Winter Gardens

Went to see a show. Booked via telephone for wheelchair user (had to have access card) and the companion ticket was free. Venue easy to access with a chair, with a ramp into the theatre. The seats are on a slight incline so have to be quick to get the brakes on once chair in position! If you need to stay in the chair you are sat at the end of the aisle about 20 rows up? not sure if there were others available but was told this was what they had available when I booked, and didn't see many other wheelchairs. The toilets are up at the back so had to push the chair up, you don't realise a small incline until pushing a husband in a wheelchair up it, not sure a person who self propels in a chair would manage it? There may have been other toilets outside the theatre but we weren't made aware of these. The accessible toilet was OK, the door being abit awkward as its one of those that you pull outwards and with a chair and not much room it was more hardwork than it needed to be!

This visit went very well there were were no barriers to getting seated for the show. The staff were extremely helpful and there were ramps in and out of the theatre. This venue has high quality shows at a fraction of the price in the cities. We watched Footloose with Darren Day, Jake Quickenden and Luke Friend. All the performers sang danced and player a variety of instruments. A real feel good musical.

Set in the heart of Blackpool the Winter Gardens is not difficult to miss with large ornate entrances welcoming you in. Once inside it was a step back in time with places to take afternoon tea or something a little stronger, the adjoining Opera House and the theatre and ballroom and lots to see. Our trip was to the recently renovated Spanish Hall with its elegant styling to look like a Spanish village.