Blackpool's Lost Indian Lounge | Can We Find The Remains?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 เม.ย. 2022
- Exploring the History of Winter Gardens in Blackpool, uncovering all of it's history and Hidden Secrets.
We head to the Arena, formerly known as the Indian Lounge, exploring behind the scenes and sharing it's many historic secrets and hidden rooms. The Indian Lounge opened in 1896, as part of the Empress Ballroom that opened the same year. We find that maybe not all is lost of this grand room, hidden behind a false wall are some relics.
VIDEO INFORMATION CREDITS & THANK YOU'S
David Evans
Blackpool Winter Gardens Company
Anthony Williams
Jordan Miller
Blackpool Council
Blackpool Gazette
Dom
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#adventureme #exploration #history #wintergardens #blackpool #blackpoolwintergardens #arena #indianlounge #blackpoolhistory - บันเทิง
Bloody brilliant (again!!) - It's hard to believe this amazing building has so many secrets!
The Indian room looked amazing;y impressive, typical 1960s renovation (almost definitely cheaper to redesign the area than the cost of the upkeep of the fancy decoration). Who knows, one day it may be stripped back to its original status. Already looking forward to the next instalment in this great series..!
Thanks mate. A lot more to come
It's a shame these beautiful rooms are gone (even if they parts still remain behind walls) and replaced with such dull soulless interiors. Considering how much time and hard work it took to make the Indian room so beautiful, it's sad to see it changed. Can't wait until the next episode.
Thanks Anthony
It’s a shame what they did to buildings back in the 60 s and 70s. The Indian room had so many interesting features, beautiful to look at. Sad it’s been replace by the space we see today :(
Look forward to this! I find it so sad that the Indian Lounge was lost to the 60s. What replaced it is just... well you can make your own mind up on that.
You will see what I think in the video lol
Sadly a lot of fantastic architecture & heritage was lost,some hidden away or totally destroyed in the 60's in Blackpool & most cities & towns of the UK.Was a terrible crime.
@@stuartandrews4344 its clear that architects in the 60s simply didn't care about saving our countries heritage. They destroyed the soul of this room with the changes they made. 😔
@@jacobmassey3897 Very true, here in Bath, they demolished the Grand Pump Room Hotel in 1959,just a few years before I was born,absolutely stunning building outside & inside according to my mum.Then in the 60's & 70's we had 'The sack of Bath', a destructive urban redevelopment of the city of Bath,lost some beatiful buildings,etc, damage was worst than what was done by the Bath Blitz in 1942.
blimey the winter gardens is like Narnia, a lot of hidden secrets and massive lol
And still the best is yet to come..
I’m going to go on a limb but looking at the ceiling and the outside newer roof I’m guessing those domes are still there and still looking the same. They’ve just dropped the ceiling and that outside (aerial view) roof pitch looks as if it accommodates the dome protruding.
Could well be. The roof doesn't look high enough. But it is possible.
Amazing to see some of the original architecture still intact, did you get chance to explore the basements and tunnels? I remember getting lost down there a few times when I worked there. Would be amazing if you found the rumoured tunnel connecting the winter gardens with the tower.
Part 9 will reveal all hopefully. I briefly explore them in the next one too at the Olympia.
Can’t believe I’ve lived here all my life and never visited!!! Bring back the Indian Lounge!
Thanks Olivia
I sang in the Planet Room when I was 14, 15 and 16 when the Blackpool Music Festival was on. I stood on that stage and the place seemed enormous.
I won the Wilson Trophy for Soprano voice under 16 but I can't remember if that took place in the Planet Room because as you say, there are loads of different rooms.
Thanks for that film. It makes me sad to think what we have lost, but if it is still their in some form that is comforting to know.
Thanks Elaine
That hidden architect was beautiful it's such ashame it wasn't and can't be restored even if it costs a lot it would be worth it. There are too many old things lost nowadays like people are trying to get rid of the past instead embracing it.
It could be restored. It's a question of having the money to do it. I would imagine if the funds were raised for it then it could be done.
The room doesn't have the Wow Factor that it used to have. Such a shame they didn't keep it in good repair all those years ago - cheaper to clad it as they did. Brilliant documentary again Darren.
