Blackpool illuminations

[.db.]

For a good century or so, spa towns were the ‘go-to’ visitor and holidaying spots.

Then for a good century or so, seaside resorts took over and left the spa towns behind.

Now, city breaks are the main visitor and holidaying trend and they have left seaside resorts behind (and in some cases, to rot).

Cheltenham and Harrogate were overtaken by Blackpool and Southend who’ve been overtaken by Edinburgh and Manchester.

 

[Citizen of Legoland]

They need to ditch the illuminations now, is anyone really that impressed by coloured light bulbs any more? Probably better to reduce it to a smaller area around the tower and North/Central piers and have a nightly drone display or something like that.

It’s a pity really, the Irish Sea coast is quite amazing and spectacularly beautiful in places, there should be a better effort to attract tourists to it but it also needs some major employers set up near the bigger towns.

 

[blue b4 the moon]

Perhaps make it a centre for accommodating asylum seekers - with all of the government funding and support that comes with it? Some hotels seem to get paid a fortune if they make their place available so a possible win-win.

There is a hotel, The Metropole which is used for families next to the north pier, unfortunately if the weathers nice (bad weather must take the problem away and make the residents 'safe' or maybe the dicks are really gobshites who don't like getting chilly/wet) there are usually a couple or more dicks waving Union Jacks outside it.

Living up the road in Fleetwood we do go into 'Pool about once a week and never had an issue, it's certainly pleasanter than some parts of Manchester.

 

[mexico1970]

There is a hotel, The Metropole which is used for families next to the north pier, unfortunately if the weathers nice (bad weather must take the problem away and make the residents 'safe' or maybe the dicks are really gobshites who don't like getting chilly/wet) there are usually a couple or more dicks waving Union Jacks outside it.

Living up the road in Fleetwood we do go into 'Pool about once a week and never had an issue, it's certainly pleasanter than some parts of Manchester.

Myself and my good long suffering lady had a great day out in Blackpool last week, went to the pirates amusements played push penny and had fish and chips at Yorkshire Fisheries it was smashing.

Walked up to the pleasure beach from the North pier and back again on the beach this time.

Bit tatty but well worth it, it's still a million times better in every way than Manchester's squalor.

 

[blue b4 the moon]

Myself and my good long suffering lady had a great day out in Blackpool last week, went to the pirates amusements played push penny and had fish and chips at Yorkshire Fisheries it was smashing.

Walked up to the pleasure beach from the North pier and back again on the beach this time.

Bit tatty but well worth it, it's still a million times better in every way than Manchester's squalor.

We've been up here for 3 1/2 years now after being in Oldham for many many years.
Best thing we ever did, only 2 downsides, getting to the games especially over winter and leaving some very long-term friends behind. However, new friends have/can be made and everyone talks to each other when out walking etc.

I have a couple of little phrases TB's tourist bastards who drive like pricks and ignore the road markings and 5 MINUTES which relates to kids who think they're 'edgy' as in wouldn't last 5 minutes in Manchester before getting filled in.

Off this lunchtime for a hour wander up the coast in the fresh air to Cleveleys for 2/3 beers (clean pubs, there'll be no bother in them either, cheap beer £7.50 for 1 beer and a quality lager and that's one of the more expensive rounds).

 

[PragueBlue]

For a good century or so, spa towns were the ‘go-to’ visitor and holidaying spots.

Then for a good century or so, seaside resorts took over and left the spa towns behind.

Now, city breaks are the main visitor and holidaying trend and they have left seaside resorts behind (and in some cases, to rot).

Cheltenham and Harrogate were overtaken by Blackpool and Southend who’ve been overtaken by Edinburgh and Manchester.

Yet Harrogate and Cheltenham remain nice, fairly affluent places to live, whereas Blackpool and Southend seem to be struggling. I wonder why that is.

 

[pride in battle]

Myself and my good long suffering lady had a great day out in Blackpool last week, went to the pirates amusements played push penny and had fish and chips at Yorkshire Fisheries it was smashing.

Walked up to the pleasure beach from the North pier and back again on the beach this time.

Bit tatty but well worth it, it's still a million times better in every way than Manchester's squalor.

Fucking hell i've heard it all now !!!

 

[mexico1970]

Fucking hell i've heard it all now !!!

You've got no fucking taste ;-)

 

[MCFCTrick]

Saint Annes is quality but why not give Clevelys a try. Very nice seaside town and well turned out. The Thornton-Cleveleys area btw is famed for its accessible promenade and it's country park. The network of paths in the local Wyre Estuary Country Park are accessible to all and afford magnificent views of the estuary and River Wyre.

