Category: Venue News
Northern Lights – The Blackpool Illuminations
19 September 2019
Described as the greatest free light show on Earth, the Blackpool Illuminations has started its annual run with the spectacular switch-on took place on Friday the 30th August. Whether or not you’ve seen them before, the Illuminations are a wonderful visit for family and friends, young and old, creating precious memories and experiences you can’t put a price on.
So celebrate a key part of Blackpool’s heritage and experience seeing these world-beating lights and all they have to offer this year. Here’s what to look out for, what’s new for 2019, and how to make the best of your visit.
6 miles of spectacular seaside lights
Known for being one of the UK’s greatest visitor attractions, the Blackpool Illuminations is a free world-famous annual lights festival that the seaside town has put on for over 100 years.
Stretching for six miles along Blackpool’s famous promenade, from Starr Gate to Bispham, (with cable and wiring stretching more than 200 miles!) the spectacular lights are a sight to behold, attracting millions of visitors, year after year. Costing £2.4 million to stage, the illuminations are filled with hundreds of thousands of lights of all types and styles – enough to put a smile on your face and give you that warm and cosy feeling, whatever your age!
This includes lines and lines of dazzling bulbs, zigzagging back and forth across the road, and more than 500 designs and themed features, alongside it and Blackpool’s beach and piers. The famous tower is also lit from top to bottom in beautiful LED lights that sparkle and change colour, with displays that have to be seen to be believed.
What’s new for 2019?
So what does this year’s lights show have to offer? Each year, the creators of the Blackpool Illuminations try to add something new, whether that’s updating and brightening up an old installment, or using their magic to put together an impressive new one.
For 2019, the Lights run from 30th August till 3rd November (that’s 66 sparkling nights!), so there’s plenty of time to see them. And there are plenty of new features to keep you entertained too. Amongst them is an area dedicated to Sooty & Co of the famous children’s TV series – one for the kids, grandkids, or a bit of nostalgia. The famous yellow bear and his friends, Sweep and Soo will have their own new section along the promenade, with 3D features of all the characters using fully illuminated LEDs.
Neon is also a big focus in this year’s dazzling display, particularly a new section featuring, what is called, LED neon flex lighting. Specially manufactured for the Illuminations, this is being used to create hearts that light up the promenade in a rainbow of colours.
Elsewhere, there’s a colourful bright corridor of lights made up of state-of-the-art LEDs, from Northern (the Illumination’s new partner) as well as digital arches at the start and end of the Lights to welcome visitors. This year there’s even a new Illuminations character, who you can enjoy a photo or selfie with.
Way to enjoys the Lights
There are many ways to make the most of your night seeing the Illuminations. You could enjoy the experience by car, hop on a Blackpool tram (or, better still, one of the light display’s fabulous illuminated ones!), or you can breathe in that sea air and just take it all in on foot.
You can munch on fish and chips as you stroll along to take in the illuminated features and displays, or stop for some food and a drink during your walk-through. Alternatively, you could start or end your night with one of the many shows that the seaside town has to offer.
A show to really light up your night
What better way to start or end your night of experiencing the Blackpool Illuminations than seeing one of our fabulous shows at Viva Blackpool? The daily times that the illuminations switch on and go off change as the nights draw in, so you could plan to see a Viva show around them. Depending when you decide to visit, you could see the Lights and end the experience with a show. Or you could watch a show at Viva first and then enjoy a walk through the Lights afterwards.
There are plenty of shows on during the months of the Illuminations, including Jersey Beats – Oh What A Nite! – with dates running throughout early September, October and in November – making your night out that bit more special.
When you come to Viva Blackpool, we offer so much more than just an amazing show too.
Along with an evening packed with some of the best entertainment the town has to offer, we provide incredible food, matched with a stunning service.
Our ‘Show & Dine’ tickets also allow you to add a preshow dining experience to your visit, letting you enjoy a fabulous two or three-course meal before the show begins. Or you could visit our new Vegas Diner, Bar & Grill, if you fancy a more relaxed American diner experience.
