Today Blackpool Civic Trust visited The Robinson, Blackpool’s new business hub, based in the Stanley buildings, Church street, following its £8m renovation.
In August we had a talk on the restoration of this fine building and today’s visit gave us a chance to see the finished article for ourselves.
Thank you to Peter Legg and the team at The Robinson for giving the civic trust a preview of the office and co-working space prior to opening.
For more information about available space and membership of The Robinson, or for businesses to book a private viewing, click here: https://blackpoolunlimited.com/the-robinson/
There was a good turn out for our October meeting in the Holiday Inn Blackpool. A number of proposals were discussed and agreed before the guest speaker, Alistair Baines presented his talk ‘The Life and Times of a Sandgrown Architect’.
From building Sandcastles at Cleveleys to designing Council buildings, Schools, Colleges, Banks and more. With explanations of features and form. Building works such as the new Stanley Building transformation, Glasdon Innovation Centre and Knott End Golf Clubhouse.
The meeting was held at the Holiday Inn Blackpool on Monday 20th October 2025. Photo of Elaine our Chairman thanking Alistair, standing, for the talk.
We visited impressive Backlot Cinema and Imax in the Houndshill Shopping Centre, Blackpool and were led by Sales and Events Manager Megan.
Megan highlighted the venue’s various screens, including conference spaces available for hire and informed us of the free car parkig, ticket pricing and the bespoke clubs they offer for a variety of viewers.
There was interest in the weekly Social Club, which offers seniors a day time ticket with a drink to see some of the latest films.
Note that as of next week the cinema is to be taken over by Arc Cinemas and the now closed diner is not part of that deal.
Please join us at our monthly meeting on Monday 18th August at 7pm in the Holiday Inn, Blackpool. We will discuss matters of interest followed by our guest speaker: Peter Legg, Head of Economic and Cultural Services, Blackpool Council, speaking about the renovation of the Stanley Building on Church Street. Non-members are welcome for a small donation, £2.
We visit the Backlot Cinema on Corporation Street on Tuesday 12th August 2025 at 11am. The new Imax cinema in the Houndshill Centre, Corporation Street. It should be an interesting tour.
Our next meeting is on Monday 21st July 2025 at 7pm in the Holiday Inn, Talbot Road, Blackpool. The guest speaker is Claire Walmsley-Griffiths a local photographer who you may have seen at events.
Forthcoming Visits
Our next outing is to look around the Backlot Cinema at 11am on August 12th. Rachel will have the board out for you to put your name down at our meeting next Monday (21st) at 7pm at the usual Holiday Inn.
Next Monday is also your chance to pay your £20 for our coach trip to the two Lancashire Mills on Thursday 4th September. After next Monday it will be sent out to other organisations to fill up the coach. Seats on the bus will be booked on a first come with the cash basis!
Forthcoming Events
Also, from next Monday onward, tickets will be on sale (again £20) for our Afternoon Tea Awards ceremony in the Winter Gardens’ Spanish Hall on January 22nd 2026 – our 51st anniversary – at 1pm for a 1.30pm meal. Yes! I know that sounds a long way away but do you want to pay £20 in the middle of buying Christmas presents? At the speed this year is going it will soon be Christmas!!!
Remembering Loraine Calvert
Finally, on a sadder note, I do hope that a lot of you make time in your busy schedules to say goodbye to our friend Loraine Calvert. Loraine (yes, it is one ‘r’) worked so hard for the Blackpool Civic Trust both as a member and a Committee Member for such a long time that she deserves our proper farewell now. Through ill health, Loraine had been ‘off the radar’ for the past few years but it didn’t mean that she had been forgotten.
The funeral is at St Stephen on the Cliffs at 12 noon this Friday (18th) before being taken to Carleton Crematorium. The wake is being held at the Norbreck Bowling Club, Clovelly Ave, FY5 1RZ and all are welcome.
If you are coming to the wake, I would be grateful if you would let me know by tomorrow (Tuesday) please as Corrine, Loraine’s daughter, needs numbers for the catering.
Claire Walmsley Griffiths Guest Speaker
If I don’t see you on Friday, I do hope I see as many of you as possible on Monday. Our speaker is Claire Walmsley, a local performance and heritage space photographer. I am really looking forward to this as over the past number of years Claire has been there with her camera at so many events that I have attended. I am sure that this will apply to a lot of you when you see her and I think it will bring back happy memories for many of us.
Our next meeting is on Monday 21st July 2025Blackpool Civic Trust visit to Lightworks, Blackpool Illuminations Depot 11th July 2025
Our next monthly meeting is on Monday 21st July 2025 at 7pm at the Holiday Inn Talbot Road Blackpool. The guest speaker is Claire Walmsley Griffiths a Heritage Spaces and Performance photographer from Blackpool.
Non-members are welcome for a small donation of £2.
As part of Civic Week 2025, Blackpool Civic Trust visited the newly opened Showtown History Centre, situatated upstairs in Blackpool Central Library. We were treated to a rare viewing of the Blackpool Charter establishing the incorporation of the town. In addition, we had a wonderful tour of the collection stores. We would like to thank the Showtown Heritage Assistants for an informative morning and for sharing details of Blackpool Council collections.
We hope you will join us at the next members monthly meeting at 7pm on Monday 16th June at the Holiday Inn, Talbot Road.
We will discuss our activities and plans, followed by our guest speaker.
The guest speaker is Local Historian, Anne Charlesworth, talking about the early development of South Shore starting from 1819
Non-members are welcome for the small contribution of £2.
Membership is £10 a year and you can join by filling in the membership form and paying the fee. Please read the page linked below and download the application form. We look forward to meeting you.
