Date: Saturday 4 July 2015
Venue: Brean Theme Park
Who Went: Just me
N.B. Any use of "today" or "Saturday" in this report means Saturday 4 July 2015.
Rationale For Trip
Having attended the RCCGB Summer Bash at Brean Leisure Park early September 2011, and gone there alone in September 2012, June 2013 and June 2014, I was equally determined to go there again this year. I originally favoured going on Saturday 20 June, but because the preceding day's weather forecast for that date was somewhat changeable, I decided to wait for a more weather suitable day. Two weeks later, the weather prediction for Saturday 4 July seemed considerably better than Saturday 20 June and I therefore I decided to go on Saturday 4 July.
Getting To Brean Leisure Park
I awoke at 5:45 to get ready in time to catch the 7:42 bus from Bath Bus Station to Bristol Bus Station, whereupon I caught the 8:45 bus to Weston-super-Mare. Having left that bus outside Weston-super-Mare Tesco, I walked to nearby Neva Road where I caught the 10:07 bus to Brean. I finally reached Brean at 10:49.
Brean Leisure Park
Morning Coffee
Having reached Brean I fancied a coffee before riding, so I went to Subway where I had a regular latte.
Morning Riding
Admission
After leaving Subway, I walked straight to Brean Theme Park and immediately bought myself a wristband. Whilst buying it I found out that wristbands purchased in the morning are now valid until closing time, which today was 21:00, unlike previous years when daytime wristbands expired at 17:00. Although it was useful to know that, I already knew I couldn't have stayed until 21:00 even if I'd wanted to as the last bus back to Weston was at 18:11. Once fitted with my wristband I was eager to start riding.
N.B. Brean Theme Park is the new name (as of 2015) for the funfair part which used to be called Fun City. The complex as a whole, which also includes Brean Splash Waterpark, Brean Play and The Tavern, is still called Brean Leisure Park.
Just like my previous visit last year I was hoping to start with Astro Storm, but it appeared closed at the time. Instead I approached Crazy Loop, only to be told by an attendant it couldn't run yet as it hadn't had its daily inspection. Determined to find a ride that was currently running, preferably one of the other two coasters, I approached Caterpillar Coaster, which thankfully was already open.
Caterpillar Coaster
This
D.P.V. Rides Minicoaster Apple has been operating at Brean since 2001. Unlike the other three coasters, one ride consists of two laps of the track. Not a particularly exciting coaster but to me riding this was as important as the other bigger coasters. I had two goes, both of which were in the back row.
Star Flyer
Since this new-for-2015 ride is located next-door to Caterpillar Coaster, it made sense for me to ride this next. This has seats hanging from spokes which radiate from a circular arrangement around a tower. Once I was seated the central unit rose vertically until all the seats were high in the air. After that the central unit began to spin anticlockwise, thereby forcing the seats outwards to an angle. Towards the end the central unit stopped spinning and the seats returned to their normal positions before being lowered to ground level. Altogether a worthwhile addition to the Park, one can see for miles in all directions from the top. Although this is a fun ride, one go was enough for me for now, I don't think I could take two goes on Star Flyer straight off.
Magic Mouse
Now for the mouse coaster Magic Mouse. This
Reverchon Spinning Coaster has been operating at Brean since 2007. The ride car leaves the station, climbs the lift hill and works its way along a series of straight bits and U-bends. I enjoyed two goes, car 6 followed by car 8.
Sea Maze
A mirror maze, which has been repositioned in the Park since last year. It's questionable whether or not this is a true ride, but trying to find my way through was great fun. Although I found a few dead ends, I soon found my way through from start to finish. This was my only passage through here all day.
Crazy Loop
At last the looping coaster Crazy Loop was open, so I decided to ride this next. This
Pinfari preZyklon TL59 originally operated as Crazy Loop at Flamingo Land (Malton) and Pleasure Island Cleethorpes. From 2004 to 2014 it operated at Brean under the name Shockwave. Brean Theme Park now calls this Crazy Loop, presumably a restoration of its original Flamingo Land name. Apart from the latest name change, it looked as though the ride has been repainted recently. The lift hill, first drop, vertical loop and other elements made for a fun ride, albeit a bit rough. Although not my favourite looping coaster, I nonetheless enjoyed two goes as follows: back row of back car, back row of front car.
