At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the iconic Winter Gardens, driving operations and guest experience for over 1.3 million visitors.
- Company: Join Blackpool Tourism Limited, a key player in the UK's entertainment scene.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary starting from £60,000 and flexible working hours.
- Other info: Be part of a vibrant team dedicated to excellence and innovation in tourism.
- Why this job: Shape the future of a historic venue and make a real impact on live events.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in large-scale entertainment or events, with a passion for guest experience.
Winter Gardens Blackpool is one of the UK’s largest, most historic, and most complex entertainment destinations. Spanning theatres, ballrooms, conference centres, and exhibition halls, the venue hosts over 400 events annually and welcomes more than 1.3 million visitors across 11 unique spaces — including the Opera House, Empress Ballroom, Olympia Exhibition Hall, Spanish Hall, and the Blackpool Conference & Exhibition Centre.
With capacities ranging from intimate 200-seat rooms to arenas hosting up to 7,000 guests, Winter Gardens delivers an unrivalled programme of live entertainment, dance championships, comedy, exhibitions, conferences, and global touring productions. It is also a cornerstone of Blackpool’s tourism economy and a nationally significant Grade II* listed heritage asset.
We are seeking a high-impact, commercially driven, and guest-obsessed General Manager to lead Winter Gardens into its next chapter. This is a flagship leadership role requiring exceptional operational grip, strategic vision, political and stakeholder confidence, and the ability to lead one of the UK’s most complex live event environments at scale.
Key Responsibilities- Strategic & Commercial Leadership
- Lead the overall operational, commercial, and strategic direction of the Winter Gardens complex, delivering against agreed KPIs and long-term growth objectives.
- Maximise commercial performance across major venues including the Opera House (2,813), Empress Ballroom (3,500), Olympia Exhibition Hall (2,600), Spanish Hall (700), and the Conference & Exhibition Centre (2,000).
- Shape and deliver a long-term vision that ensures Winter Gardens remains a nationally significant destination for entertainment, conferencing, exhibitions, and cultural events.
- Drive strategic programming, partnerships, and commercial innovation to attract major touring productions, large-scale exhibitions, international dance events, and prestigious conferences — including political party conferences.
- Translate strategic goals into clear action plans, budgets, and measurable outcomes.
- Operational Excellence
- Oversee day-to-day operations across theatres, ballrooms, exhibition halls, F&B, guest services, technical operations, safety, maintenance, and event delivery.
- Lead complex, large-scale event logistics and guest flow planning for festivals, conferences, championships, exhibitions, and sold-out performances.
- Implement best-practice systems, processes, and governance to drive efficiency, resilience, and continuous improvement.
- Ensure all venues operate to the highest standards of quality, technical readiness, safety, accessibility, and presentation.
- Balance modern operational requirements with the preservation and conservation of a Grade II* listed heritage estate.
- Guest Experience & Culture
- Champion a guest-first, experience-led culture across all operations.
- Drive measurable improvements in guest satisfaction, Net Promoter Score (NPS), accessibility, inclusion, and service delivery.
- Ensure experiences are inclusive and welcoming for diverse audiences — from international performers and delegates to families, community groups, and conference guests.
- Embed robust guest feedback systems and use insight to inform continuous improvement.
- Team Leadership & People Development
- Lead, inspire, and develop a large, multidisciplinary workforce across programming, events, hospitality, technical, and operational teams.
- Build a culture of accountability, collaboration, inclusion, and high performance.
- Develop strong succession planning, leadership capability, and clear career pathways.
- Promote wellbeing, engagement, and professional development across the organisation.
- Financial & Results-Driven Leadership
- Work in partnership with Finance to manage budgets, forecasts, and full P&L performance.
- Drive strong cost control while protecting guest experience and operational quality.
- Apply yield management and pricing strategies across events, conferencing, F&B, and venue hire.
- Use data and insight to optimise capacity, staffing, commercial performance, and return on investment.
- Identify financial risks and growth opportunities early and act decisively.
- Stakeholder, Industry & Resort Partnerships
- Act as a senior ambassador for Winter Gardens within Blackpool’s tourism, cultural, and political ecosystem.
