Syndicate Blackpool

Syndicate Blackpool was a major nightclub and music venue in Blackpool, Lancashire, England. Although the supplied name refers to ABC Cinema, Blackpool, the authoritative subject is Syndicate Blackpool, the later nightclub that occupied the same historic building. The venue opened in December 2002 after the former cinema was acquired and extensively converted by local entrepreneurs Mike and Sandra Nordwind. It became known as one of the largest clubs in north-west England and promoted itself at various points as one of the largest nightclubs in the United Kingdom. The site had a long entertainment history before the Syndicate brand appeared. It began as the Empire variety theatre and ballroom, designed by John Dent Harker and opened on 4 July 1895. The building was renamed the Hippodrome in 1900 and was used for circus and variety entertainment before being converted into a cinema in 1910. Associated British Cinemas acquired the site in April 1929. A planned 1939 reconstruction was interrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War, and the older theatre eventually closed in 1960. A new ABC Theatre was developed largely within the shell of the former building and opened on 31 May 1963. It retained a substantial theatre configuration, including stalls and circle seating for approximately 1,934 people, a permanent revolving stage and facilities for live productions. Its programming combined cinema, concerts and seasonal stage shows. The venue hosted performers including Cliff Richard and The Shadows, Frank Ifield, Cilla Black, Morecambe and Wise, and Tommy Steele. ABC Weekend TV also used the theatre for Blackpool Night Out broadcasts. The Beatles performed there in 1963 and appeared at the venue again in 1965 for a televised Blackpool Night Out performance. In January 1981, the theatre was converted into a three-screen cinema, reopening on 30 April of that year. The conversion preserved several theatrical elements behind the screens, including the revolving stage, orchestra pit, proscenium and dressing rooms. The former circle became one auditorium while the stalls were divided into two. The site changed names several times, becoming Cannon Cinema in 1986 and MGM Cinema in May 1993 before returning to the ABC name. It ceased operating as a cinema in July 2000. The building was purchased in summer 2001 for approximately £4 million and converted into the Syndicate nightclub. The nightclub opened in December 2002, with the former interior substantially removed. At its fullest configuration, it occupied three levels and contained three separate club rooms and a VIP floor. Its advertised capacity reached 5,000 when the associated Status club area was included; the main venue was described as holding approximately 4,500 people, divided between a downstairs area of about 2,200 and upper levels of about 2,300. The upper section included a tiered VIP area, balcony, dance floor and revolving dance floor, and was branded the Dance Arena. Syndicate faced licensing difficulties in the mid-2000s. Blackpool Police presented evidence alleging violence at the club, and magistrates withdrew its late-night alcohol licence in October 2005. The venue reopened on 26 November after abandoning an application for a new 4 a.m. licence. It subsequently closed in January 2006 after another refusal concerning a 4 a.m. licence. Nexum Leisure acquired the venue in May 2006 and carried out a reported £1 million refurbishment. The club later broadened its programming, including a weekly Polish Night launched in June 2007 for Blackpool's Polish and wider Eastern European communities. The venue also hosted cultural and sporting events. In September 2008, journalist and musician John Robb hosted a discussion and retrospective focused on music, fashion and football from 1975 to 1995. A boxing event later that month featured former heavyweight champion Tim Witherspoon as a guest and a bout between Eric 'Butterbean' Esch and Mark Potter for the European Boxing Federation Heavyweight title. Syndicate closed permanently on 10 August 2011. The building was demolished in 2014, ending the physical presence of the former cinema and nightclub site.

