- The Best Western Palace Hotel and Casino is located on Douglas Promenade. Easily accessible on foot, being a ten-minute walk away from Douglas town centre, it is served by a number of buses with a bus stop and Horse Tram stop outside the door. Isle of Man Airport is around 20 minutes away in a taxi, and the Sea Terminal around five minutes in a.
- Headroom - Isle of Man. 2 Castle St, Isle of Man, IM1 2EU. CLOSED - 0.03 miles away. Worx - Isle of Man. Empress Drive, Isle of Man, IM2 4LQ. CLOSED - 0.04 miles away. Eurocycles - Isle of Man. Victoria Road, Isle of Man, IM2 4EY. CLOSED - 0.17 miles away. Stylers - Isle of Man.
- Paragon Bar & Restaurant. Paragon Bar and Restaurant at the Best Western Palace Hotel & Casino.
- Palace Casino Isle Of Man Opening Times Uk
- Palace Casino Isle Of Man Opening Times Square
- Palace Casino Isle Of Man Opening Times London
Guests for the first time ever will be able to order breakfast as well as the Nobu dishes they crave around the clock. Imagine waking up in a luxurious room at the Nobu Hotel Caesars Palace to a welcoming knock, senses aroused by the sweet scent of blueberry and yuzu soba pancakes and an order of eggs Matsuhisa with roasted asparagus, bonito egg sauce, ikura and toasted bao.
The burnt out remains of the centre in September 1973, one month after the fire. | |
| Date | 2 August 1973 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Summerland Leisure Centre |
| Location | Douglas, Isle of Man |
| Coordinates | 54°10′02″N4°27′27″W / 54.16713°N 4.45753°WCoordinates: 54°10′02″N4°27′27″W / 54.16713°N 4.45753°W |
| Type | Fire |
| Cause | match |
| Deaths | 50 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 80 |
The Summerland disaster occurred when a fire spread through the Summerland leisure centre in Douglas on the Isle of Man on the night of 2 August 1973. Fifty people were killed and 80 seriously injured. The scale of the fire has been compared to those seen during the Blitz.[1][2][3]
Background[edit]
Summerland was opened on 25 May 1971. It was a climate-controlled building covering 3.5 acres (1.4 ha) on Douglas's waterfront, consisting of 50,000 sq ft (4,600 m2) of floor area constructed at a cost of £2 million. The building's exterior and the interior were designed by two different architects—they did not coordinate their planning with each other and thereby created a venue with significant fire risks that were to become apparent only later.[4]
Summerland was designed to accommodate up to 10,000 tourists and consisted of a dance area, five floors of holiday games, a rollerskating rink, restaurants and public bars. It was an example of Modernist architecture incorporating advanced controlled internal climate, built with novel construction techniques using new plastic materials. The street frontage and part of the roof was clad in Oroglas, a transparentacrylic glass sheeting.[5]
Fire[edit]
The fire started at around 7:30 p.m. on 2 August 1973 when approximately 3,000 people were inside,[5] and was caused by three boys who were smoking in a small disused kiosk, [6] on the centre's miniature golf course [7] and who told police it was likely started by a carelessly discarded match or stub. The burning kiosk collapsed against the exterior of the building. This part of the building was clad in a material called Galbestos: profiled steel sheeting with asbestos felt on both sides coated with bitumen,[5][8] with no fire-resistant qualities. The fire spread to the wall's interior soundproofing material, which was highly combustible, causing an intense fire that ignited the flammable acrylic sheeting that covered the rest of the building. The fire quickly spread across the sheeting on the leisure centre walls and roof, and through vents which were not properly fireproofed. The acrylic material melted, allowing more oxygen to enter, and dropping burning molten material, both starting other fires and injuring those trying to escape.[9] The building's open-plan design included many unblocked internal spaces that acted as chimneys, adding to the conflagration.
There was no attempt to evacuate the 3,000 people present[5] until the visible evidence of the flames prompted a panic-stricken mass rush for the exits. The fire was contained in an internal space within the walls until it penetrated the interior, destroying the wiring of the fire alarm system in the process. Because of the locked fire doors, many people headed to the main entrance, which caused a crush.[9]
The fire services were not called for over 20 minutes,[5] and even then the call did not originate from Summerland. Instead the first call came from a passing taxi driver, while another came from the captain of a ship 2 miles (3.2 km) offshore who radioed HM Coastguard and said, 'It looks as if the whole of the Isle of Man is on fire'.[7] The coastguard immediately called the fire brigade. The first responding fire crews realised additional resources would be required and almost every resource available to the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service was mobilised to the incident (93 of its 106 firefighters and all 16 of its engines).