- Maintain strong relationships with Blackpool Council (venue owner), Blackpool Entertainment Company Ltd, and Blackpool Tourism Limited.
- Build trusted partnerships with promoters, agents, conference organisers, national bodies, political stakeholders, and heritage organisations.
- Play an active role in destination-wide planning, regeneration, and economic development initiatives.
- Health, Safety & Risk Management
- Ensure full compliance with all health & safety legislation, licensing, safeguarding, GDPR, and internal governance requirements.
- Promote a proactive, site-wide safety culture across public spaces, kitchens, technical areas, and back-of-house operations.
- Lead crisis management, emergency planning, and business continuity for major events, severe weather, heritage risks, and public safety incidents.
- Oversee statutory inspections, contractor compliance, audits, and continuous improvement programmes.
- Sustainability, Accessibility & Governance
- Champion sustainability initiatives including energy efficiency, waste reduction, responsible procurement, and carbon reduction.
- Embed accessibility and inclusive design principles across venues, programming, and operations.
- Ensure governance, compliance, and reporting standards are consistently met across the estate.
- Proven senior leadership experience in a large-scale, multi-venue entertainment, events, visitor attraction, or conferencing environment.
- Strong commercial acumen with a demonstrable track record of delivering growth and profitability.
- Deep understanding of major event delivery, theatre operations, conferencing, exhibitions, and hospitality.
- Experience operating within heritage or listed buildings is highly advantageous.
- Exceptional people leadership, stakeholder management, and communication skills.
- Strong commitment to guest experience, accessibility, sustainability, and safety.
- Full-time role with flexibility required across evenings, weekends, and major event periods.
- Competitive senior salary (from £60,000) and benefits.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Work Location: In person
General Manager Winter Gardens in Blackpool employer: Blackpool Tourism Ltd
Blackpool Tourism Limited offers an exceptional work environment at the iconic Winter Gardens, where employees are part of a vibrant team dedicated to delivering outstanding guest experiences in one of the UK's largest entertainment venues. With a strong focus on professional development, inclusivity, and sustainability, the company fosters a culture of collaboration and innovation, ensuring that every team member has the opportunity to grow and thrive in their career while contributing to the rich heritage of Blackpool's tourism economy.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land General Manager Winter Gardens in Blackpool
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy to reach out to folks on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand what makes Winter Gardens tick and think about how your skills can contribute to their goals. Tailor your responses to show you’re not just a fit for the role, but for the team too!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or family to get comfortable with common questions. This will help you articulate your experience and showcase your passion for the role without sounding rehearsed.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in leaving a positive impression. It shows you’re genuinely interested in the position and appreciate the opportunity to chat.
We think you need these skills to ace General Manager Winter Gardens in Blackpool
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the General Manager role. Highlight your experience in managing large-scale events and your strategic vision, as these are key for us at Winter Gardens.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:We want to see how you've led teams and driven results in previous roles. Share specific examples of how you've inspired a diverse workforce and improved guest experiences.
Be Data-Driven:Demonstrate your commercial acumen by including metrics and outcomes from your past roles. We love numbers that show how you’ve maximised performance and managed budgets effectively.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our official website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensure you’re considered for this exciting opportunity.
How to prepare for a job interview at Blackpool Tourism Ltd
✨Know Your Venues
Familiarise yourself with the unique spaces within Winter Gardens, like the Opera House and Empress Ballroom. Understanding their capacities and the types of events they host will show your genuine interest and help you discuss how you can enhance their operations.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare to discuss your leadership approach and how you inspire teams. Think of examples where you've built a culture of accountability and collaboration, as this role requires strong team leadership across diverse departments.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Acumen
Be ready to talk about your experience with budget management and driving commercial performance. Highlight specific strategies you've implemented in previous roles that led to growth and profitability, as this is crucial for the General Manager position.
✨Emphasise Guest Experience
Since the role is guest-obsessed, prepare to share your ideas on improving guest satisfaction and inclusivity. Discuss any systems you've used to gather feedback and how you've acted on it to enhance the overall experience.
