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Winter Gardens Blackpool — Winter Gardens’ broad street-facing facade with its ornate upper floorsPhoto: Ian S · CC BY-SA 2.0 · edited
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Winter Gardens Blackpool

Theaters ·Blackpool ·Closed
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About

Winter Gardens Blackpool is a theatre, ballroom and conference venue in Blackpool town centre, about 250 metres from the seafront.

More photos 11

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Winter Gardens Blackpool — Empress Ballroom with its gilded vaulted ceiling and dance floor Michael D Beckwith · CC BY 3.0 · edited
Winter Gardens Blackpool — Empress Ballroom with its gilded vaulted ceiling and dance floorWinter Gardens Blackpool — Baronial Hall’s timber galleries, chandeliers and polished floorWinter Gardens Blackpool — Spanish Hall’s colorful draped ceiling and ornate ballroomWinter Gardens Blackpool — The Winter Gardens arcade beneath its blue glass roofWinter Gardens Blackpool — Arcade corridor with blue roof beams, shops and visitorsWinter Gardens Blackpool — Central arcade walkway beneath the glass and blue steel roofWinter Gardens Blackpool — Arcade interior with patterned floor, glass roof and palm treesWinter Gardens Blackpool — View through the arcade toward its distant central seatingWinter Gardens Blackpool — Winter Gardens entrance seen from the pedestrian approachWinter Gardens Blackpool — Wide view of the Winter Gardens facade along Church StreetWinter Gardens Blackpool — Historic street view of the Winter Gardens’ arched entrance

What's on here

View Event Del Amitri Opera House, Winter Gardens View Event Del Amitri Opera House, Winter Gardens Thursday · All day View Event Squeeze Plus Very Special Guest Billy Bragg Opera House… View Event Squeeze Plus Very Special Guest Billy Bragg Opera House… Friday · All day View Event Happy Mondays Olympia, Winter Gardens View Event Happy Mondays Olympia, Winter Gardens Saturday · All day View Event The Australian Pink Floyd Show Opera House, Winter Gardens View Event The Australian Pink Floyd Show Opera House, Winter Gardens Saturday · All day View Event TDCI World Performer Grand Final 2026 Opera House, Winter… View Event TDCI World Performer Grand Final 2026 Opera House, Winter… Sunday · All day View Event Blackpool Schools Festival of Dance Opera House, Winter… View Event Blackpool Schools Festival of Dance Opera House, Winter… Tuesday · All day View Event Dr John Cooper Clarke Opera House, Winter Gardens View Event Dr John Cooper Clarke Opera House, Winter Gardens Wednesday · All day View Event The Mersey Beatles Opera House, Winter Gardens View Event The Mersey Beatles Opera House, Winter Gardens Thursday · All day Show more

Why go

  • The Empress Ballroom has a 12,500-square-foot floor and hosts the Blackpool Dance Festival and World Matchplay darts tournament.
  • The Opera House, among the UK’s largest theatres, houses the last new Wurlitzer organ installed in the country.
  • The Spanish Hall has Andalucian-style vaulting and balconies depicting clustered Spanish villages.
  • The Opera House hosted the first Royal Variety Performance held outside London in 1955.

Opening hours

Today11:00 – 15:00Show all
Monday11:00 – 15:00
Tuesday11:00 – 15:00
Wednesday11:00 – 15:00
Thursday11:00 – 15:00
Friday11:00 – 15:00
Saturday11:00 – 15:00
Sunday11:00 – 15:00

The hall

Pavilion Theatre
Former 600-seat theatre At the centre of the Horseshoe promenade; its seating area became exhibition space after refurbishment in the 1990s.
Opera House
Nearly 3,000 seats

Interesting facts3

1/3

  1. Winter Gardens is a Grade II* listed building.

    Winter Gardens (Blackpool) - Wikipedia

  2. The Opera House, Pavilion, Empress Ballroom, Olympia and Arena are linked by a large arcade on the ground floor.

    Winter Gardens, Blackpool - Wikipedia

  3. The Spanish, Baronial and Renaissance halls are upstairs.

    Winter Gardens (Blackpool) - Wikipedia

Shorts

History

The original plans included a concert hall, promenades and winter gardens. The Arena began life in 1896 as the Indian Lounge, designed by J.M. Boekbinder with an interior inspired by the British Raj.

  1. 1875The Winter Gardens Company bought the site for about £28,000.
  2. 1878The complex officially opened on 11 July on the 6-acre Bank Hey Estate.
  3. 1889The Pavilion, built as a promenade pavilion in 1878, became a theatre; the original Opera House, designed by Frank Matcham, was also completed.
  4. 1896The Empress Ballroom and Indian Lounge were built.
  5. 1920The ballroom hosted the first Blackpool Dance Festival.
Show all
  1. 1930Olympia opened in June with stalls and attractions arranged as a Moorish village.
  2. 1931The Galleon Bar, Spanish Hall and Baronial Hall were added.
  3. 1939The current Opera House opened after its predecessor was demolished in 1938.
  4. World War IIThe Olympia dome was removed, and the hall was used to teach Morse code.

How to get there

  • 10 minOn footFrom Blackpool North Station, walk towards the promenade on Talbot Road, turn left onto Abingdon Street, then continue to the Church Street entrance.
  • CarReach Blackpool via the M55, joining from the M6 at Junction 32. From M55 Junction 4, follow the A583 into central Blackpool.
  • ParkingThere is no parking at the venue. Houndshill Shopping Centre’s multi-storey car park is about 150 metres from the Coronation Street entrance or 300 metres from the Church Street entrance.
  • CarTaxi: Taxis may drop off outside either entrance, subject to traffic restrictions. A taxi rank is on Church Street, a short walk from the entrance.
  • BusCoach: After 6 pm, coaches can use Church Street from Leopold Grove to drop off and collect visitors; they cannot wait during a performance.

Sources: Winter Gardens, Blackpool - Wikipedia · Blackpool - Wikivoyage (do) · Winter Gardens Blackpool: Shows, Conferences & … · Your Visit | Winter Gardens Blackpool · Travel and Parking | Winter Gardens Blackpool · Winter Gardens (Blackpool) - Wikipedia · checked 6 Oct 2026

Where
Church Street, Blackpool

Plan from here: With kids →

Questions and answers

What shows does Winter Gardens Blackpool host?

Its programme includes shows such as the Blackpool Fringe.

What is the Arena at Winter Gardens Blackpool used for?

It accommodates meetings, presentations and banquets, and provides extra space for the Empress Ballroom.

What is Olympia at Winter Gardens Blackpool used for today?

Olympia hosts exhibitions and trade shows in a 2,600-square-metre venue.

When did World Matchplay darts begin at Winter Gardens Blackpool?

The venue has hosted PDC World Matchplay since 1994, apart from a pandemic-related break in 2020.

What are Winter Gardens Blackpool’s opening hours?

It is open daily from 11:00 to 15:00.

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