Bringing Blackpool’s entertainment heritage to life

Client: Blackpool Council

Conlon Construction delivered the fit-out of Showtown Museum, a landmark cultural attraction celebrating Blackpool’s unique contribution to British popular culture, entertainment and performance.

Located within the Sands Venue, the museum provides a permanent home for one of the UK’s most distinctive collections, showcasing the stories, people and performances that helped shape Blackpool’s identity.

The Challenge

The project required the transformation of an existing shell and core space into a modern, immersive museum environment capable of housing more than 800 artefacts while delivering a high-quality visitor experience.

Alongside the exhibition spaces, the development needed to incorporate all supporting operational, welfare and back-of-house facilities required for a major public attraction.

Our Solution

Working within the existing Sands Venue structure, Conlon delivered a comprehensive museum fit-out including:

• Creation of multiple bespoke gallery spaces
• Installation of internal partitioning and exhibition environments
• Bespoke joinery throughout the museum
• Mechanical and electrical installations
• Wall, floor and ceiling finishes
• Welfare facilities and visitor amenities
• Operational and back-of-house accommodation
• Infrastructure to support the display of more than 800 museum artefacts

The Outcome

Showtown has created a nationally significant cultural destination that celebrates Blackpool’s rich entertainment heritage and its influence on British popular culture.

As the UK’s first permanent public museum display dedicated to circus, magic, variety performance and ballroom dance, the attraction preserves an important part of the town’s identity while creating a lasting cultural asset for residents, visitors and future generations.