One of the biggest (and most famous) arcades in the UK has burnt down :(

Hey gang,

Just to let you know, that the Grand Pier in Weston-Super-Mare, United Kingdom burnt down to the ground today, taking with it a huge amount of arcade kit and childhood memories.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/7528165.stm

 

one way or another, arcades are doomed

 

burn the failing activity -> get insurance money...

in any case hang around there for trash fishing or any sale/auction. you might go home with some childhood memories

 

Probably not the case this time as it was just purchased by new owners in February and he spent nearly a million pounds installing new rides and games... It's bad enough that it burned down, but that must REALLY suck for the new owners...

They said the last time it burned down (1930s) it took 3 years to rebuild it...

 

Well it wasn't gonna be around forever. Just look at the bright side & move on folks!

 

Aw man, I loved that place as a kid. Every summer we'd hope that out parents would be heading that way just so we could visit the pier arcade. Sad, sad news.

Yakumo

 

^ Idiot.

 

You say that, but this place was always rammed in the summertime.

The new owners (who are actually locals) have said that one way or another, they will get it rebuilt.

 

Yep, it will definately be rebuilt, looking forward to it.

 

Tragic. I hope no one was hurt and that a phoenix rises from the ashes.

 

for your knowing, it's a profitable affair, trust me.

 

Yeaaaaah, right.

And just to let you know, the Weston Pier was a profitable affair, trust me. Else, why would someone buy it for over a £1million and it be packed to the rafters? Oldengineer was calling you an idiot purely because you have no idea what us UKians are going on about, and that you'd think that someone would burn down a historic and famous building for the insurance money.

 

i was talking about arcades generally..

arcades in spain are mostly something from the past

as metallica would say (also in the past!! hhaha)

"sad but true"

 

Yeah cos no one in the UK would do worse things for money. Like say stab someone for a mobile phone.

 

Saw it on TV, didnt know there was an arcade there though

 

A chav didn't buy the pier though. Big difference.

 

It's an omen, ooo.

Seriously though, that really sucks. I used to have funs at arcades here in America when I was a kid, and it depresses me to know that the few remaining ones that actually get good business are dying one by one. =(