Thanks Kay
I love these documentaries and really appreciate the insert bits of how it looked and where we're looking (like at the end with the arrows)
Absolutely fascinating....please keep doing more 😊
Thanks Rosie
Holy shit YESSSSSSS been waiting for more of this
I visited Blackpool for the first time with some mates a couple of days ago, always heard good things about it. When we got there we were so shocked at the high street and how many shops were closed down, the general state of the town - it seems like the government has just forgotten about the people who live there. We also unfortunately experienced quite a bit of racism so will not be returning. Its a shame because the beech is beautiful and I bet in its hay day it was probably a really beautiful place.
What sort of racism? Towards you and your mates, or just in general?
Sorry to hear that Kirk. What happened?
@@AdventureMe a member of the public called my mate a negro when passing, my mate also got stared at all day - like actual glares, I've never seen anything like it. When we sat down for a drink, a group of men all stared at him till he felt uncomfortable, it was honestly like they had never seen a black person before. I thinks also though allot of it stems from ignorance as the area is mostly white
@@kirksavva1748 That is very unusual. And not nice to hear.
My experience was similar when I last visited for a stag weekend maybe five or six years ago. It's a very rough place these days, a real tragedy of social and economic decline. The seafront is depressing enough, the Golden Mile having very much lost its sparkle to cheap renovations and shortsighted development, but if you go a couple of streets back, there's poverty and deprivation unparalleled in this country (and I live 8n Beeston in Leeds, so I'm certainly no stranger to such.)
I went with my parents a few times as a child for the illuminations and even by the 1980s it was a bit seedy but nothing like today. It's been in a spiral of decline for maybe 50 years during which most of its Victorian grandeur was lost, families abandoned it, and with many of the former B&Bs and hotels being turned into HMOs and hostels for people from all over the country with social problems such as drug abuse or mental health, I can't see it coming back to anything like it's heyday any time soon.
I certainly wouldn't take the kids there, for the reasons you state... probably wouldn't even go there again for a night out, it feels very unsafe now. I suppose it represents everything that's gone so horribly wrong with this country in microcosm... drugs, violence, poverty, physical, economic and social decline, lack of hope... and of course the Govt don't give a monkey's because it's full of poor folks who don't vote for them 😞
That was absolutely fascinating. Thanks for showing this to us.
Thanks for watching Rachel. More to come
What a great day, a new "AdventureMe video.... The domes that were removed remined me of the domes on the Titanic, Olympic and Britannic ocean liners. The Winter Gardens is a amazing place, just think if you could explore every nook and cranny. Would be nice to get some $$$ from English heritage for a restore. (Rollercoaster?) Darren, thanks for all your time and hard work....
Thanks Mike. Part 8 is the #rollercoaster
@@AdventureMe YEA..... A few years back I heard of a rollercoaster at Belle Vue???? Have A great day.
Another great video.many thanks 👍
Such interesting content Darren thanks for the video
someone needs to pull that plasterboard down!! Do it in stages if they have too. It must be restored. TBH I would not use or hire the venue as it is now, but if it was brought back, I think people would flock there. Thank you for doing this. I found you from an article someone put on FB, I think it was Everything Victorian and Edwardian
Thanks Tracy. I'm sure they will eventually
Thank you for another fabulous video, Darren. So good to see you again. Cheers mate!
Thanks again!
Interesting film. I've never been to the Winter Garden but I suspect that despite all the horrendous architectural losses of the 1960s and 70s, there's still plenty of surviving heritage hidden behind false ceilings and layers of plasterboard and cladding. Anyone who's ever renovated a Victorian house will attest that quite often, features and details were merely 'boxed in' with cheap ply and an hour or so with a claw hammer or crowbar can often reveal turned balustrades, marble fireplaces, preserved floor tiles, panelled doors and wonderful plaster mouldings, coving and ceiling roses, all covered up during the mid century backlash against ornamentation. It would take a lot of money to restore the Indian Lounge which would probably need to be funded by heritage lottery grants, but I would ve worth doing if only because I'd umagine all those forgotten voids full of dodgy wiring are likely to be a horrendous fire risk.
