Curtains up for May 17 as Blackpool venues and attractions vow to get back to the business of building memories for visitors again
A year and two months after closing the Grand Theatre, Winter Gardens complex and the resort's wider attractions and live venues will slowly begin to welcome back visitors in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Resort bosses said whilst finally being given a date to work towards had brought an end to the uncertainty, it was disappointing the indoor hospitality and leisure sector would be the last to return after an 'incredibly challenging 12 months' for the town.
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Hide AdThe Blackpool Tower and Circus, Sealife Centre, Madam Tussauds, part of the cluster of Merlin Attractions will re-open to a fixed capacity of visitors on May 17, just ahead of the half term school break.
Kate Shane, head of Blackpool Cluster Merlin Entertainments Group said the Prime Minister's announcement yesterday was in part frustrating but had not been unexpected, she said: "It's not the news I wanted but it wasn't unexpected.
"We have traded just four of the last 14 months and in the time we were open visitor numbers were capped at 30 per cent capacity.
"We made huge investments to make our attractions secure and safe - it just seems incredulous other sectors are deemed safer - it doesn't seem logical but we look forward to May 17 and finally having that chance to remove some of the anxiety and uncertainty for our amazing team.
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Hide Ad"A great number of our staff, apart from a very short period have been on furlough. Make no bones about it, it's been tough and a challenge for everyone particularly across the resort. We want everyone open again.
"I have been in the Tower the last few days and it just doesn't feel right empty. The whole situation hasn't been good for anyone. We are a business but that is in building social experiences for people, all the families who walk through our doors.
"That's the service we provide - we're human and built for interaction and after all the Christmas debacle the last few weeks have been really hard.
"We will be ready to take the finger off the pause button and be back on May 17 to start building memories for people again."
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Hide AdManagement from Blackpool Entertainment Company, who run the Winter Gardens have now
A spokesperson for the Winter Gardens said: "Whilst we would love to welcome back audiences sooner, we are pleased to be given a workable timeline for reopening, initially with social distancing in place followed by the return of larger scale events in the Summer.
"Our team is in contact with event organisers to discuss arrangements for events prior to 17 May that are unable to proceed as planned.
"Customers will be contacted in due course once new arrangements are confirmed.
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Hide Ad"It has been an incredibly challenging 12-months for the business and wider resort which so desperately relies on high numbers of visitors especially those that travel from across the UK and globe to the events at the Winter Gardens.
"Hopefully, summer heralds the return to a greater form of normality that allows the business and Blackpool to start on the long road to recovery."