What is the history of the Winter Gardens?
Ruthe Pollich
2025-06-21 23:27:41
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The Winter Gardens Pavilion is a significant part of Weston-super-Mare's seafront and its history as a major player in British seaside tourism. The Pavilion was designed in 1924 by notable garden designer and town planner Thomas Mawson and town surveyor Harry Brown. The Winter Gardens was opened on 14th July 1927 by Sir Earnest S. Palmer, deputy chairman of the Great Western Railway. The Pavilion luckily escaped damage during the Second World War, where it became the base for the BBC as it relocated out of London to avoid the Blitz. After the war, however, much of the Pavilion’s original architectural features were lost due to subsequent renovations which aimed to keep the venue equipped with contemporary technology. This renovation led to a highly successful period between the 1950s and ‘70s that saw the building host some of the biggest bands of the day, playing to a packed house each evening. 1972 was the last full year of chart-topping stars performing at the venue, and when the building was handed over to Woodspring District Council on 1st April 1974, the books showed a surplus of over £150,000 in today’s money. In its 90th year, the Winter Gardens Pavilion reopened to the public after an extensive renovation and refurbishment, which saw £15 million spent on improving the building’s public facilities and creating an educational centre for law, finance, and some university-level courses. The College treated the dome with an acoustic solution to help dampen the room’s echo, and worked with audio visual design engineers to create a bespoke sound system and introduce new video technology that will make the Winter Gardens Pavilion a unique and competitive venue in the area.
Oma Herman
2025-06-09 04:23:26
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The Winter Gardens is a vast entertainment complex containing a number of individual entertainment venues, constructed between 1875 and 1939. The Pavilion was one of the first of these to be built and was converted to a theatre by Thomas Mitchell in 1889. The present auditorium of 1896-97 is by Wylson & Long. The Winter Gardens Pavilion has been on the Theatres at Risk Register since 2014. The Winter Gardens Complex is also on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register. The Pavilion is an integral part of the Blackpool Winter Gardens complex, which is owned by Blackpool Council. Very little of Wylson & Long’s work remains, and Blackpool Winter Gardens Pavilion survives as their most important monument. In 2017, Blackpool Council commissioned a Statement of Significance for the Pavilion and this has shown that it is in fact one of the only remaining auditorium examples in the United Kingdom that exemplifies and spans the period of the end of music hall and the development of variety theatre.
Richard Bruen
2025-06-08 03:26:55
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The Winter Gardens is a Grade II* listed building in Morecambe, Lancashire, England. Designed by architects Mangnall and Littlewood, with Frank Matcham as a consulting architect, it was originally built as the Victoria Pavilion Theatre in 1897 and was an extension to the existing Winter Gardens complex, which has since been demolished. The Victoria Pavilion Theatre was built in 1897 as part of an existing complex. Dating from 1878, the original complex included seawater baths, bars and a ballroom. In the 1950s, the Winter Gardens were taken over by Moss Empires, however declining profits in the following decades led to its closure in 1977. Although the theatre building that remains today was listed the same year, the ballroom building was demolished in 1982. The theatre closed to the public in 1977 and was listed the same year. It is considered to be one of Morecambe's most significant features, and a campaign for its restoration has been ongoing since 1986.
Sylvia Bogan
2025-05-27 11:19:43
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Since opening its doors in July 1878, Winter Gardens Blackpool has been at the heart of the vibrant seaside resort, enchanting generations of visitors with its diverse range of events and grand architectural beauty. Journey through time at Winter Gardens Blackpool, a storied venue since 1878. Explore our captivating timeline, from grand openings to iconic additions, celebrating a legacy of world-class entertainment and unforgettable moments. The Winter Gardens Trust was set up to raise awareness of the significance of the spectacular grade II* listed Blackpool Winter Gardens and to support its repair and restoration. Join us for a fascinating tour of the Winter Gardens Blackpool. Our knowledgeable guides have many years’ experience at the venue and can offer a unique insight to the fascinating building and the many events its hosted. Welcome to Our Heritage at Winter Gardens Blackpool, a captivating journey through the rich history of one of the UK’s most iconic entertainment venues.
Marion Gottlieb
2025-05-24 10:42:58
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Morecambe Winter Gardens opened its doors in July 1897 and consisted of the theatre, ballroom, restaurants and gardens at the rear. Over the years the stage has played host to many famous stars of stage and screen, George Formby, Gracie Fields, Vera Lynn, the Who and the Rolling Stones to name a few. The film The Entertainer starring Laurence Olivier, was filmed in and around Morecambe and the final screens were shot on the stage itself. The formation of the Friends in 1987 saw the building listed as a Grade II* and an ongoing restoration programme keeps the building in use in a variety of ways. Entrance to the theatre is free, but for a small fee you can take a tour of the building and learn more about the history of this amazing 'Victoria Pavilion Theatre' and afterwards enjoy light refreshments in our Café. Tours take place from April (Easter Weekend) until October.
Arielle Wilkinson
2025-05-11 10:08:55
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The Winter Gardens began in 1878 as the People's Palace and included baths, entertainment and an aquarium. The building later became a ballroom. In 1987 it was doubled in size with the construction of the Victoria Pavilion alongside it. The two buildings were known as the Victoria Pavilion and the Oriental Ballroom. After the death of Queen Victoria they were renamed the Kings Pavilion & the Empress Ballroom. The Winter Gardens were very popular throughout the 20th century and in the 1930s they were extensively refurbished. However in the late 1960s/70s they fell into decline and the whole complex was closed in 1977. In 1982 the Ballroom was demolished.
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