Qdos Entertainment

Qdos Entertainment
Limited
Industry Entertainment
Founded 1999
Headquarters Scarborough
Key people
Nick J Thomas
Website qdosentertainment.co.uk

Qdos Entertainment is one of the largest entertainment groups in Europe. Formed by Nick Thomas in 1999, it currently employs 1300 full-time staff across its businesses.[1] The company’s administration centres are in London’s Covent Garden and Scarborough with scenic & costume facilities in Beverley and Scarborough.

Pantomimes

Qdos Entertainment is the world’s largest pantomime producer,[2] with over 600 productions over the last 30 years. In the 2015/2016 season it will produce 24 pantomimes.[3]

Notable cast members include:

David Hasselhoff, Brian Conley, Shane Richie, Julian Clary, Craig Revel Horwood, Gok Wan, Lisa Riley, Lesley Joseph, Christopher Biggins, Joe Pasquale, Nigel Havers and Jimmy Osmond.

Theatres and Hospitality

Qdos Entertainment’s subsidiary HQ Theatres & Hospitality Ltd is the second largest regional theatre operator in the UK.[4]

Venue Location Contract Start Year[5] Seated capacity
Wycombe Swan Theatre High Wycombe 2005 1076[6]
Wyvern Theatre Swindon 2005 635[7]
Cliffs Pavilion Southend-on-Sea 2006 1657[8]
Palace Theatre Westcliff-on-Sea 2006 611
Orchard Theatre Dartford 2008 956[9]
Beck Theatre Hayes 2009 600[10]
White Rock Theatre Hastings 2009 1066[11]
G Live Guildford 2011 1031[12]
Watford Colosseum Watford 2011 1392[13]
Crewe Lyceum Theatre Crewe 2013 677[14]
Swindon Arts Centre Swindon 2014 200[15]

The company also operates its own restaurants & bars in all HQ Theatres.[16]

Pub/Restaurants, Rooms and Cottages

HQ Theatres and Hospitality also owns and manages the award-winning[17] Copper Horse Restaurant & Cottages at Seamer near Scarborough, The Mayfield Hotel in Seamer [18] and The Plough Inn in Scalby in North Yorkshire plus numerous other accommodation properties offering in excess of 50 bedrooms.

Artiste Management

Qtalent (formerly International Artistes) alongside Qtalent (a voiceover agency) looks after a number of high-profile performers and actors as well as many of the UK’s top writers, producers and directors.

Cruise Ship Entertainment

The company supplies and maintains productions to Cunard Queen Victoria, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth cruise ships and the new P&O Cruises ship Britannia.

Design and Print

A subsidiary company called Adverset Media Solutions is based in Scarborough and provides design, new media and printing services to the commercial, tourism and entertainment industries, in tandem with Qdos Entertainment’s extensive in-house requirements.

Holiday and Leisure Entertainment

In April 2014 the TED Group, which was part of the Qdos Entertainment Group, was sold through a Management Buy Out.[19]

References

  1. "The Stage / Reviews / The entertainment masters with the light touch - Nick Thomas and Jon Conway". The Stage. 2004. Retrieved 2010-08-25.
  2. "Qdos and FFE sell more than 2m tickets in record financial year". The Stage. 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-25.
  3. "Qdos Pantomimes". Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  4. Smith, Alistair. "ATG’s Live Nation purchase cleared by OFT". The Stage. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  5. "About HQ Theatres". Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  6. "Venue Hire, Wycombe Swan". Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  7. "Venue Hire, Wyvern Theatre, Swindon". Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  8. "Conferencing, Southend Theatres". Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  9. "Venue Hire, Orchard Theatre Dartford". Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  10. "Venue Hire, Beck Theatre, Hayes". Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  11. "Venue Hire, White Rock Theatre, Hastings". Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  12. "Venue Hire, G Live Guildford". Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  13. "Venue Hire, Watford Colosseum". Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  14. "Venue Hire, Crewe Lyceum Theatre". Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  15. "Seating Plans". Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  16. "HQ Theatres Hospitality". Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  17. Gerrard, Neil. "Ten winners of Les Routiers 2012 Awards announced". Caterer and HotelKeeper. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  18. "Futurist Task Group - Questions for Stakeholders" (PDF). Scarborough Borough Council. 2010. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  19. Quinn, Michael (3 April 2014). "TEDGroup breaks free from Qdos in management buy-out". Retrieved 28 May 2014.

External links