Updated October 2016 - please note this theme park is now closed

Pleasure Island Family Theme Park is Cleethorpes' main tourist attraction. Unlike some fairgrounds and pleasure parks where the visitor pays per ride, Pleasure Island's entrance fee covers all of the rides for as many times as you want. You won't spend hours queuing either - although the Park does get busy at peak season, it's rare to wait for more than 20 minutes to get on any ride. There are live shows and rides to suit all ages and tastes.

The Park was built in 1993 on the site of the old Cleethorpes Adventure Land & Zoo which was closed in the late 1960s, demolished and turned into a racetrack, which was subsequently closed after numerous complaints from residents. One of the attractions is an original set of Gallopers dating from 1908. Pleasure Island is a trademark name and the Park is owned by Flamingo Land Ltd.

Pleasure Island Today

When you have purchased your entrance tickets¹, you will be given a map of the Park. You need to study this carefully, as it also contains the times of the live shows, which you won't want to miss. There are more frequent shows on 'Red Show' days than 'Green Show' days. There is a sign at the ticket booths stating which show day it is. The times of the shows are also published outside where they are to take place. Once you are inside, you may leave the Park at any time; the staff at the gate will stamp the back of your hand (only visible under ultraviolet light) so you may re-enter. This is useful if you have prepared your own picnic lunch, as it means you can leave it in your car boot until required.

The rides are described here according to the state of play in 2005, so please note they may change in future seasons. The Park is made up of six sections. In each of the sections are rides of differing restrictions. The staff, who all wear orange polo shirts with a Pleasure Island logo, man the rides at all times. They are friendly and approachable, should you have any problems or questions. Other staff constantly clean the Park.

Some of the following rides are colour-coded. Colour codes are explained in the 'Height Restrictions' section below.

Old England

Contains: Customer Services (including First Aid Post and Lost Children Centre); Coach Reception; Gift Shop; Tommy Tinkaboo Musical Extravaganza; Tinkaboo Town (small children only); Flying Chairs (yellow ride); McCormack's Family Bar. McCormack's is a public house and children are welcome. It is situated outside the gate entrance to Pleasure Island so you may go to the pub if you're not going into the Theme Park - so you might not have to leave grandad at home alone after all.

Spain

Tommy Tinkaboo's Sweet Adventure Water Ride (this is recommended for children and adults); Tinkaboo Sweet Shop; Parrot Show (see 'Live Shows' below); Arcades; Cycle Monorail Station.

Morocco

Hyper Blaster (red ride); Swan Paddle Boat Ride² (green ride); Mini Dodgems (children only); Billy Bob's Rockafire Show; Musical Time Machine Show; Sea Lion Show (see 'Live Shows' below); Adult Dodgems (red ride); The Galleon (green ride); Gravitron (blue ride); Alakazam! (purple ride).

White Knuckle Valley

Boomerang³ (purple ride); Terror Rack (red ride); Pendulus (red ride); Condor (green ride); Razzle Dazzle (green ride); Whirly Twirl (yellow ride); Astra Slide (no restriction).

Kiddies' Kingdom

Electrical Monorail Station (green ride); Go-Karts (red ride); Clown Slide (pink ride); Para-Tower⁴ (green ride); Carousel (no restriction). In the Carousel is a set of Gallopers built by Tidman in 1908. The features and music are all original. It arrived at Pleasure Island in the Park's year of opening, and is housed under cover.

Africa

Century 2000 (green ride); Africa Halt Station (no restriction); Frog Hopper (pink ride); Pony Rodeo (pink ride); Paratrooper (yellow ride); Mini Mine Train (yellow ride); Masai Mara Retreat (pink ride); Falls of Fear (yellow ride); Go-Gator (pink ride).

Live Shows

During the high season there are five live shows:

• The Parrot Show is on every time the Park is open and obviously involves large birds. They perform tricks and they fly around, over your heads. They also make a huge amount of noise. Do not take your child into the show if they are likely to be frightened by this. Once you are seated and the show has started, the door is locked and nobody can enter or leave. Routines change every year, as do the birds, although Jasper⁵, a Scarlet Macaw, has been performing there since the Park opened.

