Barry Island Pleasure Park & Funfair

Easily the worst place i have ever been, i love going to classic UK seaside destinations, even the grotty ones usually have a bit of charm, but not Barry Island. The pleasure beach is full of broken down rides and looks like a scene from a disaster movie. I could go into detail, but you wouldn’t want me to.

I returned to Barry Island after 34 years and was hoping to find the Disney Land of my younger years. How disappionted was I. Walking through the gates of the Pleasure Park it looked tired and run down; seeing rides that in the past i'd had so much fun on, just idle, silent and derelict. Moving on to the promenade, this looked more cheerful with lawned areas adorned with floral centre pieces, stood here looking out across the wonderful bay, with it's lovely sandy beach flanked either side by rocks, which of course mean rock pools. Coming off the beach you had plenty of food outlets to choose from, in fact i would say too many. There were arcades, beach shops, selling the usual paraphernalia plus Gavin & Stacey T.shirts and Mugs etc. This pattern of outlets repeated itself all the way back to the pleasure park. I left Barry Island sad in the fact that it seems to have been forgotten. It's clinging onto life by those that believe it has a future and the threads that the Gavin & Stacey show had sewn into it. C'mon the powers that be in Wales, you have a little gem here but it could be a diamond.

Oh dear, what on earth happened to Barry Island Pleasure Park? You can't really call this run down, tired looking area a funfair any more. The log flume that was the star of the show is no longer running and has become the home to the local seagulls. The one roller-coaster they did have now looks like a piece of scaffolding that someone forgot to take down. The only entertainment left are the over priced fairground games to win a shabby dirty looking giant teddy bear. The rides left don't look the safest machines in the world and I didn't take the fancy to trying any of them out! I was really surprised to find the fair in such a state since the area has had a massive tourist boost lately from the hit TV series - Gavin and Stacey. But never the less gone are the good days of visiting Barry Island fair and in my opinion, the area would now be better if the fair was taken down or had a serious facelift. A serious eye sour for the locals and visitors.

This is one of he most embarrassing so called Pleasure Park or Funfair I have ever seen in the whole of UK. I have travelled the UK quite a bit in the last 18 years and I have not seen a place as run down as this. The whole place needs a facelift and some investment. At present it is not a place I would invite my friend's kids to.

This place has become a huge disappointment, I used to go there when I was a child and it was great. The whole place needs a facelife and some money invested into it. I don’t know when the funfair is even open but there’s always the beach which has slowly improved over the years.

most boring place ive ever been to nothing there. would not go again

Lately, this is disapponting as it is really looking tired and dishevelled at the moment but this place can be fantastic! I’ve hundreds of fantastic childhood memories of the Pleasure Park and i am sure that with some much needed investment and attention, this can be restored to it’s former glory. (Hence the two stars)

It is in a fantastic location with coffee shops, cafe’s, bars and the beach and promenade - and right next to a train station (also in need of a facelift).

Quite often i’ve got off the train and seen disappointed prospective fairground customers - they’ve usually travelled far to come for a day out at the fairground - only to see it shut.

I couldnt tell you when it’s open - so if you are coming to Barry Island to visit the Pleasure park then dont expect it to be open - if it is, it’s a bonus!