Lytham St Annes businesses take centre stage

More Lytham St. Annes firms are putting themselves in the spotlight by becoming patrons of the 2016 outdoor theatre season at Lytham Hall. Four further Red Rose businesses are lending their support to this year’s summer programme which opens with Chapterhouse Theatre’s production of Wuthering Heights on Sunday June 12.

Broadhursts Optometrists and florists Bond and Bloom who have both recently opened new premises in Market Square and Clifton Street in Lytham respectively have become Patrons for the 2016 season. Tomlinsons Chemists from Lytham and Ribble Packaging from Oldham have also been added to a list which began with just five Patrons in 2010, bringing the total to twenty.

Ailsa Pemberton, partner at the long-established family firm Pembertons Dairies of Ballam Road in Lytham feels that the success of open air summer events such as the expanded Lytham Proms where Noel Gallagher and Bryan Adams will play next August, the World War Two weekend and the outdoor theatre shows are keeping the town in the spotlight. “The open air theatre at Lytham Hall has built up a strong following and I am not surprised that so many Lancashire coast businesses are very happy to lend their support to a success story. It’s an excellent way of keeping your name in the public eye and helping a most worthwhile community event”, he said.

The newcomers are adding their names to a varied list of patrons which already includes Booths Supermarkets, local independent firms such as Lanigan’s Fishmongers, John Ardern’s Estate Agency and Russells Plumbers, as well as the Lytham St. Annes Express, Stringers Department Store and The Glendower Hotel, all long-established in the town.

Julian Wilde, organiser of the plays at Lytham Hall, is delighted with the continuing support from local businesses, large and small. “The steady increase in the number and range of top quality well-established firms, both large and small, supporting the programme has been very encouraging, particularly in the recent economic climate. It’s very heartening to have so much goodwill and support from business and commerce here on the Fylde coast. We have been able over the past six years to donate £20,000 to the Lytham Hall Restoration fund as well as providing four entertaining and varied plays each summer.” he said.

Marianne Blaauboer, Activity Plan Officer at Lytham Hall, agreed wholeheartedly. "The outdoor theatre events are a mainstay of Lytham cultural life, and we are thrilled with the support of local businesses. Julian has been working tirelessly to arrange these events these past years and we appreciate his efforts so much. We would struggle to do this without him."

The Patrons for 2016 are

 Stringers Department Store (managing director Damian Clarke),  Booths Supermarkets (Lytham manager Simon Pickering),  Pembertons Dairies (proprietor Andy Pemberton),  Roland Robinson and Fentons, Solicitors (partner Clive Marquis-Carr),  Direct Medical Imaging (partner Dr. Roger Bury )  Lytham St. Annes Express (news editor Chris Dixon)  John Ardern, Estate Agents (managing partner John Ardern)  Java, Café Bistro &Wine Bar and Spago Restaurant (owner Helen Vavoso)  Martin Edward Gunson, Accountant, Dicconson Terrace  Ribble Packaging (managing director Stephen Rector)  Lanigans Fishmongers (proprietor Andrew Lanigan)  Clifton Academy of Dance (proprietors Sarah Cosgrove & Amy Appleton)  Russells Plumbers (proprietor Peter Russell)  Lytham Funeral Services (proprietor David Pope)  Phil’s Bakery (proprietor Phil Wignall)  Croft’s Newsagency (proprietor Tony Croft)  The Glendower Hotel (The Holden family)  Tomlinsons Chemists (proprietor, Ian Fleming)  Broadhursts Optometrists (proprietor, Mike Broadhurst)  Bond and Bloom florists (partner Fiona Osborne)