Some of the tricks the parrots performed in 2005 were: balancing on a high-wire while pedaling a bicycle; picking up assorted shapes and putting them into the correct gaps; playing basketball; raising a flag; hanging upside-down from a perch and wing-spreading; riding a scooter, turning round and riding it back again; roller-skating; steering a car, getting out, lifting the bonnet, fixing a problem, getting back in and driving off; picking up coins and placing them in a moneybox; flying through hoops (over the audience's heads); saying hello, saying goodbye and laughing. The show lasts approximately 20 minutes. You can make donations towards the parrots' upkeep in the winter, and even have your photo taken with any parrot of your choice for a small fee, after the show. Posters of the parrots are also on sale.

• The Sea Lion Show is on every time the Park is open and there are usually three performing animals. Sit well back unless you want to be splashed. The routines vary each season but in 2005 you would have enjoyed the Veterinary Test; the Seal Impersonation; the Dance (with the trainer); the Shark Impersonation; the two high jumps; the hoop-catching; the Kiss (with the trainer); the Slug Impersonation; the Goalkeeper Impersonation; ball-balancing and quite a lot of fish-eating. After the show you can purchase souvenirs, usually posters of the sea lions who have just entertained you. These cost £1 in 2005. You may also make a donation towards their winter upkeep.

• Billy Bob's Rockafire Show is on every time the Park is open and is performed by singers and dancers. It is suitable for all children.

• Musical Time Machine Show is on during the high season only, and is performed by singers and dancers. Parents and grandparents will enjoy this nostalgia trip. It is suitable for young children; however, it is very loud so be aware it may not be suitable for very young children.

• Tommy Tinkaboo Show is on during the high season only, and is performed by large cartoon characters. It is suitable for younger children.

General Information

• There are several toilets spaced around the Park with baby-changing facilities. In addition there are several that are suitable for use by people with disabilities.

• Dogs are allowed in the park, but they must be kept on a lead at all times and you are expected to clean up after your dog.

• You are allowed to take photographs and use video equipment inside Pleasure Island.

• You may bring your own food and drink, but this may not be consumed in the café area. Plenty of picnic tables are provided.

• Open:
  • Daily: Start of Easter school holiday to end of summer holidays, 10am-6pm.
  • Weekends in September-October 10am-4pm, and every day during October half-term.

Height Restrictions

You should be aware that some rides have notices advising people with neck or back problems not to use them. Expectant mothers should also heed advice where Pleasure Island management recommend that you do not ride. At each ride is a height restriction sign where children can be measured for suitability.

• White character = No restriction.

• Pink character = Children only.

• Yellow character = Minimum height 1.1m (unless accompanied by an adult).

• Green character = Minimum height 1.2m (unless accompanied by an adult).

• Blue character = Minimum height 1.2m.

• Purple character = Minimum height 1.3m.

• Red character = Minimum height 1.4m.

Certain red rides like Pendulus, Terror Rack and Hyper Blaster are strictly minimum height 1.4m. Visitors under 1.4m may ride on all others as a passenger only, and accompanied by an adult.

How to Get There

Cleethorpes lies on the east coast of England. The M180 is the easiest way to get to Cleethorpes by car from most of the UK and can be accessed from the M1 or the A1(M) via the M18. Follow the M180 until it becomes the A180 and then just follow the signs to Pleasure Island, which is on Kings Road, on the border of Humberston and right next door to Humberston Fitties Caravan Park. There is plenty of free parking, and disability badge holders are allowed to park right near the entrance.

Alternatively, the train service terminates at Cleethorpes and, for your journey home, trains depart for Manchester and Doncaster almost hourly during the day. The theme park is a very long walk from the train station. A short walk from the station is the Pier Gardens (located opposite the Pier) where you can acquire the services of a taxi. During the tourist season (Easter to the end of school summer holidays), an open-top double decker bus travels from Alexandra Road (at the top of the Pier Gardens), all the way to Humberston. There are also other local buses which travel to Humberston, and there is a bus stop outside Pleasure Island.

It would be worth your while dropping into the Tourist Information Centre on Alexandra Road, because they can supply you with booklets containing money-off vouchers. In 2008 the booklet contained 'three-for-two' vouchers (one person free admittance with two persons paying full price).

One Door Closes...

The season had barely started in 2010 when the Park unexpectedly closed and sacked all the staff on 14 April. No information was released by the company who own Pleasure Island. Happily for the area the Park reopened on Saturday 24 April under new management, with all previous staff who hadn't already secured new employment re-engaged.

Closed

On 29 October, 2016, the theme park closed for the final time. Pleasure Island's owner Melanie Wood said visitor numbers had continued to fall and running the park was 'a massive struggle'. Rides have been dismantled and sold off, some reportedly shipped to China. McCormack's Family Bar is still open.