Blackpool to add £2.3m family attraction to Golden Mile

By Tim Aldred

25 Oct 2021

Blackpool Council is to invest £2.3m in a new 'world class' family-focused attraction for the Golden Mile.

The development will sit on the ground floor between Golden Mile Amusements and Funland. Merlin Entertainments has been selected as the regeneration partner to transform and redevelop the site.

No details have been released yet as to what the attraction will feature. The council has said that more information will be released early next year, and the attraction itself will open sometime in 2022.

Coun Lynn Williams, leader of Blackpool Council, said: "Merlin Entertainments already successfully operates a number of internationally known brands in Blackpool and I’ve no doubt that this new attraction will be equally as popular.

"It is vitally important that Blackpool continues to develop and offer visitors new and different reasons to visit. Any new attraction will help the local economy in terms of job creation and increased visitor numbers so should be welcome news for local residents as well."

Kate Shane, regional director for Merlin Entertainments, said: "We are delighted to further evolve our strategic relationship with Blackpool Council by adding even more reasons to visit to our already strong Blackpool cluster of attractions.

“At Merlin we have some exciting global partnerships that we will be announcing in the coming months, which will firmly support Blackpool’s overall ambition to be the UK’s number one family seaside resort. By adding more globally recognised brands, delivered with Merlin’s world class guest experience, we know this will provide compelling new reasons for visitors to come to Blackpool."

Earlier in the month, the council revealed the extent of the devastating impact of Covid-19 the resort's tourism and hospitality industry. A 2020 analysis, undertaken by STEAM (an economic impact model), shows that the resort lost an estimated 70 per cent of visitors and around £1bn of tourism-related spend compared to 2019.

Coun Lynn Williams added: "Over the course of last year we lost all but one bank holiday and even when businesses were allowed to trade it was with reduced capacity and social distancing measures in place. It was arguably the worst year our tourism industry has ever experienced.

"As we moved into this year, we were determined to do everything within our gift to accelerate the post-pandemic recovery by making a large-scale investment in marketing and events that would encourage people to holiday here, not just in 2021, but in future years too.

"From what we have seen so far, that investment is paying off handsomely. Key indicators such as footfall, hotel occupancy, attraction tickets, are showing very significant increases over both last year and, most importantly, over 2019. At times, the number of visitors on the promenade during the summer and early autumn has been at levels we have not experienced for many years."

  • For further Lancashire business news, advice and analysis subscribe to Lancashire Business View or join the LBV Hub from just £2.50 per month. Click here to subscribe now.

Enjoyed this? Read more from Tim Aldred

Latest news

1

20 years of 'outstanding education for Nelson and Colne College Group Nelson and Colne College Group celebration

20 years of 'outstanding education for Nelson and Colne College Group

28 Jan 2025

2

Different roads open up for the Issa brothers Zuber and Mohsin Issa

Different roads open up for the Issa brothers

28 Jan 2025

3

Ex-Mercia investor joins LCC’s fhunded team to support increased VC deal activity Kiran Metha and Rory Southworth

Ex-Mercia investor joins LCC’s fhunded team to support increased VC deal activity

28 Jan 2025

4

Blackpool Post Office hotel plan Abington Street Post Office

Blackpool Post Office hotel plan

28 Jan 2025

5

Assets from long established Blackburn business to be sold Community and Business Partners in Blackburn with doors shut

Assets from long established Blackburn business to be sold

28 Jan 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
The Lancashire Festival of Business
FOB 315
Exhibitions
30 Jan 2025

The Lancashire Festival of Business

Impact Conferencing, Burnley, BB12 6QP

09:30 - 16:00

Skills Bootcamp in Procurement - Cohort 3
Blue-Modern-Land-Travel-Youtube-Thumbnail-2-1024x576.png.png
LBV Hub Awards
14 Jan 2025 - 18 Mar 2025

Skills Bootcamp in Procurement - Cohort 3

Community & Business Partners CIC, Blackburn, BB2 3UA

09:30 - 13:00

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire
LBV Hub Event Image.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
30 Jan 2025 - 30 Jan 2025

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire

Strawberry Fields Digital Hub, Chorley, PR7 1PS

18:00 - 20:00

February Preston Tech Connection Meet-Up: Tech & Our Planet
PRESTON TECH CONNECTION jan.ai.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
12 Feb 2025 - 12 Feb 2025

February Preston Tech Connection Meet-Up: Tech & Our Planet

Society1 Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Police Apprenticeship event
Student Centre Autumn 2022.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Social
12 Feb 2025 - 12 Jan 2025

Police Apprenticeship event

University of Central Lancashire, Foster Social Space , Preston , PR1 2HE

16:00 - 19:00

Amber River True Bearing Quarterly Investment Seminar
LBV Hub Seminars
13 Feb 2025

Amber River True Bearing Quarterly Investment Seminar

Mercure Blackburn Dunkenhalgh Hotel & Spa, Blackburn Rd, Clayton-le-Moors, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB5 5JP

16:00 - 18:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
13 Feb 2025 - 13 Feb 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Mytton Fold, Langho, BB6 8AB

11:30 - 14:15

Sub36 Networking - Behind the beans
Sub36 Social1200Atkinsons New
Networking
14 Feb 2025

Sub36 Networking - Behind the beans

Atkinsons Speciality Coffee, Lancaster, LA1 1 EX

09:00 - 11:30

National Apprenticeship Week 2025 Celebration - Business Breakfast Showcase
Student Centre Autumn 2022.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
14 Feb 2025 - 14 Jan 2025

National Apprenticeship Week 2025 Celebration - Business Breakfast Showcase

Media Factory , Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 10:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Employment Law, Tax and Payroll Update - East Lancashire
Employment updates - LinkedIn East Lancs-01.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Feb 2025 - 26 Feb 2025

Employment Law, Tax and Payroll Update - East Lancashire

Accrington Stanley Football Club, Accrington, BB5 5BX

08:00 - 10:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV120 Online Graphic 1
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin