Blackpool Tourism Limited

Last updated
Blackpool Tourism Limited
FormerlyBlackpool Operating Company Limited (BOCL) (1983–2025) [1]
Company type Local Authority Trading Company
Industry Entertainment
Founded
  • 1983 (as BOCL)
  • 4 June 2025;7 months ago (2025-06-04) (as Blackpool Tourism Limited) [2]
Headquarters
Blackpool
,
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 and Madame Tussauds Blackpool. [4] [2]

Contents

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 ran 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]

Attractions operated by Blackpool Tourism Ltd

Within the Blackpool Tower

NamePhotoYear openedYear acquiredNotes
Blackpool Tower Ballroom Blackpool Tower Ballroom (7167590030).jpg 18942025
Blackpool Tower Circus Tower Circus Arena - Blackpool Tower (May 2025).jpg 18942025
The Blackpool Tower Dungeon Years of Dark History - geograph.org.uk - 3687153.jpg 20112025"Dungeons" brand is used on franchise agreement with Merlin Entertainments.
Blackpool Tower Top Blackpool , Blackpool Tower - geograph.org.uk - 4205936.jpg 18942025Formerly known as the Blackpool Tower Eye. [4]

Other Blackpool Attractions

NamePhotoYear openedYear acquiredNotes
Madame Tussauds Blackpool Madame Tussauds, Blackpool - geograph.org.uk - 7914952.jpg 20112025"Madame Tussauds" brand is used through franchise agreement with Merlin Entertainments.
Sandcastle Waterpark Sandcastle Water Park, Blackpool - geograph.org.uk - 497162.jpg 19861986Formerly operated by BOCL.
Showtown Museum20242025Formerly operated by BOCL.

References

  1. ↑ "BLACKPOOL TOURISM LIMITED". Companies House . Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Blackpool Tower to be taken over by council". BBC News . 4 June 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  3. ↑ "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.
  4. 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.
  5. ↑ "Council controls water attraction". Blackpool Gazette . 25 June 2003. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  6. ↑ "Resort bosses in bid to buy tower". BBC News . 3 December 2009. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  7. ↑ "Blackpool council buys Tower for £38.9m". Estates Gazette . 30 March 2010. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  8. ↑ "Merlin unveils Blackpool plans". Insider Media. 30 July 2010. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  9. ↑ "Blackpool's Sandcastle Waterpark to be run by Merlin Entertainments". BBC News . 1 September 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  10. ↑ "New job with Blackpool Council for former Merlin boss". Central Radio . 7 August 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  11. ↑ "Blackpool's Showtown Museum has an exciting future say bosses despite axing 15% of workforce". Blackpool Gazette . 26 February 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  12. ↑ "Blackpool reveal new kit ahead of debut away to Exeter City". Blackpool Gazette . 6 August 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
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