To find out more about the shows we are presenting when the illuminations are on, or for more information about our dining options, get in touch with the Viva Blackpool team here.
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VIVA Blackpool head to the beach
6 September 2019
Viva Blackpool organised a clean up of the golden mile yesterday, following the huge influx of visitors over the last few days.
Last weekend (30th August) it was officially national beach day, so to commemorate the event, Viva Blackpool committed to doing a beach clean of the golden mile this week, to help clear up after the busy illuminations weekend.
Staff from the entertainment venue along with local residents took to the beach between North and Central Pier, between 10.30 and 12.30 to comb for litter and were grateful to the volunteers who turned up to pledge their own support too.
Martin Heywood, joint owner of Viva Blackpool said: “We’ve had a lot of visitors to Blackpool over the last few days, which is great news for local businesses, but a big influx of visitors equals a lot more litter, so with it being national beach day last week, we asked people to join us to do a litter pick on the golden mile after the illuminations weekend. We had a great turn out, with 15 volunteers and the golden mile certainly looks even more golden now!”
One supporter, Elisabeth Green said “It’s great to see people take pride in their town and the beach clean really shows we’ve got a part to play. Thanks to Viva for organizing, I’m already looking forward to the next one they’re organising!”
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Double Delight For Viva Blackpool
11 June 2019
It was double delight for Viva Blackpool as we picked up two awards at Radio Waves’ Culture, Lifestyle and Business Awards 2019.
In the running for four awards on the night, the venue team were crowned winners in both the Customer Service Excellence Award and Best Nightlife Award at a black tie ceremony held at The Empress Ballroom, at the Winter Gardens.
Martin Heywood, joint owner of Viva collected the award on the night saying: “These awards are really special to everyone at Viva Blackpool as they are voted for by the general public and that means the world to us. It’s quite literally a seal of approval from our guests and is testament to the hard work of the team and calibre of productions and shows we are bringing to the town.
“At VIVA, we are trying to create an experience for our guests that not only retains customer loyalty but that gets people talking and recommending us to others and winning these awards proves that people are doing just that and we can’t thank everyone enough.”
Viva Blackpool is leading the way as a vibrant venue bringing over xxx shows a year to the resort, boosting tourism and the local economy with people travelling far and wide to attend shows. Also a finalist in the Best Hotel and Hospitality Award as well as Best Entertainment Event award, the team certainly had reason to celebrate. With a dedicated production team and resident cast, the shows offer a commitment to quality and fun that sees 5 star reviews across sites including TripAdvisor, Feefo and Facebook.
The Radio Wave awards attracted over 600 guests to the Empress Ballroom, hosted by Scott and Stacey of the Radio Wave Breakfast Team.
For more information on Viva Blackpool visit www.vivablackpool.com or call the events team on 01253 297297
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Event Managers Top 5 Tips for Planning a Successful Christmas Party!
31 May 2019
Your company corporate Christmas Party is something your employees look forward to each year! After all their hard work, experiencing the ups and downs of managing a work vs life balance, the ins and outs of business etc; your Christmas Party is an opportunity for you to thank your employees for their contribution at the end of the year!
1. Start Planning Early! You know how the old saying goes; “Fail to Prepare, Prepare to Fail”. Planning any celebration early is paramount to running a successful event! When it comes to the Christmas Season, finding a fabulous venue, plus all your entertainment needs must be done way in advance as the best venues and best entertainment providers are booked up early! Plan early to avoid missing out on the best suppliers and also the best deals!
2. Choose the Date Wisely! Whether you are considering a mid-week date or a weekend affair, choosing the right date for your company and employees is crucial! You have to think about the industry you are in, and the availability of the majority of your employees. The last thing you want to do is host a Christmas Party on a work night resulting in an office full of non-functioning hungover or tired employees the next day! It’s a great idea to get together with the company directors or management to form a ‘Christmas Committee’ and that way you’ll be able to decide on a suitable date together.
