SINCE 1878

The Most Magnificent Palace of Amusement In The World- Professor Vanessa Toulmin

Church St

Blackpool

Lancashire

FY1 1HW

Tel: 01253 629600

Email: events@wintergardensblackpool.co.uk

Winter Gardens.A Grand and Visionary Complex.

The Winter Gardens is

unique. A Grade II* listed

building offering historic

grandeur combined with

the facility and technology

of modern event planning

supported by an experienced

management team.

For conferences,

exhibitions, shows,

concerts, special events or

banquets - for 10 to 10,000,

the Winter Gardens in

Blackpool remains Britain’s

most spectacular choice

of venue.

The Winter Gardens has

entertained hordes of

through an on-going

development and building

programme to meet

today’s customer needs.

The venue buzzes all year

round with top West End

Shows, major special

interest events, product

launches, conferences,

and the world famous

Dance Festival, to name

but a few.

The Winter Gardens is a

spectacular meeting place

in a perfect location with

the means to cater for

more than 10,000 people!

It provides everything

crowds in Blackpool in

its collection of theatres,

ballrooms, exhibition

halls and public spaces.

Since opening in 1878, the

venue’s aspirations have

continued to mirror the

development of Blackpool

as a friendly seaside resort.

As the town grew in

popularity throughout the

century, the venue’s wide

range of entertainment

has developed with it.

The venue has been

used for a diverse range

of leisure and business

purposes and has evolved

anyone could ever need

for conferences, seminars,

meetings, socials,

banquets and dinner-

dances. You will also find

a variety of bars and light

food restaurants open

day and night throughout

the complex.

Our reputation is based

on our unique flexibility,

tradition and experience.

We encourage clients to

visit the venue in person at

the earliest opportunity.

The true potential of the

Winter Gardens can only

be judged at first hand.

The Winter Gardens has long been established as one

of the UK’s premier venues for staging theatre shows,

concerts and events. With over 1 million people

passing through its doors annually, it’s not surprising to

discover that some of the biggest names from the world

of show business and the music industry appear on a

regular basis.

Within the Winter Gardens 4.9 acres is one of Britain’s

largest theatres, the Opera House. Boasting a seating

capacity of almost 3,000 and a stage measuring 30 x 15

metres. It is equipped with all the facilities expected of a

modern theatre and a team of professional technicians

experienced in the staging of major West End Shows.

The Opera House is the UK’s largest purpose

built theatre, designed in a modernist style with a

sweepingly curved proscenium.

Hollywood stars such as Frank Sinatra,

Judy Garland and Bob Hope have all graced the

Opera House stage. More recently, stars including

Peter Kay, One Direction, Bob Dylan and Little

Mix have all performed to sell out audiences.

Smash-hit shows attracted by the Opera

House’s immense capacity, perfect location and

unequalled reputation have included top West

End productions such as Joseph, Grease, Cats

and Mamma Mia!

THE FOYER BAR

The newly refurbished

room is another example

of the high standard in all

the halls and rooms in the

Winter Gardens.

The lounge can be used

as a self-contained unit,

or it can be used as a

syndicate, committee or

administration space

for larger events in the

main theatre.

CINEMA SCREEN

A brand new, state-of-the-

art digital cinema screen

- believed to be the biggest

in the North West - and a

brand new surround

sound system have been

specially installed in the

Opera House.

This incredible project

brings cinema back to the

Winter Gardens for the first

time in almost 40 years.

The Opera House. A perfect view ofthe wonder stage.

LEFT: BOB DYLANRIGHT: THE QUEEN MEETS PETER KAY

1955 ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE

The Empress Ballroom, with a capacity of

over 3,200 is without a doubt a breathtaking

environment for any event.

The Empress Ballroom has hosted

everything from political party conferences

to pop concerts - its architectural splendour,

vast capacity and unrivalled flexibility makes

it extremely popular with regional, national

and international event organisers alike.

Whatever your particular need, the power

of the Ballroom’s ‘WOW factor’ cannot be

underestimated. The majestic Empress

Ballroom truly is the jewel in the Winter

Gardens’ crown.

The Empress Ballroom has played host to

many top acts, from Jazz greats to huge

rock acts such as Paul Weller, Status Quo,

Arcade Fire and The Stone Roses.

Performances also range from top solo

vocalists to the UK’s favourite ‘boy and girl

bands’, the Empress Ballroom achieves

capacity audiences all year round. It is

ideally suited to the rock and pop market

with the added appeal of dancing with

full food and beverage facilities available

throughout the concert. Concert audiences

of up to 3,250 can be comfortably

accommodated in this magnificent venue.

Empress Ballroom. The jewel in the Winter Gardens’ crown.

