Duo leads the board for Blackpool's Showtown museum

Blackpool’s show business museum now being built on the Promenade has passed another milestone with the filling of two key positions on the board.
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Spencer Philips, is the new chairman, and Rupinder Ashworth, vice chairman. They will take the reins of the operating company prior to opening to the public in 2021.

The new £13m attraction, Showtown, will be located on in the new Sands Venue Resort and Spa, Blackpool’s first five-star hotel.

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Showtown will tell the story of Blackpool’s role in seaside entertainment and variety and its huge impact on entertainment across the world. Last month it took delivery of a glass fibre elephant for its circus exhibition.

The delivery of the glass fiber elephant to the Showtown venue being built on the PromThe delivery of the glass fiber elephant to the Showtown venue being built on the Prom
The delivery of the glass fiber elephant to the Showtown venue being built on the Prom

Spencer Phillips has worked both the commercial industries and not-for-profit sectors.

Showtime said he had delivered “impressive sales and marketing strategies for some of the largest names” in ticketing, tourism and the performing arts, inducing Andrew Lloyd Webber’s, Really Useful Theatre’s Group, Ticketmaster, Crystal Holidays, Silverstone and Rockingham motor circuits.

He said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Showtown at this early stage, as it’s such a great opportunity to celebrate the rich history of this wonderful town and the leading role it has played in the history of show business.

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“The key focus between now and when Showtown opens its doors to the public next year, will be working to deliver an amazing museum offering the best experience possible for our customers.”

Vice chairman, Rupinder Ashworth, brings 30 years of strategy and marketing expertise in both the private and public sector.

She is a director and trustee at The Piece Hall, Halifax, where the £22m revitalisation funded by the National Lottery Heritage fund and Calderdale Council has transformed the town and delivered five million visitors over two years.

She said: “It’s great to be joining Showtown. I look forward to working with Spencer and together we aim to showcase the variety and entertainment heritage of Blackpool, its impact on the world of entertainment over the decades.

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“We’ll also be bringing it right up to date to convey variety to new generations.

“There are so many great stories to tell!”

Coun Gillian Campbell, Deputy Leader of Blackpool Council said: "We are delighted to have Spencer and Rupinder on board. With their considerable experience across the not-for profit and commercial sectors and their enthusiasm and ambition for great experiences, they are ideally placed to get Showtown ready to be a major player in Blackpool’s visitor economy."

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