Tenpin Bowling Centre To Open in Blackpool

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Blackpool’s indoor leisure offer is set to expand significantly in 2026 with the opening of a major new Tenpin entertainment complex at the former Odeon building on Rigby Road, close to Festival Leisure Park. The project will bring new life to a long-vacant cinema site and is being described as one of the town’s largest recent investments in family-focused leisure. The development will be operated by Tenpin Ltd, one of the UK’s leading bowling and entertainment providers. Plans for the Blackpool venue include 24 bowling lanes, placing it among the larger centres in the region. However, the attraction is designed to offer far more than traditional tenpin bowling. The complex is expected to include private karaoke rooms, laser tag, escape rooms, arcade games, interactive darts, pool tables, soft play facilities and an extensive food and drinks area. The intention is to create a destination venue where visitors can spend an entire afternoon or evening, rather than simply play a single game.

We were there in May for a sneak peek before the opening, where ten-pin bowling pro Steve Gomersall joined us with the manager of the Tenpin Blackpool location, Scott Shaw.

(L) Steve Gomersall & (R) Scott Shaw, Manager of Tenpin in Blackpool, May 2026

Developers have described the scheme as a £3 million investment into Blackpool’s year-round leisure economy. Construction work began during late 2025, with a projected opening in summer 2026. The redevelopment forms part of wider efforts to diversify Blackpool’s attractions and strengthen its indoor entertainment offer, particularly outside the peak summer season. The new complex will sit alongside existing operators such as Blackpool Bowl, while also offering competition to larger out-of-town venues including The Flower Bowl Entertainment Centre. Smaller local venues such as Walterz Entertainment Centre continue to serve neighbourhood communities, but Tenpin’s scale and multi-activity format suggest it will operate as a major regional draw.

Tenpin already runs comparable sites including Tenpin Blackburn and Tenpin Southport, offering an indication of what Blackpool visitors can expect. These centres combine bowling with a wide range of interactive leisure attractions under one roof, targeting families, groups, corporate bookings and evening social crowds. Beyond the entertainment itself, the reopening of the former Odeon removes another dormant building from Rigby Road and contributes to the ongoing regeneration of the wider area. Supporters argue that modern indoor attractions of this scale are increasingly vital for a resort that must balance its traditional seaside heritage with a contemporary, all-weather leisure economy. By transforming a long-empty landmark into a vibrant activity hub, the Tenpin development is seen as another step in reshaping Blackpool’s visitor offer for the future.

A special thank you goes out to Ben Coldwell, Scott Shaw, Beth McDonogh and Laura Barlow, all from Tenpin Limited.

Another special thank you goes out to Steve Gomersall for joining us for the photography.