The lastminute.com London Eye showcases a fresh new look from Wardle Painters
One of the capital’s most popular attractions, the lastminute.com London Eye, is welcoming visitors from across the UK and overseas with an £800k makeover by Wardle Painters Ltd of South Wales.
The attraction, owned by Merlin Entertainments, has been given a fresh new look thanks to a revamp and repaint of the lastminute.com London Eye’s rotating structure, which provides stunning 360-degree views across the city. The first phase of the project included 16 sections of support steelwork of the Eye’s 32 viewing pods with phase two, taking place next year, seeing the remaining 16 sections also receiving a new lease of life.
Launched in 2000 the lastminute.com London Eye is Europe’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel standing at 135m and is now considered an iconic London landmark alongside Big Ben, Tower Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral, and the Tower of London. Keeping this well-loved addition to the capital’s skyline in mint condition is a top priority for owners, Merlin Entertainments.
Mark Robinson, Head of Technical Projects, Merlin Entertainments said: “As the lastminute.com London Eye reopened in Spring of this year, we wanted to welcome our visitors back with a fresh, new look. As Europe’s largest observation wheel and a source of great pride for London, it was critical for us to partner with a specialist painting contractor that could meet our high standards and handle the logistical complexities involved. Wardle Painters has gone above and beyond in giving the attraction a complete revamp and we’re delighted with the results.”
Wardle Painters, based in Barry, is one of the most highly regarded commercial and industrial painting companies in the UK with over fifty years’ experience. Commenting on the lastminute.com London Eye project, Anton Davies, Wardle Painters, said: “Obviously working on a project like this involves a multitude of complex elements, however, we were thrilled to be a part of the refurbishment of such an iconic London attraction.
“Despite needing a team of eight operatives consisting of Surface Preparation Technicians, Protective Coating Applicators and Rope Access Technicians (all ICATS certified) working on a night shift basis the team relished the opportunity and did a sterling job of delivering the finished structure to an extremely high standard which will be enjoyed by visitors to the lastminute.com London Eye for years to come.”
Despite enduring the wettest summer for several years and uncharacteristically low temperatures, the project was completed in line with the initial schedule, with approximately 2000 litres of paint used.