Skip to main content

Blackpool starts construction on £13m Showtown museum

News
showtown blackpool

Blackpool has started construction on the £13m Showtown, the seaside resort’s first museum of fun and entertainment, opening in April 2023.

Showtown, Blackpool’s first museum of fun and entertainment, has started construction after a lease was signed by Blackpool Council and Coolsilk Property & Investment Ltd.

The immersive museum will be located in the Sands Building, which will also feature the resort’s first five-star hotel. Showtown will display memorabilia, film, music and live performance.

“We are delighted that the museum will be developed alongside our Sands Venue Resort Hotel – Blackpool’s first five-star hotel when it opens next year,” said Coolsilk co-owner Peter Swann.

“Our resort will create 91 luxury rooms and penthouses, restaurants, spa, conference space, existing themed Wild West Diner and soon to open cocktail bar.

Showtown Museum to open April 2023

“We can now look forward to hosting this exciting new museum and look forward to working with the council to attract even more visitors into the resort.”

Showtown will highlight Blackpool’s history, showcasing the entertainers who turned the seaside resort into the home of show business, including comedians, dancers, acrobats and performers.

The museum has been working with construction firm Conlon, who are laying the groundwork. Work started at the beginning of September, with an opening scheduled for April 2023.

Blackpool is known all over the world for its history of entertainment and Showtown is shaping up to be the latest world-famous attraction located in the seaside town,” said Darren Lee, commercial director at Conlon.

Blackpool’s history of show business

blackpool museum

“It’s a pleasure to work with Showtown and we’re all excited to see the finished result.”

“As Blackpool’s first museum of fun and entertainment we wanted to work with a company that truly understands our product and is on board with all the excitement that is to come,” said Cllr Lynn Williams.

Earlier this year, a planning application was submitted for the first phase of Blackpool Central, which will include hotels, F&B and three indoor entertainment centres.

Images: Showtown

Share this

Bea Mitchell

Bea is a journalist specialising in entertainment, attractions and tech with 10 years' experience. She has written and edited for publications including CNET, BuzzFeed, Digital Spy, Evening Standard and BBC. Bea graduated from King's College London and has an MA in journalism.

More from this author

More from this author

Related content

Your web browser is out of date. Update your browser for more security, speed and the best experience on this site.

Find out how to update