Yeah I can't imagine it would be cheap at all. Especially the roof.
wow what a lot that could be on show,thanks for the vid darren
As always Darren a great vlog with info overlays and music and some great history thanks for sharing.
Thanks Scott
This fascinating stuff just goes to show as building evolve other the years their history is sometimes just hidden away behind false walls
Great series 👍
Thanks Keith
As always.... SUPERB!
Thank you for enriching my knowledge further.
Thanks Kevin
So interesting and love the attention to the history you have discovered. Many thanks for sharing.
Thanks John
Another amazing video thanks Darren. Hope Winter Gardens does restore it back to the Indian lounge.
I hope so too!
Great video! Thank you
Thanks Paul
Very interesting great and interesting cheers mate carry on with unearthing of hidden Blackpool 😊
Brilliant video once again , This room should be restored to its former glory as the Indian lounge .
Thanks Christian
Another fab and very interesting video on the history of the winter gardens thankyou Darren for making these brilliant videos 👍
My pleasure
Absolutely fascinating. Brilliant video. Filming, narrative, before and after photos outstanding. What a gift you have Darren. Compelling viewing. Thank you.
Thanks Shirley
It's amazing that the Indian lounge is still there, just hidden away
And they didn't know lol
Such an incredible building, great work again!
Thanks James
Another great video mate. These videos are very informative and really showcase the history of these amazing places. Keep up the good work.
Thanks mate. Still more to come from here
Wow amazing, thank you for taking us there.
Thanks Simon
Great video again Darren
Thanks Christian
Fantastic, very interesting, very pleased the building now looks to be cared for
Thanks mate. Still more to come from here
Wow amazing, great to see it all. 😎
I’ve just ordered Hindle Wakes off eBay! I have seen it a long time ago.
I watched it a few weeks back. Just for the scenery
@@AdventureMe I’ve tried to watch it on u tube but can only see bits, it’s interesting looking at the rides from them too.
Great video
So sad to see this beautiful history lost 😀
Thanks Deborah
Excellent video ❤❤
Really enjoyed that thanks. Shame about those walls but is good that at least they are still there. Look forward to next. Please stay safe and take care
Thanks Linda
Isn't hindsight a great thing 😎 all the alterations and updating kept it open and thriving? If not it would have disappeared to the developers. A fab exploration again Darren. Cheers DougT in Mancs
Thanks Doug
Going miss this too I'll definitely watch later 👍
Great video mate
Thanks Steve
Really interesting 👌 thankyou
Thanks Zoë
Wow amazing video! I watched your last Winter Gardens video you did and thought it was great!. The Winter Gardens is one of my favourite buildings in Blackpool. I have a few memories there when I used to perform with my class back in school. I love The Arena it is such a beautiful room and the whole Winter Gardens is too. You would have thought they would have taken away the false wall, revamped the original walls and showed them so they aren't hidden. Great video I loved it. Always an interesting topic for me anything to do with the Winter Gardens
Thanks Peter. This is part 5 of 9. It was exhausting but worth it.
@@AdventureMe Looking forward to the next part
Brilliant mate brilliant 🤩
Thanks Steve
A nice look into the past , thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it
This is wonderful
Thanks Deborah
Love the history and 'Hindi Wakes' is on TH-cam in the states, but it will not play, so scroll to 17:21 and you can see the packed Ballroom and Indian Lounge in 1952. The lounge is crowded with small round tables and people are drinking there. There is also a shot of the bar. You can also scope out some outdoor rides as well. Amazon Prime Video has a copy for rent-2 bucks.
Thanks James. Its a very nostalgic film
Loved the indianlounge
Excellent video. Will look differently now next I visit.
Thanks mate
Excellent and very interesting, Darren. It seems to be the case at Blackpool, that a lot of old architecture lies hidden behind walls and partitions, this being the case especially here at the Winter Gardens. I suppose as it stands today, it looks quite good does this particular room with it's resounding effects, but the old Indian looked a marvel. Many thanks for this presentation.
Thanks mate
A great tour once again mate - would be amazing to see it back to its original theme but as with everything unfortunately cost wins x
So true.
