A popular UK town that’s famed for its alluring attractions is set for a major upgrade.
Two key areas of Blackpool’s Winter Gardens will be upgraded with hundreds of thousands of pounds expected to be spent on its facilities in a bid to attract more tourists to the area.
Blackpool’s Winter Gardens first opened in 1878 and is home to a huge entertainment complex with 12 venues that are Grade II listed.
Investment and work will be ploughed into The Olympia and The Arena, aiming to improve visitor experience for events including the Rebellion Festival.
Work for the upgrade is expected to cost £495,000 for both sites which will include new flooring and walls, a new and improved bar ,and other facilities.
Blackpool’s Olympia first opened in 1930 and is used for exhibitions. Meanwhile, The Arena was first opened in 1896.
When opened, The Arena was used as an Indian-inspired lounge including a cabaret bar before it was turned into a venue space.
The loan to improve the town’s entertainment facilities was approved by Blackpool Council to Blackpool Entertainment Company Limited – the operators for the Winter Gardens on behalf of the council.
These upgrades and changes are already evident for parts of the Winter Garden which was previously improved thanks to a £1.7 million splurge on the Empress Ballroom and Opera House.
“Since 2022, we have embarked on a phased improvement of our bars and catering facilities,” said Winter Gardens managing director Michael Williams.
He added: “The benefits of these investments are now evident in the Empress Ballroom and other refurbished areas, improving both customer experience and operational efficiency.”
The Arena Bar’s planned works includes modernisation of its wall coverings and flooring allowing for the area to be more inviting.
The imporovements allow for a better experience for both customers and staff. They include enhcancements to the beer lines and reduced wastage while increasing the speed of service.
As for the Olympia Bar, the scheme will look to upgrade the venue’s backstage toilets and shower facilities which will allow for a better backstage experience for events.
These changes will be one of many for the seaside town of Blackpool as a new development to transform Blackpool’s Golden Mile is also on the way costing £300 million.
Other changes to Blackpool include the £13 million new Showton Blackpool Museum with the town’s new tram extension and stop also being opened after a £23 million reinvigoration project.
Blackpool’s transformation looks to create a more attractive place and aims to have a more thriving economy with better services.
