Bridlington Spa facts for kids
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The Spa Bridlington
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Bridlington Spa adaptive logo
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| Address | Bridlington Spa South Marine Drive Bridlington YO15 3JH East Riding of Yorkshire England |
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| Coordinates | 54°04′45″N 0°11′47″W / 54.07928°N 0.19643°W |
| Owner | East Riding of Yorkshire Council |
| Type | Traditional |
| Capacity | 3,800 Royal Hall standing 1,700 seated / 675 Spa Theatre (incl. wheelchair spaces) |
| Current use | Concert venue, theatre and conference centre |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1896 |
| Rebuilt | 1932 |
| Years active | 1896–present |
| Website | |
| bridspa.com | |
Bridlington Spa is a famous building in Bridlington, England. It's a place where people go for concerts, plays, and big meetings. The building has a cool Art Deco ballroom and an old-fashioned Edwardian theatre. It also has art galleries and other rooms, all with great views of Bridlington's South Bay.
The first Spa building was built in 1896. It had a theatre and a pavilion by the sea. Sadly, a fire in 1906 destroyed the theatre. A new opera house was built in 1907, and parts of it are still there today. The local council took over the buildings in 1914. They rebuilt most of the Spa in 1926. Another fire in 1932 destroyed these newer parts. But workers quickly started building again!
Bridlington Spa is still owned and run by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council. Between 2006 and 2009, the Spa got a huge makeover. It cost £20.5 million to make it modern and new. It reopened in May 2008 as The Spa Bridlington. In 2016, the theatre got even more updates. A new middle aisle was added to the seating area. This made it easier for everyone to see the stage. Later in 2016, the Spa got a new look and changed its name back to Bridlington Spa.
Bridlington Spa is a popular place for concerts in the UK. It can hold up to 3,800 people for a standing concert. Many famous bands have played there, like Madness and Kasabian. Oasis even played their last indoor concert at Bridlington Spa.
Contents
History of Bridlington Spa
The first Bridlington Spa opened on July 27, 1896. It had beautiful gardens and buildings. The Spa Theatre and a glass dome for dancing were very popular. People could stay all day for just sixpence!
Fires and Rebuilding
On October 20, 1906, a fire broke out around 9 p.m. It spread very quickly. Firefighters saved the famous glass dome, but the theatre was destroyed. Plans for a new theatre were quickly made. Just nine months later, in July 1907, the new theatre opened.
In 1914, the local council started managing the Spa. They bought it completely in 1919. In 1925, the council replaced the last parts of the old 1890s Spa. They built the new Spa Royal Hall. It opened in 1926 and cost £50,000. It was a fantastic art deco building.
But on January 29, 1932, another fire burned down the Royal Hall. Luckily, the theatre wasn't badly damaged and reopened for Easter. It was amazing how fast they rebuilt the new Royal Hall. It was designed by Peter Newton and built in just 52 days! It reopened on July 29, 1932.
Changing Times
Before 1939, the Spa had plays and variety shows in the theatre. People danced in the Royal Hall. After World War II, holidays changed. More people had cars and went on package tours abroad. So, the Spa started offering different kinds of entertainment. The Royal Hall has been a popular place for rock concerts for over 30 years. It also hosted the World Darts Championship before its big refurbishment. Now, more conferences and business events happen there too.
On July 15, 2009, tickets for an Oasis concert at Bridlington Spa sold out in just two minutes! Oasis played there on August 20, 2009. It was a warm-up show before they played at the V Festival.
What You Can Find at Bridlington Spa
Bridlington Spa has many different areas for events.
- Royal Hall: This is a huge space that can hold up to 3,800 people for standing concerts. It can also seat 1,700 people for theatre-style events. It has a balcony with fixed seating.
- Spa Theatre: This is an Edwardian-style theatre with 675 seats. It's perfect for music, dance, and drama. It has modern sound and lighting systems. The theatre was rebuilt after a fire in 1906 and is still mostly the same today.
- Harbour Suite: This room has amazing views over the bay. It has a bar and can seat about 120 people.
- Gallery Suite: This is a bright, long room with windows facing South Marine Drive. It's used as an art gallery, showing different local artists' work each week. Businesses can also rent this space.
- Promenade Bar and Bay View Lounge: Both of these areas have great sea views.
- Board Room: A smaller room with a large table that seats 22 people.
- Spa Café Bar: Located near the main entrance, this café has a huge window looking out over Bridlington's South Bay. It's a great spot to relax, and pianists often play music during lunch.
Modern Makeover
Bridlington Spa is right on the seafront. Because it's so close to the sea, the building's structure had some damage over time from the sea air and occasional flooding.
The big £20.5 million makeover fixed these problems. Here are some of the changes:
- A new main entrance was built on South Marine Drive.
- The north end of the building was changed, adding a new two-story conference area.
- New glass sections were added to the promenade side.
- The outside of the Royal Hall got a new look.
- Doors and windows were repaired or replaced.
Updates to Key Areas
- Spa Theatre: The theatre was completely redone. It got 675 new seats, a stronger structure, and modern backstage facilities. The lighting and sound systems were updated with the latest technology.
- Royal Hall: The 1930s ballroom kept its art deco style but got a big facelift. It has a new east-facing wall and modern technical equipment. The floor was completely rebuilt with a new sprung wooden dance floor. The beautiful leaded glass dome, which had been covered for years, was cleaned and restored. It now has a curtain that can block out light if needed.
- Harbour Suite: This new area has conference and meeting rooms. It has large bay windows with sea views and modern technology like Wi-Fi and video links.
- Kitchens: The kitchens were made much larger and got new, high-tech equipment. This allows the Spa's chefs to cook for up to 700 guests at once.
The Spa's makeover was a big part of a plan to improve Bridlington. It was hoped that the new facilities would bring more tourists to the town and help the local economy. The Spa reopened with a special week of events from May 31 to June 7, 2008. This included a concert by The Pigeon Detectives.
Today, Bridlington Spa offers free tours on some Sundays each month. This lets local people and visitors see the amazing venue. Senior managers often lead these tours, so guests can ask any questions they have.
New Look in 2016
On December 14, 2016, Bridlington Spa showed off its new brand and logo. This new look was planned for over 18 months. It gave the building's outside, inside, website, and printed materials a fresh, unified style.