The entertainment site associated with Syndicate Blackpool began as the Empire variety theatre and ballroom, designed by John Dent Harker and opened on 4 July 1895. It was renamed the Hippodrome in 1900 and served as a circus and variety venue. Around 1910, the building was converted into a cinema. Associated British Cinemas purchased the property in April 1929. The company proposed rebuilding it in 1939, but the plan was halted by the outbreak of the Second World War. The old theatre closed in 1960. Most of the structure was demolished, while a new ABC Theatre was built substantially within the remaining shell. The replacement opened on 31 May 1963 with a summer production called Holiday Carnival, starring Cliff Richard and The Shadows. It contained stalls and circle seating for approximately 1,934 people and retained a permanent revolving stage. The ABC Theatre operated as a mixed-use entertainment venue. It hosted films and concerts during winter periods and stage shows during the summer season. Performers associated with its stage programming included Frank Ifield, Cilla Black, Morecambe and Wise and Tommy Steele. ABC Weekend TV used the theatre for Blackpool Night Out broadcasts. The Beatles performed at the venue in 1963 and appeared there again in August 1965 for a televised programme. The 1965 performance was notable for being the first occasion on which the group performed 'Yesterday' on British television. Material from that appearance later circulated through Beatles documentary and compilation releases. The theatre closed in January 1981 and reopened on 30 April as a three-screen cinema. The conversion divided the stalls into two auditoria and used the former circle as a third screen. Although much of the theatrical interior was concealed, the revolving stage, orchestra pit, proscenium and dressing rooms remained. The cinema operated under several names: ABC, Cannon Cinema from 1986, and MGM Cinema from May 1993. It later returned to the ABC name and closed permanently as a cinema in July 2000. In summer 2001, local entrepreneurs Mike and Sandra Nordwind acquired the building for approximately £4 million and converted it into a nightclub. The Syndicate opened in December 2002. The conversion removed the original interior and produced a large, multi-level club with three principal rooms and a VIP floor. The venue promoted itself as one of the largest nightclubs in the country and was described as the largest in north-west England. Its capacity was reported as approximately 4,500 without the associated Status area and as high as 5,000 when that additional space was counted. The upper levels formed a large open Dance Arena with a revolving dance floor, balconies and a tiered VIP section. The club encountered regulatory problems in 2005. Blackpool Police presented magistrates with allegations concerning violence at the venue. The court withdrew the club's permission to sell alcohol after 11 p.m., forcing a temporary closure. Syndicate reopened on 26 November after withdrawing its request for a replacement 4 a.m. licence. The venue nevertheless closed again in January 2006 following the refusal of a 4 a.m. licence. Nexum Leisure acquired it in May 2006 and carried out a reported £1 million refurbishment. Under the later operating arrangement, Syndicate diversified its programme. In June 2007 it introduced a weekly Polish-language and Polish-oriented club night, Polska Noc, aimed at Blackpool's Polish and Eastern European communities. In September 2008 it hosted a cultural discussion and retrospective led by John Robb, focusing on music, fashion and football from 1975 to 1995. It also staged a boxing event featuring former world heavyweight champion Tim Witherspoon and a European Boxing Federation heavyweight title bout involving Eric Esch and Mark Potter. Syndicate closed on 10 August 2011. The former entertainment building was subsequently demolished in 2014. The site's history therefore spans theatre, circus, cinema, televised variety, live music and large-scale nightclub operations, with the Syndicate representing its final major branded use.

• 2014

  Building demolished

  [1]Syndicate Blackpoolen.wikipedia.org

  The former theatre, cinema and nightclub building was demolished.

• 2011

  Nightclub closes

  [1]Syndicate Blackpoolen.wikipedia.org

  Syndicate closed permanently on 10 August.

• 2006

  Nexum Leisure takes over

  [1]Syndicate Blackpoolen.wikipedia.org

  Nexum Leisure purchased the club in May and undertook a reported £1 million refurbishment.

• 2002

  Syndicate opens

  [1]Syndicate Blackpoolen.wikipedia.org

  The converted nightclub opened in December.

• 2001

  Building acquired for nightclub conversion

  [1]Syndicate Blackpoolen.wikipedia.org

  Mike and Sandra Nordwind bought the property in summer for approximately £4 million.

• 2000

  Cinema operation ends

  [1]Syndicate Blackpoolen.wikipedia.org

  The cinema closed in July after operating under ABC, Cannon and MGM names.

• 1981

  Venue becomes a three-screen cinema

  [1]Syndicate Blackpoolen.wikipedia.org

  After closing in January, the theatre reopened on 30 April as a three-screen ABC cinema.

• 1963

  ABC Theatre opens

  [1]Syndicate Blackpoolen.wikipedia.org

  The rebuilt ABC Theatre opened on 31 May with Holiday Carnival, starring Cliff Richard and The Shadows.

• 1929

  Associated British Cinemas acquires the site

  [1]Syndicate Blackpoolen.wikipedia.org

  ABC purchased the former Hippodrome in April and later planned a reconstruction.