ONE OF THE LARGEST THEATRES IN

THE UK HAS WELCOMED THE BIGGEST

STARS OF ENTERTAINMENT FOR OVER

100 YEARS INCLUDING TWO ROYAL

VARIETY PERFORMANCES

Never let it be said Frank Sinatra was short on confidence. He announced

his ability to run for office in Blackpool during his first appearance at the Opera

House back in July, 1950.

During the Second World War, the Winter Gardens was used for RAF training purposes by day and for entertainment in the evening.

THE FAB FOUR PERFORMED AT THE OPERA HOUSE TWICE WITHIN THE SAME MONTH IN THE SUMMER OF 1964. ALSO ON THE BILL WERE THE HIGH NUMBERS, WHO WERE SHORTLY TO RENAME THEMSELVES THE WHO, AND THE KINKS.

Early in 1918, the Admiralty had

requisitioned the Empress Ballroom

to assemble gas envelopes for the

R.33 airship.

YOU KNOW, I COULD BE MAYOR OF THIS TOWN!

OVER ONE

MILLION PEOPLE

VISIT THE WINTER

GARDENS EACH YEAR

HOME TO THE WORLD’S MOST PRESTIGIOUS DANCE FESTIVAL SINCE 1920

BLACKPOOL’S WINTER GARDENS FIRST OPENED TO

THE PUBLIC ON 11TH JULY 1878

Royal VarietyPerformance

The first Royal Variety Performance to be held outside London was staged at the Opera House in 1955. In 2009 the Royal Variety Performance was again staged at the theatre.

EVERY BRITISH PRIME MINISTER SINCE SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL HAS ADDRESSED AN AUDIENCE AT THE VENUE.

THE EMPRESS BALLROOM FIRST OPENED IN 1896

INAUGURATED IN 1878, THE WINTER GARDENS COST £100K TO BUILD WHICH IN TODAY’S MONEY IS OVER £10 MILLION

NOT ALWAYS AN EXHIBITION SPACE OLYMPIA WAS ONCE THE SITE OF A GIANT FERRIS WHEEL AS BIG AS THE LONDON EYE

THE EMPRESS BALLROOM HAS BEEN USED AS A

CONFERENCE VENUE FOR MANY YEARS BY THE LABOUR PARTY, CONSERVATIVE PARTY

AND LIBERAL DEMOCRATS.WURLITZER ORGANSWORKING

ONLY VENUEIN THE

WORLD WITH

TWO

Created in the 1930s by

Andrew Mazzei , a famous

film set designer of the time.

The spectacular Spanish

Hall, lavishly themed with

its three-dimensional frieze

representing a Spanish

village, provides a magical

backdrop for any grand

occasion, from a banquet to

a wedding reception.

Beer festivals, concerts and

corporate functions have

all enjoyed great success in

Adjacent to the

magnificent Empress

Ballroom, the Arena was

originally named the

Indian Lounge, due to

its beautiful Raj-inspired

interior design. The room

survived in this state for

68 years until, in 1964, the

faded interior was replaced

by the Planet Room - a

large lounge bar with a

cabaret stage. In the late

1980s the Planet Room was

the Spanish Hall’s unique

charismatic environment.

Retaining many of its

original custom-made

fittings, this spectacular

art deco venue is entirely

self-contained with its own

adjacent bar.

The Windsor Bar is ideal

for a variety of private

functions, available with the

adjacent Spanish Hall or on

its own.

revamped in a

Roman style to become

the present Arena.

The Arena can be

utilised on its own or in

conjunction with the

adjacent Empress Ballroom.

The room’s dramatic use

of light creates an almost

theatrical atmosphere for

meetings, presentations,

themed events, banquets,

cabaret style shows and

exhibitions.

The Arena. A venue under the stars.

Spanish Hall and Windsor Bar.

THE WINDSOR BAR LEADING OFF THE

SPANISH HALL

Step back in time. Baronial Hall.

Renaissance Room.Created with grandeur and glamour.

This medieval hall, designed

in the guise of an antique

castle, offers a step back in

time to the eve of the first

millennium. With heraldic

fittings and furnishings,

heavy oak panelling

and authentic medieval

detailing, the Baronial Hall

offers a distinctly different

atmosphere for meetings and

a unique dining experience.

The exquisite, period-

style hall was created with

grandeur and glamour in

mind in 1931 and built an

enviable reputation as a

high-class restaurant and

cocktail bar.

Benefiting from plenty of

natural light, the stunning

Renaissance Room is

extremely versatile and

particularly suited to special

occasions for up to 150

guests. With grand arched

doorways and enchanting

cherubs adorning the walls,

this opulent venue has

the ability to infuse any

meeting or private function

with charm and elegance.

