Manchester once had its own theme park, Belle Vue in Gorton, which entertained the public for over 100 years before closing in 1977. Now, a Wetherspoon pub at Manchester Airport's Terminal 2 honours its legacy.
From private bird collection to major zoo
Belle Vue Zoological Gardens initially opened its doors in 1836. It began life as a small private collection of birds owned by gardener John Jennison, intended for the middle class to enjoy formal gardens and dancing events.
Jennison, who was a part-time gardener, advertised the Gardens as the 'showground of the world'. Looking to bring his claim to life, the addition of Asian elephants to chimpanzees helped make it the country's third largest zoo.
Transformation into a theme park
By 1925, John Henry Iles took over Belle Vue. He believed that the way forward for the Gardens was focusing on the amusement industry which was experiencing a boom. Over time, the Gardens became Manchester's very own theme park.
Popular rides included The Bobs roller coaster, which could reach speeds of 60 mph. Built by Harry Traver and designed by Fredrick Church, the ride got its name for only costing 'a bob' to go on. Iles also introduced dodgems, the Caterpillar, the Ghost Train, Jack & Jill, and the Flying Sea Planes. The Scenic Railway, which opened in 1927, was one of the most popular roller coasters in the UK, operating until 1975.
Attractions and peak popularity
Another big attraction came in the 1960s when Len Tomlinson operated one of the UK's last flea circuses in a small booth at the amusement park. Children loved seeing the human fleas racing chariots, riding a tricycle and having sword fights.
The lavish venue hosted grand firework displays and the annual Belle Vue Christmas Circus from 1922. A number of music legends performed at The Kings Hall, one of its many ballrooms, including Jimi Hendrix, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Leonard Cohen, Johnny Cash and Led Zeppelin.
At its peak Belle Vue occupied 165 acres and brought in more than two million visitors a year. Its busiest weekend each year was Easter, when 250,000 were said to come through its gates during its heyday.
Closure and legacy
Sadly, the zoo closed in 1977 when its owners realised it could no longer afford to operate at losses of £100,000 a year. The next three years saw the amusement park remain open on summer weekends.
The land was sold in 1982, with the site fully cleared by 1987. All that remained by the turn of the 2010s was the greyhound stadium and the snooker club. An industrial and residential area rests on the original gardens and amusement park's grounds today.
In a surprising turn of events, The Belle Vue returned in an unorthodox way last month. On September 15, popular pub chain Wetherspoon's opened a location in its honour at Manchester Airport's Terminal 2. It's not just the name paying homage, with the décor inspired by The Belle Vue and the sporting culture of the North West of England. The Belle Vue Stadium was a focal point for social life in the city right up until 2020, when the final event was held at the venue.
Commenting earlier this year, Stephen Turner, Chief Commercial Officer at Manchester Airport, said: "We're very excited to be able to reveal more detail about Terminal 2's new JD Wetherspoon pub The Belle Vue, which will encapsulate the spirit and traditions of sporting entertainment in Manchester. This will be the first JD Wetherspoon pub at Manchester Airport and it is fantastic to have yet another household name taking its place among those opening units in the terminal, as part of its £1.3bn transformation."