Another nice informative video. Shame it's not the Indian Lounge anymore. It's special that there are still parts behind the walls
Wow I've lived in Blackpool since 1979 thank you for filling us in on its history. I only thought we had one Wurlitzer organ in the Tower Ballroom
Two more in WG. Surprised me too. I only thought they had one.
Really good vlog totally enjoyed this! Is the access panel still accessible?
I guess it must be for void access? . It's funny fire regulations don't like huge voids like this. Great photos and a fascinating tale well told.
Thanks nick. I think so yes
My great grandfather worked as a Commisionaire for the Tower Company for over 50 years moving from The Palace Theatre to Winter Gardens when they took it over.
Thanks mate. What a great job to have at the time. You will like my final video then
@@AdventureMe cool
I can’t wait 😁😁😁
Watched Hindle Wakes last year, also saw a documentary from about the 80s with the the actress Lisa Daniely who starred in that that film, love anything Blackpool
Thanks for watching
That false wall void screams fire hazard. Many entertainment venues have burned down due to undiscovered fires in voids that suddenly erupted.
Well ironically its now a fire cable route. It was the fire officer that sent me those pictures. Im sure he has seen to this that it has detectors.
Crazy cool secrets to be seen! Love it - you're so lucky to be able to explore these historic places :D
Edit: and no way! Hindle Wakes. I recently watched the 1989 Arena about Blackpol Wakes and the star of the film is in it! It's on my Letterboxd watchlist (which is constantly growing!)
Yeah give it a go. Some good footage in there.
I love your exhaustive detective work, with the old images you discover accompanied by haunting music. I try, in my own modest way, to emulate you in identifying clues to buildings' former personalities in my visits to public buildings and, as here, usually find the changes are seldom for the better. Keep up the excellent work, and try not to let the losses get you down! (I suppose the Greek theme reflects 'Ancient Greece c.1980, just as the Indian Lounge reflected 1930s 'Indo-Art-Nouveau' Style!!)
Thanks William. You will be proud of part 9 in the series. Some serious detective work in that one.
@@AdventureMe I look forward to it!
I was in the opera house for a show this weekend you had me looking at all the hidden bits thank you for the fantastic series
Thanks mate. Still more to come from here
Just watched now, bbq and beers last night lol
Very interesting mate, those old glazed tiles in those snapshots you were sent are stunning. When you said millions to return it to how it was I did think “how?” And then you showed the roof 😞
I can’t wait for the next instalment, please be next Sunday 🙏🏻
Thanks Dan. 8th May for the next part.
@@AdventureMe Nooooo 😂😂
Sooner please 🙏🏻😂
Great video again! I love these types of videos and seeing a glimpse of what else could be hidden. I did notice a slight typo on the Patreon members list but it have me a good laugh 😂. (Jess not James 🤭)
Thanks Jess. I think it was just a typo on this one. Just checked the next part and it says Jess. Apologies for that.
@@AdventureMe no don’t apologise it made me laugh. I’ve already changed my name by deed poll 3 times I don’t know if I can afford to do it again 😂
@@jessweaver5713 So not James then lol
The Arena Space is such a letdown in comparison with the rest of the rooms in the Winter Gardens. I am amazed, though not surprised, that so much managed to survive. I hope that someday, sooner rather than later, the motions can start to rebuild this room to its original appearance. Folks should join the Blackpool Winter Gardens Trust if they want to help support the venue and help to raise funds for various projects in the Winter Gardens buildings.
Thanks mate
I used to go to the planet room a lot back in 1971. Thought it was magical
Thanks Jacqui
Aw gonna miss this. Am at mums.ill watch later have a good Premier 👍
Thanks mate. You can catch up when home.
Brilliant we need more Blackpool, the tower???
Plenty on my channel already, and much more coming.
Really enjoyed it, very interesting building.
Thanks Bernard
I’m sure I saw that some about 20 years ago, down a corridor to the right, just behind the stage in the Empress Ballroom. We were using the loos there during the College degree ceremony. I walked down the corridor & looked into a huge hall with a dome. It must be there still.
@@davidmartin-pe2ie Not behind the stage at the empress. Its Adelaide St behind the ballroom. Have a look on Google earth.
