Amanda Thompson

President

Managing Director of Pleasure Beach Blackpool President - Stageworks Worldwide Productions Director - Big Blue Hotel

Keeping up a long and honourable family tradition, Pleasure Beach Blackpool Managing Director - Amanda Thompson, has followed in the footsteps of her father, grandfather and great-grandfather, to continue building on the phenomenal success of Britain’s favourite tourist attraction.

The great-granddaughter of Pleasure Beach founder William George Bean, Amanda Thompson became Managing Director in 2004, having previously served as Deputy Managing Director of the family company since 2000 and as a Director for over 15 years. As MD, Amanda has become one of the few gifted females to hold the title in the amusement park industry and in fact runs the largest theme park in the world in comparison to her contemporaries.

Amanda is also President of Stageworks Worldwide Productions, an entertainment and production company she formed in 1982 to present spectacular live shows on stage and ice.

Amanda was born in London in 1962 and was brought up in the world of entertainment. She made her debut performance in a children’s ice show, aged three. With more than twenty years experience producing and directing shows, Amanda has brought Stageworks to the very forefront of live entertainment, creating outstanding productions for venues worldwide. In 2002 Amanda received the prestigious Michael Elliott Trust Awards ‘Director of the Year’ for her contribution to live entertainment. Amanda was also a member of the board of directors of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) and is currently on the IAAPA Europe Advisory Board, as well as being a Board member for the famous Grand Theatre in Blackpool and a member of the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions (BALPPA). In 2007 Amanda received the ‘Commitment to Industry Award’ at the Lancashire Excellence in Tourism Skills awards, and in 2009 won the ‘Special Recognition Award’ at the Blackpool Tourism Awards.

Her love for the amusement park industry is clearly reflected in the recent changes seen at Pleasure Beach Blackpool – from the installation of new and thrilling rides such as a suspended looping coaster over water, to spectacular dancing water shows and a magnificent sculpture garden. Pleasure Beach Blackpool can be seen as a heritage amusement park, which will evolve over time and continue to beat expectations.

In February 2004, Amanda married Stephen Thompson.

Amanda Thompson was awarded the OBE for her services to tourism in Her Majesty the Queen's 2012 New Year's Honours list.