Visitor Numbers Dip At Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Blackpool Pleasure Beach has announced a dip in visitor numbers during the 12 months to March 2019. The company (Blackpool Pleasure Beach Holdings Ltd) reported that attendances were down 5.8% per cent over the period.

The company statement said : “Attendance shortfall is attributable to a number of factors including the economy, the continuing confusion with regards to Brexit, terrorism and poor weather in the key trading periods.”

It’s worth pointing out that the fall in visitors did not impact the company too severely. Turnover was up 7% per cent – rising from £32.8m to £34.9m. Overall, Blackpool Pleasure Beach Holdings Ltd reported a loss of £1.2m compared to £1.6m the previous year.

A spokesman said: “The results for the year ending March 2019 show that Blackpool Pleasure Beach made an improvement on the previous year. Turnover for the group also improved in this period.

The 7% per cent fall in visitors to the Pleasure Beach is broadly in line with Blackpool’s Council report which shows footfall dropped in the town centre and on the Promenade at a similar level. Official figures show the town centre footfall was down to 10.9 million between April and October 2019 compared to 11.6 million in 2018.

The poor summer weather likely had a detrimental effect on visitor numbers for the town. In August 2019 the Blackpool Airshow was forced to cancel its opening day due to high winds. The British Met Office reported that summer 2019 was one of the wettest on record.

While it’s true Blackpool suffered a poor 2019 season; things are looking up for the resort in 2020. Several new investments will up and running in the coming 12 months. Significantly, a £25m conference centre at the Winter Gardens and a new 91-bedroom hotel on Central Promenade.