Mablethorpe Seaside Fun Fair - Rides Past & Present - Waltzer Dodgems Twister Paratrooper & More!

[@Zera8070]

Thanks for the video and memories, I worked for Albert for 2/3 years in the late 70's on the Dodgems, Big Wheel, Gallopers etc. Great Times, and fantastic memories John Westwood

[@jonno1112]

Thanks for the memories. I remember going every couple of weeks with my parents in the summer throughout the 70s and 80s as a kid. I remember there was a speedway where the paraglider is and it used to swap with the trabant every couple of seasons. Also the big arcade on the high street where the speedway ended up had some really fast dodgems that would slide great. I unfortunately used to have to watch my old man play donkey derby which was quite close to lord bros arcade for ages whilst I was whittering for another 10p. Dunno wot happened to that it went one year and never came back.

[@BigDavesRetroShed]

I'm glad the video brought back some happy childhood memories for you, and it's great to hear you share those and your experiences, as personally I only discovered this place in 2001. I remember at that time the big arcade still had some fair rides out the back in the vast domed warehouse type area, including those dodgems you mentioned, but mostly juvenile rides. Is this the arcade you're referring to as Lord Bros arcade? I only remember their big old shop.When all the rides were taken out, it was used for indoor car boot sales, complete with buckets catching water! The arcade didn't really change for years after that, and then in recent years, it's all been modernised, merged and transformed into 'The Mirage'. Jacksons on the corner across the road has also been modernised, a shame really, as when I first went in the early 00's they still had some rare classic games, Star Wars cockpit, Pole Position cockpit, and a few others, especially old 60s/70s electro-mechanical games, and loads of Barcrest MPU3 era fruit machines like Black Hole, and Rat Race, I wonder if they were sold, or maybe in storage.It must have been awesome back then with the Trabant & Speedway, rides you rarely see anywhere these days, so thanks again for stopping by, and taking the time to share.

[@milliepaulaosborne]

I have been coming here since I was 6 mouths old I love it here I cry when I leave

[@awolwakefield]

I used to go every year to Mablethorpe as a child..The original twister "The Whirl" @ 08:22 i think was owned by the Lord Brothers but not sure..It was much faster than the suspended modern types we have nowadays "Probably in storage somewhere" The indoor fair you mentioned was called Funland & the biggest ride in there was the dodgems "Bumping Cars" Happy times ;0)

[@sambee8982]

There are a number of Showman's rides that come and go; Dunes Leisure Funfair is a semipermanent fair.

[@BigDavesRetroShed]

@SWFC1212 Yes, we've been to Mablethorpe a lot over the last 8 years (had a caravan in Lincolnshire until last year) and in that time, we noticed a lot of ride changes.The biggest change though was when the indoor fair closed which was in the building behind one of the arcades, and is now just used for car boot sales.Mind you, the building really needs pulling down, it's in a really bad state, leaking roof etc, and yet they revamped the arcade a few years back, shame they didn't get a new sign!

[@waltzerman1]

yes it was owned by lord brothers.it has since been converted to a suspended twister .you can look it up on the nfa website

[@awolwakefieldyorkshire]

The old twister was called The Whirl and was super fast. I have it on video somewhere. Funland which is now called Mirage on the High Street had the fastest dodgems during the 60/70s

[@BigDavesRetroShed]

Hi DodgemMan Unfortunately not, and don't like FB, but have always been fascinated with travelling fun fairs since I was a kid.It's not just the rides, but the whole atmosphere you get especially at night with all the lights and music, although I miss hearing the sound of the generators!.It's nice now though to be able to take my son to the fairs, whose favourite ride is still the Twister and Dodgems, I guess the oldies are still the best!

[@cm66uk]

Does any one else remember the speedway? Like a waltzer but with bikes, used to be at the back where the dodgems are now!!! Would have been late 70's, they would let us stand up in the middle like if you were working on em! Wouldnt happen now with all the health and safety ball..

[@BigDavesRetroShed]

@stingfan1000 Good to hear your happy memories! We wouldn't have discovered Mablethorpe at all, if it wasn't for the same Golden Sands becoming our selection out of a random choice for a Sun holiday back in 2001, we like it so much, especially the beach that we've been going back ever since, although now we've bought a touring caravan, we probably won't be going back ourselves for while, as there's a lot more of Britain we'd like to discover, if only we could afford the petrol to get there! lol

[@BigDavesRetroShed]

@guyonlinenow Great to hear your memories! Funny enough, I'd never have discovered Mablethorpe if it hadn't been for the fact that Golden Sands was our winning choice on a Sun Holiday about 10 years ago!.I'd never been to Lincolnshire at all before then, only as far north on the east coast as Hunstanton/Heacham, but we had to give 4 choices, and Golden Sands, Mablethorpe was I think our 3rd choice. Is there anyone that has any memories of the train service Mablethorpe used to have?

[@sambee8982]

Hi Dave M, I've looked around Mablethorpe funfair last year, and the place doesn't interest me because it doesn't have a Miami (that's my favourite ride type), but if I was a showman, and I decided to own a Miami, I would go permanent and own one at Mablethorpe funfair. :) No fair should be without a Miami ride or a Freak Out ride (or even both), as hardly any fair is without one. Bottons Pleasure Beach at Skegness has a Freak Out ride this year, which makes their fair big again, and that's where I also first became interested in rides, and it still remains my favourite amusement park to this day.....

[@lettiabrown5938]

Sam Bee whooo go skegness

[@prosinger21]

I worked for Albert & Dorothy Gray for many years starting as a 12 year old about 1960. I've seen lots of rides and fair lads come and go, some good ones and some bad ones. I worked mainly on the Big wheel with guys like Pete Charlton, Dave Moore, Roger Morris Raymond Ward and others. I also worked on the Gallopers and sometimes on the dogems. Others I remember like yesterday are Doug Manning, Old Fred Thompson, Kieth & Jess Lord had rides up there and remember funny times like someone getting shot in the but by a stray pellet, More memories than I care to bring back...lol.. Happy days and the love for bright lights is still with me.

[@BigDavesRetroShed]

Hi Brian, so nice to hear from someone that worked there, to get a bit of it's history, and your memories, always appreciated. I've never been involved with fairgrounds directly, but from a young age have always found them an exciting place to be, with all the amazing light displays and loud music, happy days indeed. If you have any old photo's of the fair you'd be willing to share, I'd be happy to make another video showing how it was, with more information about the ride owners etc, so if you can, please get in touch.

[@wolfie7891]

1؛&ض1

[@prosinger21]

+Dave M Hi, I started a facebook page MABLETHORPE FAIR You're quite welcome to use anything I've put on there. I only have photos I'm afraid.

[@dayahmila4314]

Brian Dudhill

[@peterhoult]

The old Dodgems have got some Barberi Beach Buggies mixed in with the Reverchons and some that I can't identify

[@BigDavesRetroShed]

@LordReserei01 Good to hear this brought back many happy memories for you, so here's a few updates. Monty's Fish & Chips won an award about 4-5 years ago, but was eventually up for sale.The Clock (rebuilt after a fire) is probably the best chip shop now. The Funland indoor fair closed down about 7 years ago, shame!.Probably due to the leaky roof, so is (still?) used for indoor boot sales, the arcade was revamped though. The Beck as it is now, had new owners, a major revamp, & does great meals!

[@delboy4407]

I went of the big wheel and my mate who was waiting wore my McDonald's i'd chucked up lol

[@BigDavesRetroShed]

@IHATEUSERNAMESQWERTY Good to hear your memories of Mablethorpe Mark, and I'm glad you enjoyed this video.

[@pinkpink5078]

The Miami ride travels now cant think who with but its at Nottingham goose fair ever year

[@paulwelford3778]

they are my favourite places

[@pinkpink5078]

the Miami ride now i believe travels the country as im sure i seen it at nottz goose fair x

[@BigDavesRetroShed]

Please don't resort to using foul language, children watch these videos, and quite honestly a stupid comment, as there's no comparison, this is a small beach fun fair which is free to enter, not a theme park, so obviously the rides would be totally different, as with most fun fairs.

[@ssilver80]

Is that Miami the one that now stands in Hunstanton?

[@mafiagranny]

has the ghost train changed much? from photos it seems the facade had changed since when i last visited.

[@SeanyboyGaming]

I'm going to mablethorpe today!

[@BigDavesRetroShed]

@thecheenomaster Hmm, sorry I'm not sure. I chose it after listening to loads in the audioswap list, and can't remember what it was.It normally shows on a link below the video clip when you use that, but I see it isn't on this one, sorry I can't help.

[@BigDavesRetroShed]

None taken, but the Sizzler or Twister, or whatever you prefer to call it is the same as any others as far as enjoying the ride goes, but have to agree I've been on faster and better decorated Twisters, such as the one in my Stevens Funfair video, which is Stevens own, and is the modern fold out trailer type.A more exciting version of this ride is called an orbiter, or extreme orbiter, now that is good as the whole ride lifts up, and then the arms with the cars tilt outwards.

[@peterhoult]

Are you a member of any of the fairground forums? There are some good ones on FB.

[@Polysixchick]

Big Rides: Maxwell Paratrooper, Hammond/Sonacase Twist, Majestic "Ninja" dodgem cars, Jackson Waltzer, Old Rides: Supercar Ghost Train (I think), Jackson Twist, Dodgems are made by Majestic/SBD and there is the "Buggy", "Azzurre" and I don't know the blue dodgem model, Double swinging inverter ship (don't know the make), ARM UK Trabant (I think), FGL Miami Trip

[@BigDavesRetroShed]

Polysixchick (Synth player?) Thanks so much for adding the manufacturer details, good info to have. I didn't realise Supercar made any rides other than Dodgems as that's what I remember from way back. Used to have them at Dawlish Warren (anyone remember the Saturday Night Fever inspired track around 82/83?) and Billing Aquadrome.

[@Polysixchick]

@@BigDavesRetroShed Supercar made quite a few leisure rides although famous for their dodgems, they also made helter skelters too

[@BigDavesRetroShed]

You sure know your dodgems! Yeah, quite an assortment weren't they? Shame they never had any Supercar ones amongst them back then.

[@paulwelford3778]

i love funfairs

[@mafiagranny]

Edit...just saw the end of your vid!

[@willkite7275]

i went today :3

[@pinkpink5078]

In the bit where u put rides that time forgot they are all still working rides they just travel with different companies :)

[@harveystarbuck5363]

Good

[@thecheenomaster]

Whats this song called?

[@SnakeYikes]

My family owns the dodgems

[@ashiatuturay3299]

it dosent look old

[@hayleytovey6706]

the sizzler is rubbish no offence

[@darren3965]

mablethorpe is crap nothing there totally BORING !!!!!

[@katiemay6880]

Do not go on the ride I felt like I was gonna fall who lie fuk

[@ibskeemin]

Whats this song called???

[@squibbz8680]

Chad wild clay hacker