Between 50 and 53 people died in the fire.[10]
Aftermath[edit]
The death toll brought about a public inquiry that ran from September 1973 to February 1974. Denis CowleyQC acted for the Douglas Corporation.[11] No specific individuals or groups were blamed and the deaths were attributed to misadventure, although the delay in evacuation and the flammable building materials were condemned. On 17 September 1973, three Liverpool boys – two of them 12 and the other 14 – appeared before Douglas Juvenile Court and admitted wilfully and unlawfully damaging the lock of a plastic kiosk next to Summerland. They were each fined £3 (equal to £31.86 in 2020) and ordered to pay 33p compensation and 15p costs.[12] Changes to building regulations to improve fire safety were introduced.[9] The centre was seriously damaged by the fire. Its charred steel skeletal remains were demolished in 1975 and then rebuilt on a smaller scale, construction commencing in 1976, with a smaller area of glass than the original, and a highly advanced fire extinguisher and alarm system. The centre reopened in 1977.
Soon after the disaster, John Hinnigan was brought in from Blackburn fire and rescue to become the new chief.[13]
2002 flood and final closure[edit]
In October 2002, torrential rain caused damage to several structures, as well as two landslides behind Summerland which dislodged two 50-tonne concrete blocks that had once supported the roof of the original building, but had not been removed in the wake of the fire. After a geotechnical team determined that the blocks could not be safely stabilised or removed, and that there was a risk they would fall into the buildings below, the site was scheduled for demolition. The remainder of the site closed in 2004, and demolition began in January 2006. The west wall remains intact as there is concern that its removal may cause the adjacent cliff to collapse.[14]
Memorials[edit]
Forty years after the tragedy, a permanent memorial in the form of three granite columns was unveiled at Kaye Memorial Gardens, at the bottom of Summer Hill. It bears the names of those killed in the fire and is set into a circle of paving, alongside a stone laid earlier to mark the 25th anniversary.[15][16]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^'On This Day'. BBC. 2 August 2003. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
- ^'Island 'shame' over Summerland fire'. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 6 September 2019 – via www.bbc.com.
- ^'Services weren't equipped for Summerland disaster'. 3FM. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
- ^'Article about the disaster based on the report by Dr Ian Philips'. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
- ^ abcdeShennan, Paddy (13 July 2013). 'Remembering the Summerland fire disaster, 40 years on'. Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
- ^'Isle of Man 'shame' over Summerland fire disaster'. BBC News. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
- ^ abTony Topping (1 August 2013). 'Remembering The Summerland Disaster 40 Years On'. Sabotage Times. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
- ^'Asbestos information centre—trade names'. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
- ^ abcCarter, Helen (2 August 2003). 'Isle of Man's forgotten holiday horror'. The Guardian. London. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
- ^'Service to honour Summerland dead'. BBC News. 4 September 2006. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^'Mr Denis Cowley'. The Times (London), 15 July 1985: 10. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 4 Nov. 2014.
- ^Liverpool Echo 17 July 2013
- ^'Tribute to former fire chief'. IOM Today. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
- ^https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-les/gees/staff/fire-disaster-c9.pdf
- ^Vannin, Ellan (24 June 2013). 'Summerland fire memorial built to mark 40th anniversary'. BBC. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
- ^Vannin, Ellan (2 August 2013). 'Summerland fire victims remembered on 40th anniversary'. BBC. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
External links[edit]
- ''Fireproof' funland toll close to 50'—Montreal Gazette, 4 August 1973
- On this day—Memorial, BBC
- University of Birmingham, Ian Phillips in 'Research' section book From 21st century leisure to 20th century holiday catastrophe: the Isle of Man Summerland fire disaster
Empire Casino is one of the land-based casino gaming hotspots in London. It was launched in 2008 and is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment group. The casino is located in Leicester Square in the heart of London and is spread across 2 floors and a massive 55,000 square feet. This casino is the biggest and also the busiest in all of the UK and offers casino gaming with an exotic Las Vegas flair.
There is no membership required to visit Empire Casino. However, having a membership has its own benefits, the biggest of which is access to the Player Rewards loyalty program. The primary currency at this casino is the British Pound Sterling (£). You have to be at least 18 years of age to play for money at this casino. You would be required to provide proof of identity if:
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- Carlsberg Sports Bar: This bar has a fantastic atmosphere conducive to watching the best sporting action, as the name suggests.
- Icon Balcony Bar: This is a bar with a fabulous balcony that overlooks Leicester Square and is the best place to be at for some amazing cocktails.
