Thought I’d share the history of some rides that used to reside at Pleasurewood. The majority of the rides at Pleasurewood in the ‘80s & ‘90s were closely linked to Bembom Rides (later called Parkware Ltd.). They were a major player in the European amusement industry, owning Dreamland Margate (and later Loudoun Castle), and leasing equipment to Pleasurewood Hills, Camelot Theme Park, Grove Land (Wales), Rhyl Ocean Beach and Lightwater Valley. As well as this they owned Ponypark Slagharen in the Netherlands, Kirchhorst amusement park in Germany, and had some kind of connection with OK Corral in France and Vidampark in Hungary. Bembom Rides had a close relationship with major manufacturers such as Zierer, Heinrich Mack and HUSS.
The first Bembom rides appeared at Pleasurewood in a cluster in 1985 – the “Rotor” Round-Up, “Calypso” Twist, “Pirate Ship”, “Carousel” and “Troika”. All of these were leased from Bembom Bros., with only the “Pirate Ship” eventually being purchased by the park. From then until the late ’90s a series of loans from them came & went, including a HUSS Enterprise, Zierer Waveswinger etc...
In the late ‘90s and early ‘00s the park was linked with another leasing agreement - this time with the Ayers travelling funfair family. Rides leased from Harry and Bertie Ayers included the “Octopus”, “Canyon Raft” and “Mega Dance”.
Name: Calypso
Ride Type: Twist
Manufacturer: Emmo Kreekel (Netherlands)
Year Built: 1977
This ride started out life somewhere in Europe with the Bembom Bros. in 1977. It was brought into the country to feature at their recently purchased Dreamland Margate in March 1983. It had an identical sister ride at Dreamland that season – the Bemboms were keen to fill the park up with rides, having terminated the leases of all of the old ride tenants. It spent the 1983 season in Dreamland, and then possibly spent the 1984 season in Folkestone (unconfirmed). Pleasurewood Hills was its new home in 1985, and it spent a number of years here. In 1995 the ride was either stored or sent somewhere not yet known. In 2001 in joined a number of Parkware rides at Grove Land, South Wales. After its lease expired there it was sent up to Scotland (in 2005), to feature at Loudoun Castle (purchased by Bembom Bros. at the end of 2002), and given a rodeo theme. Since the closure of Loudoun Castle in 2012, the ride has been owned by Norman Wallis of Pleasureland Southport, and carries a Transformers theme.
Name: Phoenix / Enterprise / Starship Enterprise
Ride Type: Enterprise
Manufacturer: HUSS (Germany)
Year Built: c. early ‘80s
This ride has a long and varied history, starting out with Bembom Brothers at OK Corral amusement park in France in the 1980s. It was imported into the U.K. in 1986 and leased to First Leisure who owned Rhyl Ocean Beach amusement park. After 3 seasons here it made its way to Pleasurewood Hills, opening for the 1989 season, spending 10 seasons there. Upon leaving it may have been stored, although re-emerged at Grove Land in South Wales in 2000. It joined Loudoun Castle as “Captain’s Wheel” for the Bembom family’s first season in charge in 2003. It was replaced by a HUSS Breakdance III in 2008 and presumably stored. The ride next turned up a Pleasurewood Hills (again) in 2012, although was never built or operated. It then made its way to sister park Hellendoorn Avonturenpark where it still operates today.
Name: The Tempest
Ride Type: Ranger / Dream Boat
Manufacturer: Weber (Germany)
Year Built: 1980s
This ride’s history prior to Pleasurewood Hills is unknown. The manufacturer Weber went bust at some point in the 1980s, so it must have operated elsewhere prior to the U.K. It arrived at Pleasurewood on loan from Bembom Rides for the 1990 season, and lasted here for 5 seasons until the end of 1994. It was then leased to Camelot Theme Park in Lancashire for the 1995 season, and named “Excalibur”. It was replaced by “Excalibur II” – a Fabbri Evolution, for the 2001 season. This is only an educated guess – but it may well be the same ride that now features at OK Corral in France, with the Bemboms having some kind of link to the park.
Name: Sky Screamer
Ride Type: Voyager
Manufacturer: ESL Engineering (N. Ireland)
Year Built: 1994
One of only 4 machines built by ESL Engineering of Coleraine, Northern Ireland, it was manufactured in 1994.It spent its first few years at Fort Fun on the island of Jersey, before moving to Pleasurewood for the 1997 season. It left here at the end of the 2004 season, being purchased by the Bramhall family for use at Dunes Leisure Amusement Park in Mablethorpe. At the end of the 2012 season it joined the travelling fair circuit, owned by Simon Hockley. It has since passed to Alf Whitelegg [2013], and now Dean Bailey [2014].
One of many Waltzers built by renowned Scottish ride-makers Maxwell, this ride started off life with the Botton Brothers, destined for Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach. It was one of two Waltzers made for them this year, the other being for Skegness Pleasure Beach, where it remains today. The Great Yarmouth Waltzer remained in place until the end of the 1991 season, when it was sold off for use at Fort Fun on the island of Jersey. It arrived at Pleasurewood Hills for the 1998 season, a period when the larger amusement park attractions were being sent back to Bembom rides, and smaller travelling rides brought in the fill the gaps. The ride remained in place until 2006, when it was sold to ride manufacturer and dealer J.H. Rundle. The ride was refurbished and put up for sale, finally being purchased by Glynn Williams of Folly Farm vintage funfair in South Wales, and featuring there since the 2010 season.
