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Blackpool Pleasure Beach Unveils Plans for Jaw-Dropping £8.72m Ride That Swings Riders Into the Sky

There’s always something going on in and around Blackpool and as the nation’s favourite seaside resort gears itself up for what looks set to be a bumper summer season, now is a great time to visit the best Blackpool hotels and guest houses where you can be sure of a warm welcome.

 

Blackpool Pleasure Beach Unveils Plans for Jaw-Dropping £8.72m Ride That Swings Riders Into the Sky

 

Brace Yourselves 

Thrill-seekers, brace yourselves – Pleasure Beach Resort (formerly Blackpool Pleasure Beach) has announced its latest white-knuckle investment: a brand-new, £8.72 million mega-ride set to open in 2026. The new attraction promises to spin, swing, and dangle guests in ways that defy gravity and common sense – and it sounds utterly glorious.

This new beast of a ride will be a giant spinning pendulum – imagine a massive arm with 40 unsuspecting riders strapped in around the edge, all facing outwards, legs merrily flailing in the wind. As the pendulum swings higher and faster, it will reach a staggering peak height of 138 feet (or 42 metres, for those who like their terror metric), offering both stunning views and minor heart palpitations.

But it’s not just tall – it’s double the size of the Maelstrom over at Drayton Manor – in fact, if you’ve been on Maelstrom and thought “that was a bit tame,” this new ride might just be your new best friend. Or worst enemy. Hard to say.

 

Dynamic, Fast and Incredibly High

Amanda Thompson OBE, the Pleasure Beach’s Chief Executive Officer and resident thrill ambassador, had this to say: “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.” 

 

White Knuckles

Judging by past experiences, those reactions will range from wild laughter to involuntary screams and possibly a few white knuckles.

Preparation for the ride has already started, with demolition underway on the old Bowl-A-Drome building earlier this year which will create space for the new attraction. The ride will be located in the northern section of the park, close to the perimeter. In fact, it’s so close to the edge that riders will quite literally feel as though they’re being flung out over the Irish Sea. Add a bit of Blackpool wind to the mix and you’ve got the closest thing to flying without actually leaving the ground.

More tantalising details are due to be revealed in the coming months, but already this is shaping up to be one of the UK’s most talked-about new theme park attractions.

 

Hair-raising Thrills

Pleasure Beach Resort has long been a staple of British seaside holidays, combining classic charm with hair-raising thrills. Home to the UK’s only wooden twin-track racing rollercoaster, the Grand National, and the iconic Big One – which, at 235 feet, remains one of the tallest rollercoasters in Europe – the park has never been shy about reaching for the skies.

Originally founded in 1896, the park has reinvented itself time and again, delighting generations of families and daredevils alike. With a mixture of historic rides and cutting-edge coasters, it manages to balance nostalgia and adrenaline in equal measure.

This new pendulum ride is yet another signal that Pleasure Beach is firmly focused on the future – even if that future involves launching guests skyward at ridiculous speeds while they scream in terror.

So, whether you’re a coaster connoisseur or simply someone who enjoys seeing their life flash before their eyes in the name of fun, 2026 might be the perfect time to plan a trip to Blackpool. Just don’t forget to leave your lunch until after the ride.