Blackpool Tower sale and refurb confirmed
BLACKPOOL Council has confirmed a £39m investment in the town’s iconic visitor attractions, including the purchase of Blackpool Tower and the Winter Gardens, as revealed by TheBusinessDesk last week.
The council said the deal, which also includes Louis Tussaud’s and puts the attractions in public ownership for the very first time, will secure the long-term future of the area by rejuvenating tourism.
As well as buying the attractions, the funding will also be used for a £10m programme of repairs for the Tower.
The Winter Gardens will undergo a refurbishment and upgrading programme to create a new mid-size, multipurpose conferencing venue.
The first phase will focus on upgrading the Pavilion, Arena and circulation areas as well as the redevelopment of 77-81 Church Street to create a new creative industries workspace unit.
The money will also be used to bring in leisure operator Merlin Entertainments Group to run the attractions. Merlin already operates London Eye, London Dungeon and Legoland.
Sir Howard Bernstein, Chair of ReBlackpool, said: “This is a bold but necessary initiative which provides the best possible platform for strengthening the destination role of the town.
“I am confident that this will result in a significant increase in jobs and visitor numbers and will weld together all the other valuable projects and programmes which are designed to make Blackpool an attractive place to live, visit and invest.”
Tony Openshaw, director of marketing at Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board, said that the purchase of the Winter Gardens was great news for the town as a conference and meetings venue.
He said: “Buying this key conference venue from private ownership will provide a fantastic addition to the work already being and opens up exciting new opportunities and packages for business tourism.
“We’re asking conference organisers to take a fresh look at a regenerated resort that has a positive and passionate team ready to help with every request.”
The £38.9m investment comes from the Northwest European Regional Development Fund (£14m), NWDA (£7.9m), Blackpool Council (£10m) and the Homes and Communities Agency (£7m).
