Popular theme park blasted for 'absolute robbery' non-rider fee
One of the UK's most iconic amusement parks has sparked fierce backlash after introducing a 'rip-off' ticket price for non-riders.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach now charges all guests an entry fee - regardless of whether they plan to ride.
Up until 2009, the popular seaside attraction allowed visitors to roam the site freely, ideal for anyone who preferred not to take on the rides to still accompany friends and family.
A £10 non-rider charge was briefly introduced, before being scrapped in 2019 in line with the wider theme park industry.
Since then, the park has charged a flat entry price, currently £50 on the day or £30 if booked two weeks in advance for adults and children over 11, while prices for children aged 11 and under are set at £45 and £30 respectively.
The standard fee ticket brought an end to large groups hanging around at the site, which had amassed a series of complaints from paying visitors.
Now, park bosses say they've 'listened to guest feedback' and responded by introducing the £25 non-rider ticket.
While it doesn't allow access to the rides, it does include several add-ons, such as a £5 voucher for food and drink and entry to the Hot Ice matinee show during summer.
It also grants visitors unlimited access to the Pleasure Beach Express railway, the Chinese Puzzle Maze, and Bradley and Bella's Learning Garden, as well as opportunities to meet popular costumed characters, such as the PAW Patrol pups.
Despite the extras, hundreds of furious fans took to the popular Facebook page, Welcome to Blackpoo l, to condemn the 'disgraceful' pricing, while others declared it discriminatory to the elderly and people with disabilities.
One person wrote, 'Ridiculous £25 to walk around and trying to sell it with £5 credit which will be lucky to buy you a slush, and ticket to hot ice that quite frankly most wouldn't want anyway, £5 to walk around is quite enough.
Another said: 'Hate it when they state "we've listened carefully to Park goers" what a load of codswallop. Who in the right mind are these people that state £25 is a fantastic incentive just to walk around holding coats?'
A third commented, 'Day light robbery. Disgraceful,' while a third fumed, 'It's a RIP OFF.'
A fourth said, 'Bosses never listen. Needs to be free to walk round...end of the pleasure beach,' while another added, 'Completely missed the mark with this. They had a chance to make it right and completely screwed it up. Well done.'
Another added: 'So discriminating against someone like me in a powerchair and no way on earth could get on the rides. So I pay £25 for the privilege of been disabled. You need to rethink your policy.'
However, others were supportive of the new fee, as one wrote: 'I'm in the minority but if they don't charge something anyone and everyone is free to roam around the park, unfortunately they will use and abuse it.'
Fans took to the Facebook page, Welcome to Blackpool, to condemn the 'disgraceful' pricing, while others declared it discriminatory to the elderly and people with disabilities
'I know I felt a little safer inside with my kids... maybe they need to tweak this like maybe grandparents get in free with paying children etc but I'm just trying to see why they do it from a different viewpoint.'
Announcing the new prices last week, Amanda Thompson, CEO of Pleasure Beach, defended the decision, saying: 'This year we've placed a strong focus on making visits more affordable for families, without compromising the guest experience.
'We believe we have done this in ways that allow us to continue to thrive - not only as an important destination in Blackpool, but as an employer of hundreds of local people.
'We've listened carefully to our guests, and it's clear that flexibility and choice are more important than ever. That's why we've made the decision to launch our non rider eTickets with more added benefits – a move that sets us apart in the industry.'
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