Morecambe's Winter Gardens launches £25k crowdfunding initiative to help secure theatre's future

The Winter Gardens Preservation Trust has been working tirelessly over the past three months to mitigate the effect of Covid-19 on the future of the Grade 2* listed building.

In that time they have raised essential money to pay for the monthly overheads of £3,000 and clear historic debts.

However, loss of income, cancellation of all events and current restrictions has seen their income drop by 80 per cent, despite a record amount of external revenue raised - £250,000 - all of which was for essential building works and required matching funding.

Prof Vanessa Toulmin, chair of the Preservation Trust, said: "2020 was the start of a new beginning for the Winter Gardens Morecambe.

"To start the new season we had planned a number of significant events to enable us to raise the additional £50,000 required to match the funds already received and to enable the essential heating and restoration work to progress from November 2020.

"But overnight our income was lost, our dreams in tatters as events were cancelled, our spritely but elderly volunteers shielded and the future of the building once more in doubt.

"We had to make the choice of running the building but facing a deficit on the funds required for the heating and possibly risk losing those grants.

"By using reserves, renegotiating the mortgage on the building and working with the Theatres Trust and Lancaster City Council, the Preservation Trust - who own the building with the help of the Friends - managed to secure enough income to pay the bills and our fixed costs of £3,000 a month for five months."

After concentrating on stabilising the building and appointing new trustees to help, the next priority was putting in a Covid compliance booking system to enable the Friends of the Winter Gardens to start their tours and open their café.

We reported last month how the theatre had reopened its doors for tours after government guidelines were eased.

Prof Toulmin added: "The Friends and the volunteers are an essential part of the success of the Winter Gardens - our volunteers on a Tuesday and Wednesday have continued to work in the building to ensure its safe and secure and the Friends have now opened the café.

"But we have lost over £50,000 of income - income that was essential to pay for the heating costs and essential upgrades to the structure.

"Our crowdfunding campaign has been put together with the volunteers and the Friends - the people who have for many years given their love and devotion to the building for the benefit of the people of Morecambe. Without them there would not be a building to preserve.

"The campaign launched today takes as its slogan the original name for the Winter Gardens complex, the People’s Palace - and the trust and the Friends are hoping that the people of Morecambe, Lancashire and the world get behind their campaign.

"They have also submitted a grant for match funding so hope that every penny raised will be matched and help them reach their target.

"Help us move on to our next phase as a strong Winter Gardens is a strong and successful Morecambe. Every penny raised goes back into the building - we are completely supported by volunteers, no one is paid, every does this for the love of the building, for the love of Morecambe, so please help us in any way you can."

Rewards are being offered including a ghostly night in the building for 10 people, afternoon tea in the Royal Boxes provided by the Friends and a special tour of the building by Prof Toulmin.

The campaign will run throughout the year with additional rewards offered as the target is reached.

For more details see #PreservePeoplesPalace online hereThe Winter Gardens Morecambe opened in 1897 as the Victoria Pavilion Concert Hall and Variety Theatre, as an extension to the existing Winter Gardens Complex which opened in 1878.

Over the years it was the home of the internationally renowned Morecambe Music Festival, played host to Sir Edward Elgar, the Halle Orchestra and many others from variety, music and theatre.

From The Who to Dame Julie Andrews, Chung Ling Soo to Lawrence Olivier, the venue’s history is a roll call of stars of popular music and variety theatre.

Built as both a concert hall and variety theatre, its 2,500 capacity was one of the largest in the North West and it quickly became known as the Albert Hall of the North.

With its lavish interiors, striking architectural features and a view to rival the bay of Naples, the Winter Gardens was at the heart of a thriving seaside resort.

By the mid-1970s, its fortunes were in decline and by 1977, the decision was taken to close the whole complex culminating in 1982 with the demolition of the original Winter Gardens leaving only the theatre remaining and in a perilous position.

However, a group of dedicated people formed the Friends of the Winter Gardens and have worked together since then with one aim to reopen the building that was once at the heart of Morecambe both architecturally and as a centre for culture and entertainment.

With the formation of the Preservation Trust in 2006, ownership of the Winter Gardens was transferred to the charitable body who have spent years cleaning, restoring, and fundraising to continue this aim.

Now under new governance, the Preservation Trust with the help of our restoration volunteers and the Friends of the Winter Gardens are a step closer to those dreams of many decades ago to finally restoring this remarkable Grade II* building.

From classical to pop music, extraordinary magical acts such as Koringa and Chung Ling Soo, the theatre was truly the People’s Palace, with two shows daily in the summer season and pantomime in the festive season.

The Winter Gardens Preservation Trust has received grants from Historic England, Theatres Trust and a community interest loan from Lancaster City Council to enable significant progress on the building culminating in £250,000 of structural works beginning in November 2020 and continuing until March 2021.