions like the Chinese Puzzle Maze. But it still hasn't sat well with visitors, one wrote on Facebook: "Wow £25 to walk around only, I'll stick to the pier thanks." Most read in News Travel Another added: "Overpriced, £10 per non rider would have got far more people through the gates." Some even went as far as to call it a "con" and called the whole thing "daylight robbery". Seaside theme park gets reimagined ride 5 Some visitors are unhappy with the added fees Credit: Getty This isn't the first time the seaside theme park has introduced non-rider fees. In 2010, Blackpool Pleasure Beach introduced £5 and £10 non-rider passes, but these were axed in 2019, allowing guests to enter Blackpool Pleasure Beach for free again, until now. While regular theme park goers have been left unhappy by the fees, others have said the same. The likes of Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, These range from £27.50-£68 - all of which are more expensive than Blackpool Pleasure Beach's non-rider fee. The only theme park in the UK that still has a different fee for non-riders is The amusement park located in the New Forest National Park has a £45 fee for adults going on rides, but is free for children and non-riders. Our Expert Opinion On The Ticket Changes Head of Sun Travel Lisa Minot gives her verdict on the new Blackpool Pleasure Beach fees... Times have never been more challenging for our classic seaside resorts. The cost of living crisis continues to impact spending power and the lure of cheap trips abroad can turn the head of even the most ardent fan. So it's no surprise that Blackpool Pleasure Resort has had to introduce a new entrance fee. Just two months ago, the attraction announced pre-tax losses of more than £2.7million and announced the closure of some of its smaller rides as well as a small number of job losses. Like many businesses, it has been hit with a double whammy of national insurance and minimum wage increases following last year's Budget. If we want Blackpool Pleasure Resort - and the city in general - to survive and thrive, then measures like the new entry ticket are essential. The resort is investing in new thrill rides and this new fee will help bosses invest in more. It's also worth noting you get a fair amount of extras in your ticket - from £5 to spend on food to character meet-and-greets, discounted show tickets and access to all the non-ride attractions plus, across the summer, a free matinee performance of the Hot Ice Show. If theme park fans are happy to pay even greater sums to enter the likes of Alton Towers and Thorpe Park, surely the chance to enjoy all the fun of Blackpool Pleasure Resort is worth the money? 5 Blackpool Pleasure Beach has a total of 24 rides Credit: Getty Blackpool Pleasure Beach is home to 10 rollercoasters, five 'dark' (indoor) rides, five water rides and 12 The attraction also has a number of shows and events throughout the year, including late night riding and It first opened in 1896 , and is still popular today. It was recently named as the number one destination to take kids to during the summer holidays, based on its reviews. The seaside park is still being upgrade too and in 2025, introduced a new ride called the Launch Pad, which reaches speeds of 80mph and sends riders 210ft into the air on a towering steel structure. One And Blackpool is planning to 5 Blackpool Pleasure Beach has introduced general admission fees Credit: Alamy
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Top UK theme park scraps much-loved free entry policy for new £25 tickets and visitors are furious
Plus, Head of Sun Travel gives her verdict on the price increase PAY UP Top UK theme park scraps much-loved free entry policy for new £25 tickets and visitors are furious BLACKPOOL Pleasure Beach has scrapped free-entry and has added a £25 fee for non-riders. The seaside theme park had been free to enter for years, so the addition of new ticket prices hasn't been well received by visitors. Advertisement 5 Blackpool Pleasure Beach had been free to enter for years Credit: Getty 5 But it has added a general admission fee - even for those not going on rides Credit: Alamy Blackpool Pleasure Beach had been known for its free entry, with people previously just having to pay for the rides they