There are not many hotels you check in and the first noise you hear is that of people screaming. There again there are not many luxury hotels such as Boulevard Hotel that constitute part of an amusement park.
My only previous visit to Blackpool was during my student days. Then I had travelled across the Pennines ostensibly to sell magazines for our Rag Week, although I imagine many a beer was supped along the way. This time I was destined to reverse my trip as Blackpool was a-bit-out-of-the-way stop on my trip to go glamping in Northumberland.
On that previous trip my strongest memory was of the donkeys on the beach. This time it was the challenge of Aviktas that awaited.
Aviktas
Opened in May 2026, Aviktas is the tallest gyro swing-style or pendulum ride in the UK. Apparently on the first day, queues of thrill-seekers stretched along the beachfront.
According to the owners, the ride soars to 138 feet in the air and rotates 120 degrees. It is almost double the size of its competitors.
Frankly, standing beneath it was enough for me. At first, I said “yes, I’ll give it a go”, then I saw it lift and thought I can do this, but then as it reached its summit and started to tilt backwards, I decided that terra firma was for me.
Sustainability at the Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Avitas is consistent with Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s commitment to sustainability. The ride recovers 40% of the energy recovered for its operation. It also has noise reduction measures so the only noise you hear is that of the screaming riders.
The park is closed over the winter when it is cleaned with reclaimed water from its Valhalla water ride.
Many of the props around the park are made from upcycled former attractions. During our visit, we were fortunate enough to be shown back stage (not permitted for normal members of the public) where we were shown how the new props are created from the old. One example is that some of the models on the Ghost Train originated from the now retired Gold Mine ride.
The measures even extend to the retail shop where some of the plush toys are made from recycled plastic bottles. They also have plans to plant 62 trees within the park.
Take a look at Aviktas for yourself.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort
The great thing about Blackpool Pleasure Beach is there is so much on offer, even for wusses like me.
This year marks its 130th anniversary, making it the second oldest amusement park in the UK.
Its oldest ride Sir Hiram Maxim’s Captive Flying Machines is 122, and the Big Dipper is now the UK’s oldest operating rollercoaster following the closure of Margate’s Scenic Railway.
I am surprised by the compact nature of the rides. Apparently, there are 30 shows in a pretty confined space. This allows everyone to experience the thrills and spills.
Fortunately, there were not any of the latter as we toured the park, taking in more sedate rides such as Alice in Wonderland and the obligatory Ghost Train. My favourite was Wallace & Gromit’s Thrill-O-Matic.
Boulevard Hotel
I had not expected such an excellent hotel as the Boulevard on its doorstep. There is even a VIP entrance from the hotel to the Pleasure Beach so you can avoid the hordes.
The hotel only opened in 2019, but it represents a massive commitment to the area by its owners, Blackpool Pleasure Beach. The décor of the hotel is stylish, with wonderful paintings throughout the public areas which create a retro amusement park feel.
The 120 rooms and suites have views either of the shoreline or the rides. The family rooms with their bunks and screens for the kids looked incredibly cool.
Proper Fish and Chips
The Boulevard has excellent dining options as the breakfast the following morning proved, however we decided to have some traditional fish and chips around the corner.
Before that we had a glass of prosecco in the White Tower Restaurant, which has excellent views of the front.
Shirley and David Bentley have run Bentley’s fish and chip shop for 13 years, having managed a B&B just around the corner prior to this.
Shirley describes it as ‘traditional’, with no burgers or saveloys on offer. Just a choice of haddock or cod, as well as sausage and battered sausage.
I went for the haddock with chips and mushy peas, with a scallop (a form of deep-fried potato) on the side. The fish tasted really fresh, the batter was crisp and overall, the experience was just as it ought to be: a proper Lancashire chippy. I did find the scallops a bit of a batter-overload.
Dinner over, we walked along the front back towards our hotel, stopping off at the Weatherspoon’s en route, while others in our group played the machines on the pier.
A traditional day by the sea in the north of England rounded off by a perfect sleep in a surprisingly luxurious hotel in Blackpool.
Boulevard Hotel
Ocean Boulevard, Promenade, Blackpool, FY4 1PL. For more information, click here.
