ETPCA Insight: The Battle Of Britain

THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN:
The UK's Contenders in Europe

For too long now, it has been the old adage of many that the English (or the British, to incorporate my kingdom in its entirety) have held the honour of the world’s most successful failures. The idea, for us, is usually to invent a new concept, present it unto the world, only for the world to snatch it from us and make it ten times better. Observe:

We give the world the locomotive, and the Japanese give us the bullet train.
We give the world the telephone, and the Americans give us the Internet.
We give the world cricket, and the Aussies give us a bloody thrashing at it.

Yet for some reason, there seems to be a communal acknowledgement towards the world theme park industry. UK parks have, despite many obstacles, been able to reinvent themselves from travelling fairground attractions to the Premier League of the industry. Many concepts of the golden age of steel (if that’s not an oxymoron) of roller coasters, originating mainly from European manufacture, have been turned into poetry in motion by the UK’s leading parks. For once, it seems, we’ve something to be proud of.

As many may know, the leading light in UK parks since the late 1980’s has been The Tussauds Group, owning what is regarded by some as a monopoly of the UK theme parks; including Alton Towers, Thorpe Park and Chessington World of Adventures.

With the intuitive measures taken by the much-acclaimed rides consultant John Wardley (the man also behind the trappings of multilooper Dragon Khan), Tussauds parks have given the world some of the most unique ride experiences. Starting with a pioneering swinging suspended coaster Vampire at Chessington, interspersed with winning flats and dark rides, followed then by what is regarded still as Wardley’s magnum opus, Nemesis, at Tussauds’ stalwart park Alton Towers. The UK press went hyperactive over its arrival, and soon it seemed everyone wanted to ride Europe’s first Bolliger and Mabillard inverter coaster.

The Wardley-B&M partnership continued at Alton Towers with Oblivion and Air, causing a storm around the world as it dawned amongst the coaster community that this sleepy village park had obtained the world’s first vertical drop and flying coasters respectively from the esteemed Swiss outfit. Next season will see the arrival of a medium-scale Intamin rocket coaster, Rita: Queen of Speed.

However, attentions to thrill seeking have also recently been directed at a smaller park just to the west of London.

Since acquiring Thorpe Park in 1999, Tussauds have ploughed money and resources into turning it in to the definitive thrill seekers paradise – after a collection of flat rides and Tidal Wave, a Shoot-the-Chute giant splashdown, 2002 saw the arrival of Colossus, which sold itself on its record-breaking 10 inversions. The very next year Nemesis Inferno won enthusiasts over, claiming Europe’s Best New Thrill Ride in the UETPA awards.

Prospects look just as exciting for Thorpe, with a S&S Power installing a Sky Swat and Giant Swing for the coming season, followed by an Intamin 200ft rocket coaster in 2006.

Chessington, the Surrey-based park a short distance from Thorpe, has been aspiring closer towards the family market, and customer service has hit record levels. It has, over the years, produced some excellent dark rides such as Tomb Blaster and Bubbleworks, and just this season introduced Land of the Dragons, debuting a much-acclaimed Maurer spinning coaster, Dragon’s Fury. Through an unfortunate catalogue of downtime, it should be said the best is yet to come of what is being hailed as the park’s signature ride. A few years earlier, Vampire re-opened with better reliance and all new Vekoma floorless seats, much to the delight of many enthusiasts who many had thought was the end of the south’s first major coaster.

It is no secret that Tussauds rules the roost in terms of what the UK has to offer for the theme park industry. So, out of the parade of steel just listed, which one should UK enthusiasts be voting for?

My stand out favourite for Best Rollercoaster is one which, after just recently celebrating ten years of terror, still has that awesome ability to get the adrenaline flowing a mile a minute.

I would urge anyone to remember that Nemesis remains the UK’s favourite coaster, and should be our representative to take on the arsenal that mainland Europe intends to vote with. While many UK voters have their own personal favourites, it is important to remember that Nemesis usually comes in the top 10 of many European and even Worldwide coaster polls, and it would be better if the UK voting effort was ploughed into something which we know, in our hearts, is the coaster that wins the most prestigious category in the polls. Word has just reached us that sterling work has been made of the scenery over the closed season, restoring the area to its original former glory of what is one of the most detailed and meticulous back-stories for any coaster anywhere. It deserves to be an especially high-ranking coaster, perhaps just as much now as it was ten years ago.

Probably the dead cert for UK representation of Best Dark Ride should also go to Alton Towers. Hex: Legend of the Towers, which employs the park’s ancient heritage to provide one of the most thorough and gripping stories, puts the Vekoma Giant Swing to its best use. While Chessington’s Tomb Blaster is a popular choice, I would urge greater voting for an attraction that has been shamefully overlooked in other polls.

So, what of non-Tussaud’s parks? There is indeed life outside of the multi-million pound empire.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach remains a firm favourite, with the Arrow megacoaster Pepsi Max Big One keeping a slender grip on coaster enthusiasm, accompanied by some excellent woodies dating as far back as the 1920’s, Big Dipper, Rollercoaster, Wild Mouse and the famous mobius racer Grand National. Blackpool should be our default representative for the Best Amusement Park vote, and its multi-million pound water ride Valhalla is a popular contender to accompany Tidal Wave in to the polls. It is also of note that Blackpool possesses an excellent contender for Best Restaurant category, aptly named Coasters, along the seafront. One could be forgiven for entering under the delusion it was a museum of rides rather than an American diner.

Drayton Manor also boasts an array of hidden gems, including Europe’s first -and still only - stand-up coaster Shockwave; Storm Force 10, a very commendable water ride; Apocalypse, an Intamin Giant Drop including a floorless stand-up feature. Yes, it does hurt.

The Tamworth park remains little known to the mass audience but remains up to speed with neighbouring Alton Towers, and Shockwave still gets the punters in regularly. A pretty crazy design of coaster is opening this season, a Maurer X-Car named Barnstorm.

Perhaps, though, the fan’s favourite for a non-Tussauds UK coaster is Megafobia at Oakwood. An absolute riot of a woodie at 85ft, accompanied by the Intamin giant splashdown Hydro, along with a Gerstlauer Eurofighter arriving in 2006, this Welsh rural theme park is my recommended hidden gem vote.

Finally, Legoland Windsor has finally entered the big league, giving Chessington a formidable rival for the share of the family market, with its three additions Dragon, Dragon’s Apprentice and Jungle Coaster a worthy contender for Best Family Coaster, or Best Family Park…if either such a category existed.

Of late, the industry has fallen upon troubled times, with last season cataloguing an unexpected downturn of numbers not only in the parks, but also in the majority of the UK leisure and tourism industry. The tragic death of Hayley Williams on Hydro in Oakwood and two fires at Blackpool, on Grand National and threatening the Pepsi Max Big One’s lift hill respectively, along with the passing of the much-loved family entrepreneurs of the Pleasure Beach, Doris and Geoffrey Thompson.

However, rides will reopen and the industry has redoubled its efforts, and the future for the entire industry for children, families and adrenaline junkies alike is saturated with potential.

Whoever tries to tell you, for whatever reason, that UK doesn’t possess a quality selection of rides, parks and attractions -- all I’d do is vote.

Jamie Shoesmith

European Theme Park Critics Awards