How Good Is The Grand National at Blackpool Pleasure Beach? 

The best coaster in the UK and nobody can convince me otherwise.

Been riding this ride on and off for over 50 years and it is still my all time favourite. Even now as soon as we leave the station I sit there grinning like a fool until the ride is over. I still remember when I first rode it with just a door handle to hang on to. Hope to ride it again soon and hope to see it reach its 100th birthday.

Thoroughly enjoyed this Scott, very informative and evidence based. The Grand National is one of my favourites for sure, and for me, the bumps and roughness of it make it for me. Plus the theme and the feel of actually racing the other train. It’s so unique. It must be saved at all costs! Glad to hear you’re really a secret fan of it after all!

Painful 😂 I normally love a rough coaster but this one hurt. It’s such a classic though

I haven't been able to ride any coasters in recent years because of having to have multiple spinal surgeries but I have so many happy nostalgic memories of all of Blackpool's woodies. I grew up in Preston so spent many happy hours at BPB. I was a member of the European Coaster Club and Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain during the 1990s and early 2000s and always loved riding the Grand National. I loved how at times it felt totally out of control and have have bruises on my thighs because of being slammed into the lap bars during some crazy air time. I can't compare it to now because I haven't ridden it for a long time, but I just can't imagine ever not having this or the Big Dipper at BPB. I was utterly devastated when Morecambe's Texas Tornado was knocked down and it still brings a lump to my throat looking at my photos of the track all flattened on the ground (I have a couple of small pieces of it here!) and was even more gutted when Southport's Cyclone was knocked down because I once won a competition to walk the track of it and I actually bought one of the cars when Grand National got new trains and the old ones were moved to the Cyclone. I just can't begin to imagine how I'd feel losing Grand National (or the Big Dipper) so I really hope that they can do something to keep it's popularity going

Love going on the Grand National my parents took me on it when I was 9 years old and now I take my children on it too great video too

Rough as hell but me and my 8 year old son loved it this week. Many memories with my own dad as a lad on this. Love it.

I find it absolutely awesome in a non wheel seat 🔥

The Grand National is 100% my favourite Pleasure Beach coaster! It just needs some tlc!

love it!!!!!!! so glad it is a listed building so it can not be touched and my kids can get to enjoy this great coaster

Love the Nash!! I’d love it to somehow be a little smother, however that could be done. It’s an absolute classic and beyond thrilling.

The Nash is still my favourite at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Sure its got rougher over the years but its still a Thrilling Fantastic Historic Roller Coaster. The Rmc conversion i dont feel is practical or the answer . A sympathetic restoration is the answer i do so hope it happens with Nash ..time will tell.

Personally I don't find it that rough I think it adds to the experience in this ever increasing sterile world we seem to be living in, thanks for the upload Scott and great result for us today all the best mate 🎢👍🎢👍

10:00 a little from column A, a little from column B. People's expectations about ride smoothness have been going up and up because of new rides. Went on nemesis in october 2019, and for a ride as old as the big one, a recent refurb made it very smooth and pleasant.

For me with a proper restoration it deserves to continue to operate for many more years to come, a classic that has stood the test of time for a reason and should continue to do so.

I first went on the GN in the seventies.I think the trains were really old then.They were very deep seats with high sides, there was no lap bars then and all you had to hold onto was basically a door handle on the back of the seat in front.You used to bounce out of the seat going over the humps, fantastic, especially if you sat in the last seat,it's seat raised a bit higher for naximum bound.

I only put one seatbelt on and I was supposed to put on 2. I was wondering why I was getting a lot of airtime. loved it.

A couple of years ago I went on the Grand National during a heavy hail shower. Now that was rough!

I really like the grand national it's fast fun and always has me laughing ... its painful in places but it adds to the hilarity of it 🤣

im watching this now because i went to this place only about 1 or 2 years ago, this is my favourite ride at blackpool pleasure beach and i think it should stay wooden and not hybrid

The fact that there's rust and noticeable startings of timber rot shows just how difficult this ride is to maintain. If they're out as much as you say, then bloody well done to them. Excellent that they're trying to keep it going!