THIS STUNNING ROOM CAN

BE USED FOR MEETINGS

OR AS AN ANTEROOM FOR

EVENTS IN THE BARONIAL

AND SPANISH HALLS

THE PERFECT FAIRYTALE SETTING FOR A WEDDING

THE NEWLY REFURBISHED DERHAM LOUNGE

Leading off the Floral Hall the Winter Gardens reveals yet another exquisite surprise: a graceful semi-circular promenade known as the ‘Horseshoe’.

At its centre is the Pavilion, a supreme example

of Victorian stage architecture now converted for

conference, concert, banqueting or dinner-dance.

Alternatively, the partitions dividing the Pavilion from

the Horseshoe may be folded back to create a spacious,

self-contained exhibition area.

The beautiful Pavilion Theatre accommodates up to

500 seated guests and provides one of Blackpool’s

more intimate theatrical experiences and can form a

distinctly different venue for a conference or meeting.

Renewed elegance. Derham Lounge.

The room takes its name

from John C. Derham, the

Tower Company’s resident

architect, who designed the

Olympia exhibition hall and

re-modelled other areas of

the Winter Gardens.

The room had been

created as a Restaurant

and Cafe in 1897, but

became the Olympia Bar

in 1930. From the 1980s

until more recently, it

was used for a variety

of functions including

the Ram Jam Inn, Apple

Annie’s and most recently

a collectables outlet, before

being reclaimed in 2013 and

restored to its former beauty.

Most of the 1930s

plasterwork has survived

and has been restored.

The restoration of this

room saw it being stripped

back to its shell and the

Renaissance glitz and

glamour renewed.

The room can now be

used for a variety of events,

either as a standalone room

using the Carter Street

entrance or as an extension

to the larger complex.

PAVILION THEATRE FROM THE STAGE, c 1950.

PAVILION THEATRE STAGE.

Pavilion & Horseshoe.An exquisite surprise.

Home to many of the

North’s major trade shows,

it is easy to understand

why. With 2,600 square

metres of space and direct

links to the Ballroom,

Arena, Horseshoe and

Pavilion, the Olympia

can be used as a totally

self-contained venue or

alongside other facilities -

all under one roof.

The Olympia offers easy

access for vehicles and

equipment, with ample

parking for visitors and

exhibitors immediately

adjacent to the Winter

Gardens. The impressively

spacious Olympia features

high ceilings, natural light

and easy accessibility, with

three points of exterior

entry for vehicles and

equipment.

The Winter Gardens offers many exciting opportunities for exhibition organisers, none more so than the Olympia Exhibition Centre.

WITH 2,600 SQUARE

METRES OF SPACE,

OLYMPIA IS BLACKPOOL’S

LARGEST INDOOR

EXHIBITION SPACE

OLYMPIA EXHIBITION

CENTRE

Olympia Exhibition Centre.

Cafes and Bars

The Mazzei Cafe, situated

off the Floral Hall and

opposite The Empress

Grill Room offers a relaxed

atmosphere. Serving light

lunches, afternoon tea and

snacks including paninis,

homemade cakes and a

selection of sandwiches.

The Empress Grill Room

within the Winter Gardens

offers the choice of fine

cuisine with flexible

catering that can be tailored

to your requirements. The

contemporary interior of

the restaurant contrasts

delightfully with the

dramatic surroundings of

the building.

There are also a number of

bars in the Winter Gardens

complex. The Windsor

Bar which can be used

alone or with the adjacent

Spanish Hall. The Galleon

Bar which opened in 1931

and was modelled on the

lines of the officers quarters

of one of the Spanish

armada’s galleons.

The Theatre Bar leads off

the Galleon Bar and is a

perfect venue for intimate

performances and as a

break room during large

conferences. Each of these

wondrous spaces can be

used individually or as

rooms to facilaite a larger

event for networking,

relaxing or small meetings.

The tradition of outstanding hospitality associated with the Winter Gardens as a famous Blackpool visitor attraction has never been more alive than today, with a choice of cafes and bars offering something to suit all tastes.

THE MAZZEI CAFE

THE EMPRESS GRILL ROOM

Notes

BLACKPOOL & FYLDE COLLEGE FASHION SHOW

ANDRÉ RIEU

ROYAL VARIETYPERFORMANCE

How to find us

TRAVELLING

BY TRAIN

Blackpool North Station

is approximately 5

minutes walk to the

Winter Gardens.

TRAVELLING BY

CAR AND PARKING

From the M55 exit

at junction 4, follow

A583 into central

Blackpool or for sat nav,

postcode FY1 1HW.

The Winter Gardens Blackpool has to be seen to be believed.

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