Winter Gardens and the Opera House
Today we took a tour around a fabulous complex “The Winter Gardens” including the world famous Blackpool Opera House where I had my very first pub beer at 15 ! (Watneys Red Barrel) and really pleased my age wasn,t challenged !! (legal age for pubs was 18) On a Sunday we go to scared to death by the likes of Peter Cushing & Christopher Lee in Vampire movies! which these days wouldn,t even get a U cert !! We ventured around this massive building that has lots of closed down ballrooms/theatres and a variety of bars and rooms. The Empress I remember well from my Grammar School Days where we held presentation days.Lots of these places are being refurbished and brought back to life after being abandoned in the 70s .Mirrors,chandeliers and various pieces of furniture were left to literally rot away,fortunately restoration is a way of life now.There is plenty to see and we were lucky enough to visit the theatre where CATS is currently being shown (we are reliably informed the stage is one of the largest in Europe!)
One of the most memorable bars is the Spanish Hall and that holds lots of great memories for me when in my 20,s My mother used to organize Ladies Darts Balls that were always well attended in the 60,s
ILLUMINASIA a Fantastic Model & Light Show
One of my old stomping grounds used to be the Olympia in Central Blackpool adjoining the Winter Gardens ( more on that soon) All the rides and amusement machines have long gone and in their place a magnificent show of giant models made of a silk mateial and lit up with led lighting.The 3D show was brilliant and although I have seen many 3D films THIS is awesome..the creatures that came out we almost touchable !There are many exhibits featuring giant animals and insects,the last section was on iconic worldwide statues/icons (Blackpool,Eiffel towers the Sphinx and lots more) The exhibition ends up with a great laser stage show (and guess who was selected to go stage?) IF you are ever in this hometown of mine this place is a must visit.Annie didn,t want to leave !!
Watch me play Didgeridoo
Geoffs Life After Work ! 