Pleasure Beach Resort Hits Major Milestones on £8.72M Aviktas Ride

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-preview

Fans can follow Aviktas’ journey at www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com/project-2026