Top News

Work has begun on an £8.72m amusement park attraction ride that will "drastically" change the town's skyline. Blackpool'sPleasure Beach Resort has dropped its first hint about what people can expect from the new ride when it opens later this year.

The Lancashiretheme park has released a video teasing a potential theme and storyline for Aviktas, which will be the tallest ride of its kind when built. The video shows diggers at the construction site uncovering a cracked golden egg in the sand, suggesting something has recently hatched. Artwork has also been installed on the hoardings that surround the ride's construction area, depicting a golden snake. Aviktas will be a 138ft gyro swing that will fly riders alongside the famous Big One and parallel to the coast. The giant spinning pendulum rideswings 120 degrees and will seat 40 riders who face outwards with their legs dangling. Aviktas is almost double the size of Drayton Manor's Maelstrom, which reaches approximately 74ft, making it the tallest of its kind in the UK.

Its scale can be seen in CGI footage released by the park last month, and it will drastically change the way the seaside resort's coastline will look.

Aviktas will open in 2026, and construction work is now well under way. More information on the ride will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Amanda Thompson OBE, CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort, said: "Aviktas has already created a huge buzz, and that's exactly the intention. These teases are part of a much bigger adventure, and there will be plenty more secrets to uncover.

"We want guests to feel that intrigue and anticipation long before they take their seat on the ride, and the excitement will only grow as we head towards opening next year.

"Eagle-eyed fans might even begin to spot more clues seeded throughout the park over the coming weeks and months, including at events."

Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort recently introduced a major change to its admission policy. For the first time ever, the theme park has opened its doors to dogs, allowing guests to bring their four-legged companions on Sundays throughout August.

The park claims it aims to eliminate the guilt pet owners feel when abandoning their animals at home, launching these special canine-friendly sessions, which could be rolled out year-round if proven popular.

The "Dog's Day Out" initiative enables visitors to purchase a special Dog Entry Pass alongside their standard ticket, giving their cherished pets full park access every Sunday.