It's a great coaster , old school nice and rough, but not that bad, people are a bit spoilt in the UK with smooth rides when B&M came along so it shouldn't be compared to those

The best can’t no longer go on any rides but when I did this was excellent fun times to be remembered

My absolute favourite!

Love the opening to this video Scott! Great video

Love it. My favourite.

I love the Nash, but it has always been rough. I think a re-track and train is definitely needed for this one. Will provide a smoother ride experience too. But it is a great ride and I love it to bits 🤗

Well said Scott, fully agree. Answer me a question though, as it’s a Mobius loop where does (one) track go under/over the other, presume from the start? Keep up the great vids, look forward attending a Club day

Just needs some decent trains. Bring back the low-sided PTCs with the buzz-bars.

I love this coaster. There's something beautifully nostalgic about it. The pleasure beach has been through a lot in the past. There's been fires, corrosion from the sea air as the pleasure beach is right next to the Irish sea. Yet a coaster that was built in 1935 is still standing, and I'm unsure if there are any of these coasters around where there's another track right next to the 1 you're in. It would be tragic if anything ever happened to this.

Its rough but nothing a good overhall wont sort out. I agree with you, we would sorely miss such an iconic coaster if it was to go, but I doubt very much "removal" of "grand national" are ever words spoken in the same sentence by BPB management. Cant wait to get back this year. Great video Btw.

The Blackpool woodies are perfect. Personally, I don’t find them uncomfortable at all! The unanimous scream from the train when it jolts is just all part of the fun!

I love the Grand National and have many fond memories of riding it over the years. As for it's roughness, I'd say from my last encounter with the ride, it felt like I was being beaten up by Bruce Lee in a very confined space. I'd call that a compliment, albeit one with painful connotations.

Congratulations on 24,000 subscribers

Great video guys. This was my first ride on a rollercoaster ever and I would love to see it given some major tlc it clearly needs.. I wouldn’t want it converting or changing though......

Great layout and heritage but it’s so brutal I actually hate riding it these days

I love it. Spectacular ride.

The Grand National is part of the Fabric of the pleasure beach , needs to stay and remain unaltered in my opinion

Great video guys I've always loved the grand national I know that it has got unbelievable rough the past couple of years but I love horse racing so will always love the grand national

Used to love the Grand national years ago, took my son on this ride three years ago and i could not believe how rough it was. We both remarked on this.

I hadn't ridden the Nash for a few years when I went with my daughter in 2019. The restraints on the new trains caused me absolute agony throughout the ride, so much so it put me off riding again. The Nash used to be my favourite rollercoaster of any park that I've visited, but it's been ruined for me. I guess if you're skinny the restraints wouldn't be such a problem. The Big Dipper's restraints are so much better that we rode that more often, rather than be stapled in agony to the seat.

I agree, it's too good of a ride to be scrapped and I'd be so sad if this happened. It's an icon for the park. The thing is so rough these days though! In my opinion, I'd love GCI to come in and do a complete re-track. Close it for a season (maybe longer if need be) and get it re-tracked!

Love the new intro for reviews!

I'd love to see it closed and refurbished, it's a brilliant coaster but it's as rough as hell these days, loving the videos Scott 😎 😎 😎

I still love it even with all it's rough edges haha

Surely there are four replacement trains - red, blue, green and purple. Perhaps you mean that only two are in use at any one time?

Hope this thing doesn’t end up like Southport pleasureland and the cyclone. That was a true gem. From later pics it looked as it was in bad condition. Did I not mention that the Southport pleasureland had a rare wooden mouse? Historic roller coasters like Belmont cyclone and lakemont leap the dips are always in constant danger in their parks with closures, so we should support local and small parks like conneaut beach or vintage boardwalks.

Really needs some work, GCI Rework would be amazing for it. I only made it to BPB once last year, but it was by far the roughest ride ever been on.

