Morecambe Winter Gardens celebrates its 125th anniversary this weekend with some special events to mark the grand occasion.
The Victoria Pavillion, as it was then known, opened its doors to the public on 19 July 1897, designed to be both a grand variety theatre and a concert hall. Built at a cost of nearly £100,000, it was designed by Mangnall & Littlewood from Manchester with interiors by Dean and Co, including tiling, covering the walls and ceiling of the lavish foyer by Burmantoft of Leeds.
Marble steps led the public upstairs to the lavish Grand Circle with the third tier known locally as the Gods, with bench seating.
On Saturday (July 16) the venue is holding a free children’s party, while there will be Birthday Theatre Tours taking place across the weekend, as well as a special birthday raffle on Sunday.
On Friday 24th July Yorkshire Silent Film Festival will have a special showing of Hitchcock’s thriller The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog – with live music, and on Saturday 6th August, the George Formby Society will be holding a one day convention
The theatre will open at midday on Saturday for the children’s party.
No booking is necessary. There will be 125 places available and it will be first come first served.
Each child will be given a Goody Bag containing Crayons, colouring book and a 125th anniversary badge. They will also receive a sandwich, savoury snack and a piece of fruit and a drink.
Children’s entertainment will be provided from 1pm by Uncle Billy Punch & Judy together with party games, face painting and magic show.
125 Tickets will be on sale in the theatre on Sunday and are priced at £10 each, with all proceeds going towards the continued restoration of the Winter Gardens.
There is a guaranteed prize for every ticket purchased, with prizes to be won including Afternoon Tea for 2 with Prosecco at the Midland Hotel, Meal for 4, 2 bottles of wine, one game each for 4 people at Soul Bowl and vouchers for a range of local businesses, hampers and tickets to local attractions.
The raffle will take place between 3pm & 5pm and drawn by special celebrity guest, antiques expert Paul Hayes, and there will be entertainment from “Anything Goes Swing Trio” from 1pm.
Birthday tours can be booked across the weekend here
https://morecambewintergardens.com/tours/
The venue will also have fundraising merchandise available to purchase including new T-shirts and postcards, and even specially made bottles of gin.
Find out more about the celebrations here:
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