All jobs have their ups and downs – but this is a different story.
It’s fair to say it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but with plenty of thrill-seekers out there walking among us, the popular Lancashire seaside town resort has announced that it’s currently recruiting, and is looking for one brave soul to take on the all-important role of ‘Rollercoaster Test Rider’.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach needs someone with an “exceptional sense of fun and excitement” about them to make sure that all major rides at the resort have the necessary thrill-factor needed in time for the launch of the new season next month.
The successful candidate will be tasked with testing numerous rides at Blackpool Pleasure Beach to give valuable feedback on a number of key factors like speed, thrills, and excitement levels.
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Exciting opportunity! We’re looking for a Rollercoaster Test Rider! You will report on each rides fun factor and provide valuable feedback for improvement. You can also test ride rollercoasters at parks around Europe! 🎢https://t.co/QMDmGi5nqlpic.twitter.com/ylyMHjExP4
They’ll also be asked to give their thoughts on where they think improvements could be made at the park to “increase the fun factor” on different rides, as well as work with the Operations Department, where needed, to come up with “fun and thrilling ideas” for future projects.
The role isn’t just limited to here the North West either, as the official Rollercoaster Test Rider will also be given the chance to travel to other European theme parks on a mission to test out the different rides there, and ultimately bring feedback and reports back to Blackpool.
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So, what exactly do you need to be in with the chance of securing the role?
Blackpool Pleasure Beach needs someone to test-ride its rollercoasters / Credit: Blackpool Pleasure Beach
For starters, you just need to be at least 1.32m (4ft 3in) tall to be able to ride the rollercoasters, but you’ll also need to have a good head for heights, a strong stomach, and will also need to like going upside down, as that’s a pretty important part of the job.
A bit of previous experience of riding rollercoasters and thrill rides is also “preferred” for this temporary role, according to the job description.
Applications are now open and any thrill-seeker applying will need to make sure they’re available to spend a day at Blackpool Pleasure Beach during w/c Monday 13 March, should they be successful in the role.
Major pop star crowns humble rice and three cafe as ‘Jewel of Manchester’ ahead of sold-out gig
Thomas Melia
A beloved city centre takeaway has been given the title of ‘Jewel of Manchester’ by chart-topping UK singer Sam Smith.
Known for hits like ‘Stay With Me’, ‘I’m Not The Only One’ and more recently ‘Unholy’, UK pop-ballad act Sam Smith also likes to drop a food review every once in a while.
Currently on the road with a run of shows in Manchester and London for their ‘To Be Free’ live shows, Sam Smith is stopping off at some of our city’s much-loved spots.
On their food-reviewing account titled ‘Sam Served’, where they adopt the aptly-fitting nickname ‘Ham Smith’, Sam has visited restaurants across the globe – and most recently turned their attention to Manchester’s own This & That.
Smith decided to pop in and grab a cheeky rice and three from long-standing backstreet food business This & That, and it certainly went down a treat.
After sampling their amazing selection of meat, vegetable and vegan curries, the musician crowned this family-run Indian takeaway a ‘Jewel of Manchester’.
The hitmaker described this Northern Quarter Indian eatery as ‘Everything food should be’ and definitely enjoyed all the curries on offer ‘leaving belly and heart full’.
This & That prides itself on affordable and comforting food with its ‘Rice and Three Curries’ starting from just £6 – not bad for a city centre foodie spot.
Sam has racked up an impressive 490k followers via their ‘Sam Served’ profile, with famous faces like Lily Allen, Denise Welch and CMAT all wanting to know the superstar’s foodie thoughts.
After enjoying a curry or three, Sam Smith also made sure to feed their soul to by venturing down to Afflecks and getting lost in the music at Mars Tapes.
Recognised as one of the UK’s only cassette and tape shops, Mars Tapes lets you flick through their crates of physical media and even preview tracks before you buy with its dedicated listening areas.
It’s safe to say that Smith has ‘Latched’ onto Manchester’s independent business scene and we’re here for it.
The London-born artist has just released their latest album Hazel Eyes and is currently amid a UK residency tour with two dates in Manchester’s Albert Hall and eight shows set for London Coliseum.
You can now have a private sleepover amongst all the history inside Manchester Museum
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Museum is now offering one lucky family the chance to have a sleepover with Stan the Tyrannosaurus rex.
For the first time in Manchester Museum’s history, one lucky family will be given the chance to experience an incredible night at the museum.
This unique opportunity is being offered as part of a prize draw, allowing visitors to find out what happens once the sun goes down inside the Fossils and Dinosaurs gallery – in the company of Stan, the famous Tyrannosaurus rex, of course.
The Fossils and Dinosaurs gallery is one of the most iconic spaces within Manchester Museum.
Having opened to the public all the way back in 1888, it’s part of the museum’s original building designed by celebrated Alfred Waterhouse, who also designed Manchester Town Hall and London’s Natural History Museum.
Not only will the lucky winning family enjoy an overnight stay in the gallery, but they’ll also be treated to a guided torchlight tour of the galleries after the Museum has closed, as well as other fun activities and a film screening too before bed.
You can now have a private sleepover inside Manchester Museum / Credit: The Manc Group
“We can’t be completely sure what happens when the sun goes down in our Fossils and Dinosaurs gallery, because nobody has ever spent the night in there before, but we can only imagine the kind of fun that can be had with Stan the T. rex and his friends,” said Dean Whiteside, Head of Commercial and Operations at Manchester Museum.
“This is a chance to be a part of museum history and enjoy the kind of once-in-a-lifetime experience you can’t usually buy.
“At the same time, Manchester Museum is a charity so, by getting behind this initiative, you’ll be helping to support vital work that impacts the lives of people across Greater Manchester and beyond.”
Fancy it then? You can enter the prize draw by buying a ticket for £5 from the Manchester Museum Shop, with each ticket counting as one entry and the winner set to be chosen at random from all valid entries.
The prize draw is now open and closes on Monday 28 September 2026.
Emily Sergeant -
21st February 2023 