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There is a lot more on offer at Empire Casino. For as less as £25 per person you get to do a lot, including:
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Empire Casino Opening Hours
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- Gaming: Poker, gaming, and slot machines are open 24×7 – including public holidays – except for Christmas Day.
- FuLuShou Restaurant: FuLuShou restaurant is open daily from 6:00 pm. Last orders are taken daily at 1:15 am; on Saturdays the time for last orders is 2:15 am.
- Carlsberg Sports Bar: Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Icon Balcony Bar: The Icon Balcony Bar is open from Monday to Friday from 5:00 pm till late night. On Saturdays and Sundays this bar opens at 6:00 pm.
- Vapor Bar: Vapor Bar is open between 10:00 am and 5:00 am from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays it is open from 12:00 noon to 5:00 am.
Games at Empire Casino
Empire Casino has a good selection of games for its players.
- On the main floor there are 31 gaming tables where you can play:
- American Roulette
- Blackjack
- Punto Banco
- Three Card Poker
- Apart from this the casino has:
- 20 state-of-the-art electronic gaming machines offering video slots, Pai Gow Tiles, and other games.
- 20 slot machines on each of the floors
- 90 electronic roulette machines where you get to play games like:
- Auto Roulette
- Live Wheel Roulette
- 54 progressive jackpots to try out
Most of the electronic games at Empire Casino are from IGT. This means you get access to games with exceptional graphic quality and loads of cool features. Empire Casino also has a poker room where you can play daily poker games as well as poker tournaments. The buy-ins at the poker room vary:
- The minimum buy-in for daily cash games is as low as £25.
- The minimum buy-in for the tournaments goes as low as £28.
Promotions at Empire Casino
Palace Casino Isle Of Man Opening Times Square
There are cool promotions at the poker room of Empire Casino. These include:
Palace Casino Isle Of Man Opening Times London
- Breakfast on the house if you are playing at the casino any day at 7:30 am.
- Cash game rake free pass
- Double points
The casino also has Player Rewards loyalty program. The VIP level of this program is the Monogram program, which has 3 levels:
- Monogram
- Monogram Diamond
- Monogram Elite
Members who are at any of these 3 levels get automatic access to the Dragon Lounge. This is a club within a club and offer exceptional and unique gaming experiences to its players.
Dress Code at Empire Casino
Empire Casino is quite easy on the player when it comes to the dress code. There is no official dress code at the casino. Jeans and trainers work well as long as they are clean, as does proper casual wear. Jackets are not mandatory at this casino. The idea is to feel comfortable without looking offensive to the other players here.
Forty years after the tragedy, a permanent memorial in the form of three granite columns was unveiled at Kaye Memorial Gardens, at the bottom of Summer Hill. It bears the names of those killed in the fire and is set into a circle of paving, alongside a stone laid earlier to mark the 25th anniversary.[15][16]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^'On This Day'. BBC. 2 August 2003. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
- ^'Island 'shame' over Summerland fire'. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 6 September 2019 – via www.bbc.com.
- ^'Services weren't equipped for Summerland disaster'. 3FM. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
- ^'Article about the disaster based on the report by Dr Ian Philips'. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
- ^ abcdeShennan, Paddy (13 July 2013). 'Remembering the Summerland fire disaster, 40 years on'. Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
- ^'Isle of Man 'shame' over Summerland fire disaster'. BBC News. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
- ^ abTony Topping (1 August 2013). 'Remembering The Summerland Disaster 40 Years On'. Sabotage Times. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
- ^'Asbestos information centre—trade names'. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
- ^ abcCarter, Helen (2 August 2003). 'Isle of Man's forgotten holiday horror'. The Guardian. London. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
- ^'Service to honour Summerland dead'. BBC News. 4 September 2006. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^'Mr Denis Cowley'. The Times (London), 15 July 1985: 10. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 4 Nov. 2014.
- ^Liverpool Echo 17 July 2013
- ^'Tribute to former fire chief'. IOM Today. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
- ^https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-les/gees/staff/fire-disaster-c9.pdf
- ^Vannin, Ellan (24 June 2013). 'Summerland fire memorial built to mark 40th anniversary'. BBC. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
- ^Vannin, Ellan (2 August 2013). 'Summerland fire victims remembered on 40th anniversary'. BBC. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
External links[edit]
- ''Fireproof' funland toll close to 50'—Montreal Gazette, 4 August 1973
- On this day—Memorial, BBC
- University of Birmingham, Ian Phillips in 'Research' section book From 21st century leisure to 20th century holiday catastrophe: the Isle of Man Summerland fire disaster
Empire Casino is one of the land-based casino gaming hotspots in London. It was launched in 2008 and is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment group. The casino is located in Leicester Square in the heart of London and is spread across 2 floors and a massive 55,000 square feet. This casino is the biggest and also the busiest in all of the UK and offers casino gaming with an exotic Las Vegas flair.
