Further £500k for Winter Gardens upgrades

Two key areas of Blackpool's Winter Gardens are set to be given a £459,000 upgrade.

The work will see investment ploughed into The Olympia and The Arena inside the Grade II* listed complex – helping to improve the visitor experience for events such as the Rebellion Festival.

It comes after Blackpool Council approved the loan from its business loans fund to Blackpool Entertainment Company Limited, which operates the Winter Gardens on behalf of the authority.

Work will include improvement to the bars and backstage facilities, new flooring and wallcoverings.

Winter Gardens managing director Michael Williams said: "Since 2022, we have embarked on a phased improvement of our bars and catering facilities.

"The benefits of these investments are now evident in the Empress Ballroom and other refurbished areas, improving both customer experience and operational efficiency."

A further £40,000 from a separate loan is being used by Blackpool Entertainment Company Limited in support of electrical infrastructure works currently underway.

The council agreed in August this year to approve a loan of £499,999  from its business loans fund to repair essential electrical infrastructure in the Olympia exhibition centre.

A council report said the latest loan to the Winter Gardens will ensure the venue remains "at the forefront of the local and regional economy, driving inbound tourism whilst creating truly memorable experiences for visitors".

Other recent investment has included improvements to bars at the Empress Ballroom and Opera House following approval of a £1.7m council loan in 2022.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas to [email protected] and via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.