One of Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s most iconic rollercoasters is due to be refurbished soon, but not before fans get the chance to own a piece of the old model.
The Big One first opened to the public on 28th May 1994 as the tallest and steepest rollercoaster in the world, and it proudly held that record until July 1996, when the Fujiyama rollercoaster opened at Fuji-Q Highland in Japan and took the top spot.
Standing at a whopping 235ft above sea level, the Big One is still currently the tallest rollercoaster in the United Kingdom though.
With its sheer height, numerous twists and turns, sharp elevations, changes in speed, and rapid drops, the Big One has undoubtedly earned itself a reputation over the years as a ride that only the most daring of folk are brave enough take on, and has even built up quite the big fan base because of it.
Which is why Blackpool Pleasure Beach is giving those fans the chance to buy a piece of the rollercoaster from as little as £150.
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Fans can buy a piece of the iconic rollercoaster from as little as £150 / Credit: Blackpool Pleasure Beach
There’s currently nine sections of the track available to order online, with the most expensive part – named the ‘Big One Track Off-Cut’ – having already sold for a whopping £450 in just 90 minutes.
It’s now been a week since the parts went up for sale, and several items have sold-out – including the ‘Big One Track Platform’ for £350, ‘Big One Track Long Platform’ for £230, and the ‘Big One Track Platform Side Handrail’ for £400.
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Enquiries came in from fans from all over the world, including the Netherlands and the US, according to the Pleasure Beach.
Fans who have already got their hands on a piece said they “couldn’t be happier” with it.
Following a re-tracking of sections of The Big One, we now have some exclusive pieces of the iconic structure available for sale on our retail website! 🎢
For those who miss out on getting to own a piece of the old rollercoaster model though, Blackpool Pleasure Beach is also introducing a new ‘Walk the Big One XL’ experience this summer that will see people “taken to places the public have never been before” as they take an escorted climb up the 235ft lift hill
As part of the 90-minute experience, fans will be kitted-out in protective clothing and gear, before being taken to two new exciting locations on the ride course to enjoy spectacular views of the ride, theme park, and sea.
Half of Mancs don’t know how to cook Christmas dinner, new survey reveals
Emily Sergeant
Christmas dinner is one of the key parts of any festive celebration.
No matter whether you choose to tuck into a traditional roast with all the trimmings and lashings of gravy, or you prefer to go for something a little different like a curry or a Chinese instead, your Christmas dinner is a chance to gather round with your loved ones and enjoy one of the heartiest meals you’ll likely have all year.
However, some shocking new figures have revealed that half of Manchester residents have no clue how to even cook a Christmas dinner.
Through a major study by the UK’s leading electrical retailer, AO.com, it was revealed that the majority of our city’s residents are “losing confidence” in preparing even the simplest of British dishes – with a traditional roast or Christmas dinner being one of them.
A new survey has revealed that half of Mancs don’t know how to cook Christmas dinner / Credit: Freepik | GoodFon
As part of its new campaign to get Brits back into the kitchen, AO found that just 57% of respondents reckon they would be able to make a roast dinner, 52% could whip up a classic shepherd’s pie, 58% could cook bangers and mash, merely 61% could prepare a full English breakfast, and again, only 57% could tackle fish and chips.
Classic desserts are clearly a struggle for us Mancs too, according to the survey, as only 19% of respondents said they’d feel confident cooking a Christmas pudding.
The survey also found that nationwide, it was Gen Z – those between the age of 16 and 27 – that are the least confident in their ability to cook great British classics, while on the other end of the spectrum, Baby Boomers are the most capable, proving that culinary confidence increases with age.
Our region’s residents are apparently ‘losing confidence’ at cooking simple British classics / Credit: Freepik
Commenting on the results, Jay Lockton, oven expert at AO.com, said: “Kitchens should be a place of creativity and joy, but our data shows that a lot of people in Manchester are losing confidence in preparing even the simplest of British dishes.
“Based on our findings, many younger people may be opting for convenience foods or takeaways due to their busy schedules and the perception that cooking from scratch is time-consuming or difficult.
“But with simple guidance and the right tools, we believe everyone can rediscover the joy and simplicity of homemade meals.”
Featured Image – gpointstudio (via Freepik)
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New Hairy Bikers documentary to take viewers on ’emotional journey’ in tribute to Dave Myers
Emily Sergeant
A new documentary paying an emotional tribute to late Hairy Biker Dave Myers is set to air on the BBC in the run up to Christmas.
Dave Myers – who was most well-known for being one half of the famous Hairy Bikers duo that starred in the BBC cookery and travel show of the same name, alongside Si King – died earlier this year (28 February 2024) after revealing back in May 2022 that he had been diagnosed with cancer, and was undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
The final Hairy Bikers episode aired on 19 March following Dave’s passing, and viewers tuned in in their tens of thousands to watch the beloved show that had been entertaining the masses for close to two decades.
🏍️ Si King celebrates the life of fellow Hairy Biker and best friend Dave Myers in a special one-off BBC documentary
Si picks out key moments from the past 25 years of the pair's TV careers in The Hairy Bikers: You’ll Never Ride Alone
But despite that being the final episode with Dave involved, there’s still one last chapter left to tell.
Set to air on BBC Two on Monday 23 December, viewers will be invited on an “emotional journey” through the Hairy Bikers story with Si King, as he celebrates the life of his best mate and former TV partner.
The documentary follows Si as he leads a motorcycle convoy to Dave’s hometown of Barrow-in-Furness, while archive material, new interviews, and previously-unseen footage is shown to help celebrate Dave’s life.
A new Hairy Bikers documentary will take viewers on an ’emotional journey’ in tribute to Dave Myers / Credit: BBC / South Shore Productions
You can relive the journey that took Dave around the world while cooking up a storm as one of television’s greatest-ever double acts.
“I’m incredibly proud of the programme because it’s a tribute to my best mate,” Si King said.
“It was an amazing experience, I didn’t quite know what to expect. That was the whole thing, none of us did. We thought at the most we’d get 10,000 bikes, we didn’t dream it would be 46,000 motorcycles and a 30-mile tail, it was just insane. I just felt enormously privileged.”
Emily Sergeant -
18th January 2022 
