In less than two weeks, Pleasure Beach Resort in Blackpool will launch a record-breaking new ride, and to build anticipation, the park has released an exclusive sneak peek of the attraction. Aviktas, officially announced last summer, will welcome its first 40 riders on Thursday, May 21, catapulting them 138 feet into the air at angles of up to 120 degrees.
Record-Breaking Heights
Set to become the largest gyro swing in the UK, the ride towers over the seaside town's skyline, situated beside the famous Big One and Infusion coasters. At nearly double the height of the current tallest spinning pendulum ride—Drayton Manor's Maelstrom at approximately 74 feet—Aviktas surpasses Thorpe Park's The Swarm and Flamingo Land's Kumali. Designed to provide a weightless sensation at the top of its arc, riders will feel as though they are being swung over the sea, offering epic views across the Fylde Coast.
Construction and Transformation
The £8.72 million project occupies the former site of the Bowladrome, an arcade and entertainment venue that operated from the 1960s until its demolition in March 2025. The area has undergone a dramatic transformation, with Aviktas's four 16-tonne legs erected in November and its first swing taking place earlier this year. While visitors may have glimpsed the ride's scale during recent tests, it has largely been shielded from public view behind fencing and hoarding. The newly released images offer a preview of the final construction in all its glory.
Official Soundtrack and CEO Comments
Alongside the pictures, Pleasure Beach released the official soundtrack for the ride on streaming platforms—an atmospheric composition by Glenn Robertson, the musician behind scores for ICON, Launch Pad, and the Big One. Amanda Thompson OBE, the company's CEO, stated: 'This isn't just a new ride for Pleasure Beach, it's a completely unique experience to UK theme parks as a whole. We have a history of going big and this certainly is no exception. We're in the final stages now. The finishing touches are being added and we're making sure everything is ready for its opening on the 21st.'
VIP Preview and Controversies
Adrenaline seekers can become among the first to ride Aviktas through a VIP preview event on Wednesday, May 13, with a limited number of tickets priced from £50 each. This launch comes as the resort celebrates its 130th birthday and recently launched the reimagined 210-foot Launch Pad ride. However, the park faced criticism earlier this year for closing classic attractions like Eddie Stobart Conboy and Alpine Rally for the 2025 season, as well as introducing a new £25 non-rider entrance fee. A spokesperson defended the fee, stating that operating costs have increased significantly and that the park values guest feedback, noting it is the only major UK park offering non-riders a lower-priced ticket.
