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Blackpool Grand Theatre

2025 season at Lyndene Hotel likely to be Jimmy’s last 150 150 mhamer

2025 season at Lyndene Hotel likely to be Jimmy’s last

Jimmy Cricket has hinted that his 10th season at the Lyndene hotel will be his last at the Blackpool venue.Jimmy Cricket has hinted that his 10th season at the Lyndene hotel will be his last at the Blackpool venue.

The well-known comedian performed there during what will be a particularly busy month of March for him.

His latest visit to the Lyndene was his first of six gigs in just 22 days during the next few weeks.

Jimmy’s official autobiography, Memoirs Of An Irish Comedian, costs £11.99 and can be bought at online retailer Amazon.

Afterwards, Jimmy posted a photo of him on stage (above) and said on social media: “Back for my 10th and final year!”

He added: “😂is the best medicine.”

The Lyndene is a sea-front venue, which puts on top quality entertainment the whole year round.

Jimmy followed up his Lyndene visit by hosting the long-running charity JAM night in his adopted hometown of Rochdale last night (Tuesday 11 March).

On Friday, the Northern Irish entertainer is at the Hollywood Comedy Club in Birmingham.

And then he rounds off a hectic week back in Blackpool in Sunday Night at the Grand (16 March – St Patrick’s Day eve).

Talking Pictures TV Film Festival takes place on 22 and 23 March.

After that he heads off down south for the two-day Talking Pictures TV and Renown Pictures Festival of Film in St Albans, Hertfordshire (22 and 23).

The following Saturday (29), his last show of the month is at St Mary’s Community Centre in Leyland, near Preston.

See all Jimmy’s booked events here.

Also read: Sunday Night at the Grand show marks special milestone

Rochdale jam event is ‘lovely charity evening’

 

Blackpool, Birmingham, St Albans among March gigs 150 150 mhamer

Blackpool, Birmingham, St Albans among March gigs
Jimmy’s official autobiography, Memoirs Of An Irish Comedian, costs £11.99 and can be bought at online retailer Amazon.

Jimmy’s official autobiography, Memoirs Of An Irish Comedian, costs £11.99 and can be bought at online retailer Amazon.

Jimmy Cricket faces a busy few weeks in March, including two days at the Talking Pictures TV Festival of Film in St Albans and a couple of shows in Blackpool.

The popular veteran comedian performs at six events in just 22 days during the month.

His hectic schedule begins at his favourite Blackpool hotel, the Lyndene, on Wednesday 5 March.

This is Jimmy’s 10th season at the sea-front venue, which puts on top quality entertainment the whole year round.

Then on Tuesday 11 March, the Northern Irish funnyman hosts the long-running charity JAM night in his adopted hometown of Rochdale.

Three days later, he is at the Hollywood Comedy Club in Birmingham, before rounding off a hectic week back in Blackpool in Sunday Night at the Grand (16 March – St Patrick’s Day eve).

Talking Pictures TV Film Festival takes place on 22 and 23 March.

And after that he heads off down south for the two-day Talking Pictures TV and Renown Pictures Festival of Film in St Albans, Hertfordshire (22 and 23).

The following Saturday (29), his busy run of shows concludes at St Mary’s Community Centre in Leyland, near Preston.

See all Jimmy’s booked events here.

Also read: Sunday Night at the Grand show marks special milestone

Rochdale jam event is ‘lovely charity evening’

Jimmy Cricket faces a busy few weeks in March, including two days at the Talking Pictures Festival in St Albans and two gigs in Blackpool.

‘Wonderful news’ about Blackpool’s Grand Theatre! 150 150 mhamer

‘Wonderful news’ about Blackpool’s Grand Theatre!

Wonderful news to start the week! Grand Theatre Successful COVID-19 Recovery Grant - Blackpool Grand Theatre

Jimmy Cricket has welcomed the news that the Blackpool Grand Theatre is to get a government recovery grant.

It was suggested in August the theatre could close because of the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Management had warned the venue might have to shut unless the UK government intervened.

Like other provincial theatres, which depend largely on box office receipts to keep going, it has not received any income since the lockdown began.

Popular comedian Jimmy said at the time that the closure of the iconic theatre would be a “tragedy”.

But the theatre, which first opened in 1894, has succeeded in its application for £483,666 to the government’s COVID-19 Recovery Grant Scheme.

Jimmy described it on social media as “wonderful news”.

‘Absolute lifeline’

The grant aims to support the theatre while it is unable to open with consistently financially viable productions.

The theatre’s website said it would pay to keep a small staff team in place to look after the building and its business until 31 March 2021. 

