It’s the distinctive, big building at the northern seafront at Cleveleys. Did you know it’s also got an interesting past? Explore the history of The Venue.
What do you know about the history of The Venue? Please leave a comment, or get in touch to add what you know. Full credit given, of course!
War Time History of The Venue
In 1937, The Royal Hotel was newly in business at North Promenade, Cleveleys.
Did you know? The Royal Hotel became a hospital for Polish airmen during World War 2.
Stewart Urwin told us that he was born during the war at The Royal Hotel when it was the Polish Airman’s Hospital. His parents lived in Thornton at the time.
Stewart says “Mum obviously couldn’t make it to Blackpool so was taken to the nearest hospital which was the Royal Hotel, now The Venue. I believe it had been taken over as a Polish airman’s hospital. I was born 2nd Nov 1942 and delivered by a Polish surgeon. Apparently my first birth certificate was in Polish!”
Why the Polish Connection?
After Dunkirk, Blackpool became the administrative headquarters of the Polish Air Force. Also a manning depot for Polish aircrew, before despatch for training or operations. Numerous Blackpool hotels and clubs became centres for their wartime activities. There were so many Poles in town that the Pleasure Beach duplicated all of its signs in Polish!
FREE Newsletter
FREE Newsletter
After the war, many Polish people chose to remain in Blackpool and the large community proved attractive to others. By 2006, with the expansion of the European Union, an estimated 20,000 Polish immigrants lived in Blackpool.
Morgue or not?
Jeanette Holroyd says that her dad told her the nightclub downstairs used to be a morgue, and that’s why it’s always so cold down there!
However, current owner Jakki Slack says it wasn’t used actually as a morgue. It was the beer cellar as it had coolers in it. A less intriguing story!
Next to Jubilee Gardens
Of course The Venue, or The Royal as it was then, is neighbour to Jubilee Gardens. And many of you will remember the old gardens, and the facilities it had in its heyday. Find more about Jubilee Gardens here.
More Recent History of The Venue
The ‘Pebble Bar’ was downstairs for many years, previously called the Kings Bar. The Thistle Bar was upstairs – that was briefly called the Royalists Bar. By the 1980’s the accommodation had become the Royal Holiday Flats.
A New Century for The Royal Hotel
Owner Jakki Slack has provided some interesting photos and newspaper cuttings from The Venue’s recent history.
Do you remember the free Citizen newspaper, circulated widely on the Fylde Coast? Now also consigned to the scrapbook of history.
Next, The Royal Hotel became the Royal Venue, opening on 22 November 2002.
It now featured the Horizon Bar and Grill (formerly the Windsor Grill), the Mezzaluna Restaurant on the first floor, a sports bar, and downstairs the Enigma nightclub. Do you remember the Enigma nightclub? Have a look at The Venue’s archive photos of it –
New Look, New Venue
In 2006 Jakki started refurbishing The Royal Venue, changing the name to The Venue, and relaunching that summer.
History of The Venue: Fire Strikes
Remember the Christmas Day fire, on 25 December 2008?
The next photo is date-stamped 30 January 2009. It shows just how much work had to be done to repair the damage from the fire.
The Venue we know today
It’s now the Beachfront Bar and Grill , Mezzaluna celebration suite and Spirit function room.
Enjoying a prime position on the beautiful Cleveleys seafront, there’s no better spot. On a lovely day you can sit outside and enjoy the sunshine and view over the beach. Choose from the sun terrace or the covered area at the right hand side. Always a lively building it’s where we meet friends and family, have a good time, smile and celebrate.
See the exact location of The Venue at the beginning of this video of a walk along Rossall Beach at Cleveleys –
Enjoyed this video? Why don’t you subscribe to our Visit Fylde Coast YouTube channel – make sure you don’t miss out!
While you’re here…
Go to the homepage of the Visit Cleveleys website for the latest updates.
Enjoyed this article? Sign up for your email newsletter. Packed full of interesting things just like this it arrives in your inbox all 52 weeks of the year.
Join us on Facebook at our Visit Fylde Coast Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @visitFyldeCoast
Plus hundreds of videos to watch on our YouTube channel – from all over the Fylde Coast!
Booking a stay? Pick a safe, clean and legal place to stay, at the very best price. Book with the Visit Fylde Coast and StayBlackpool guide.
We Need Your Help
We Need Your Help
My mother and her parents moved three doors down from the Royal on Carr Gate in the mid 1940’s. My father, was born in Blackpool and after the war was over and his stint in the Navy, lived with his parents around the corner on Thornton Gate.
My mom tells a story of when she met my dad. That the hotel owner’s son had advertised that King Neptune would be arriving on a row boat one evening. Everyone thought the stunt was nuts due to the often unsettling sea that crashed against the wall and flooded the street, and mom had no intention on going up that evening to see someone come in on a rowboat. But that night the neighbours were heard treking up the road to go see what they were going to pull off. Mom finally gave in and went up to the Promenade. Dad was there with his dog. They had both noticed each other before that night but finally dad had the courage to talk to mom. They dated, danced at Winter Gardens and were married in 50/51. They celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary earlier this year. Perhaps the hotel owner and his planned stunt to bring in clients provided the perfect venue for my parent’s to finally become acquainted with one another and is indirectly responsible for a long marriage and 5 children, 9 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
What a lovely story. I like the idea of Neptune!
I remember the Royal in late 40s & early 50s. When Blackpool played in the FA Cup, the away teams would stay at the Royal. Me and my school pals would leave our autograph books at the front desk. We would pick up the books on Mondays, with autographs inside. They were awesome times. Sometimes we would see the teams training on the beach.