Blackpool Tower Ballroom

Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear.

Guests at the 208 Field Hospital All Ranks Summer Ball this evening, a fantastic affair.

I'll skip straight over staying in the worst hotel I've ever ever seen (pretty much every hotel in Blackpool was fully booked) , because the main event was simply fantastic. Starting with a  champagne reception 400ft up on the viewing platform (extra 1), the views were spectacular in every direction (even Blackpool* looks stunning with enough distance), Wales to the South West, Bowland to the East and the Coniston Fells to the North, the sea even managed to shine brilliantly blue.
We then made our way down to what must be one of the most impressive and famous ballrooms in Britain (extra 2). First the glass lift, then a guided tour through the building let us get up close to this iconic structure. But entering the ballroom people just stopped and gawped - what a venue. Obviously the company was great (2 Colonels, a Major, the Padre, a Mountain Guide, National Park Ranger, District Nurse and Accountant makes for a varied nights conversation), the food was delicious (which when catering for 180+*guests is pretty amazing) and the band hit exactly the right note...

Being a military and medical crowd the dancing began in earnest from the very first song - and continued into the early hours, how could it not be my main blip.

*Having spent a lot of my childhood in Blackpool I feel 'allowed' to be rude about it lol.