Pleasureland opened its doors to huge Airsoft weekend as teams fight it out in ‘Pripyat’ battleground

Southport Pleasureland was transformed into an Airsoft themed park last weekend for a huge civil war style shootout.

A massed group of Airsoft players – a sport where teams enact makeshift battles with replica guns and grenades – descended on the Southport park from Friday March 17 to Sunday March 19 for a weekend long event.

Experts worked alongside Pleasureland Boss Norman Wallis to create an environment based on a besieged war zone before two teams went head to head for 72 hours of non stop play-fighting.

The Pleasureland event was a huge success with the layout of the park and also the old zoo area providing the perfect environment for the activity. The team worked tirelessly to prepare the park not just for the battles but also to accommodate the campers. Pleasureland were able to replenish the fighters’ lost carbs with great food and drink and comedians were also brought in for Saturday night entertainment.

Pleasureland boss Norman Wallis said: “We were very excited to host this event which was the first of its kind in the area.

“We have been planning this for many months. After a lot of hard work the participants were able to enjoy a fabulous event that saw huge groups who had travelled from far and wide fighting it out across most of the park area – plus the Arena ground and the Zombie Zoo in which other exciting events are now planned for later this year.

“It certainly made for a great battle scene and the noise probably had some of the town wondering if war had been declared!

“The Airsoft event comes during the run up to Pleasureland’s official opening on April 1. However we do expect a much more peaceful offering over Easter!”

Oh dear oh dear oh dear - what a bunch of 'walters'.

Originally Posted by gazaprop

Oh dear oh dear oh dear - what a bunch of 'walters'.

Better than hanging around outside KFC though

Originally Posted by gazaprop

Oh dear oh dear oh dear - what a bunch of 'walters'.

You couldn't be more wrong. It's a team game you should try at some point. Lots of armed forces use it as an off duty exercise as do a lot of Police Officers. Like all Hobbies you get to meet people from all walks of life & like any team sport the players wear a team strip. Some teams model themselves on British, US, Russian Forces or don't model themselves on anyone, just play for fun. It's played by people all over the world & started off in Japan. No one thinks it's an alternative to serving in the Military but it does give you a more realistic view of your chances in Combat.
There are various types of games, from capture the Flag played on a game by game basis or games like the one played over the weekend with objectives or fully immersive games played on MOD sites with Helicopter insertions, vehicles & full on room clearances. It promotes fair team playing & teaches responsibility to young players.
On occasion it has been used by the Police to train their teams tactics using limited capacity magazines for realistic ammunition use & explosive devices for room clearances. As well as troops returning from theatre for decompression time. Players travel from abroad to play at sites in the UK raising useful revenue for the Ministry of Defence Estates.
On top of everything else it's a self Policing hobby whose members wouldn't hesitate to shop someone misusing a realistic imitation firearm. It also gives people something to do which is why there are a lot of families who play together. I've been playing since 2004 & I've made lots of friends.

Just what we need, people running around, faces covered, and imitation firearms.
Clever stuff eh!

Originally Posted by Sproggy the Cat

Just what we need, people running around, faces covered, and imitation firearms.
Clever stuff eh!

What's the problem? 10,000 people play at what are private controlled events each year. They are well aware of public fears & the public will never see a toy gun at these events unless you force your way in to the event or pay to play. If you have ever been shot in the teeth by one of these guns you will know why they cover their faces;either that or they fear the back lash of people being scared of legally held toys?

A quick question?

How many people carrying guns did you see in Southport over this weekend?

I ask because you wouldn't have known about it if it wasn't for the local news sites publicising the Fairground making some money during their down season?