Thursday 27th November 2025
Major milestones reached in build of Pleasure Beach Resort’s new £8.72M ride
Construction of Pleasure Beach Resort’s new mega ride, Aviktas, has moved forward at a rapid rate – and has already completely transformed the Blackpool skyline.In the most visual chapter of the build to date, four 16 tonne legs have been fully erected, reaching an impressive height of 88 feet.And while the colossal structure already looks imposing on the seafront, it is set to get even higher – once complete, it will swing a further 50 feet to reach its top height of 138 feet.The motor gear box, which controls the ride’s power and movement, was added this week, alongside the brake disc, which slows Aviktas to a stop at the end of its cycle. A maintenance platform has also been installed, and a temporary support beam put in place.Finally, a crucial part of the build has been fitted: The ride’s swinging golden “arm”, to which the 40-seater pendulum will attach.The pendulum will arc 120 degrees over the coastline, becoming the tallest ride of its kind in the UK.Pleasure Beach Resort CEO Amanda Thompson previously shared her pride at the ride’s arrival, and reaffirmed Pleasure Beach’s commitment to “creating unforgettable experiences, and keeping Blackpool at the heart of UK tourism.”Now, excited fans are sharing their views on social media, with Laura Morley writing: “That thing is a monster! Can’t wait to see it up and running.”Sue Richardson said: “That’s a big swing! I’m getting War of the Worlds vibes.”While Jack Holden posted: “And with that, what will be the UK’s best flat ride has officially gone vertical! I’m so excited for this.”An opening date is yet to be revealed, but Aviktas will make its debut in the 2026 season, which doubles as Pleasure Beach's 130th year of operation.Pleasure Beach has also announced a special VIP preview event where fans can be the first to ride Aviktas, priced at £50 – although the date is still to be announced. Tickets and more information are available at: www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com/events/aviktas-ride-previewFans can follow Aviktas’ journey at www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com/project-2026
Construction of Pleasure Beach Resort’s new mega ride, Aviktas, has moved forward at a rapid rate – and has already completely transformed the Blackpool skyline.In the most visual chapter of the build to date, four 16 tonne legs have been fully erected, reaching an impressive height of 88 feet.And while the colossal structure already looks imposing on the seafront, it is set to get even higher – once complete, it will swing a further 50 feet to reach its top height of 138 feet.The motor gear box, which controls the ride’s power and movement, was added this week, alongside the brake disc, which slows Aviktas to a stop at the end of its cycle. A maintenance platform has also been installed, and a temporary support beam put in place.Finally, a crucial part of the build has been fitted: The ride’s swinging golden “arm”, to which the 40-seater pendulum will attach.The pendulum will arc 120 degrees over the coastline, becoming the tallest ride of its kind in the UK.Pleasure Beach Resort CEO Amanda Thompson previously shared her pride at the ride’s arrival, and reaffirmed Pleasure Beach’s commitment to “creating unforgettable experiences, and keeping Blackpool at the heart of UK tourism.”Now, excited fans are sharing their views on social media, with Laura Morley writing: “That thing is a monster! Can’t wait to see it up and running.”Sue Richardson said: “That’s a big swing! I’m getting War of the Worlds vibes.”While Jack Holden posted: “And with that, what will be the UK’s best flat ride has officially gone vertical! I’m so excited for this.”An opening date is yet to be revealed, but Aviktas will make its debut in the 2026 season, which doubles as Pleasure Beach's 130th year of operation.Pleasure Beach has also announced a special VIP preview event where fans can be the first to ride Aviktas, priced at £50 – although the date is still to be announced. Tickets and more information are available at: www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com/events/aviktas-ride-previewFans can follow Aviktas’ journey at www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com/project-2026
Monday 10th November 2025
Pleasure Beach Resort’s much anticipated £8.72M ride has today been delivered to the Blackpool attraction, and the huge mission to see it constructed is underway.
Fans of Pleasure Beach have been eagerly awaiting the new ride – which will be the tallest of its kind in the UK – since it was announced by bosses earlier this year.
Today, the giant spinning pendulum structure has finally arrived on the seafront.
The new ride, which reaches 138 feet at its highest point, will see 40 riders swing 120 degrees skywards, over epic views of the coastline.
