Looking back

Mr Newby first opened Flamingo on Talbot Road in 1979 - Blackpool's first gay nightclub.

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The venue was demolished in 2007 and its former dancefloor now sits beneath aisle 22 of the Sainsbury's supermarket that opened in 2014.

Funny Girls, now based in the former Odeon Cinema on Dickson Road, is still going strong and celebrated its 30th anniversary last year.

The showbar originally launched in a converted corner shop on Queen Street where it was an instant success.

In 2002, the venue moved into the historic Grade II-listed Odeon building, with none other than Joan Collins officiating its grand reopening.

Over the years, the venue has attracted a host of celebrities, including RuPaul, and the Pet Shop Boys.

It has also made appearances on major shows like BBC's Strictly Come Dancing and the Royal Variety Performance.

Reflecting on that transition, Basil said: “We outgrew the building on Queen Street. Funny Girls took off so phenomenally that I bought the premises next door.

"Then, out of the blue, the council issued a Compulsory Purchase Order on Flamingo and also bought the old Odeon which was empty at the time.

"At the same time, Walkabout approached me to buy the Funny Girls building.”