@@AdventureMe Yes, exactly there. If you want to see the dome from inside, right hand side of the stage, turn right up a little corridor, past toilets and dressing rooms, to the end of the corridor, it opens into the Indian Lounge with the dome, exactly where you said.
@@davidmartin-pe2ie The end of that corridor is a small room with a table and chairs inside. See my empress ballroom video.
That was very impressive. What a crime.
Thanks mate. Still more to come from here
What a wonderful video!
Thank you!
Thanks Paige
Hi, I recall Mum telling me as a young girl in the 1940’s she appeared in pantomime at the Winter Gardens
Steve
Thank you , l wounded what happened to the Indian lounge, l have some old postcards of it , but didn’t know were it was .
Thanks Roy
It busts my balls looking behind them walls, I get britians pound was the controlling world currency and those hay days are long gone but to delete such beauty should be a crime, the room needs full restoration with a modern interpretation of the original roof, as a space to spend time id die there.
We lost so many amazing buildings in the 60s when places wanted to modernise … like Euston station
I know. It was the trend at the time i suppose.
Oh gosh the India Room was beautiful breaks my heart that they didn't keep it
Thanks Sandra. I agree
On the left of one of the hidden passageway pictures it looked like the tiny remains of wooden boards that had suffered fire damage?
Also, going off the overlay picture you did, the black pillars in the Arena room look like they could be hiding the original pillars!
Yes that's what I suspect.
@@AdventureMe Shame you couldnt get in to that secret hatch to find out!
Another excellent video Darren, loving these!
@@AdventureMe I was an electrician working on the arena when it was changed from the planet room. The pillars are hollow tubes .
@@AdventureMe There is a void above ceiling we worked in to wire new lighting. I can vaguely remember seeing the old plasterwork.
We dropped cables down hollow pillars for floodlights at the top.
I used to work there and have been most places in there,there is a front of a house behind one of the stages...
Yeah I found that in the first episode of this series. Check it out.
👍👍👍😊
My grandad used to say that the 1960s did more damage to British history and buildings of interest than any of hitlers bombs did!
I agree with him
👍
I was in here last September at the british country music festival
Hope you enjoyed
@@AdventureMe it was brilliant
Can u imagine the interest these places would get if they restored back to original theme....
I know
At least in the 60s they just boarded over the treasures. Maybe one day it will see the light again
Thanks mate. Still more to come from here
Anyone else die inside when they saw what they did to the Indian Room? 💔
I went to two NUS Annual Conferences at the Winter Gardens in 1995 and 1996. Would this have been the venue for the nightclub event put on for the delegates in 1995, I wonder?
Thanks mate
It's such a shame that's we have to accept, fashions change with the times. But if the powers that were / be had the foresight to cover over the magnificent decor of the Indian Lounge instead of demolishing it, wouldn't that have been something - ?
Can you check out the Evelyn Estate Hall it is a Mughal Design built in the late 1800s.
Not yet no. Any good?
@@AdventureMe Sorry my mistake its Elveden Estate not Evelyn I've only seen pictures of it and it looks like a nice hidden gem in England
Which film used the Indian lounge please?
It says in the video when I'm walking into the bar. The text on the screen.
Ahh maybe I spoke too soon. There maybe hope yet - !
Oh yes. Plenty still left remaining
Oh the 60s have a lot to answer for. Why this obsession to 'modernize'.....awful. They should be getting this back to its original format. Thanks as always. 🙂
Hi Darren, such a shame that the real beauty is covered up by ugly False walls. Be lovely to see a billionaire come in and put the whole building back to its former splendour.
If only lol
Modernisation has a lot to answer for. As the saying goes; if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Talk about hidden treasures
For sure Mark
More grand please, not more grander.🙂
Very informative but drop the cheesy music
Cheesy music? I didn't hear Agadoo playing haha
Why are you not a conspiracy theorist? I will say, Blackpool's spoilt for it compared to Southport. Now there's a supermarket where that Winter Gardens was. They even knocked down the model village in the intervening years, before they built it.
When you see part 9, you will see a bit of a conspiracy theory going on lol
@@AdventureMe Only three to go before that one. Should be good.