3. Review Last Year’s Party! Gather as much feedback from the previous year’s event as you can – This will highlight what your employees enjoyed and perhaps didn’t enjoy, allowing you improve the celebration year after year! Ask employees not only for their feedback but for any suggestions of what they might like to see at this years event?
4. Choose a Theme! Whether you’re opting for a traditional Christmas theme or looking for something a little more unique – choosing a theme for the event keeps everything ‘together’ and stops the event planning getting out of control. For example a Vegas themed party could include a glamorous dress code, a champagne reception served by Vegas Showgirls, a Vegas style vocalist singing all the Swing Christmas Classics, not to mention a party favourite these days; interactive casino tables.
5. Make it Unique to YOUR COMPANY! Whatever you do – Always ensure your incorporate your business into the event! You are proud of what you do – and you want your employees to be too! Have the Director of the company make a speech dedicated to the employees thanking them for contributing all year round, include your company logo where you can i.e on invitations, printed menu’s, running orders, or if you do opt for a Vegas Style Party you could have the logo printed on the ‘play money’ for use at the casino tables. You could always include a small section of the evening for ‘End of Year’ awards given to the ‘longest standing employee’, ‘hardest worker’, or ‘funniest moment’. Make the event personal to as many guests as you can – The Christmas Party is not only about letting your hair down but it can also be a platform to improve employee engagement resulting in better performance when employees return to work!
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‘Treat Her Right’, and Bring Her to Viva Blackpool
19 March 2019
Glamorous Showgirls, live vocals, big bands, dance and
extravagant events…It’s Viva Blackpool, the greatest multipurpose venue in the heart of the North West! Filled with the biggest and best night outs in the Blackpool each and every week!
And coming to Viva this May is Dave Finnegan, the original man from the film The Commitments. And we couldn’t be more excited to welcome Dave and his phenomenal band to the Viva stage, as they spread the gospel of soul as Dave Finnegan’s Commitments.
Over twenty years on from the legendary film, Dave is brasher and louder than ever before. Bringing the stage alive while taking you on a musical journey, spreading the message of Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett allowing you to experience live, sweet soul music.
Fronting the touring band back in 1993 Dave has performed around the world to the millions in Brazil, USA, Canada, Europe, South Africa, Scandinavia, The Middle East, India, Japan, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand and many more.
Dave has also performed alongside legendary artists such as James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Edwin Starr, BB King, Sam Moore, Steve Cropper ‘The Colonel’, Dennis Edwards (The Temptations), Dan Ackroyd.
Taking off where the iconic film left off, Dave brought his band together with the aim of in keeping the characteristics of the cast from the original film. Bringing you one of the most authentic celebration of The Commitments possible.
Dave Finnegan’s The Commitments undoubtedly brings flawless vocals, outstanding music and passion to the stage, capturing the pure essence of soul.
‘Do Right Women, Do Right Man’, and book to see Dave Finnegan’s Commitments on Friday 31st May 2019, by clicking here today!
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We’re In The Mood For Dancing
2 March 2019
Viva Blackpool was “in the mood for dancing” as they brought the sensational Nolan Sisters back together in an emotional Birthday celebration of Linda Nolan’s 60th Birthday Party last Saturday right here in the heart of Blackpool!
This spectacular event was brought together by Viva’s very own Events Manager Amy Mantle: As a well-experienced Event Manager Amy has been working with Viva Blackpool for over five years, coordinating hundreds of events of this standard each year, from Weddings, Birthdays, and Celebrity Appearance, and many more… in the world of events, there isn’t much she hasn’t done!
Amy Mantle said, “It’s been amazing to work with Liz Emmett (Linda’s lifelong friend) and Linda Nolan herself on this sensational event. The favorite thing overall about my role is making loved ones we have lost feel present at an event and creating beautiful memories for those attending… And we have definitely achieved that tonight… It’s been very emotional, but for all the right reasons”.
