Installation of the Aviktas Ride at Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Working in partnership with Pleasure Beach Resort, Neil Taylor Contractors were chosen to deliver the full installation of a new landmark ride, Aviktas.

Destined to be the tallest spinning pendulum attraction in the UK, Aviktas is a colossal 138ft Gyro Swing.  Riders will face outwards, legs in freefall, as the gigantic spinning pendulum swings higher and higher.

The scale and complexity of the project demanded precision, innovation and seamless coordination. From the very start, the team faced a unique set of challenges. The installation required groundworks beneath and among existing roller-coaster structures within a fully operational theme-park setting. Space was limited, access routes were constrained, and there was no room for interruption of visitor experience.

Neil Taylor Contractors undertook the excavation and preparation of reinforced slabs and foundations capable of accommodating the immense dynamic loads of Aviktas, while carefully managing the interface with live park operations and adjacent rides.

To create a foundation capable of supporting the enormous dynamic forces of the ride, deep foundations were required. This was achieved using Continuous Flight Auger piling, drilling a long auger into the ground in one continuous motion before pumping concrete through the hollow stem as the auger is withdrawn.

The method keeps the ground supported, produces minimal vibration, and is ideal for busy, confined spaces like a theme park. Once in place, steel reinforcement cages were inserted into the fresh concrete to complete the piles and provide long-term strength. This technique was essential to deliver the stable, high-capacity foundations Aviktas required.

Once the groundworks phase was complete, the installation of the ride commenced. The team coordinated the delivery of oversized prefabricated steel components, organised heavy-lift operations and established safe crane positioning amidst a busy park environment. Each major column and swing-arm support was aligned and bolted down with precision, tying into the reinforced bases previously constructed.

Neil Taylor Contractors also managed the interface with mechanical and electrical teams to ensure that the ride’s operational systems could be integrated efficiently. Throughout the project the focus remained on quality, safety and time-efficient delivery.

By applying disciplined project management, robust logistics planning, and a collaborative on-site approach, Neil Taylor Contractors delivered both the groundwork and full installation of Aviktas to schedule and to the high engineering standards demanded.

The successful completion of this project underlines Neil Taylor Contractors’ capability to deliver complex leisure infrastructure from the ground up. With Aviktas poised to open and make a dramatic contribution to Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s offering, this case stands as a highlight of technical achievement, meticulous planning and effective execution.