I like Grand National despite how rough it is. My issue is that I'm fairly broad so those lapbars & the size of the trains horizontally is pretty bad for me, I can't really sit in a train with someone else, sort of a ME problem, but it adds to the roughness of it.

Im hoping for a complete retrack from GCI, like they did with Ghostrider at Knotts, and some millennium flyers

Nash has developed a nasty jolt at one of the bottom of the first drops that caught me off guard during my last visit (2019) I'm someone that doesn't find Infusion rough so apparently I have a high tolerance too! My last ride on Nash actually left me a bit sore but it was just that one jolt. The rest of it felt fine! I do feel it would benefit from some proper TLC though. If I had to choose one to be spited it would be Nickelodeon Streak. Big D and Nash both have something unique about them but streak just kind of exists. I'd replace it with something like Firechaser Express, something to please everyone! I also wouldn't be against The Big One being reprofiled in places. Give it a speed hill between the first drop and turnaround and improve some other hills so that you actually feel something!

I hope they retrack it, but also hope they don't use much/any steel and keep the PTC trains. I love those lap-bars, and the fact that you can leave fistfuls of room. And I hope they keep the pre-lift aswell, it's real smooth

I would love to see a refurbishment 😍😍 and i love the nash! On the front* 🤣

It’s definitely worth saving and not for the heritage reason, but because it’s an absolute banger of a ride (these days quite literally) and is definitely one of the best the park has to offer. It doesn’t need to be a silky smooth ride, just a little easier on the bones

All this coaster needs is a full re-track & Geometry sorted out (trains don't sideways shuffle) by GG or GCI, this will make the ride an enjoyable / re-ridable experience for future years to come. The Big Dipper & Nic Streak are "glass smooth" compared to the "Nash".

It was surprisingly smooth the last time I rode it (February 2020). I think it depends where you sit?!

Grand National is what I like to call the 'Gutt Puncher'', it's dips accompanied by the lap bars can really punch you, especially when you are tall.

It’s good I agree think some people are soft I just feel a bit not much prob just coz I enjoy coasters

We hope that you will always have the grand national it must stay forever it's the single best ride ever in the world.

I love the grand national, it might not be the biggest and newest but it’s still absolutely one of my favourite

Nash aint all that bad imo. Yes its abit lumpy but its an old woodie. The station breaks and the new trains dont really help but its all fun. Its a major tick on any trip in for me. Plus always try to do it back to back to get the full Nash Bash experience.

Our first ride on it last Wednesday and let’s just say we’ll probably need a chiropractor 😂 I would like to see it retracked rather then made into hybrid if I’m honest, simply for the history of the coaster (maybe new trains too feels so claustrophobic)

I don't think it's reached the point where its too rough yet, it's just plain fun atm 😁

I’m glad you agree that it is worth saving, i’m also glad to acknowledge that the trains are at least part of the problem, New trains and re-tracking are a must if they want to boost his popularity and secure its future. If they really did try to make the trains later when they installed them then I don’t think they did a very good job or maybe it just wasn’t possible with the modern design?🤷‍♂️ I also agree that those horrible restraints are far too restrictive.

This is far more fun than anything like Nemesis or more modern day loop coasters it’s fast and rough and it makes you smile all way around. I hope they replace the timber and smart it up and keep it going because it’s genuinely a brilliant coaster

Best ride ever ❤

I don't think there's any doubt that the grand national is a great coaster but it really is far too rough these days and does need retracking. I would love to see an RMC in the UK but converting the grand national isn't the coaster to convert. It just needs a retrack and some more modern trains.

I'm going to pleasure beach for the first time in 3 weeks in so hyped

The Nash your back up I’m calling it going forward 🤣

I love the grand national tho last time I went on it I made the mistake of putting my hands up on a wheel set. Whacked the back of my head on the seat back had some nice swelling and a near concussion a retrack and nicer trains would not go amiss

It's my number 1 coaster ❤

Personally, I still Love the Grand National, I only first rode it in 2018, and I can tell how rough it’s become. I know it’ll cost a lot for the pleasure beach, but I honestly feel like it NEEDS a retrack, not only for the longevity of the ride, but also for the GP who will turn their backs more and more thinking it’s dangerous and old, I think it’s vital for its future.

