The Winter Gardens is a large entertainment complex in Blackpool, Lancashire, England, which includes a theatre, ballroom and conference facilities.

It has also hosted the Blackpool Dance Festival since its inception in 1920, and the World Matchplay darts tournament since 1994.

[4] The Winter Gardens was built on the six-acre Bank Hey Estate and officially opened on 11 July 1878.

The original intention was "to place on the land a concert room, promenades, conservatories and other accessories calculated to convert the estate into a pleasant lounge, especially desirous during inclement days.

On 3 December 2009, it was revealed that Leisure Parcs had accepted an offer of £40m from Blackpool Council to buy the Winter Gardens as well as the Tower, and other sites in the resort.

The deal, financed through a combination of government regeneration cash, European funding and a loan, was finalised in March 2010.

The complex occupies most of its block, a roughly square footprint with sides about 200 metres in length.

The northwest corner is completely separated by a road serving the stage door of the theatres.

The west face also accommodates a few small shops with the same architectural styling as the main building.

All are contiguous and contained inside an Art Deco surface with a large arcade connecting two main entrances.

The Opera House Theatre hosts many theatrical performances in addition to variety shows and music concerts.

Acts such as Pet Shop Boys, The Beatles, Queen, Oasis, Radiohead, Slash and The White Stripes have performed in the ballroom.

It is situated in the centre of the Horseshoe – a semi-circular promenade providing a spacious self-contained exhibition area.

Built in 1896, it was originally known as the Indian Lounge because of its British Raj-inspired interior design created by J.M.

[8] The Arena is now used as a venue in its own right for meetings, presentations and banquets or as an extension space for the Empress Ballroom.

The Olympia's exterior was finished in white faience and included a dome which was removed after World War II.

[9] The Olympia later found use as a funfair until the 1980s when it was adapted to a more modern indoor adventure playground called Professor Peabody's Playplace.

A floor was constructed in the Winter Gardens' Victoria Street entrance to allow the creation of the hall.