Blackpool Pleasure Beach

W.G Bean founder of Blackpool pleasure beach had an idea of an american style amusement park, with the main aim to make adults feel like children again and to inspire them. Alderman William George Bean founded the pleasure beach in 1896 and brought the forty-two acre site on which the park now stands.
In the 1930's. Leonard Thompson succeeded his father-in-law to become Managing Director of the company. This decade saw the introduction of many new rides, including the Rollercoaster (now Nickelodeon Streak), The Pleasure Beach Express, and the world-famous twin track coaster, The Grand National.
During the war years plans to expand and investment were temporally put on hold, although the park was open all year round to the public, especially evacuees, as an escape from reality and the harshness of war.
Post War the company continued to prosper. The 1960's saw an increase in development of new projects and investment into new technology to improve the rides. This encouraged and attracted old and new customers to visit the pleasure beach for their holiday breaks. Additionally in 1976, following the death of his father Geoffrey Thompson became Managing Director of the company. It was under his leadership that exciting new rides were added, including the spectacular 360 degree rollercoaster, The Revolution, and the UK's only bobsleigh ride - The Avalanche.

The Pleasure Beach has been continuously profitable and these profits have been reinvested in the company as new rides giving Blackpool more exciting and adventurous rides to offer the pubic, furthermore incising customers to choice Blackpool as a holiday destination.