Blackpool Council and Merlin Entertainments are set to redevelop part of the council-owned Golden Mile Centre on Blackpool’s promenade into a £2.3m attraction.
The attraction will be located on the ground floor between Golden Mile Amusements and Funland, the Blackpool Gazette reports. Blackpool Council said the site will become a “family-focused visitor attraction”.
Set to open in 2022, the attraction will be transformed and redeveloped by Merlin, which already operates SEA LIFE Blackpool, Madame Tussauds, Blackpool Tower Dungeon, and Blackpool Tower.
Merlin and Blackpool Council are yet to reveal what the “world-class” attraction will be, with further details to be released in early 2022. However, it will be located adjacent to the Blackpool Central project.
New £2.3m attraction for Blackpool
Counsellor Lynn Williams, leader of Blackpool Council, said: “I am delighted to announce the redevelopment on this key site on the promenade.
“Merlin Entertainments already successfully operate 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,” Williams added.
“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.
“I look forward to it opening next year.”
Nikal Ltd and Media Invest Entertainment’s £300m Blackpool Central project has also been given the green light by Blackpool Council’s planning committee.
2022 opening for visitor attraction
In addition, Blackpool has started construction on the £13m Showtown attraction, the seaside resort’s first museum of fun and entertainment, opening in April 2023.
Kate Shane, regional director for Merlin, said the company has “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,” Shane said.
“The local community are at the very heart of these strategic plans, with the goal to deliver further jobs and economic benefit to both the town and the wider region.”
Image: Blackpool Council
