Great expectations

ADRIAN CAFFERY TAKES HIS FAMILY ON A GOOD OLD TRADITIONAL SEASIDE BREAK

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THE Roller Coaster at Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach has been threatening to knock the blocks off holidaymakers ever since it opened in 1932.

Countless numbers of thrill-seekers have faced its scary ‘head-chopper’ drop in which the train dives under the supporting beams of the wooden structure. For all the world it seems like you're going to lose your bonce - and even on repeat rides I was ducking and screaming with eyes shut tight.

Ridden by Madness in the video for their 1982 single House of Fun, it is one of only two “scenic railways” still operating in the UK.

And adding to the hair-raising excitement, there are none of the usual track brakes used by modern rides - instead there's a “brakesperson” aboard to manually control its speed.

Its enduring popularity can be attributed to its views of the beach and the length of the ride, around about three minutes and 20 seconds, depending on the brakesperson’s style.

But if it all sounds too hairy scary, you can admire the Roller Coaster (and the beach) from the placid monorail, which has been travelling over and even through the structure since 1987.

The expansive Pleasure Beach is also packed with other traditional rides, including a ghost train, fun house, dodgems, pirate ship, carousel, twister, cups & saucers and flying elephants.

On the day of our family half-term visit, 15 minutes after the park closed, there was an impressive fireworks display on the beach (also every Wednesday during the summer school holidays). We admired them from the Pleasure Beach Gardens, which is home to go-karts, an upside down house, crazy golf and the award-winning Sara’s Tearooms.