And the ride’s sheer height (almost double the size of Drayton Manor’s Maelstrom ride, which takes a similar format on a smaller scale) will drastically change the way Blackpool’s famous coastline will look.
An opening date is yet to be revealed, but the ride will make its debut in the 2026 season.
Amanda Thompson OBE, CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort, said:
“This record-breaking attraction will transform both our skyline and the thrill-factor for 2026. Seeing its arrival has been a real moment of pride for everyone here at Pleasure Beach; we see the arrival of Aviktas as a statement of our commitment to creating unforgettable experiences, and keeping Blackpool at the heart of UK tourism.”
Last month, Pleasure Beach hit another milestone in the construction of Aviktas as piling work completed.
Piling is the process of driving structural piles into the ground to create a strong foundation to build on, and it’s a major portion of the groundwork for the new ride.
Before that, more than 200 letters (some which came from as far as Ireland, Scotland and even Germany) were buried underneath the spot where Aviktas will stand.
Pleasure Beach asked fans to send in their messages, which were added to a time capsule alongside memorabilia including ride parts, a document detailing what the world is like in 2025, a USB containing photos of staff, and blueprints for Aviktas.
“Easter eggs” from the new ride were also added to the ‘Abyss’ scare zone at Pleasure Beach’s ‘Journey to Hell’ Halloween events, which were spotted by some eagle-eyed fans.
Guests still have a few more chances to enjoy their last rides of the year. Pleasure Beach is open weekends until the end of November, when the 2025 season closes with an ‘end of season’ firework display from 5pm on Saturday November 29.
Fans of Pleasure Beach have been eagerly awaiting the new ride – which will be the tallest of its kind in the UK – since it was announced by bosses earlier this year.
Today, the giant spinning pendulum structure has finally arrived on the seafront.
The new ride, which reaches 138 feet at its highest point, will see 40 riders swing 120 degrees skywards, over epic views of the coastline.
And the ride’s sheer height (almost double the size of Drayton Manor’s Maelstrom ride, which takes a similar format on a smaller scale) will drastically change the way Blackpool’s famous coastline will look.
An opening date is yet to be revealed, but the ride will make its debut in the 2026 season.
Amanda Thompson OBE, CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort, said:
“This record-breaking attraction will transform both our skyline and the thrill-factor for 2026. Seeing its arrival has been a real moment of pride for everyone here at Pleasure Beach; we see the arrival of Aviktas as a statement of our commitment to creating unforgettable experiences, and keeping Blackpool at the heart of UK tourism.”
Last month, Pleasure Beach hit another milestone in the construction of Aviktas as piling work completed.
Piling is the process of driving structural piles into the ground to create a strong foundation to build on, and it’s a major portion of the groundwork for the new ride.
Before that, more than 200 letters (some which came from as far as Ireland, Scotland and even Germany) were buried underneath the spot where Aviktas will stand.
Pleasure Beach asked fans to send in their messages, which were added to a time capsule alongside memorabilia including ride parts, a document detailing what the world is like in 2025, a USB containing photos of staff, and blueprints for Aviktas.
“Easter eggs” from the new ride were also added to the ‘Abyss’ scare zone at Pleasure Beach’s ‘Journey to Hell’ Halloween events, which were spotted by some eagle-eyed fans.
Guests still have a few more chances to enjoy their last rides of the year. Pleasure Beach is open weekends until the end of November, when the 2025 season closes with an ‘end of season’ firework display from 5pm on Saturday November 29.
Friday 25th July 2025
Earlier this year, Pleasure Beach Resort unveiled plans for a brand-new £8.72M ride set to open in 2026 – and today the park has released the first CGI video of what it will look like.
The towering 138ft gyro swing will fly riders alongside the world-famous Big One and parallel to the coast, which can be seen for the first time in new footage created by the park’s creative team.Named Aviktas, the ride will be the ‘tallest of its kind’ in the UK, and will drastically change the way the seaside resort’s famous coastline will look.
The giant spinning pendulum ride swings 120 degrees and will seat 40 riders who face outwards with their legs dangling, and experience an exhilarating feeling of flying.Amanda Thompson OBE, CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort said: “We’re known for going big at Pleasure Beach, and Aviktas is exactly that.