The Nolan sisters first captured the audience’s hearts back in 1980 with their disco floor filler ‘I’m in the Mood for Dancing’, and the showbiz family has proven they still have that Nolan sparkle with Viva fans pleading for the sisters to get back on tour!
Linda celebrated her 60th milestone with over 250 family and friends gathered at Viva Blackpool, featuring fabulous golden human statues, an array of entertainment including Linda’s nephew Shane Nolan, an incredible five-tier cake, and of course Viva’s beautiful Viva Show Girls.
Viva Blackpool is thrilled to be the venue of choice for yet another outrageously fabulous birthday party.
To find out more about all the amazing events coming to Viva Blackpool throughout the year click here, or to arrange your own one of a kind event contact; Amy Mantle via email, [email protected].
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Planning a Christmas Party in Blackpool?
20 November 2018
Looking to book the party of the year for a perfect night out in Blackpool? Then look no further as Viva Blackpool has got it covered! From the glitz and glamour of the Spirit of Christmas, cabaret at its best! To the madness and mayhem of the Ultimate Christmas Party, where the fun really begins and much more!
Blackpool’s Ultimate Christmas Parties Starring Leye D Johns
What better way to let your hair down and celebrate the most wonderful time of the year than with us at Viva Blackpool’s Ultimate Christmas Parties, Starring Leye D Johns. With 25 years experience in the entertainment industry we know a thing or two about throwing a Christmas party, so if you’re looking for a wild night out filled with, feathers and glamour and more then this is the show for you!
You will enjoy plenty of laughs, music and dance in this fast moving show starring the outrageous Leye D Johns, resident Viva Showgirls, as well as our amazing male and female vocalists.
Work parties, girl’s night out, or just an excuse to have a great time? This is a full on party night, and we expect plenty of audience participation, so what are you waiting for? Click here to book today the best party in the Fylde Coast!
The Funkiest Night Out in Blackpool
Bringing the funk and groove to Blackpool, Lionel Vinyl’s Festive Funk Party Nights, will be hitting Viva’s Stage for a string of fantastic party nights making it the most Funktastic Christmas you have ever had!
Lionel Vinyl is the ultimate entertainer, a fantastic DJ, dance instructor and 70’s Disco Legend! Alongside a brilliant 70’s Disco Set List and the best Afro this side of the Atlantic, Lionel is sure to get you grooving, and boogieing all night long! “Everybody say YEAH!”
So ditch the Christmas carols and head down to Lionel Vinyl’s Festive Funk Party Nights where you will be promised the best and most funkiest Christmas Party in the North West.
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Viva Blackpool can’t wait to celebrate the wonderment of Christmas throughout November and December with their brand new show, The Spirit of Christmas.
Set to be one of the most dynamic and nostalgia-filled performances Blackpool has ever seen. Viva will combine traditional Christmas sing-a-long favourites with the glitz and glamour of Viva’s impeccable costumes, outstanding talent, and trademark Showgirls.
Viva Blackpool has tailored this exceptional show to be a festivity of charm, tradition, and wonder, as they pay homage to the long lost Christmas shows of a time gone by.
Making your Christmas merry and bright, The Spirit of Christmas is a one-stop show that will indulge all of your festive needs. From it’s outstanding cast to its delicious festive menu, Viva Blackpool is thrilled to once again to bring you a Christmas you will never forget!
With performances of ‘The Most Wonderful Time of the Year’, ‘Let it Snow’ and ‘Frosty the Snowman’ this show is perfect for anyone looking to celebrate ‘The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”.
Complete your Christmas this year with tickets to this winter wonderment by calling our Box Office Team on 01253 297 297 or click here to book now!
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Food Glorious Food…
11 October 2018
Here at Viva Blackpool, we don’t just deliver first class performances, but delicious food that will suit even the fussiest of eaters.
We know a great night out isn’t just about the performance and what happens on stage but it’s your Viva experience. From our friendly customer service, beautiful theatre, fully stocked bar and outstanding food, make it the ultimate night out in the North West!