went on. Charges per ride would be between £2 and around £10 per ride. Now, Blackpool Pleasure Beach has updated its ticket prices and added a fee for general admission. An adult ticket on the day is now £50, or £30 online if paid in advance. Advertisement But it's the fixed fee for anyone not planning to go on rides that has received the most backlash. The new non-rider ticket of £25 has been designed to offer guests greater 'flexibility when planning their day out.' Included in the price is £5 worth of 'Pleasure Beach Pounds' to put towards food, discounted show tickets and attractions like the Chinese Puzzle Maze. But it still hasn't sat well with visitors, one wrote on Facebook: "Wow £25 to walk around only, I'll stick to the pier thanks." Advertisement Another added: "Overpriced, £10 per non rider would have got far more people through the gates." Some even went as far as to call it a "con" and called the whole thing "daylight robbery". Seaside theme park gets reimagined ride 5 Some visitors are unhappy with the added fees Credit: Getty This isn't the first time the seaside theme park has introduced non-rider fees. Advertisement In 2010, Blackpool Pleasure Beach introduced £5 and £10 non-rider passes, but these were axed in 2019, allowing guests to enter Blackpool Pleasure Beach for free again, until now. While regular theme park goers have been left unhappy by the fees, others have said the same. The likes of Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Chessington World of Adventures, Drayton Manor and Flamingo Land all have general admission fees for all. These range from £27.50-£68 - all of which are more expensive than Blackpool Pleasure Beach's non-rider fee. Advertisement The only theme park in the UK that still has a different fee for non-riders is Paultons Park. The amusement park located in the New Forest National Park has a £45 fee for adults going on rides, but is free for children and non-riders. Our Expert Opinion On The Ticket Changes Head of Sun Travel Lisa Minot gives her verdict on the new Blackpool Pleasure Beach fees... Times have never been more challenging for our classic seaside resorts. The cost of living crisis continues to impact spending power and the lure of cheap trips abroad can turn the head of even the most ardent fan. So it's no surprise that Blackpool Pleasure Resort has had to introduce a new entrance fee. Just two months ago, the attraction announced pre-tax losses of more than £2.7million and announced the closure of some of its smaller rides as well as a small number of job losses. Like many businesses, it has been hit with a double whammy of national insurance and minimum wage increases following last year's Budget. If we want Blackpool Pleasure Resort - and the city in general - to survive and thrive, then measures like the new entry ticket are essential. The resort is investing in new thrill rides and this new fee will help bosses invest in more. It's also worth noting you get a fair amount of extras in your ticket - from £5 to spend on food to character meet-and-greets, discounted show tickets and access to all the non-ride attractions plus, across the summer, a free matinee performance of the Hot Ice Show. If theme park fans are happy to pay even greater sums to enter the likes of Alton Towers and Thorpe Park, surely the chance to enjoy all the fun of Blackpool Pleasure Resort is worth the money? 5 Blackpool Pleasure Beach has a total of 24 rides Credit: Getty Blackpool Pleasure Beach is home to 10 rollercoasters, five 'dark' (indoor) rides, five water rides and 12 Nickelodeon-themed rides. Advertisement The attraction also has a number of shows and events throughout the year, including late night riding and fireworks. It first opened in 1896, and is still popular today. It was recently named as the number one destination to take kids to during the summer holidays, based on its reviews. The seaside park is still being upgrade too and in 2025, introduced a new ride called the Launch Pad, which reaches speeds of 80mph and sends riders 210ft into the air on a towering steel structure. Advertisement One Sun Travel writer attended the literal 'launch' of the ride and gave us his verdict. And Blackpool is planning to revamp its major tourist attraction, Winter Gardens.
