On With The Show

The past year has been an extremely difficult one for UK businesses, with the arts industry in particular facing some of the biggest setbacks in its long-standing history.

Despite that, Showtown museum, located in the heart of Blackpool, is thrilled to announce that a lease has now been signed by Blackpool Council and Coolsilk Property & Investment Ltd, and construction has started.   

Coolsilk’s co-owner Peter Swann said: “We are delighted that the Museum will be developed alongside our Sands Venue Resort Hotel – Blackpool’s first 5-star hotel when it opens next year. Our resort will create 91 luxury rooms and penthouses, restaurants, spa, conference space, existing themed Wild West Diner and soon to open cocktail bar. 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”.
 
The Blackpool attraction has been working with Lancashire based construction firm, Conlon, who are laying the groundwork for the museum.  Work commenced at the beginning of September and the construction team have hit the ground running, with a planned opening date of April 2023.   
 
The museum will allow visitors to get up close with the entertainers who put Blackpool on the map – the comedians, dancers, acrobats, performers and larger-than-life characters who turned a seaside resort into the home of show business.
 
Darren Lee, Commercial Director at Conlon Construction said: “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.
 
“It’s a pleasure to work with Showtown and we’re all excited to see the finished result.”
 
Speaking of working with Conlon Construction, Cllr Lynn Williams said: “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.
 
“We are delighted to be working with Conlon Construction, who come with a wealth of experience in the North West, having worked on exciting projects in the culture category, including Harris Museum in Preston and Avro Heritage Museum in Stockport.
 
“Conlon Construction recently restored the beautiful Spanish Hall at the Winter Gardens, so we know there’s a shared vision for the look and feel of Showtown, and we are in safe hands with their extensive knowledge of heritage sites.”
 
For more information on Blackpool’s side-tickling, eye-popping, toe-tapping, mind-boggling museum of fun and entertainment visit www.showtownblackpool.co.uk