Known as one of the best places to eat in Blackpool, we take our dining experience very seriously and will stop at nothing to continually provide our guests with first class service and entertainment.
Dinner and Show
Indulge with our pre-show dining experience starting at just £21.45; this delicious three-course meal is the perfect addition to any show here at Viva Blackpool, creating the perfect tone for an unforgettable night.
Choose from a scrumptious selection of starters, mains, and desserts prepared by our highly skilled chefs that have been working around the clock to create you a menu that will suit all tastes.
“I wasn’t hungry until I saw the Pizza”
From The Tower Burger, Japanese Tempura Prawns, classic Cheesy Chips and of course Pizza, our fully stocked snack bar has everything you need for a night of indulgent or late night nibbles.
From items starting at just £2.50 and with many items catering for a range of dietary requirements, Viva Blackpool’s snack menu is the ultimate addition to any night out!
Parties and Events
From Christenings, Weddings, Funerals and everything else in-between, Viva Blackpool has the perfect assortment of delicious menus for you to choose from and will accommodate any dietary requirements you or your guest may have.
Our dedicated Events Manager, Amy Mantle will work with you and our team of highly skilled chefs to create the perfect bespoke menu for your event.
So whatever the occasion Viva Blackpool has the perfect menu options for you! Our talented chefs here at Viva will certainly provide your party with the most delicious food to add to your experience, and we hope to welcome you back here soon.
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Meet Our Viva Showgirls…
26 September 2018
Get behind the scenes at Viva Blackpool, and get to know our fantastic Showgirls! Many of our Showgirls have grown up in the seaside town of Blackpool and have extensive experience within the entertainment industry, from performing on cruise ships, circuses and even Bollywood music videos.
We are extremely proud of the women that dance here at Viva Blackpool, and appreciate all the hard work and dedication these fantastic girls put into their jobs. Viva Blackpool wouldn’t be the same without them…
Natalie Gray
Company Manager
After I finished school I started my professional training at Phil Winston’s Thearterworks and went on to graduate in 2012. I was lucky enough to start my professional career straight out of college as a Magicians Assistant in Richard De Vere’s Beyond Belief at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. I have since performed as a dancer in various companies around the UK, including theatre tours, resident stage shows and performing as a showgirl.
I have always been very proud to be part of the entertainment scene here in Blackpool and I look forward to bringing you the finest production entertainment right here in the Vegas venue in the heart of Blackpool.
Katie Fairclough
Dancer
I studied dance and musical theatre at Merseyside Dance and Drama Center where I graduated in 2016. I began my professional career as a Production Dancer onboard Costa Cruises touring around Asia. I have also been involved in various local pantomimes as an Ensemble Dancer and dance captain. I am very excited to begin my first season here at Viva Blackpool.
Emma Sheldon
Dancer
I was born and raised here in Blackpool, Lancashire! I trained at Phil Winston’s Theartreworks and graduated with my first processional dance contract taking me to Brazil for 12 months in a touring Circus. I went on to work in India, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Macau filming various Bollywood music videos and performing at award shows.
I am now thrilled to be back in Blackpool performing here at Viva in my hometown after so many years working away.
Olivia Heap
Singer Dancer
This is my first contract at Viva Blackpool and I am beyond excited to be performing all the different shows here in my hometown! After leaving high school, I went to Preston’s College and studied Professional Dance and Teachers of Dance. During my 3rd year of training I received my 1st job for Peel Talent onboard the Thomson Spirit. Onboard the Spirit, I was a show team Dancer and loved it so much I decided to stay for 2 contracts completing a total of 14 months at sea.
I am very excited to be performing again alongside a wonderful and amazing team, with plenty of exciting shows we are eager for you all to see!
Emma Williams
Dancer
I’ve been working as a professional Dancer for 5 year now. I began working onboard as a Production Dancer with Costa Cruises working across 5 different ships where I was then promoted to Dance Captain. I decided to take a break from sea and joined a team of 18 dancers, singers and acrobats performing across two 5 star hotels in Malta. I have currently been working at Viva Blackpool since spring last year and I’m now looking forward to starting my 3rd season performing in Blackpool with the company.