Name: Super Trooper
Ride Type: Upright Paratrooper
Manufacturer: A.R.M. (U.K.)
Year Built: 1985
A.R.M. were a major ride manufacturer of the ‘80s and ‘90s, although often forgotten is their run of 3 upright paratroopers in 1985. All built as travelling rides, this particular machine was delivered to showman Swaley Smith, who held onto the ride for a number of years. The ride was sold to Pleasurewood Hills in 1998, and certainly wasn’t of the calibre of the machines that were leaving the park around this time. It sat here for a few years until being sold showman, manufacturer and dealer Keith Emmett. The ride’s fate after this is not known for sure, although it’s highly likely that it is now scrapped.
Name: Mega Dance
Ride Type: Orbiter
Manufacturer: Far Fabbri (Italy)
Year Built: 1994
Before arriving into the country, this ride was operated by Ordelman of the Netherlands, then later by Reiger of Austria. The ride debuted in the U.K. at Pleasurewood Hills in 1999, on loan from Southern showman Harry Ayers. The ride remained unchanged during its 4 year stay at the park, retaining its “Mega Dance” name, and presented like a fairground attraction as opposed to a more permanent Theme Park ride. In October 2002 Harry Ayers sold the ride to showmen David Crick & James Fendick, who in turn sold to M & D Taylor at some point in 2003. It then found its way back to Harry Ayers in 2005, who may have operated it at Dreamland Margate for a spell. It has since been sold to Swales Bailey in 2009, and then exported to France in July 2015.
There are a couple of possible origins of the Troika that operated at Pleasurewood Hills. One possibility is that the ride came from one of the Bembom Brothers’ other operations, maybe Kirchhorst amusement park in Germany. It may however be the machine that was operated by Pat Evans at Coney Beach, Porthcawl between 1977 and 1983, moving to Barry Island Pleasure Park with Jimmy Booth for the 1984 season. If this is the case the ride was manufactured in 1974 for German showman Schafer, before passing to Pat Evans in 1977. The ride’s final season at Pleasurewood Hills was 1995, before it was presumably stored. It was certainly advertised for sale or long term lease in 2001. The ride next emerged at the Bembom’s Loudoun Castle Theme Park in 2004, called “Crow’s Nest”. When the park closed at the end of 2010, the ride lay SBNO for a number of years, before being purchased by Cedar Fair (USA), for use at Carowinds amusement park in 2016.
Name: Voyager
Ride Type: Voyager
Manufacturer: C.A.H. – Carrousel Holland B.V. (Netherlands)
Year Built: 1985
C.A.H. only built two of these rides, and both ended up operating in the U.K. for a while. This particular one operated from new in Holland in 1985, before passing to U.K. showman Willie Webb in 1988. This type of ride was still relatively uncommon and gathered a lot of interest wherever it travelled. The ride passed to Pleasurewood Hills for one season in 1998, outclassing the similar “Sky Screamer”, before moving to Lightwater Valley for one season in 1999. The ride was then exported to Poland, where it may still operate today.
Wow, your knowledge is impressive Jay F! I'm intrigued, how do you know all this?
The difference in quality between the likes of the Waveswinger/Enterprise and Supertrooper/Canyon Raft is massive! Was the change in ride supplier simply a business decision by the incoming owners or do you know if there was there another reason why the arrangement with Bembom was abandoned?
Wow, your knowledge is impressive Jay F! I'm intrigued, how do you know all this?
The difference in quality between the likes of the Waveswinger/Enterprise and Supertrooper/Canyon Raft is massive! Was the change in ride supplier simply a business decision by the incoming owners or do you know if there was there another reason why the arrangement with Bembom was abandoned?
Haha, years of research! The National Fairground Archive's ride lists were very useful, I've now got my own with lots of additional bits I've picked up from various websites, books etc... I've got this kind of info for past & present rides from all of the amusement parks that have graced the U.K. - from the big hitters like Alton, Drayton & Blackpool, to the little heard of Aberavon, Seaburn and Seaton Carew!
As for the deal with Bembom, I'd imagine it was cost. Leasing half of your equipment from outside would never be a financially sound way to work in the long run really. It looks like the new owners didn't see the benefit of paying the prices that had been previously agreed. The rides that came in afterwards were definitely in a lower price bracket.
Name: Canyon Raft
Ride Type: Super Nova
Manufacturer: Soriani & Moser (Italy)
Year Built: 1989
This ride toured France as "Wild Canyon" between 1989 and 1998. It was then purchased by showman Harry Ayers, who loaned the ride to Pleasurewood Hills for a relatively short period. Following this spell at the park, the ride was sold on to showman Joseph Smith in July 2000, who travelled the ride with limited success. The ride experience was notably less thrilling than that of similar rides from other manufacturers such as Vekoma and Mondial. In 2002 the ride was exported from the U.K..
