Blackpool Winter Gardens was built on the on the site of Bank Hey House, the home of Dr W H Cocker, one of the founding directors. Dr Cocker sold his home and surrounding eighteen thousand square yards so that the development could be built. The price agreed was twenty-three thousand pounds and construction began in 1875.

The building was to house a 2,500 seat concert pavilion, a library and reading room, an art gallery, conservatories, croquet lawns, aviaries all accessible by a glazed promenade. There was also an ice rink though this was later replaced by Newsome's Circus. For two years a Noah's Ark occupied the area which we now know as the Empress Ballroom which opened in 1897. Bank Hey house was integrated into the design.

The Winter Gardens opened to the public on 11th July 1878 and at £100,000 cost almost double the original estimate.

William Holland, a famous publicist of the London music halls was recruited to manage the venue. Under his direction the entertainment changed from up market orchestral concerts to music hall acts. Holland, sometimes referred to as the 'British Barnum', was to manage the Winter Gardens until his death in 1894.

Besides the magnificent Empress Ballroom the Winter Garden is home to the Floral Hall, the Arena, the Opera House with a 3,000 seating capacity, the Pavilion and Horseshoe, the Spanish Hall and the Olympia Exhibition Center.

The Royal Variety Show was staged in the Opera House in 1955 and on Monday 7th December 2009 history repeats itself when the show makes a comeback to this wonderful theater.