Calls for Blackpool Pleasure Beach to remove entry fee after park reveals 20% drop in attendance
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Current prices start at £27 for a junior and £31 for an adult.
Many Blackpool residents remember the days when they could visit the park and pay-per-ride, before introducing an entry fee in 2009.
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Hide AdYvonne Anderson recalls how she used to enjoy walking round with her children. "[I'd hold] coats & bags whilst they went on rides. Then treat them to lunch, ice-cream, a toy or two, but not any more."
Locals are calling for a return to the old system where visitors could buy a book of tickets with A, B and C class rides and pay for what they wanted.
'£50 for a non-rider is outrageous'
"Having to pay £50 for a non-rider is outrageous," said Kay Whittle. "It was good then you could just walk in and I’d always go buy a hot dog and a waffle. Maybe it’s time the Pleasure Beach need to re-think it’s paying system especially if there making a loss."
£522,000 pre-tax loss
This comes as Blackpool Pleasure Beach reported a £522,000 pre-tax loss in the year to March 2023, citing lower attendance numbers and the 10% rise in the national minimum wage as the reasons.
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Hide Ad"Scrap the entry fee and go back to the old school pay per ride," said Dan Hulme. "It’ll increase footfall and fuel temptation spending."
Accounts, filed with Companies House, show that turnover fell by £7 million, to £32 million.
This compares to the previous year, when the park reported a pre-tax profit of £8.6 million.
Entry fee stops antisocial behaviour
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Hide AdA spokesperson claimed the ‘current economic climate’ had an ‘adverse effect’ on attendance numbers. They added that its situation was compounded by a 10% rise in the national minimum wage.
Others have said that the entry fee is needed to prevent kids from causing trouble in the park.
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