Watch as Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort's new £8.72m pendulum ride Aviktas swings for first time
The countdown to spring just got even more exciting at Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort as its £8.72m mega ride Aviktas has swung for the very first time.
The towering attraction, which will dominate the skyline at 138ft when complete, has now begun controlled swing testing, marking another major milestone ahead of its highly anticipated Spring 2026 opening.
In a Facebook post shared on Thursday, February 26, the resort told fans: “First spin? Check. First swing? Check. Your heart rate? Rising. Aviktas is officially testing!
“Tag the person you’re dragging onto this with you.”
The video shows the giant pendulum gently moving back and forth for the first time.
While it is not yet reaching its full height or 120-degree arc, the swing confirms the ride is progressing through key testing phases.
Earlier this week, the Gazette reported how the 40-seater ride’s seats completed their first controlled rotation.
Engineers had indicated that the pendulum’s first swing would follow soon after, and the latest footage shows that step has now been successfully achieved.
For months, visitors have watched the dramatic build unfold, from the installation of four colossal 16-tonne legs to the fitting of the ride’s striking golden arm.
Each stage has transformed the seafront skyline, with Aviktas already becoming one of the most eye-catching additions to the resort in recent years.
When fully operational, the giant gyro-swing will send 40 riders soaring 138ft into the air, arcing 120 degrees out over the coastline, making it the tallest ride of its kind in the UK.
The project has also captured the imagination of fans, with more than 200 letters, ride memorabilia, blueprints and hidden “Easter eggs” sealed beneath the site in a specially created time capsule earlier in the build.
Pleasure Beach Resort opens for the 2026 season on March 7, with Aviktas due to launch later in Spring.
An official opening date is expected to be revealed in the coming months.