Astro Storm
At last Astro Storm was running. This
Zierer Four Man Bob is the former Space Invader 2 from Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Late July 2011 it began operating at Brean Theme Park as Astro Storm. The 3-seater train, which resembles a space ship, goes through the doors, turns right and climbs the lift hill. On the way up are lights which change between red and green. Personally I think they're superfluous really. At the top there's a thrusting sound and the train winds its way along the course of the track. Along the way you pass tiny lights, which presumably resemble stars. Strong air currents add to the fun, though I question their significance considering there is no air in Space! Finally there are more bizarre lighting effects in the home straight before the train stops at the exit platform. I enjoyed six goes on this: Si8 back, Si4 front, Si6 front, Si4 back, Si1 front, Si1 front. For my final go I put on my pink hi-vis "Coaster Crazy Kid on Tour!" waistcoat (which I had printed for RCCGB Mega-Glow-Mania 2014); the ultra violet lighting towards the end of the ride created a somewhat weird reflection off it. This was my only time of wearing my hi-vis all day; I removed it before my next ride.
Disk'o
Also new to Brean for 2015, a run-of-the-mill Disk'o made by Zamperla. Just like any other Zamperla Disk'o, riders sit at the edge of a giant disk facing outwards; on this occasion I sat in seat 4. The disk spins whilst travelling a u-shaped track back and forth. In my opinion, the ride experience was no different to any other Zamperla Disk'o I've ridden elsewhere. A fun ride, but once was enough; just like any other Disko there's no way I could take two goes straight off. This ended up being my only go on Disk'o all day; I never returned to it later.
Sky Diver
A drop tower. The ring of outward facing seats rose and fell several times. At the end of its final ascent there was a long pause at the top, followed by a very slow descent in stages top to bottom. As I left the ride the operator said the final descent shouldn't have been like that. A fun ride, better than Trauma Tower at Woodlands, but tame compared to Ice Blast at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. My one go now, in seat 7, was my final ride before lunch.
Lunch at Subway
Since I was now feeling peckish, I left Brean Theme Park to get some lunch at nearby Subway. I was served almost immediately; I had a 6 inch turkey and ham Sub and Sprite (as a £3 Meal Deal).
After-Lunch Walk
Knowing it would be unwise to return to riding immediately after lunch, I decided to go for a short walk before returning to riding. I walked along the path opposite Brean Leisure Park to the beach. This was my first ever time of going there and the beach was further than I thought. After a few minutes I finally got to the beach, walked around part of it for a few minutes and had a few pictures taken of me there. One can see Brean Down and Steepholm from the beach. Eventually I walked back to Brean Leisure Park.
Afternoon Riding
At 14:34 I returned to Brean Theme Park, and continued as follows.
Sizzler
Just about everyone in the RCCGB must have been on this sort of ride at least once somewhere, you may have seen it called Twister or perhaps Cyclone. For some strange reason Brean Theme Park call theirs Sizzler, I'm not sure why. Another fun ride, and still one of my favourite non-coaster rides. For now I just had one go. Although I hoped to have more goes later, I ended up not returning to it the rest of the day.
Star Flyer
My second go of the day on this new-for-2015 ride. The ride experience this time was just the same as earlier. Once again one go was enough for me for now, there's no way I could have ridden this twice straight off. This ended up being my final go of the day on Star Flyer.
The time was now around 15:00, and the Sooty Show (featuring hand puppets) was taking place. I was also expecting the large Sooty or Sweep to appear, but when I asked an official I was told they now appear at 14:00, and thus I'd missed the one that was there today.
Wave Swinger
Just like any other Wave Swinger, the central unit rose up and tilted as it spun around. A portion of Blue Danube (Johann Strauss) was played at the start of this ride. Another fun ride, but once was enough for me for now. This ended up being my only go on here all day. Having left this ride I sat down for a few minutes before going on anything else.
Bumpy Slide
A four lane Astra slide. One payment of tokens or showing one's wristband once gets you two slides. This slide was walk-on when I approached it. I showed my wristband and enjoyed two goes, which were in the far left lane, followed by the second-from-left lane (as viewed from the top). After that there was still no queue, so I showed my wristband again to have two more goes, this time I slid down the second-from-right lane followed by the right lane (as viewed from the top). All four lanes were really fast.
Frisbee
A witch's hat type ride, I sat in seat 8. Although another fun ride, once was enough for me for now. This ended up being my only go on here all day. Having left this ride had a few minutes' break before going on anything else.
Wild Water
A log flume. Even though it was a sunny afternoon, I put on my cagoule so as not to get wet. However I didn't bother putting my leggings on as I was wearing shorts. When it was my turn I got into the back of a log and set off. The layout of this is somewhat similar to the one at Cornwall's Crealy; the log went up the first lift hill, and down creating a splash. After that it went up the second (taller) lift hill, and down creating an even bigger splash. Finally the log returned to the station. Altogether a fun ride. Afterwards I had a second go, this time I sat in the front of the log.
Astro Storm
Now for a few more goes on the indoor dark coaster Astro Storm. I ended up having six goes as follows: Si1 front, Si1 centre, Si1 back, Si1 front, Si6 front, Si4 front, but didn't bother putting my hi-vis on for any of them this time.
