Beloved attraction at UK tourist hotspot set for Hollywood makeover

A UK seaside resort's iconic 'Wallace & Gromit' ride has had a Hollywood makeover - thanks to the huge success of the 2024 hit 'Vengeance Most Fowl'. Blackpool's Pleasure Beach Resort has pulled in fans of the adventurous pair since opening their 'Wallace & Gromit Thrill-o-Matic' experience in 2013.

The four-minute ride sees guests travel in a giant slipper through scenes from all the Wallace & Gromit films including A Grand Day Out, The Wrong Trousers, A Close Shave, A Matter of Loaf and Death and The Curse of the Were Rabbit. Now guests can spot fan-favourite Norbot and the return of the villainous Feathers McGraw, alongside classic moments from the dynamic duo, after the ride was updated to include the latest movie adventure.

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl was the most-watched animation on British TV since records began with 21.6 million views in 28 days, and earned a Rotten Tomatoes score of 100 per cent.

Pleasure Beach Resort have worked closely with creators Aardman, 3D scanning the original models then 'robo carving' new ones for the ride at PB Studios - Pleasure Beach's in-house creative team.

This process involved painting, costume making, prop creation, and even individually pricking fur by hand for 'Ron' the seal.

Once the characters were installed in the ride, the PB Studios' AV technicians added the final touches; programming lights, sounds, special FX and cues.

Amanda Thompson OBE, CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort, said: "Wallace & Gromit's Thrill-O-Matic has always been a family favourite, and our latest additions give the ride more character than ever.

"It's been a joy working so closely with Aardman once again to bring the characters of Vengeance Most Fowl to life, alongside the incredible craftsmanship of our in-house team.

"The additions bring even more humour, charm and adventure to the ride, and we know fans young and old are going to love spotting the new characters along the way."

Wallace & Gromit's Thrill-O-Matic was officially opened at Pleasure Beach by creator Nick Park himself in 2013.

At the time of opening, he said: "We have the perfect marriage between Wallace & Gromit and Pleasure Beach. I grew up in Preston, which is just down the road so Blackpool feels like a natural home for Wallace and Gromit.

"It has been a great experience working with the Thompson family to create this family ride that sits right in the heart of the park, I really hope that our fans enjoy the Thrill-O-Matic as much as we have enjoyed creating it."

The additions to Wallace & Gromit's Thrill-O-Matic are hot on the heels of the newly re-opened Launch Pad ride at Pleasure Beach, which re-opened in May after an extensive re-imagining.

Most excitingly of all, the park announced a brand new 'UK first' ride, Aviktas, will open in 2026. Aviktas is a giant swinging pendulum ride that will reach heights of 138 feet, making it the tallest of its kind in the UK.

Pleasure Beach Resort is open for the 2025 season and tickets start at £25. Guests can secure the best deals by booking online in advance at www.pleasurebeachresort.com