Founded nearly 130 years ago, it is one of the world’s most iconic theme parks where thrillseekers can enjoy some of Britain’s oldest rollercoasters including the Big Dipper.
But Blackpool Pleasure Beach bosses have confirmed they are being forced to close some rides this year and cut staff numbers after posting a £2.7million pre-tax loss.
It comes after the site revealed last month that five smaller rides – the Eddie Stobart Convoy, Alpine Rallye, Thompson Carousel, Gallopers and Red Arrows Skyforce – would all be shut during the 2025 season, which began in February half-term.
The historic attraction, which has operated on the Lancashire seafront since 1896, said it had been struggling with visitor numbers not recovering after the pandemic.
Other rides will open later and close earlier this year as the venue attempts to reduce costs and warned the cost-of-living crisis was ‘depressing non-essential spend’.
The park is also bracing for staffing costs to soar next month due to the increase in national insurance contributions (NICs) for employers and the minimum wage rise.
It has also recently unveiled ambitious plans for a new £8.7million spinning pendulum ride, dubbed ‘Project MMXXVI’, which will reach 138ft when it opens next year.
New accounts filed for the latest financial year – the 12 months to March 24, 2024 – showed the park had a turnover of £32.1million, up from £31.8million the year before.
But the Companies House return last Friday also revealed it made a pre-tax loss of £2.7million, which worsened significantly from a £520,000 loss the previous year.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach theme park in Lancashire celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2021
Riders on the 74mph Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach which was opened in 1994
Blackpool Pleasure Beach is home to some of the oldest rollercoasters in the world
New accounts filed for the latest financial year to March 24, 2024 showed Blackpool Pleasure Beach made a pre-tax loss of £2.7million, after a £520,000 pre-tax loss the previous year
Director Jonathan Gray, writing on behalf of the board, said: ‘Trading in the current year has been extremely difficult due to many external factors beyond our control.
‘The cost-of-living crisis is ongoing. We do not foresee any short-term change. We continue to review our operation with a view to making the business more efficient and sustainable.
‘The company has instigated a headcount review and a review of the assets on park. As a result, a number of rides will be closed for the forthcoming season.
‘We are also looking at how we profile the opening and closing times of both individual rides and the park itself with a view to maximising efficiency (and therefore cost) whilst balancing it with achieving great customer satisfaction.’
The report also revealed a series of ‘energy efficiency actions’ taken at the site, including LED lights and a new staff canteen with a ground source heat pump.
Mr Gray added: ‘The company continues to ensure that all our guests receive a quality experience and value for money. This is monitored through a comprehensive programme of guest research and satisfaction surveys.
‘The company continues to invest in its infrastructure to ensure that the business is well promoted through marketing and improved control systems to ensure we are able to maximise our returns and reduce our exposure to potential loss.’
Tickets cost from £30 for adults or from £25 for children under 12 – going up to £50 and £40 respectively on the day.
A spokeswoman from Pleasure Beach Resort told MailOnline: ‘It has been a challenging few years of trading across the entire industry, and we have undertaken the necessary actions to continue to offer the same amazing experiences to our guests.
‘We have already undertaken a strategic review and implemented changes; this has now concluded. The changes referenced in the accounts have all been actioned and completed, furthermore there are currently no plans to close any further rides.
‘We are confident there is lots to look forward to at Pleasure Beach Resort for the immediate and long-term future, beginning with the opening of Launch Pad this spring, and our announcement of an £8.72million Gyro Swing, opening in 2026.’
The park also pointed out that its overall opening hours in 2025 are actually greater than in 2024 – because it will be open 220 days in 2025 but it was only 213 last year. This equates to 1572.5 operational hours this year, compared to 1504.5 in 2024.
It comes as beloved theme parks are vanishing from Britain as increased costs, dwindling visitor numbers and Labour’s Budget bear the brunt of the blame.
The Big Dipper, Blue Flyer, Grand National and Nickelodeon Streak are among its rollercoasters
Rollercoaster enthusiast Richard Rodriguez set a world record in 2000 by spending 2,000 hours on the Big Dipper rollercoaster at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, travelling 22,665 miles
The venue is in the South Beach area where fairground rides were initially run by travellers
The ‘Pepsi Max’ Big One was opened in 1994 as the world’s tallest and steepest roller coaster
The largest theme park in Wales which opened in 1987 became the latest to fall by the wayside earlier this month after bosses announced its sudden and immediate closure.
Oakwood Theme Park in Pembrokeshire said financial issues from rising costs and falling admission totals meant they were shutting rides for good after four decades.
Owner Aspro Parks appeared to have a dig at Rachel Reeves‘s Budget, saying it had been affected by ‘unrelenting economic challenges’ and national insurance changes – having invested more than £25million since the park was saved from closure in 2008.
Meanwhile the boss of another theme park in Essex warned Labour’s Budget tax raid will see him lose £600,000 in turnover and employ 200 fewer staff this year.
Philip Miller, owner of Adventure Island in Southend-on-Sea, hit out at the Chancellor and also said he had been forced to raise ticket prices by 25 per cent.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach introduced the ‘Switchback Gravity Railway’ rollercoaster in 1906
Blackpool Pleasure Beach, pictured In 1933, was first opened on the seafront in 1896
The Big Dipper rollercoast at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in Lancashire opened in August 1923
The theme park was on the beach itself until 1923 when the promenade was extended south
The 69-year-old, whose family have been running the attraction since buying it in 1976, told MailOnline that he ‘can’t afford to die now’ because the ‘tax would finish the business’.
And Britain’s oldest theme park Wicksteed Park in Kettering, Northamptonshire, last month warned it was under threat of closure with the owner blaming the Budget.
In North Tyneside, Wet n Wild in North Shields was home to the UK’s biggest water slide but closed its doors in 2020 after 27 years much to the shock and dismay of locals.
A £1.1million makeover by then owners Serco Leisure had failed to turn around its fortunes after the firm bought the site in 2014.
Meanwhile in Cornwall, Flambards shut its doors last November after 48 years, again citing ‘rising costs and a steady decline in visitor numbers’.
Oakwood theme park in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, has announced its immediate closure
Wicksteed Park in Kettering, Northamptonshire, has warned it was under threat of closure
Wet n Wild in North Shields was home to the country’s biggest water slide but shut in 2020
Ms Reeves previously said she had to increase taxes for employers because ‘we’ve got to raise the money to put our public finances on a firm footing’.
Organisations currently pay a rate of 13.8 per cent on employees’ earnings above a £9,100-a-year threshold.
But Ms Reeves announced last October that a new rate of 15 per cent will come in from April 1, with the threshold reduced to £5,000.
Also from next month, the national living wage for workers aged 21 and over will increase by 6.7 per cent from £11.44 an hour to £12.21.