Hellraiser
A set of ride cars attached to a central structure. As the central structure spins clockwise at high speed, the ride cars go up and down over the perimeter undulations, and are flung slightly outwards due to centrifugal force. Although another fun ride, once was enough for me.
Xtreme
Similar to Hydro Max at Pleasure Island Cleethorpes. This has two pairs of seats back to back at one end of the boom, with another identical set at the other end. I sat at one end, and the ride set off. As the ride picked up speed, it felt like riding a big wheel, but much better. The motion gave the sensation of flying through the air, up, backwards over the top and down again. Sometimes the set unit flipped over at the top; when that happened it seemed strange momentarily seeing the sky below me. When the ride ended I was stuck at the top, whilst the attendant changed riders at the other end. Finally the boom turned half a revolution so I could leave and more riders could get on at the end where I was. For some mysterious reason this ride seemed scarier this time than when I rode it previous years. Once was enough for me, I don't think I could take two goes straight off.
Magic Mouse
Although the time was now well after 17:00, my daytime wristband was still valid, but I knew I would soon have to catch the bus back to Weston-super-Mare. Determined to have at least one more coaster ride at Brean before leaving, I rode Magic Mouse next, this time in car 2. It must be said I felt a bit queasy towards the end of this go. Unsurprisingly this ended up being my final ride of the day.
After I left Magic Mouse I felt I'd had enough riding for one day, and didn't feel like going on any other rides, so I walked slowly back to the bus stop.
Summary of day at Brean Leisure Park in order of activity
Caterpillar Coaster 2
Star Flyer 1
Magic Mouse 2
Sea Maze 1
Crazy Loop 2
Astro Storm 6
Disk'o 1
Sky Diver 1
Lunch at Subway
Sizzler 1
Star Flyer 1
Wave Swinger 1
Bumpy Slide 4
Frisbee 1
Wild Water 2
Astro Storm 6
Hellraiser 1
Xtreme 1
Magic Mouse 1
Cumulative Summary of Rides at Brean Theme Park
| Ride | Total |
| Astro Storm | 12 |
| Bumpy Slide | 4 |
| Caterpillar Coaster | 2 |
| Crazy Loop | 2 |
| Disk'o | 1 |
| Frisbee | 1 |
| Hellraiser | 1 |
| Magic Mouse | 3 |
| Sea Maze | 1 |
| Sizzler | 1 |
| Sky Diver | 1 |
| Star Flyer | 2 |
| Wave Swinger | 1 |
| Wild Water | 2 |
| Xtreme | 1 |
| TOTAL | 35 |
Saturday Evening
Bus to Weston-super-Mare
Back at the bus stop I caught the 17:41 bus to Weston-super-Mare. I left the bus at Clarence Road North bus stop and walked along the seafront in the direction of Grand Pier.
Takeaway
By the time I was close to Grand Pier, I felt fine again and was ready for a meal. I went to Waterfront Fish Bar, where I bought takeaway battered fish and chips, plus mushy peas, and sat in the paved area across the road from the beach to eat them. Afterwards I had a whippy ice cream. Fish and chips and an ice cream are two must-haves when you're at the seaside.
Remaining Time In Weston
After I finished my ice cream the time was around 19:10. The next bus to Bristol was due to depart from the seafront at 19:25, and I strongly favoured catching that one. That left me just enough time to walk around a part of the beach near Grand Pier for a few minutes, and have a few pictures taken of me. However I didn't build a sandcastle.
Journey Home
As I left the beach a double decker bus was already standing at Marine Parade (stop MM) on the promenade ready to form the 19:25 service to Bristol, so without further ado I got on it. Having reached Bristol Bus Station I caught the 20:45 bus to Bath Bus Station. I finally reached Bath Bus Station at 21:32, and home a few minutes later.
Outro
Highlights
Adding Star Flyer and Disk'o to my ride count.
Re-riding all four coasters and many other rides that I first rode September 2011.
Having six goes straight off on Astro Storm during the morning and another six goes straight off on it during the afternoon.
High total ride count overall.
Lowlights
Feeling a bit queasy after my final ride of the day.
Summing Up
Altogether a fun day out on the first Saturday of July. This was my fifth visit to Brean to-date and my fourth solo visit there. Throughout the day most rides were walk-on, and thus I achieved a high ride count, even allowing for frequent rest breaks. It was great riding all four coasters (Caterpillar Coaster, Magic Mouse, Crazy Loop, Astro Storm) and other rides again. Just one point about the four coasters, they're all
steel. Come on Brean, get some
wood! The weather was good too; dry all day, and sunny most of the time I was at Brean.
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