Blackpool awards switch is 'opportunity' for change

Coral Horn of Pink Link Ladies networking group had to act fast when the huge EVAs awards night venue had to be switched with just weeks to go before the big night.

Coral and her team have held the EVAs at the Winter Gardens’ Ballroom for the past four years running.

With more than 630 guests, it is one of the few venues ideal for the ceremony and entertainment. But the ceiling in the historic room is unsafe and concerts and events have had to be postponed.

Coral said she faced with the choice of postponing or moving to another area of the Winter Gardens – The horseshoe-shaped Pavilion.

She said: “I live and work in Blackpool so I am always keen to hold the event here, we could go elsewhere because the award cover the whole of the North West from Manchester and Liverpool to Cumbria, but the Winter Gardens is iconic. With people coming from all over and suppliers booked we decided there was no way we could postpone. So we are using this as an opportunity to try out new ideas.

“The Pavilion room is a completely different shape so we have had to change our approach to nearly everything.

“For example the kitchen arrangements are different. Campbell and Rowley are providing the catering and they are having to rethink the equipment they need for the evening.

“The Ballroom has a very large screen for displays but the Pavilion is horseshoe shaped so we have changed the audio visuals with screens all round so people can see with Blackpool AV and Arran Paul changing their arrangements to fit in with the room.

“We have drafted in Brian Hurst of Lytham for his video skills too. It even affects the table centre piece flower displays. We had ordered tall ones, but since the stage is at eye level we have had to ask Jeanette’s Florists to come up with something lower. Entertainment wise we have added a comedian, show girls and a pianist so it will be different but still a very exciting evening.”