Blackpool Tourism Limited
 | |
| Formerly | Blackpool Operating Company Limited (BOCL) (1983–2025) [1] |
|---|---|
| Type | Local Authority Trading Company |
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded |
|
| Headquarters | , England |
Key people | Kate Shane MBE (Managing Director) [3] |
| Owners | Blackpool Council |
| Website | https://www.blackpooltourism.com/ |
Blackpool Tourism Limited (often abbreviated to Blackpool Tourism Ltd or to BTL) is a local authority-owned tourism company which operates numerous attractions in the British resort town of Blackpool - namely the Blackpool Tower, Sandcastle Waterpark, Showtown Museum, the Winter Gardens and Madame Tussauds Blackpool.[4][2]
It is owned by Blackpool Council, who founded the company in 2025 to operate their owned attractions, which they had previously contracted operation for to Merlin Entertainments from 2010.[2]
History
Prior to company launch
Blackpool Tourism Limited was originally Blackpool Operating Company Limited (BOCL) - a private company who operated the Sandcastle Waterpark on behalf of Blackpool Council. The company was bought by the council in 2003 and turned into a Local Authority Trading Company.[5]
In 2010, Blackpool Council struck a deal with Leisure Parcs, the Trevor Hemmings-owned Blackpool tourism company, to purchase their attractions - which consisted of the Blackpool Tower, Winter Gardens and Louis Tussauds Waxworks - for £38.9 Million.[6][7] With exception of the Winter Gardens, which would be run separately, the Council contracted Merlin Entertainments to operate the Tower and the Waxworks.[8] For a two-year period starting in August 2022, operation of the Sandcastle Waterpark was transferred from BOCL to Merlin Entertainments.[9]
In August 2024, Kate Shane, head of Merlin's Blackpool attractions, became managing director of Blackpool Operating Company Ltd.[10] BOCL would take over operation of the town's Showtown Museum in February 2025.[11]
As Blackpool Tourism Ltd
On June 4, 2025, it was announced that the remaining council-owned attractions in Blackpool would no longer be operated by Merlin and instead be ran by Blackpool Operating Company Ltd, which in the process would be rebranded as Blackpool Tourism Ltd (BTL). BTL took over operation of the attractions from 1 August 2025.[2]
Blackpool Tourism Ltd were announced as the sponsors of Blackpool FC's third football kit for the 2025/26 season in July 2025.[12] In November 2025, BTL introduced an annual pass which allows passholders to make unlimited visits to attractions over a one-year period.[4] They also introduced the WaveRider bundle ticket, which - through a deal with Pleasure Beach Resort - gave access to both Pleasure Beach and Sandcastle Waterpark. [13]
On February 5, 2026, it was announced that the Winter Gardens, operated by another Blackpool Council subsidiary - Blackpool Entertainment Company Ltd (BECL), would be transferred to Blackpool Tourism Limited. As part of the transfer, BECL would be dissolved.[14] In March 2026, BTL launched the Ultimate Ticket - a £65 ticket bundle which includes admission to the following: their Blackpool Tower attractions (except the Ballroom and Dino Golf), Madame Tussauds, Sandcastle Waterpark and, like the WaveRider ticket, Pleasure Beach. They also added the SkyThrills ticket (all of the above except Sandcastle Waterpark) and the SkyRider (all of the above except Pleasure Beach), both for £50 per person. [13]
Attractions operated by Blackpool Tourism Ltd
Within the Blackpool Tower
| Name | Photo | Year opened | Year acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackpool Tower Ballroom | .jpg) |
1894 | 2025 | |
| Blackpool Tower Circus | .jpg) |
1894 | 2025 | |
| The Blackpool Tower Dungeon |  |
2011 | 2025 | "Dungeons" brand is used on franchise agreement with Merlin Entertainments. |
| Blackpool Tower Top |  |
1894 | 2025 | Formerly known as the Blackpool Tower Eye.[4] |
Other Blackpool Attractions
| Name | Photo | Year opened | Year acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madame Tussauds Blackpool |  |
2011 | 2025 | "Madame Tussauds" brand is used through franchise agreement with Merlin Entertainments. |
| Sandcastle Waterpark |  |
1986 | 1986 | Formerly operated by BOCL. |
| Showtown |  |
2024 | 2025 | Formerly operated by BOCL. |
| Winter Gardens |  |
1878 | 2026 | Formerly operated by another Blackpool Council-owned company, Blackpool Entertainment Company Ltd.[14] |
References
- ↑ "BLACKPOOL TOURISM LIMITED". Companies House. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Blackpool Tower to be taken over by council". BBC News. 4 June 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ↑ "Blackpool tourism boss Kate honoured with MBE by Princess Anne, The Princess Royal at St James' Palace". Blackpool Gazette. 16 December 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- 1 2 3 Sims, Vanessa (28 November 2025). "How to get unlimited access to 7 of Blackpool's most iconic attractions including the Tower & Madame Tussauds". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ↑ "Council controls water attraction". Blackpool Gazette. 25 June 2003. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ↑ "Resort bosses in bid to buy tower". BBC News. 3 December 2009. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ↑ "Blackpool council buys Tower for £38.9m". Estates Gazette. 30 March 2010. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ↑ "Merlin unveils Blackpool plans". Insider Media. 30 July 2010. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ↑ "Blackpool's Sandcastle Waterpark to be run by Merlin Entertainments". BBC News. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ↑ "New job with Blackpool Council for former Merlin boss". Central Radio. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ↑ "Blackpool's Showtown Museum has an exciting future say bosses despite axing 15% of workforce". Blackpool Gazette. 26 February 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ↑ "Blackpool reveal new kit ahead of debut away to Exeter City". Blackpool Gazette. 6 August 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- 1 2 Fearn, Ciara (16 March 2026). "2026 season launched with a bang in Blackpool as attraction ticket prices become more affordable than ever". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
- 1 2 "Blackpool's iconic Winter Gardens to be managed by council-owned tourism company". Blackpool Gazette. 5 February 2026. Retrieved 5 February 2026.