I remember a year ago when Pleasure Beach had been reported to submit an application for a loan. A pretty hefty loan of £8.72 million. On the application form, it said Intamin Gyro Swing.
When I tell you I screamed.
Let’s rewind back to the end of 2023, when I had a breakdown and booked a random trip to Gothenburg, Sweden, On that trip, I had the pleasure of visiting Liseberg. This park is home to an Intamin Gyro Swing of their own, named Loke. After quite a few too many laps on it, it became my favourite flat ride of all time.
You can imagine my excitement when I heard my favourite UK park was getting one; the same size, no less. I shared this excitement with my friends, telling them it was going to be the best flat ride in the UK.
I was pretty satisfied when all the reviewers and influencers hailed it as the best, just as I predicted. I felt somewhat validated.
Then, it came my turn to pay the park a visit in June, 2026, my girls and boyfriend in tow.
The park has done a good job stylising the area surrounding the ride. As you enter the doorway, “Aviktas” crowning the frame, you come into the ride’s plaza where a fountain centerpiece welcomes guests. A very nice, modern touch to a park that’s otherwise brimming with nostalgia and glam.
We took our seats, feeling the adrenaline even before the ride started.
In part, that was thanks to the music, composed by Glenn Robertson, masterfully building up the tension. It tipped over the edge when the ride’s cycle is activated. The floor lowered itself. In three long notes, haunting harmonies rose up: “Aviktas”.
My goodness, the seats were comfortable. And on the last syllable of the one-word song, the ride started to swing.
Soon, we were swinging 138ft in the air, giving you a full view of the sea and the park, a hefty dose of sea air, and a perfectly curated portion of airtime, the secret drug for all enthusiasts out there.
Every time it swung, it hit 100kph, or 62mph. But the sensation remained pebble-smooth throughout the entire experience. While it certainly looked intimidating, it was certainly worth the two-hour drive, and I encourage you to give it a try. (If you’re not into rides, watching it can be just as fun!)
An experience I would say is faultless, and no less than the finest flat ride in the UK. It gives me heart to see the ride being so warmly welcomed and loved by visitors.
Rides like Icon, Launchpad, and now Aviktas, are all glimpses of what Pleasure Beach Resort plans for their future. And, if they continue on this trajectory, I think the future is incredibly bright.
But Pleasure Beach Resort, if by any chance you’re reading this, please install water points across the park. You’re going to need it in these ever-increasing heatwaves!
