Thrillseekers flock to Pleasure Beach Resort for opening of Launch Pad

Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach Resort has unveiled the transformation of one of its most famous rides.

Launch Pad re-opened yesterday after Pleasure Beach spent the last year completely revamping the 210 foot ride.

The ride shoots riders 20 storeys skywards and reaches speeds of up to 80mph and provides a feeling of weightlessness at the top, a thrusting G-force, and a stomach-dropping descent.

Amanda Thompson, Pleasure Beach chief executive officer, cut the ribbon at the official opening ceremony.

She said: “Re-imaginings like this one are fantastic for our industry. Not only do they create a new and incredibly powerful ride experience, they’re sustainable, and they allow us to re-invent beloved attractions for generations to come.

 “Investing in new rides is important - and we’re so excited for our new Gyro Swing arriving next year - but when you do something like this, a ride becomes new again.

 “Launch Pad is an exciting, innovative take on a classic, combining nostalgia with bold new elements that we know fans will love. We’re so excited to finally welcome everyone onboard and see their reactions.”

Scott Bickerton, who runs the rollercoaster enthusiast community and YouTube channel Your Experience Guide, said: “This is a great re-imagining. The ride has got back its ‘oomph’, you can really feel the g-force and there’s a great moment of airtime at the top. It’s amazing to have this ride back.” 

Shawn Sanbrooke, founder of Theme Park Worldwide, added: “Launch Pad’s re-imagining has turned it from ‘just a ride’ into a themed experience. The smoke, the soundtrack, and the audio really makes it the full package and adds to the anticipation at the bottom. The airtime was definitely there too!”

 Launch Pad’s re-imagining is the latest stage in Pleasure Beach Resort’s “period of evolution”, which has seen bosses announce the arrival of a brand new £8.72m Gyro Swing, opening in 2026. 

 Re-imaginings are a way of preserving rides while ensuring they remain thrilling, competitive, and in line with evolving trends, and are a priority at Pleasure Beach.

 “Europe’s Best Water Ride” Valhalla received a £4m re-imagining in 2023, and Pleasure Beach announced at its 2025 season launch that the next ride to receive a re-imagining is the fan-favourite River Caves.

 New scenes are also being added to the Wallace & Gromit’s Thrill-O-Matic ride, to incorporate the new BAFTA-winning film, Vengeance Most Fowl. 

 The best value eTickets for Pleasure Beach can be booked in advance online at www.pleasurebeachresort.com