Blackpool Tower’s ballroom is an iconic location for those who enjoy dancing and it appears in Strictly Come Dancing for a special week every year.

But how much do you really know about its history and how it became such a huge part of the ballroom dancing world?

Blackpool Tower was built in 1894 and it’s unmistakable in the Lancashire skyline. Here’s what we know about the history behind its ballroom.

The history of Blackpool Tower’s ballroom

The Blackpool Tower’s website details the history of the ballroom including how it was originally a smaller pavilion with the stage on the south side of the room which opened in August 1894.

While the ballroom has seen many an elegant dance, the dancefloor itself is impressive. It is made of 30,602 blocks of mahogany, oak and walnut plus it measures 120 feet by 102 feet.

If you’ve visited or seen the ballroom on TV, you might know that the organs are played there. The man behind the organs is Phil Kelsall who has played the instrument there since 1975 and continues to do so today. Kelsall began playing the organs in the Circus.

The website added: “The first Wurlitzer organ was installed in the Ballroom in 1929. It was replaced in 1935 with one to Reginald Dixon’s specification”.

It also explains: “Excluding his time in the RAF during World War Two, Reginald Dixon played the Ballroom’s Wurlitzer organ from 1930 until his retirement in 1969. He returned for a farewell concert in 1970 to mark 40 years at the Blackpool Tower”.

@clint.walker02 We had an afternoon at Tower Ballroom  in Blackpool.  I'd never been, so we had afternoon tea whilst watching the dancers and listening to the mighty Wurlitzer organ. What an absolute joyful few hours...loved it! #strictlycomedancing #ballroom #blackpool #uk #seaside #ballroomdance #dance #food ♬ original sound - Clint Walker

Blackpool Tower Ballroom’s strict rules

Two of the ballroom’s one-time strict rules were “gentlemen may not dance unless with a lady” and “disorderly conduct means immediate expulsion”, shares the Blackpool Tower website.

Originally, people were not allowed to dance on Sundays so an evening of sacred music was performed instead.

Those who get close to the stage will see an inscription above it which reads: “Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear”. This is from one of Shakespeare’s sonnets, Venus and Adonis. You can also look out for the 16 names of composers which are around the ballroom.

Did you know the ballroom was a victim of a fire? It was badly damaged by fire in December 1956 and the dance floor and restaurant below were destroyed.

It took two years and £500,000 to restore the ballroom and the restaurant became the Tower Lounge.

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The ballroom that we know today was designed by Frank Matcham and opened in 1899. The ballroom’s large crystal chandeliers can be lowered to the floor and take longer than a week to clean.

Strictly Come Dancing 2024 at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom

As ever, the Strictly Come Dancing professionals and their celebrity partners will return to the ballroom for one week in this year's series.

You can watch the dances on Saturday, November 16 on BBC One and iPlayer from 6.45pm.