Metro
6 days ago
- Business
- Metro
Major UK seaside theme park slammed for ‘disgraceful' £25 non-rider fee
A new admission fee at Blackpool Pleasure Beach has sparked strong reaction online — with some on social media calling it 'daylight robbery'. The seaside theme park, which welcomes around 5 million visitors each year, was previously free to enter, but a Non Rider eTicket has been launched, offering basic park access for a flat price of £25. This is separate to standard adult admission, with unlimited rides and entertainment, for £30 when booked in advance or £50 on the day. Up until 2009, the resort allowed guests to walk around for free, charging between £2 and around £10 per ride (although unlimited wristbands were available at certain points). For £25 (both when booked in advance or on the day) this ticket includes: Entry to the park (without rides) £5 in Pleasure Beach Pounds to redeem towards food Discounted show tickets Nickelodeon and PB character meet and greets Unlimited transport around the park via the PB Express Access to the Chinese Puzzle Maze, Bella's Learning Garden and Spectacular Dancing Fountain Water Show Access to entertainment such as Summer of Slime, PAW Patrol Month, Summertime Games, live DJ, and fireworks. Anyone visiting the park between July 10 and September 13 will also get a free matinee performance of the spectacular Hot Ice Show included in their ticket. It later introduced £5 and £10 non-rider passes, but these were axed in 2019, allowing guests to enter Blackpool Pleasure Beach for free once more. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. The new Non Rider eTicket was designed to offer guests greater 'flexibility when planning their day out.' It also includes £5 worth of 'Pleasure Beach Pounds' to put towards food, discounted show tickets and attractions like the Chinese Puzzle Maze. But some don't feel it offers value for money. On the Pleasure Beach Resort's Facebook, Peter Burrows wrote: 'Having to pay a massive £25 to spend more money is beyond belief. Charging non riders is greed, nothing less.' '£25 is way over the top,' added Jennifer Samuel, while Lindsay Davies called the change an 'absolute joke.' Many on the Welcome to Blackpool page were similarly outraged, with commenters describing the non-rider fee as 'ridiculous', 'disgraceful' or a 'rip off'. 'Absolutely disgusting that you have to pay just to walk round,' added Julie Pearce. 'It's daylight robbery.' This is what you can expect to pay for a day out at each of the UK's main theme parks. Adult day ticket : From £30 when booked in advance or £50 on the day : From £30 when booked in advance or £50 on the day Junior day ticket (for kids aged 11 and under): From £30 when booked in advance or £45 on the day From £30 when booked in advance or £45 on the day Non-rider day ticket: £25 Standard day ticket : From £29 when booked in advance or £68 on the day : From £29 when booked in advance or £68 on the day Junior day ticket (for kids under 90cm): Free with an adult ticket Free with an adult ticket Non-rider day ticket: Not available Standard day ticket : From £29 when booked in advance or £66 on the day : From £29 when booked in advance or £66 on the day Junior day ticket (for kids under 120cm): Free with an adult ticket Free with an adult ticket Non-rider day ticket: Not available Standard day ticket : From £29 when booked in advance or £66 on the day : From £29 when booked in advance or £66 on the day Junior day ticket (for kids under 90cm): Free with an adult ticket Free with an adult ticket Non-rider day ticket: Not available Standard day ticket : From £27.50 when booked in advance or £45 on the day : From £27.50 when booked in advance or £45 on the day Junior day ticket (for kids aged 2-3 years): From £15 From £15 Infant ticket (0-23 months): Free Free Non-rider day ticket: Not available Standard main season day ticket : £46 when booked at least a week in advance, or £58 when booked less than two days before your visit. : £46 when booked at least a week in advance, or £58 when booked less than two days before your visit. Standard low season day ticket: £30 when booked at least a week in advance, or £38.50 when booked less than two days before your visit. £30 when booked at least a week in advance, or £38.50 when booked less than two days before your visit. Junior day ticket (for kids aged 3 and under): Free Free Non-rider day ticket: Not available Adult day ticket : £45 when booked in advance or £45 on the day : £45 when booked in advance or £45 on the day Junior day ticket (for kids under 100cm): Free Free Non-rider day ticket: Free There were others who felt differently though, including Jason Bowler who wrote: 'I think it's a good day out for the price… I don't want loads of people walking around for free causing queues for food and drink and taking up space. I don't know any other theme parks that let you in for free.' More Trending In response to the backlash, a spokesperson for Pleasure Beach Resort tells Metro: 'The cost of operating a clean, tidy and safe environment has increased significantly over the years. We really value guest feedback and introduced the Non Rider eTicket in response to this, in a way that is viable for us in 2025. We're really pleased to be the only major UK park offering non-riders a lower priced ticket.' It comes just months after the theme park announced it would be closing a number of attractions for the 2025 season: Eddie Stobart Convoy, Alpine Rallye, Thompson Carousel, Gallopers, and Red Arrows Skyforce. The company also began offering afternoon tickets to try and encourage more people through the doors, alongside unveiling plans for the £8.72million Project MMXXVI ride, set to open in 2026. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Leamington Spa's fly invasion is so bad they're 'crawling over babies in cots' MORE: 'Underrated' UK seaside town gets direct train to London for first time in 30 years MORE: Disposable vapes officially banned in the UK from today
