Kay Elliott designs key to Blackpool Tower restoration Blackpool’s famous tower has reopened following a 10-month, multi-million pound rejuvenation that has transformed the town’s most famous landmark into a contemporary attraction that is already drawing crowds. Working closely with Blackpool Council and the global visitor attractions specialist Merlin Entertainments, Kay Elliott has restored the grandeur and heritage of the Tower Ballroom and Tower Circus located in the tower podium and added two contemporary global attractions. The Blackpool Tower Dungeon takes a fun look at the North-West’s most horrible history and the Blackpool Tower Eye, is a 4-D cinema experience in which 3-D film combines with the addition of physical effects in a specially constructed theatre. A specially-made film charts Blackpool’s history detail so realistic that you can even smell the donkeys, and feel the spray from the sea. This is linked to a new and exciting observation deck at the top of the steel structure where a new viewing platform has been constructed with a 4.15 tonne glass floor so after discovering Blackpool’s history visitors can look down on the present-day promenade, hundreds of feet below. “Blackpool has a special place in the UK’s seaside resort heritage and the local authority is proactively bringing the town’s attractions up to date both for holiday makers and investors. The tower is an iconic landmark and a key part of the council strategy so it was vital to create attractions with real impact,” said Chris Woodfield of Kay Elliott. Blackpool Council acquired the tower as part of a £250m regeneration programme that also involved construction of new defences which protect Blackpool’s seafront from erosion providing an 18.5ha “People’s Playground”, as the council has dubbed it. Here there was an opportunity to rejuvenate once flagging beachside attractions, particularly in the area around the newly restored tower. A surreal “dunescape”, a new wedding venue, an open-air event space, one of the largest skate parks in Europe and a spectacular aerial light show are among the new attractions and banks of steps have been constructed along the length of the promenade, continuously connecting the town and the beach.