Winter Gardens, Blackpool
| Winter Gardens | |
|---|---|
Winter Gardens | |
| General information | |
| Type | Entertainment complex |
| Address | 97 Church Street, Blackpool, FY1 1HL |
| Coordinates | 53°49′02″N 3°03′03″W / 53.8171°N 3.0509°W |
| Construction started | 1875 |
| Inaugurated | 11 July 1878 |
| Cost | £100,000 (equivalent to £12,000,000 in 2023) |
| Owner | Blackpool Council |
| Management | Crown Leisure (as of November 2010) |
| Designations | |
Listed Building – Grade II* | |
| Official name | The Winter Gardens |
| Designated | 10 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, operated by Blackpool Entertainment Company Limited on behalf of Blackpool Council, which purchased the property from Leisure Parcs Ltd as part of a £40 million deal in 2010.
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.