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Instagram for Business: 10 Top Tips!
21 September 2018
Have an insight into the world of social media written by a member of our Marketing Team, Rhi! This blogs explains the bests methods of using Instagram and how you can use it to benefit your own business…
Analytical features on websites now allow you to directly trace where your customers have come from before landing on your selling platform. This handy little feature allows you to track where your marketing is most successful. A huge section of this will definitely be traffic driven from social media; Facebook and Instagram having the highest percentages. Instagram can be a tricky platform to decipher, especially if you’re completely new to the site. These are just some tips I’ve found via experience that really work to boost exposure on Instagram!
1. Post frequently! I try to aim for one post per day. This may sound difficult but I’m not always posting about myself and my own products. Building relationships is incredibly important in marketing so posting other products that you’ve picked up from other businesses adds a bit of variety to your feed – as well as improving your own image.
2. Engage with other user posts! It’s so important to like and comment on other businesses posts, particularly for Instagram. Not generic comments and emojis, but rather real comments and observations. This will help boost the other business’ exposure and will help the posts appear higher and display more frequently in user newsfeed, therefore improving post reach. They will often return the favour too!
3. It’s all about the aesthetic! This might seem obvious, but go that extra mile to make your images visually pleasing. I’ve done some absolutely ridiculous things to get that perfect shot of a pin. Many instances involving angry seagulls that think I have food on Blackpool beach! I learnt very early on that in marketing, you’re selling a lifestyle rather than a product; and your brand is a contributing factor in this. The images you post represent the brand. As the kids would say, do it for the aesthetic!
4. Hold competitions and giveaways – Especially loop events! Giveaways are an amazing way to spread awareness of your business. Especially if it’s a like and share! If you can get your followers to share your giveaway (perhaps by rewarding them with extra entries for doing so) it will increase your brand exposure. A loop event is when you team up with a few other similar small businesses and create a loop graphic on Instagram. You tag the next business in your loop. The next business in the loop does the same. The idea is that the person entering the giveaway clicks on the tag and is taken to the next businesses page. They follow that page and repeat the steps until they return back to where they started. They can then comment “Done!” to let you know they’ve entered. Only then will they be submitted into the giveaway. This is beneficial for all businesses involved. It’s even more rewarding if you have a popular account with a lot of followers participating!
5. Do not buy followers! Genuine followers are the way to go. I know amassing followers is a slow and tedious process but it’s worth it in the long run. Instagram suggests your profile to other users based on followers that share the same interests. If you’ve bought followers, they’re usually fake profiles often using inappropriate pictures. This will not help the algorithm which suggests your business page you to others. A large portion of your followers will come from Instagrams suggestions and recommendations.
6. Shop swap! A shop swap is when you and another shop exchange products, typically of equal value. Each party will then create a post on social media that’s similar to a review to promote the product. Each business will receive exposure plus it helps to build positive business relationships.
7. Use the correct #hashtags! Instagram has a limit of 30 hashtags per post. Use them wisely! Do a bit of research and find out the best hashtags to use for your industry. You want the right audience to find you and hashtags are the best way to do it. When you begin to type in a hashtag on a post, you can see how many posts have also included this hashtag. This will give you an idea of what is popular within your network and what isn’t.
8. Call to action! Everything you post should have a call to action. If it’s a picture of the product, let the customer know where they can purchase.
9. Respond to DMs and comments! It can get tedious, and the answers may be obvious, but you should always respond to questions and comments from other users. It helps your brand image and makes the customers feel special and appreciated. Even if there are a lot of comments, make time for an intelligent response. If people feel ignored, they’re more likely to head to a competitor.
10. Focus on user generated content! If people are taking pictures of your product, share them on your page! It’s a chance for followers to involve themselves with your brand, as well as making them feel noticed and appreciated. Plus, you don’t have to create the content yourself – bonus!
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