“We hope by releasing this video, guests will be able to understand the mammoth scale of our new investment, and the huge impact it’ll have on our park and the industry as a whole. This ride will be colossal, daunting, exhilarating and an incredible addition to the town.”
Although other swinging pendulum rides exist in the UK, none come close to the Pleasure Beach model in terms of height. For example, Drayton Manor’s Maelstrom reaches approximately 74 feet, with the new ride almost double that in size.Prior to its name reveal, Aviktas was referred to as ‘Project 2026’, until park bosses dropped its official name back in May. Its reveal left fans scratching their heads, but the park insisted it was staying tight-lipped on how the ride will come to life.Amanda added: “This is the first small tease of what we have planned, there’s plenty more teasers on the way!”Work is well underway on the former Bowl-A-Drome site, which will become the home of Aviktas. Demolition work started at the beginning of the season, with the area now completely clear of any pervious building.“Keep an eye on our socials, as what may now seem mysterious, will eventually be revealed!”, added Amanda.Aviktas will open in 2026.Guests who are wanting to visit the Pleasure Beach this season can do so by booking online in advance at https://www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com/ for the biggest savings.
The towering 138ft gyro swing will fly riders alongside the world-famous Big One and parallel to the coast, which can be seen for the first time in new footage created by the park’s creative team.Named Aviktas, the ride will be the ‘tallest of its kind’ in the UK, and will drastically change the way the seaside resort’s famous coastline will look.
The giant spinning pendulum ride swings 120 degrees and will seat 40 riders who face outwards with their legs dangling, and experience an exhilarating feeling of flying.Amanda Thompson OBE, CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort said: “We’re known for going big at Pleasure Beach, and Aviktas is exactly that.
“We hope by releasing this video, guests will be able to understand the mammoth scale of our new investment, and the huge impact it’ll have on our park and the industry as a whole. This ride will be colossal, daunting, exhilarating and an incredible addition to the town.”
Although other swinging pendulum rides exist in the UK, none come close to the Pleasure Beach model in terms of height. For example, Drayton Manor’s Maelstrom reaches approximately 74 feet, with the new ride almost double that in size.Prior to its name reveal, Aviktas was referred to as ‘Project 2026’, until park bosses dropped its official name back in May. Its reveal left fans scratching their heads, but the park insisted it was staying tight-lipped on how the ride will come to life.Amanda added: “This is the first small tease of what we have planned, there’s plenty more teasers on the way!”Work is well underway on the former Bowl-A-Drome site, which will become the home of Aviktas. Demolition work started at the beginning of the season, with the area now completely clear of any pervious building.“Keep an eye on our socials, as what may now seem mysterious, will eventually be revealed!”, added Amanda.Aviktas will open in 2026.Guests who are wanting to visit the Pleasure Beach this season can do so by booking online in advance at https://www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com/ for the biggest savings.
Tuesday 20th May 2025
Pleasure Beach Resort in Blackpool has set the thrill-seeking world abuzz by announcing the name of its much-anticipated new ride – Aviktas – which promises to be the tallest of its kind in the UK.
Originally teased as Project 2026 earlier this year, the £8.72 million attraction has remained shrouded in mystery—until now. While full details remain tightly under wraps, what is known is already turning heads: Aviktas is set to tower at 138 feet, a height nearly double that of any similar ride in the country.
Aviktas is a Gyro Swing, a giant pendulum-style ride that spins as it swings riders high into the air. With 40 outward-facing seats and legs dangling free, guests will experience the thrill of flying during each 120-degree swing.
“This is a ride like nothing we’ve ever created before,” said Amanda Thompson OBE, CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort. “While we’re keeping the full experience under wraps for now, I can promise it will be truly extraordinary.”
The ride's name, coined by the resort’s own creative team, has sparked curiosity among fans who are now eagerly speculating on what the theming and narrative behind "Aviktas" might entail. A dedicated section on the Pleasure Beach website has been launched for fans to follow updates as they’re gradually released in the lead-up to the 2026 opening.
Originally teased as Project 2026 earlier this year, the £8.72 million attraction has remained shrouded in mystery—until now. While full details remain tightly under wraps, what is known is already turning heads: Aviktas is set to tower at 138 feet, a height nearly double that of any similar ride in the country.