• 1910

  Hippodrome converted into a cinema

  [1]Syndicate Blackpoolen.wikipedia.org

  The former theatre building was adapted for cinema use.

• 1900

  Site renamed the Hippodrome

  [1]Syndicate Blackpoolen.wikipedia.org

  The entertainment building adopted the Hippodrome name and was used for circus and related performances.

• 1895

  Empire variety theatre and ballroom opens

  [1]Syndicate Blackpoolen.wikipedia.org

  The original Empire venue opened on 4 July, designed by John Dent Harker.

A large-scale Blackpool nightlife and entertainment destination occupying a historically significant former theatre and cinema. The Syndicate emphasized capacity, multiple rooms, tiered VIP facilities, dance-floor spectacle and varied event programming.

• Nightclub · 2002

  Syndicate nightclub

  The venue's principal offering was a large, multi-level nightclub opened in December 2002. It featured three main rooms, a VIP floor and a large upper Dance Arena with tiered viewing areas and a revolving dance floor. The club promoted high capacity and large-scale dance events, with a reported main capacity of approximately 4,500 and a higher advertised figure when the associated Status area was included.

• Themed club night · 2007

  Polska Noc

  Polska Noc was a weekly Polish-oriented event launched in June 2007. It was designed for Blackpool's Polish and wider Eastern European population and represented an effort to tailor the venue's programming to a specific local and migrant community.

• Cinema · 1963

  ABC Cinema Blackpool

  Before becoming the Syndicate, the site operated as the ABC Theatre and later as a three-screen ABC cinema. The 1981 conversion retained hidden theatrical infrastructure, including the revolving stage, orchestra pit, proscenium and dressing rooms. The cinema operation ended in July 2000.

• 2005

  Late-night alcohol licence withdrawn

  Blackpool Police presented magistrates with allegations of violence at the club. The court considered the evidence sufficiently serious to withdraw the licence to sell alcohol after 11 p.m., resulting in a temporary closure and restrictions on the venue's intended late-night operation.

  Source

Read more

• 2008A Celebration of Music, Fashion & Football 1975–1995

  Blackpool · United Kingdom

  John Robb hosted a special event at the Syndicate examining the relationship between music, fashion and football across the period from 1975 to 1995.

  Outcome. The event featured guest speakers including Andy Nicholls, Shane Meadows and Clint Boon.

  Source
• 2007Polska Noc

  Blackpool · United Kingdom

  A weekly Polish night aimed at Polish and Eastern European residents and visitors in Blackpool.

  Outcome. The event became part of the venue's diversified club-night programming; its duration is not specified in the source material.

  Source

• 2011

  Permanent closureOther

  Background

  After operating through licensing challenges, ownership changes and refurbishment, the nightclub's operation came to an end.

  Action taken

  Syndicate announced its closure on 10 August through Facebook.

  Aftermath

  The building was later demolished in 2014, ending the site's use as a theatre, cinema and nightclub.

  Source

• 2006

  Nexum Leisure acquisition and refurbishmentM&A

  Background

  The club had closed after the refusal of a 4 a.m. licence and required a new operating approach.

  Action taken

  Nexum Leisure acquired the venue in May and commissioned a major refurbishment.

  Aftermath

  The venue resumed operations under national leisure-operator ownership and later expanded its event mix.

  Reported refurbishment investment. £1 million (2006)

  Source

• 2001

  Redevelop the former cinema as a superclubStrategy

  Background

  The cinema had closed in July 2000, leaving a large entertainment building available for a new use.

  Action taken

  Mike and Sandra Nordwind acquired the building and converted it into a multi-level nightclub.

  Aftermath

  The Syndicate opened in December 2002 and became a prominent large-capacity nightlife venue in north-west England.

  Reported acquisition price. approximately £4 million (Summer 2001)

  Source

• 1981

  Convert the theatre into a three-screen cinemaGeneration change

  Background

  The ABC Theatre closed in January 1981 as the operator adapted the venue to changing cinema and entertainment requirements.

  Action taken

  The stalls were divided into two screens and the circle was converted into a third, while important theatrical infrastructure remained behind the auditoria.

  Aftermath

  The site reopened as a three-screen cinema on 30 April 1981 and operated under several subsequent cinema names.

  Source

1. 1Syndicate Blackpoolen.wikipedia.org