'Much more to come' - Lytham's Lowther Pavilion celebrates £3m entertainment centre's 1st year
“The Windmill Centre has allowed us to get so much closer to our community”
The Windmill Performance and Education Centre at Lytham’s Lowther Pavilion has staged almost 500 different events in its first year.
It’s a staggering statistic which Lowther chief executive and artistic director Tim Lince feels perfectly sums up the widespread appeal of the incredibly varied programme the venue has been able to offer since it opened last spring.
From film screenings to tea dances, workshops, intimate concerts and so much more, the £3m Centre has expanded opportunities for education work and unique programming, exceeding all expectations Tim and colleagues had before it opened to the public for the first time.
The Windmill Centre, separately accessed to the west of the main house venue, includes The Chapman Studio, named after the late Fylde coast impresario Duggie Chapman.
Funded largely by donations and internal fund-raising, the Centre has allowed Lowther to get even closer to its community, providing a platform and local performers of all ages as well as providing the opportunity for audiences to enjoy all kinds of shows and films in addition to the programme on offer in the adjacent main Lowther Pavilion.
It helped the venue win the prestigious Cultural Venue/Organisation of the Year award at the 2026 Lancashire Tourism Awards as well as opening the way for several new jobs at Lowther - and Tim feels the first year of 496 individual events at the Windmill Centre is only the start.
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“It really has defied all expectations,” said Tim. “We knew it would make a difference to what we could offer but that total of 496 individual events just shows what a difference it has made.
“Some venues around the country have stepped outside their community but the Windmill Centre has allowed us to get so much closer - and there is so much more to come.”
The Windmill Centre was Phase One of Lowther Pavilion’s ambitious ongoing redevelopment programme and fund-raising has been ongoing for Phase Two.
The focus of that is on vital several backstage enhancements, including upgraded and additional dressing room spaces, new office space, a choir room, and disability access to the West Beach venue’s original Main House stage.
Details of events, fund-raising and future development are at www.lowtherpavilion.co.uk