Bosses at Clarence Pier in Southsea unveil new Mad Mouse and Tidal Wave rollercoasters – and they’re open now

THRILL-SEEKERS will be sent twisting, turning and spinning into the summer by two new rollercoasters at a city amusement park.
By ron Melton
Published 10th Apr 2019, 19:00 GMT
Updated 10th Apr 2019, 19:07 GMT
Jason Mansel on the Mad Mouse rollercoaster at Clarence Pier - one of two new rides introduced at the amusement park. Picture: Habibur RahmanJason Mansel on the Mad Mouse rollercoaster at Clarence Pier - one of two new rides introduced at the amusement park. Picture: Habibur Rahman
Jason Mansel on the Mad Mouse rollercoaster at Clarence Pier - one of two new rides introduced at the amusement park. Picture: Habibur Rahman

Bosses at Clarence Pier have unveiled Mad Mouse and Tidal Wave – two new rides they hope will draw in the crowds during their current open season. 

The additions take the ride count at the Southsea site to 13, after it was left looking bare as equipment was whisked away for maintenance during off-season at the end of last year. 

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Gill Norman, the director of Clarence Pier, said: ‘Mad Mouse is like going back to the rides of the 70s. 

Jason Mansel on the Mad Mouse rollercoaster at Clarence Pier - one of two new rides introduced at the amusement park. Picture: Habibur RahmanJason Mansel on the Mad Mouse rollercoaster at Clarence Pier - one of two new rides introduced at the amusement park. Picture: Habibur Rahman
Jason Mansel on the Mad Mouse rollercoaster at Clarence Pier - one of two new rides introduced at the amusement park. Picture: Habibur Rahman

‘It’s got a lot more sharp twists turns than a traditional coaster and goes up about 14m. 

‘The other, Tidal Wave, is one of the country’s first spinning coasters. 

‘It’s more of a family ride, with a single train with five carriages, and it goes up about 10m.’ 

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Mad Mouse can take five single carriages of four passengers, while Tidal Wave will welcome revellers across five carriages on one single train. 

The Tidal Wave rollercoaster at Clarence Pier, in Southsea - one of two new rides introduced at the site. Picture: Habibur RahmanThe Tidal Wave rollercoaster at Clarence Pier, in Southsea - one of two new rides introduced at the site. Picture: Habibur Rahman
The Tidal Wave rollercoaster at Clarence Pier, in Southsea - one of two new rides introduced at the site. Picture: Habibur Rahman

It is hoped their arrival will inspire a surge of summer custom for the site, which is also home to the 35m-high, £750,000 Solent Wheel. 

Gill said: ‘That’s exactly why we’ve bought them. We absolutely want to keep the customers coming in.’ 

Other attractions at Clarence Pier include the high ropes course Skytrail, a waltzer, dodgems, a circus train and carousel horses. 

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Popular rollercoaster Skyways was taken down last year for a full refurbishment. 

The new Mad Mouse rollercoaster at Clarence Pier. Picture: Habibur RahmanThe new Mad Mouse rollercoaster at Clarence Pier. Picture: Habibur Rahman
The new Mad Mouse rollercoaster at Clarence Pier. Picture: Habibur Rahman

Bosses at the site said this is standard practice and it could return for the 2020 season.’ 

Riders between 95cm and 1.2m tall can ride Tidal Wave accompanied, with anyone taller than that able to ride on their own. Mad Mouse has a minimum height rule of 1.2m. 

Admission to rides at Clarence Pier is permitted via individual tokens or a day-long wristbands. 

To learn more, go to clarencepier.co.uk

Related topics:Southsea