Blackpool’s £13 million Showtown museum has set its opening date for March 2024. The new attraction will celebrate the seaside resort.
Billed as the museum of fun and entertainment, Showtown will open to the public on 15 March 2024, with tickets going on sale from autumn this year.
Showtown is expected to welcome more than 200,000 visitors every year. It will be home to six family-friendly galleries highlighting Blackpool’s history and showcasing the entertainers who made the seaside resort famous.
In addition to an opening date, Blackpool Council has announced the appointment of Elizabeth Moss as the chief executive of the Blackpool Heritage and Museum Trust, a charity that will operate Showtown.
Moss said Showtown will be “an incredible, interactive celebration of Blackpool and the fun and entertainment industry that made it famous”.
“The establishment of our charity, the Blackpool Heritage and Museum Trust… is an important step and provides a great platform from which we will be able to share the full breadth of Blackpool’s rich heritage with residents and visitors alike,” she added.
“Not only that, Showtown will also offer a centre for research, learning and education which will contribute to the wider understanding and appreciation of this great town.”
Spencer Phillips, chair for the Blackpool Heritage and Museums Trust, said the new chief executive’s “mix of commercial, cultural and heritage experience will be a huge asset”.
New museum of fun and entertainment
Counsellor Lynn Williams, leader of Blackpool Council, added: “The Showtown museum has been a vital regeneration project for Blackpool and will enable culture-led economic growth, offering a new kind of experience to complement the incredible attractions for which the town is already known.”
Earlier this year, Merlin Entertainments launched its new Gruffalo-themed attraction on Blackpool’s seafront.
The Gruffalo & Friends Clubhouse joined Merlin’s seven existing attractions in the town, including the Blackpool Tower, Peter Rabbit: Explore and Play, Madame Tussauds, and Blackpool Tower Dungeon.
Last year, Blackpool Council selected Merlin to manage Sandcastle Waterpark, the UK’s largest indoor water park.
