Behind the Scenes of Snails and Fairy Tales at Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach

As part of our Behind the Scenes look into Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach, Jamie, Co-Director of Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach takes First Drop for a track walk to have a closer look at this classic attraction and its theming within. We uncover the rich history and unique theming of this classic attraction, while showcasing the impressive 2021 upgrades that represent a pivotal moment in its history.

Snails and Fairy Tales

If you talk about Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach, you are guaranteed that someone will mention the Snails and Fairy Tales ride which opened in 1966, along with the massive giant that stands outside!

The giant, brandishing his massive club down towards the shelled creatures hasn’t always had the friendly appearance he has today. Previously, he was a bearded male wearing a red shirt with a belt, blue jeans, and a buckled hat. In his right hand, he held a wooden club that, when moved, would leave a lasting impression on those who saw the statue standing next to the Old Woman’s Shoe. Today, the giant still stands, retaining the original structure inside, albeit not as scary as the original.

Just like The Haunted Hotel, the ride manufactured by Wadbrooke/Bottons has seen many different iterations throughout the years. However, the Snails featuring different outfits remain at its core, with guests wondering if the pirate snail, mexican snail, teacher snail, the police snail, the Scottish snail, the Sherlock Holmes snail, the regal snail, or another will be guiding them through the many fairy tales within.

Behind The Scenes

The most recent makeover in 2021 was spearheaded by Pleasure Beach co-directors, Jamie and his brother Aaron Jones, who aimed to maintain the charm and heritage of the original ride while introducing new elements.

The makeover drew on a team of experts, including scenic painters, signwriters, lighting specialists, landscapers, and sound and audio professionals, to create an immersive experience which saw the majority of the sets refreshed or replaced. Many 2D models or scenes were replaced with life-size and oversized models from beloved fairytales such as Jack and the Beanstalk, Hansel and Gretel, Peter Pan, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Aladdin, and Alice in Wonderland.

While the Pinocchio and Aladdin sections were cordoned off during our visit as they were being used for storage, from our tour it is apparent how much love has been put into the attraction, especially by Bob Cushing and Christine Bradnum, who have produced sets for theatre shows whilst maintaining paintwork on other Pleasure Beach rides. In addition, Ian Westbrook, a Norfolk-based designer who has produced professional set designs since 1985 for theatre, film, television, and event productions around the world, contributed to the Aladdin and Hansel and Gretel sections, adding new props and dimensions to the ride.

Now more enchanting than ever, the Snails and Fairy Tales ride bridges the past and the future, entertaining all who journey through its fairy tale world. This reimagined attraction showcases Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach’s dedication to creating experiences that will leave a lasting impression on future generations, just as it did with their elders!