in the centre of the Horseshoe – a semi-circular promenade providing a spacious self-contained exhibition area. Arena The Arena is adjacent to the Empress Ballroom. Built in 1896, it was originally known as the Indian Lounge because of its British Raj-inspired interior design created by J.M. Boekbinder. The lounge was remodelled as the Planet Room, a cabaret bar in 1964. It was again revamped in the 1980s in a Roman style and renamed the Arena. The Arena is now used as a venue in its own right for meetings, presentations and banquets or as an extension space for the Empress Ballroom. It has a capacity of between 220 and 600. Olympia Construction of the Olympia exhibition hall began in 1929 and it took eight months to build. It opened in June 1930, and the interior comprised stalls and attractions designed by film set designer Andrew Mazzei in the form of a Moorish village. The Olympia's exterior was finished in white faience and included a dome which was removed after World War II. During the war, the Olympia was used to teach morse code. The Olympia later found use as a funfair until the 1980s when it was adapted to a more modern indoor adventure playground called Professor Peabody's Playplace. The venue covers 2,600 square metres and is now used as a venue for exhibitions and trade shows, with a capacity of up to 3,500. First floor Spanish Hall The Spanish Hall is a large Andalucian style vaulted hall with battlemented balconies containing three-dimensional representations of clustered Spanish villages. It was also designed by Andrew Mazzei. A floor was constructed in the Winter Gardens' Victoria Street entrance to allow the creation of the hall. The Spanish Hall, which has undergone a £1 million refurbishment is used for banquets and wedding receptions. It is self-contained with its own adjacent bar, the Windsor Bar and has a capacity of up to 1,000. Baronial Hall The Baronial Hall, added in 1931, is designed in the guise of a medieval castle. It is used for weddings and banquets with a capacity of up to 300. Renaissance Hall The Renaissance Hall was added in 1931 and is a period-style room. It has been used as a high-class restaurant and cocktail bar. It has a capacity of up to 275. References Further reading External links Read a detailed historical record about Blackpool Winter Gardens Theatres in Blackpool