Please note, this review includes spoilers so if you would like to experience the attraction with no prior knowledge, it may not be the review for you!

Valhalla initially closed at the conclusion of the 2019 season and was originally intended to open in time for the 2022 season. Here we are 12 months on and the ride having experienced a number of special effects issues during technical rehearsals is now finally ready to be unveiled.

On arrival at the park, invited guests were welcomed into an exclusive lobby within the Globe building where we were provided with complimentary goodie bags filled with various Valhalla merchandise and some rather fetching Pleasure Beach Ponchos that would prove to be very useful! Whilst we waited, the Valhalla music was played into the room to help get us all in the mood whilst our host introduced some of the technical aspects of what lay ahead of us on our visit.

After enjoying our refreshments, we were taken around to the ride and this was our first glimpse of the newly refreshed façade and surrounding area which looked fantastic and very atmospheric, helped by bellowing misters and the fact that the Blackpool weather was adding to the mist and rain! An opportunity for photos with 'real' Vikings followed before Blackpool Pleasure Beach CEO, Amanda Thompson, addressed the audience – like us clearly excited that the attraction was ready for its first guests.

And with that it was time to ride! We entered the newly extended and decorated station, and it was pleasing to see that the industrial vacuums are still present to remove excess water from the boats between rides confirming our hopes that the ride will continue to soak all of its passengers.

The ride layout itself remains virtually unchanged however the previously backwards portion has been converted to forwards allowing for more special effects to be implemented in these sections. Like all good immersive dark rides, the attraction starts slowly and builds from there – introducing a storyline as the boats ascend to the very top of the building before continuing their journey.

Effects such as light, fire, hot and cold temperatures and of course water are all used throughout the enormous layout to great effect, and we were really taken aback by the size and impact of some of the newer features along the circuit. We did however note, that the 'cold room' is not quite as cold as it could be however we have no doubt that as effects continue to embed this room will continue to freeze riders!

As the boats press on with their voyage, the suspense continues to build and the excitement really hits before plunging down the attractions largest drop in near total darkness. More twists and turns await prior to the boats ascending again before navigating the top of the building where some of the largest elements are housed. Enormous hammers swing from the rafters to soak riders as well as far more intricate theming elements including flaming arrows narrowly miss passing riders as the boats begin to round before our favourite part.

Descending the final drop, riders are faced with a literal wall of fire which the boats pass through just after the splash down water has doused the flames enough for safe passage. If that isn't enough, as you get your breath back you enter two further rooms with fire balls and explosions in an action packed and exciting finale. As boats exit the building to return to the station, one final jet of water bursts to make doubly sure that all guests are soaked!

We described Valhalla as exceptional on riding. This new version is certainly darker and more special effects oriented than that of the original and we feel puts itself firmly back at the top of water rides. It is a true immersive dark ride experience and nothing like anything else we have on offer here in the UK – and yes, you still will get soaked!

It must be said that our experience on Valhalla on the second time onwards was considerably better as we had felt on the initial ride that some of the effects had not been working to their potential. It may well be a case that the ride needs to be operational for a time to allow everything to 'warm up' and as such would recommend guests to visit a couple of hours into your day.

Loki's Bar

Following another several rides, and some time to dry off, we were treated to lunch within Loki's Bar which is located almost immediately at the exit of the attraction. This eatery was well themed and the food to a good quality and at very reasonable prices.

Merchandise

With our stomachs full we headed back to the Pleasure Beach Store to check out all of the new Valhalla merchandise which, like the rest of the merchandise on offer, looked to be of a really high quality and standard and we were pleasantly surprised with the sheer size of the range of products on offer.

The rest of the park

By now the sun had come out and courtesy of Blackpool Pleasure Beach we had the opportunity to explore the rest of the park and visit some of our favourite rides. Although the park was incredibly quiet, it was pleasing to see the park presented so well and general ride availability was really good with only a couple of attractions down for planned maintenance. It is clear a lot of work has gone into making the park look great for the 2023 season and we remarked on a number of areas which looked fresh and clean.