Blackpool's Winter Gardens, the venue that hosts the North West Regional Championships as well as the British Open Spring Festival, is one of 450 heritage organisations that will share part of the first tranch of financial help from the government's £1.57 billion emergency Culture Recovery Fund.

Built in 1878, it will receive £848,000 to protect and preserve its structure during the Coronavirus pandemic.

500 events

A total of £103 million has been paid to help restart construction work and maintenance on buildings of significant heritage importance such as museums, galleries, theatres, independent cinemas, heritage sites and music venues.

Before the pandemic forced the venue to close its doors, the Winter Gardens hosted over 500 events each year contributing over £60 million into the local economy.

Over the years it has hosted some of the biggest acts and artists in the world — from Morecambe and Wise to Jimi Hendrix, as well as the annual North West Regional Championships since 1986 and the Spring Festival since 2001.

Over the years it has hosted some of the biggest acts and artists in the world — from Morecambe and Wise to Jimi Hendrix, as well as the annual North West Regional Championships and the Spring Festival4BR

Pivotal

Speaking to the local Blackpool Gazette newspaper, Michael Williams, Blackpool Entertainment Company Managing Director said: "The Winter Gardens has been pivotal to the development of Blackpool, providing a host of entertainment and cultural events that have come to define the town's heritage offer.

We are most grateful for the funding as it allows us to continue this tradition through these very challenging times."