Blackpool Pleasure Beach is closing a number of its smaller rides this year, as well as adjusting opening hours, amid a “cost of living crisis”, the park has announced

Blackpool Pleasure Beach has announced that it is closing five rides as the cost of living crisis bites.

The iconic amusement park, a staple since 1896, has cited soaring costs as the reason behind shutting down some attractions for the season. To further ease financial pressures, certain rides will now open later and close earlier than in previous years.

In a statement from the renowned resort, it was confirmed that Eddie Stobart Convoy, Alpine Rallye, Thompson Carousel, Gallopers and Red Arrows Skyforce are set to be closed.

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Eddie Stobart Convoy

The track ride was built by Italian manufacturer Zamperla in homage to the iconic green lorry company. It had been in operating at the pleasure beach since 2002.

Alpine Rallye

Alpine Rallye was a junior track ride built by German manufacturer Ihle that let youngsters get behind the wheel. It was formerly known as Thor’s Turnpike and was located beside Space Invader 2.

Thompson Carousel

This was a ride that harked back to the golden age of funfair, with young and old whizzed around in a circle on trotting horse models. After Beaver Creek closed the ride was relocated to under the Avalanche lift hill, and renamed from Veteran Carousel.

Gallopers

A very similar ride to the Thompson Carousel, gallopers had been amusing park goers since 1968.

Red Arrows Skyforce

The most significant loss to the park and its fans is undoubtedly Red Arrows Skyforce, a 22m tall ride that whizzed riders around on a plot next to the iconic Big One. Towards the end of the 2014 season, Pleasure Beach announced they had joined forces with the Red Arrows (the Royal Air Force aerobatic team) to deliver ‘Red Arrows Skyforce’ for the 2015 season. The striking ride lasted less than a decade in operation.

A statement released by Blackpool Pleasure Beach reads: “The smaller rides were already being run on reduced opening times and our rider data showed that they have some of our lowest throughput, while Skyforce is 10 years old this year. After a great deal of thought, it was clear to us that the right decision is to make changes which will allow us to reinvest into a bigger and better future.”

Financial reports reveal that Blackpool Pleasure Beach isn’t having the best time financially. The latest figures show a turnover of £37.2m, mirroring last year’s, but a swing from a pre-tax profit of £286,912 to a loss nearing £1.7m.

Wrapping up the announcement, the board added: “The continuing cost-of-living crisis has made customers hesitant. Poor weather during key trading periods also acted as a contributor restricting visits to the park and the hotel. High inflation, high interest rates and significant increases in the minimum wage puts additional stress on our cost lines, making profit harder to achieve.”

The board has cited poor weather and a lack of disposable cash among customers as factors impacting its bottom line. “The financial year… [saw] the continuation of the challenges felt in the previous year with the continuing cost-of-living crisis putting a squeeze on the disposable income of our customers,” the statement read.

“As a result our attendances have remained relatively flat whilst increasing cost pressures as a result of high inflation and most notably the increase in National Minimum Wage makes trading again very challenging.”

Despite a two per cent rise in attendance last year, the cost of sales soared by 11 per cent, leading to a pre-tax loss of £2.7m for the Pleasure Beach.

In more positive news, Blackpool Pleasure Beach is making an eye-watering £8.72m investment in an enormous Gyro Swing, which will catapult riders into a 120-degree arc and reach a stomach-churning height of 138 feet. This mammoth ride, designed for 40 daring individuals who will stare straight ahead with their legs dangling freely, promises an adrenaline-packed encounter, unlike anything the park has offered before.

Situated towards the seafront side of the park, thrill-seekers will feel like they’re swooping over the ocean itself. Toweringly superior to any similar UK attraction – notably dwarfing Drayton Manor’s Maelstrom that hits around 74 feet – Blackpool’s new behemoth is already causing a buzz as reported by the Manchester Evening News.

With constructor boots on the ground, the much-anticipated launch is scheduled for 2026. Amanda Thompson OBE, of Pleasure Beach Resort, expressed her excitement about the project: “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.”