
Blackpool's Winter Gardens centre 'cornerstone to economic boost'
'Credible destination'
The Winter Gardens centre offered a combined capacity of 7,000 delegates across 12 interlinked event spaces, including the Empress Ballroom, Opera House, and Spanish Hall. It was officially opened by then prime minister Boris Johnson, when it hosted a Conservative party conference.It has more than £5m worth of booking enquires and confirmations lined up into 2027 and was expected to be bringing over £10m per year to the town, Meet Blackpool said.Its head, Julie Vincent, said: "Surpassing our annual target with several months to go reflects not just the hard work of our hospitality partners, but the confidence event organisers have in Blackpool as a credible, high-impact destination. "From major conferences and exhibitions to corporate team away days, the town is proving it can deliver delegate experiences that are both outstanding and unforgettable."
Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Independent
4 minutes ago
- The Independent
Where commuters can get train fares for just £1 this month
Transport for Wales is offering £1 fares for Pay As You Go rail travel across south east Wales. The promotional fares are available from 19 to 28 August at 95 PAYG-enabled stations, and will apply to all journeys, including rail replacement buses. Passengers can save a maximum of £3.20 on a single journey during this limited-time offer. The initiative aims to encourage more people to try rail travel and familiarise themselves with the PAYG system. This promotion coincides with discussions about potential regulated train fare increases in England, which could rise by up to 5.8 per cent next year.


Telegraph
5 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Labour poised to take control of Gupta's UK steel factories
The Government is poised to take over operations at Britain's third largest steelworks, aiming to save 1,500 jobs at Sanjeev Gupta's Rotherham-based factory. The High Court heard on Wednesday that the Government's official receiver is ready to step in as administrator if Mr Gupta is unable to finalise a rescue deal involving £75m from US giant BlackRock. 'The official receiver is prepared, should SSUK [Speciality Steel UK] enter into compulsory liquidation, to take control of SSUK's affairs,' the Department for Business and Trade said in a letter to Mr Gupta's creditors. The letter said the Government had held discussions with SSUK but had not been negotiating any taxpayer financial assistance to either Mr Gupta or any potential buyer of the company. The Government said it was also not discussing putting SSUK under state ownership. That 'would be the subject of formal ministerial decision, and no such decisions have been made'. The submission comes as creditors of SSUK seek to shut down the company in order to claim their debts. Mr Gupta is looking to avoid his company falling into the hands of the official receiver by in effect liquidating the company himself and using his fresh BlackRock funding for what the court was 'a management buyout'. In a court hearing, Judge Sally Barber said she could not decide on the spot whether to wind up SSUK – in effect putting the company under potential government management – or to let Mr Gupta go ahead with his plan. The judge said she needed more information on what would happen, saying she could not decide 'on a completely blind basis' having not seen a draft application from the official receiver. The matter is likely to return to court in the coming days, piling pressure on the Government to be more explicit about its plans for the cash-strapped plant.


The Sun
5 minutes ago
- The Sun
I built the ultimate Airbnb using Pablo Escobar's plane – my spiteful neighbours hate it & want to stop my next project
THE MAN who transformed Pablo Escobar's plane into an Airbnb has hit back at critics trying to block his next project. Johnny Palmer, 41, says that he wants to create the 'coolest office' in the world if he can get planning approval. 6 6 6 The entrepreneur wants to carry out a second Boeing project after his first - converting a Boeing 727 plane belonging to Pablo Escobar - made his guests 'feel like billionaires'. Now, Johnny wants to convert another plane into the 'world's coolest office'. Stacked on top of three storeys worth of containers, he says that the installation would be a hub for co-working and office spaces and include a coffee shop and other facilities However, his plans have ground to a halt as he waits for Bristol City Council to approve the project. The businessman's proposal has received a staggering 70 letters of support, but also 9 complaints. His last project proved to be controversial, as nearby residents complained of 'noisy parties' on the airline. He claims that the objections are preventing areas like Bristol from being regenerated. Johnny said: "It's not a surprise that not much gets done in poorer parts of the UK when some locals behave like this and attack the one person who is prepared to invest and make something new. "But in reality the vast majority of people in the area are lovely and 90% of the people support the application." Naysayers have branded his proposals as part of a 'vanity project' or 'publicity stunt'. One complainer said more bluntly that the first plane is an 'absolute eyesore'. However, Johnny hasn't been deterred - in fact, he thinks the second plane could rival another iconic Bristol landmark. The entrepreneur said: '"This is going to be Bristol's second most iconic structure. People will think of Bristol and picture the Clifton suspension bridge and Ground Force." He also suggested that the noise referenced in the complaints was linked to 'events and venues' in the nearby area, not the 'existing fuselage'. Johnny first opened up his Airbnb in 2021, which has been used by film makers, music video producers and event organisers. The jet itself was built in 1968 and used as a private jet from 1981 until 2012. A night on the plane costs £850, though its owner claims that it makes guests feel like a 'billionaire at 32-feet'. The jet comes with leather seats, a gold plated shower, two double bedrooms but has had its wings and engine removed. He wants his second project to begin development in January, if he gets permission from the council. After that, he wants to launch the space in March. Speaking about his vision for the city, Johnny said: "Cities are defined by their landmarks or skylines. In Bristol we have a bridge and some colourful houses which I love, but I think we can do better. "I love the idea of Bristol being known as the place with the airliners on shipping containers. It adds to our global identity, inspires young engineers and is a spectacle to see. "I want this project to be something that inspires more people to do more, think bigger, create better work." The Sun has approached Bristol City Council for comment. 6 6