I think the best thing to do to the grand national would be fore GCI to give it a full retrack and add their Titan track in certain sections like the first drop and a couple of other valleys and for millennium flyer trains to be added. A new OS would be good too so the park could get the ride on a higher throughout. And also a referb would have to include the park actually adding a decent queue line to the ride instead of just letting it spill out of the entrance. The millennium flyer trains should make the turns smoother without the need for retracting them since they can do turns much more comfortably due to the cars being much shorter.

The grand national is one of the main reasons for me wanting to go to The Blackpool pleasure beach. Any time I’ve been and that ride has been shut down is a disappointment. Personally don’t mind the roughness, adds to the fun.

Is the park open right now during quarantine?

I thought it was fun when I went on it 2019. Want their historic wooden coasters to stay. If it’s rough, but didn’t think it’s painful like people said. Retrack it, I like grand national.

It’s a good ride but I can only do it at max twice in a day the lap bars and when it shoves you into a corner because last time I rode the GN o came off covered in bruises wether that’s down to the restraints or the train I’m not sure 🤷‍♀️

RMC have already said the Grand National can be converted.

Imagine if they did a full GCI track and new trains like what they did with ghost rider at Knotts berry farm. The layout would stay the same so the airtime would still be glorious but it would be as smooth as Wickerman and the trains would be super comfy. I don't know if it would be possible but I think that would be better than an rmc because it would still feel like a classic wooden roller coaster.

It unfortunately is that bad which is such a shame as the unique layout and the amount of airtime it has would be great if it wasn't so rough. Please Pleasure Beach, if you are reading this, get GCI in to completely re-track it and replace the trains with Millennium Flyers

Last time I rode the Nash I came off in agony (was sat over the wheels) it's hurt alot n said I wouldn't ride it again but I do love the coaster the airtime is brilliant and it feels like it's out of control but would love some new trains and it soooo needs a re track!

The rmc nash conversion debate reminds me a bit of the ship of theseus

I feel like maybe a iron grand national rmc would be a good idea but with it been listed i cannot see much happening

The grand national is my favourite woody in the world

I think that the grand national should never change as its an incredible ride that is amazing to have in the uk

The Grand National is an amazing historic ride. A little bit of shoogling is part of the experience. As far as changing it is concerned that is a complete non starter. The GN, as well as the Big Dipper and Roller Coaster (REAL name) are listed. They cannot take it down and cannot change it so there you go.

I think it’s best if they could get away with rebuilding sections of the superstructure to smooth out the ride, without rmcing it to make it smoother.

0:00 - Nice Intro!

First rollercoaster I ever went on :)

The absolute best 😂

Is the pleasure beach open?

My favourite coaster.

The older me finds it too rough these days and not in a pleasant way, however in a parallel universe if the younger me could ride it now I might find the roughness fun, if that makes sense? You could offer me £100 to ride in the back seat and I'd turn the offer down. I agree, don't convert it as the finished article will be far removed from the current ride in all but name. Plus as you touched on, there ain't the space, no matter how good the Park's been over the years at squeezing rides in here and there :) A season long closure for a full refurb including trains and station braking would be a good middle ground.

It should get some steel track on the valleys and new infinity flyers if they want

I do love the national, but man is it rough. During the 2020 October late night riding, got thrown around and bashed so much lol. Back row too

needs a retracking, i can handle a rough ride but its getting far too rough now. also the lapbars are awful and makes the airtime way too painful

Wow that intro!

Oh grief they can’t get rid of the Grand National 😱 ever. It’s my favourite roller coaster 🎢 of all time As an only child who loved the Pleasure Beach and whose parents would not go on ANYTHING I had no choice but to ride alone and I did, everything and anything but always came back to the GN. We were so lucky we didn’t lose it in the fire like we did others so doesn’t that tell you it’s worth saving.

Still, the best ride at BPB only spoiled by the shorter trains that no longer gives the flip on the back end.

I love this ride