Winter Gardens, Blackpool

Winter Gardens
The Winter Gardens, as viewed from the west
Winter Gardens
Winter Gardens, Blackpool is located in Blackpool
Winter Gardens, Blackpool
Location in Blackpool
General information
TypeEntertainment complex
Address97 Church Street, Blackpool, FY1 1HL
Coordinates53°49′02″N 3°03′03″W / 53.8171°N 3.0509°W / 53.8171; -3.0509
Construction started1875
Inaugurated11 July 1878
Cost£100,000
OwnerBlackpool Council
ManagementCrown Leisure (as of November 2010)
Designations
Listed Building – Grade II*
Designated10 October 1973
Reference no.1072007

The Winter Gardens is a large entertainment complex in Blackpool, Lancashire, England, which includes a theatre, ballroom and conference facilities. Opened in 1878, it is a Grade II* listed building,[1] operated by Blackpool Entertainment Company Limited[2] on behalf of Blackpool Council, which purchased the property from Leisure Parcs Ltd as part of a £40 million deal in 2010.[3]

The Winter Gardens has hosted the annual Trades Union Congress, the Conservative Party Conference, Labour Party Conference, and the twice-annual Liberal Democrat Conference. The venue's owners claim that every Prime Minister, since World War II has addressed an audience at the venue.

It has also hosted the Blackpool Dance Festival since its inception in 1920, and the World Matchplay darts tournament since 1994. The annual dance competitions Miss Dance of Great Britain and Dance Master UK are hosted there annually.

  1. ^ "Listed Buildings in Blackpool". Blackpool Civic Trust. Retrieved 5 December 2009.
  2. ^ "Blackpool Entertainment Company Limited - Company Profile - Endole".
  3. ^ Walsh, Dominic (31 March 2010). "Blackpool Tower to be sold as resort embarks on £40m development". The Times. Archived from the original on 29 May 2010. Retrieved 21 March 2011.