There is no membership required to visit Empire Casino. However, having a membership has its own benefits, the biggest of which is access to the Player Rewards loyalty program. The primary currency at this casino is the British Pound Sterling (£). You have to be at least 18 years of age to play for money at this casino. You would be required to provide proof of identity if:
- You look below the required age limit
- You reach of exceed the threshold for cash buy-in or buy-out of £1500
More about Empire Casino
Empire Casino offers a lot more to players apart from casino gaming.
Palace Casino Isle Of Man Opening Times Uk
- Restaurant: A very special restaurant called FuLuShou inside the casino brings to you an Asian fusion menu.
- Bars: There are 5 exciting bars in the casino that bring to you a variety of fine wine in vastly different settings. Three of the bars are scattered around the casino near the gaming rooms, making it possible for you to sip your favorite drink as you play at the tables. The other two that stand out are:
- Carlsberg Sports Bar: This bar has a fantastic atmosphere conducive to watching the best sporting action, as the name suggests.
- Icon Balcony Bar: This is a bar with a fabulous balcony that overlooks Leicester Square and is the best place to be at for some amazing cocktails.
- Empire Cinema: You can catch up on your favorite movies at the cool Empire Cinema.
There is a lot more on offer at Empire Casino. For as less as £25 per person you get to do a lot, including:
- Learning to play games like blackjack and roulette (£29.50 per person; you also get a £5 free bet offer)
- Cocktail Masterclasses (£29.50 per person)
- VIP treatment (£45 per person)
- Celebrate your birthday (£40 per person)
- Special 2-hour poker session (£25 per person or £200 corporate package)
- London Cosmopolitan experience (£35 per person)
- Iconic Experience (£35 per person)
Empire Casino Opening Hours
Empire Casino is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The only day it is closed is Christmas Day. The following are the opening hours for the various sections inside the casino:
- Gaming: Poker, gaming, and slot machines are open 24×7 – including public holidays – except for Christmas Day.
- FuLuShou Restaurant: FuLuShou restaurant is open daily from 6:00 pm. Last orders are taken daily at 1:15 am; on Saturdays the time for last orders is 2:15 am.
- Carlsberg Sports Bar: Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Icon Balcony Bar: The Icon Balcony Bar is open from Monday to Friday from 5:00 pm till late night. On Saturdays and Sundays this bar opens at 6:00 pm.
- Vapor Bar: Vapor Bar is open between 10:00 am and 5:00 am from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays it is open from 12:00 noon to 5:00 am.
Games at Empire Casino
Empire Casino has a good selection of games for its players.
- On the main floor there are 31 gaming tables where you can play:
- American Roulette
- Blackjack
- Punto Banco
- Three Card Poker
- Apart from this the casino has:
- 20 state-of-the-art electronic gaming machines offering video slots, Pai Gow Tiles, and other games.
- 20 slot machines on each of the floors
- 90 electronic roulette machines where you get to play games like:
- Auto Roulette
- Live Wheel Roulette
- 54 progressive jackpots to try out
Most of the electronic games at Empire Casino are from IGT. This means you get access to games with exceptional graphic quality and loads of cool features. Empire Casino also has a poker room where you can play daily poker games as well as poker tournaments. The buy-ins at the poker room vary:
- The minimum buy-in for daily cash games is as low as £25.
- The minimum buy-in for the tournaments goes as low as £28.
Promotions at Empire Casino
Palace Casino Isle Of Man Opening Times Square
There are cool promotions at the poker room of Empire Casino. These include:
Palace Casino Isle Of Man Opening Times London
- Breakfast on the house if you are playing at the casino any day at 7:30 am.
- Cash game rake free pass
- Double points
The casino also has Player Rewards loyalty program. The VIP level of this program is the Monogram program, which has 3 levels:
- Monogram
- Monogram Diamond
- Monogram Elite
Members who are at any of these 3 levels get automatic access to the Dragon Lounge. This is a club within a club and offer exceptional and unique gaming experiences to its players.
Dress Code at Empire Casino
Empire Casino is quite easy on the player when it comes to the dress code. There is no official dress code at the casino. Jeans and trainers work well as long as they are clean, as does proper casual wear. Jackets are not mandatory at this casino. The idea is to feel comfortable without looking offensive to the other players here.
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