Aviktas is a Gyro Swing, a giant pendulum-style ride that spins as it swings riders high into the air. With 40 outward-facing seats and legs dangling free, guests will experience the thrill of flying during each 120-degree swing.
“This is a ride like nothing we’ve ever created before,” said Amanda Thompson OBE, CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort. “While we’re keeping the full experience under wraps for now, I can promise it will be truly extraordinary.”
The ride's name, coined by the resort’s own creative team, has sparked curiosity among fans who are now eagerly speculating on what the theming and narrative behind "Aviktas" might entail. A dedicated section on the Pleasure Beach website has been launched for fans to follow updates as they’re gradually released in the lead-up to the 2026 opening.
Thursday 20th March 2025
Pleasure Beach Resort is getting a huge £8.72M ride – and work is already underway
Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach Resort has today unveiled its plans for a new £8.72M ride, which will be the biggest of its kind in the UK.
A Gyro Swing is being added to the park’s line up of rides in 2026, and work has already begun on its delivery.
The ride is a giant spinning pendulum that swings 120 degrees and reaches 138 feet at its highest point.
It can seat 40 riders who face outwards with their legs dangling, and will experience an exhilarating feeling of flying.
Although other swinging pendulum rides exist in the UK, none come close to the Pleasure Beach model in terms of height. For example, Drayton Manor’s Maelstrom reaches approximately 74 feet, with the new ride almost double that in size.
CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort, Amanda Thompson OBE, said:
“We’re thrilled to confirm the addition of a Gyro Swing at Pleasure Beach Resort, with work already underway. We’re well known for doing things on a large scale, so becoming home to the largest Gyro Swing in the UK made complete sense.
“The Gyro Swing is one of the most exciting flat rides in existence – it’s dynamic, fast, and incredibly high, as well as being completely weightless at the top. It will be a fantastic addition to our ride line-up and we can’t wait to see people’s reactions when they experience it for the first time.
“We’ll be announcing more details soon and we’re very excited for the future at Pleasure Beach Resort.”
Pleasure Beach had previously teased the arrival of a new ride when it sent a digital van to rivals Thorpe Park on the day it opened its Hyperia rollercoaster, stating “We’ll just have to come up with something else then, won’t we?”
Preparation work began earlier this year with the demolition of the former Bowl-A-Drome building, but Pleasure Beach had remained tight-lipped on the plans until now.
The ride and its location were confirmed at Pleasure Beach’s season launch event earlier today.
It will be located in the north of the park close to the perimeter, meaning riders will feel as though they are being swung over the sea.
Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach Resort has today unveiled its plans for a new £8.72M ride, which will be the biggest of its kind in the UK.
A Gyro Swing is being added to the park’s line up of rides in 2026, and work has already begun on its delivery.
The ride is a giant spinning pendulum that swings 120 degrees and reaches 138 feet at its highest point.
It can seat 40 riders who face outwards with their legs dangling, and will experience an exhilarating feeling of flying.
Although other swinging pendulum rides exist in the UK, none come close to the Pleasure Beach model in terms of height. For example, Drayton Manor’s Maelstrom reaches approximately 74 feet, with the new ride almost double that in size.
CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort, Amanda Thompson OBE, said:
“We’re thrilled to confirm the addition of a Gyro Swing at Pleasure Beach Resort, with work already underway. We’re well known for doing things on a large scale, so becoming home to the largest Gyro Swing in the UK made complete sense.
“The Gyro Swing is one of the most exciting flat rides in existence – it’s dynamic, fast, and incredibly high, as well as being completely weightless at the top. It will be a fantastic addition to our ride line-up and we can’t wait to see people’s reactions when they experience it for the first time.
“We’ll be announcing more details soon and we’re very excited for the future at Pleasure Beach Resort.”
Pleasure Beach had previously teased the arrival of a new ride when it sent a digital van to rivals Thorpe Park on the day it opened its Hyperia rollercoaster, stating “We’ll just have to come up with something else then, won’t we?”
Preparation work began earlier this year with the demolition of the former Bowl-A-Drome building, but Pleasure Beach had remained tight-lipped on the plans until now.
The ride and its location were confirmed at Pleasure Beach’s season launch event earlier today.
It will be located in the north of the park close to the perimeter, meaning riders will feel as though they are being swung over the sea.