It will also underwrite the cost of unavoidable job losses and preparations to reopen with covid-secure provisions in place.

Additionally, it would help to rebuild the theatre’s reserves and enable it to return to full operation when possible.

Tony Stone, chairman of the charity which operates the Grand, said: “We are beyond grateful to be awarded this grant by the Government.

“It is an absolute lifeline. Since March we have been unable to earn any income as shows have cancelled or postponed.

“This additional grant makes the difference between permanent closure and the potential to return when it is safe and viable to do so.”

‘Fantastic grant’

John Grady, chairman of the Friends of the Grand, said: “In normal times we stuff envelopes, tear tickets and sell coffee to thousands of loyal customers.

“Since March we have been unable to support our favourite theatre as it has been unable to open.

“We realise that we still don’t know when this will be possible.

“But this fantastic grant will, at least, mean that we can prepare to return when circumstances allow.”

Ruth Eastwood, the theatre’s chief executive, welcomed the news “with very mixed feelings”.

‘Tremendous support’

She said the entire team were at risk of redundancy and in consultation about reduced terms and conditions of employment.

“With no work and no place of work available to our 57-strong team and the Furlough scheme ending, we have no choice but to reduce the headcount at the theatre,” she explained.

“This is to ensure we can slow down the speed with which cash is flowing out of our reserves.

“I’d like to thank my dedicated and hard-working team, plus board members and volunteers, for their tremendous support and forbearance at this difficult time.”

Also read: Losing the Grand Theatre in Blackpool would be a ‘tragedy’

Losing the Grand Theatre in Blackpool would be a ‘tragedy’ 150 150 mhamer

Losing the Grand Theatre in Blackpool would be a ‘tragedy’

Jimmy Cricket says the closure of the iconic Grand Theatre in Blackpool would be a "tragedy" for future generationsJimmy Cricket says the closure of the iconic Grand Theatre in Blackpool would be a “tragedy” for future generations.

The theatre, which was almost demolished in 1972, could be closed because of the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Management warned it would shut unless the government intervened.

Most of the 57 staff were furloughed during the lockdown.

They could be left redundant when the job-saving scheme ends on 31 October.

A charitable trust has run the theatre since 1972, when local campaigners saved it from the bulldozers.

Among them were entertainers such as Sir Ken Dodd and BBC broadcaster Alistair Cooke.

It reopened in March 1981 with a performance of The Merchant of Venice starring Timothy West and Prunella Scales.

Like other provincial theatres which depend largely on box office receipts to keep going, the venue has had no income since the lockdown began.

All tickets were refunded for cancelled shows and plays.

‘We must all get together‘

The theatre, which first opened in 1894, had applied for a £500,000 government grant to keep it going until it might be able to put shows on in January.

However, if social distancing measures were still in place then, it would not make the shows viable and also the money would have run out.

Jimmy said: “We must all get together to save the Grand in Blackpool folks.

“To deprive future generations of this wonderful theatre would be a tragedy.”

His post on Twitter attracted hundreds of likes and retweets as well as some comments.

Also read: Grand Theatre in Blackpool hosts charity concert

External link: Blackpool’s Grand Theatre facing closure amid coronavirus pandemic

Grand Theatre in Blackpool hosts charity concert for The Not Forgotten Association 150 150 mhamer

Grand Theatre in Blackpool hosts charity concert for The Not Forgotten Association

Jimmy Cricket and friends at the fundraising concert at Blackpool’s iconic Grand Theatre

Jimmy Cricket recently participated in a major fundraising concert at Blackpool’s iconic Grand Theatre, which was organised by the owners of the hotel where he is currently in residence.

Jimmy Cricket

The gala event was in aid of The Not Forgotten Association, a cause that helps injured serving or ex-Armed Forces personnel.

It was staged by the owners of the Lyndene Hotel in Blackpool, where famous comedian Jimmy is doing his 2016 spring season, appearing there every Wednesday and Saturday until the end of May.

Blackpool’s iconic Grand TheatreAlso featured in the Grand Theatre extravaganza were his fellow comics Johnny Casson and Carl Schofield, alongside a host of excellent performers from the world of song and dance.

Jimmy said: “A big mention must also go to Tower Top Entertainments who helped produce the show and organise the line-up for it.”

For more information about The Not Forgotten Association, please visit the website at http://www.nfassociation.org/what-we-do/

Top and bottom: Jimmy is pictured with friends at the show and, above right, is seen in action at the theatre, which is above left.

The photographs for this article have been provided by Mark Shuttleworth who went along to see the show.

Jimmy Cricket and friends at the fundraising concert at Blackpool’s iconic Grand Theatre