Name: Eye In The Sky
Ride Type: Observation Tower
Manufacturer: Schwarzkopf (Germany), modified by Bembom Rides
Year Built: 1971 / 1994
This ride actually started out its life as a different attraction. It was one of 2 Zeppelin rides built by Anton Schwarzkopf. It was delivered as a travelling ride to German showman Rosenzweig in 1971. Sometime around 1980 the ride was purchased by Bembom Brothers, who put it in their German amusement park at Kirchhorst. It next moved to Dreamland Margate for the 1987 season, and operated here until the end of 1991. The ride was then stored away, before being converted from a Zeppelin to a conventional Observation Tower. The Zeppelin gondolas remained on site in Margate for a number of years later. The ride opened in its new guise as "Eye In The Sky" at Pleasurewood Hills in 1994, lasting 5 seasons. Parts from this ride may have gone to Ponypark Slagharen in the Netherlands, where the only other Zeppelin built was also converted to an observation tower.
Name: Sky Hooks
Ride Type: Chair-O-Plane
Manufacturer: (German)
Many Chair-O-Planes were built in the Germany in the first half of the 20th Century, by firms such as Gotha and Gundelwein. British showmen imported them in great numbers between the 1920s and 1940s. This ride's U.K. life started with showman Tom Hurst. It then passed on to Albert Shaw, and then to Barry Parr in 1978. In 1983 it was purchased by John Armitage - a showman who also had various interests in a number of amusement parks over the years. In 1994 he stationed this ride at Ocean Beach South Shields. For the 1995 season he moved the ride along the coast to Bridlington, and then moved it yet again for the 1996 season - this time to Lightwater Valley (where he operated a number of attractions). In 1999 the ride was purchased by Pleasurewood Hills and remained here for many years. The ride was replaced by a waveswinger for 2016, and is now with ride dealer and manufacturer J.H. Rundle.
Name: Helter Skelter
Ride Type: (Lighthouse) Slip
Manufacturer: Windmill Engineering (U.K.)
Year Built: 1996
This traditional looking ride was actually built new for leaseholder Keith Turner of Spanish City (Whitley Bay) in 1996. Spanish City closed down at the end of the 2000 season meaning the sale of the ride stock that still remained there. This Helter Skelter went to Pleasurewood Hills, where it operated rather quietly for a short number of years. It then passed to showman and dealer Keith Emmett, who has since sold the ride on to be travelled by David Noyce.
Haha, years of research! The National Fairground Archive's ride lists were very useful, I've now got my own with lots of additional bits I've picked up from various websites, books etc...
Well, I really appreciate you taking the time to share your knowledge! I'll definitely be updating the main website with your info soon!
Haha, years of research! The National Fairground Archive's ride lists were very useful, I've now got my own with lots of additional bits I've picked up from various websites, books etc...
Well, I really appreciate you taking the time to share your knowledge! I'll definitely be updating the main website with your info soon!
Please do! Most of Pleasurewood's rides have pretty interesting backgrounds.
Name: Waveswinger
Ride Type: Waveswinger
Manufacturer: Zierer (Germany)
Year Built: unknown
The Waveswinger that operated at Pleasurewood Hills between 1988 and 1996 actually graced U.K. shores a few years prior to this. It also featured under Bembom Bros. at Dreamland Margate for the 1984 season only. Why it had such a short spell at Dreamland is not clear, although it may have been rented to another park 1985 to 1987 inclusive (not in the U.K. though). What happened to the ride after it left Pleasurewood is unknown, however Bembom Rides were offering a Zierer Waveswinger for sale or long term lease around 2002.
Name: Octopus
Ride Type: Polyp
Manufacturer: Soriani & Moser (Italy)
Year Built: 1994
This ride spent its entire U.K. spell under the ownership of Bertie Ayers Jnr., who received the ride new from Italy in March 1994. The ride was travelled extensively around the South of the country for many years; however its first spell in an amusement park came in 2003 when it was loaned to Pleasurewood Hills. This only lasted a single season, and the ride rejoined the travelling circuit. In 2005 the Octopus featured briefly at Dreamland Margate, which was by this point a selection of travelling rides on the old amusement park site. In 2012 the ride was exported to Dubai.
Name: Carousel
Ride Type: Platform Gallopers
Manufacturer: Zierer (Germany)
Year Built: unknown
The origins of this particular machine are unknown. Zierer didn’t build many of these platform gallopers, and its life definitely started out somewhere in mainland Europe in the late ‘70s or early ‘80s. It may be the same machine that spent time at Traum Land Park in Germany in the early ‘80s. What is known is that its first season at Pleasurewood Hills was 1985, on loan from Bembom Brothers. After its spell at the park, it may have been either stored or operated somewhere outside the U.K. It went to Loudoun Castle for the 2003 season, remaining there until the park’s final season in 2010. It was then listed for sale. Another set of Zierer platform gallopers was operated by the Bembom family in the U.K. at Dreamland Margate during the early ‘90s, at the same time Pleasurewood Hills had their set.
