We’re proud to be marking a 30-year partnership with a fellow Blackpool business, with the milestone coinciding with a sustainability project to help the company benefit from renewable energy.  

Thompsons Solar, our specialist renewable energy division,  has completed an installation for the Top Gun Group, which includes Top Gun Tools & Fixings and Prestige Hardware & Doors.

The Top Gun Group, located on the Blackpool Enterprise Zone at Blackpool Airport, is celebrating 30 years in business and has been a supplier to the Thompsons Group for the duration. 

The solar installation will help the hardware provider reduce its carbon footprint and take control of its energy bills, and is anticipated to reduce the need for grid-sourced electricity by just over 50 per cent each year. 

Matthew Thompson, executive director of the Thompsons Group, said: “Our businesses go back a long way and it’s great to see our trusted supplier become our customer.  

“Strong business to business relationships are invaluable – especially in the construction industry, which really benefits from the use of local supply chains. Congratulations to the Top Gun team for reaching this milestone – we look forward to many more years working together.” 

Chris Smith, managing director at Top Gun Tools, said: “The system is already performing brilliantly, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. From day one, its efficiency, reliability, and seamless integration have exceeded our expectations — proving that investing in smarter, more sustainable technology truly pays off.” 

Situated right on Blackpool’s famous central promenade, we transformed the former Royal Carleton hotel into The Glass Tower, a luxurious destination featuring 38 bedrooms, a brand new restaurant and a bar open to guests and the public alike. It’s already shaping up to be one of the most exciting new venues in the north, and we’re proud to have played a central role in making it happen.

As the lead contractors on this project, Thompsons redeveloped the ground floor, and our involvement went far beyond the build itself. Drawing on our extensive experience delivering fit-outs for hotels and leisure venues across the UK, we helped design the manufactured joinery elements, including bespoke seating, metal screens, and an over-bar gantry, as well as pulling together the wall and floor finishes throughout. To keep the client informed and confident at every stage, we also created CGI visualisations so that each element could be reviewed and approved before works progressed.

We were proud to collaborate on this project alongside our sister companies, Thompsons Solar and Daedalian Glass Studios. Daedalian Glass Studios crafted bespoke glass feature screens that feature prominently throughout the hotel’s design, adding a distinctive character that sets The Glass Tower apart. Meanwhile, Thompsons Solar, our specialist renewable energy division, installed a low-profile, flat roof-mounted system covering the full roof of the building. With a total solar array size of 31kW, it’s expected to generate around 24,000kWh of green power per year, reducing the hotel’s carbon emissions while also strengthening its long-term energy security.

As a family-run business based right here in Blackpool, projects like this one carry extra meaning for us. Seeing a landmark building on our doorstep brought back to life, sustainably, beautifully and to the highest standard is exactly what we’re here to do.

The result? A standout destination. The Glass Tower is a modern, sustainable venue that adds real value to the promenade, and it’s a privilege to have been part of its transformation.