Until we moved to the area, (PLF) I always assumed Thornton Cleveleys was one and the same. But they are two very separate towns. Cleveleys being a seaside resort, and Thornton having it's own centre too.

Wyre Country Park is great for taking our dogs to in the summer. Upstream The Shard pub/hotel on the riverbank is great for food and views.

 

[mosssideblue]

There is a hotel, The Metropole which is used for families next to the north pier, unfortunately if the weathers nice (bad weather must take the problem away and make the residents 'safe' or maybe the dicks are really gobshites who don't like getting chilly/wet) there are usually a couple or more dicks waving Union Jacks outside it.

Living up the road in Fleetwood we do go into 'Pool about once a week and never had an issue, it's certainly pleasanter than some parts of Manchester.

Whereabouts in Fleetwood are you

 

[bennyboy]

I stay in Blackpool regularly for home City games using the local supporters club.
I like Blackpool and the surrounding areas,the trick is finding places you like and stick to them.
So I use the same B&B'S,pubs, cafes that i like.Stay away from hen parties lol and busy loud bars and it is a place I have grew to like.
Recently went for a weekend with my daughter and grandson following the above rules.
They loved it.Zoo,Magic Show,Tower Circus,Aquarium and amusement arcades.
I can understand how it gets a bad name but give it a chance there is a lot of good in the place.

 

[blue b4 the moon]

Whereabouts in Fleetwood are you

Up near Hesketh House/Larkholme area.

 

[Djibrilshairdo]

Last time I went (2 years ago) the only time you couldn't smell skunk was outside the fish & chips shop.

 

[meeesh]

Last time I went (2 years ago) the only time you couldn't smell skunk was outside the fish & chips shop.

Or even the turds that float in the Irish Sea?

 

[MCFCTrick]

I stay in Blackpool regularly for home City games using the local supporters club.
I like Blackpool and the surrounding areas,the trick is finding places you like and stick to them.
So I use the same B&B'S,pubs, cafes that i like.Stay away from hen parties lol and busy loud bars and it is a place I have grew to like.
Recently went for a weekend with my daughter and grandson following the above rules.
They loved it.Zoo,Magic Show,Tower Circus,Aquarium and amusement arcades.
I can understand how it gets a bad name but give it a chance there is a lot of good in the place.

Agreed. I had the same view of Blackpool for years following a visit to see the illuminations and seeing two 'ladies' on a hen night peeing in the gutter in daylight. And yes, still goes on and some aeras, like Central Drive are the pits.

But since living in the area, we do go into Blackpool for gigs (Bootleg Social and The Waterloo are great) and there are some really good pubs, bars and restaurants if you know where to look. Special mention for Kome Shokudo, the best and most authentic Japanese we have had outside Japan, tucked away near the Winter gardens.

 

[KS55]

Thought I’d give this thread a bump as just got home from Blackpool to see the lights.

Can’t begin to say how shit they are now - Pleasure Beach end of the prom is abysmal and it only gets slightly better as you get to central prom area. None of the old trams covered in lights were running and no lasers either.

Couldn’t believe how dead it was too - Blackpool is seriously on its arse from a tourist pov. Many hotels are boarded up and it’s even more depressing than I remember.
Such a shame.

The sun is warm in Alicante.

 

[BLUEYESTU]

Try morecambe,Rhyl or Southport
And you will be totally saddened.

I’ve lived in and around Morecambe for a long while now and it’s hard to say which way it’s going to go. They rebuilt the central prom area with a nice new beach and in the summer it’s absolutely rammed with people. They also have food festivals etc and it looks like it might recover. But then if you step off the prom it’s a total shithole with drunks everywhere who piss and crap in shop doorways! And don’t get me started on the West End because that’s like Beirut at times.

The Eden Project if it ever happens might make some difference, but right now there’s just no money in the town - it’s just a smaller version of Blackpool (but with a wasteland where the fair once stood).

 

[1961_vintage]

Not bad but not a patch on Rhyl.

 

[bluesteve1964]

Gets a lot of criticism but it is what it is. Millions of visitors a year must be doing something right.
Edit. Apologies for photos don't know how to rotate them. FOC !!

 

[blue b4 the moon]

Gets a lot of criticism but it is what it is. Millions of visitors a year must be doing something right.
Edit. Apologies for photos don't know how to rotate them. FOC !!

Yeah as well as the Illuminations the Blackpool light show is on around the Central Carpet until the start of November.

Personally I'd have the displays up all the time the illuminations are on or at least until the Christmas by the Sea markets start late November.