Blackpool

[hibbydog]

Sitting here in Blackpool wondering how a place which attracts millions of visitors every year can be in such a state.

Most buildings have some

Flaky paint
Graffiti
Crumbling brickwork
Rusty railings
Etc

The pleasure beach and seafront are great fun but you don’t have to go far before the streets really stink of neglect.

How can that be? Surely a fairly straightforward place to run a profitable business and give your hotel a wee kick of paint every now and then?

[Jay]

Was there a couple of nights this week and felt the same. Sad to see it so dirty and run down. The pleasure beach area was the best, the further you went towards the tower the worse it got and even one street back from the promenade was just bogging.

[Jack]

Sitting here in Blackpool wondering how a place which attracts millions of visitors every year can be in such a state.

Most buildings have some

Flaky paint
Graffiti
Crumbling brickwork
Rusty railings
Etc

The pleasure beach and seafront are great fun but you don’t have to go far before the streets really stink of neglect.

How can that be? Surely a fairly straightforward place to run a profitable business and give your hotel a wee kick of paint every now and then?

I visited Blackpool during the close season a few years ago. I can't think there is a more miserable place in the UK.

Different story when it's all lit up, l love it!

I think part of its problem is its so popular and the competition for your buck is intense meaning many places struggle to keep all the plates spinning.

[Squealing pig]

Was there recently , glad to be back , filthy place the Wetherspoons is the worst sticky everywhere , no hygiene whatsoever , remember your mask down there .

Pleasure beach bit of a nightmare scanning to get on rides etc

[Jay]

Was there recently , glad to be back , filthy place the Wetherspoons is the worst sticky everywhere , no hygiene whatsoever , remember your mask down there .

Pleasure beach bit of a nightmare scanning to get on rides etc

Scanning was a pain but the attendants were so slow it was painful. One group got through the turnstiles at a time and were seated, had their chat and moved before the next group were allowed through. We had just spent around 45 mins in a queue right next to the same people so it didnt make sense it was a distancing thing

[Pretty Boy]

Last time I was in Blackpool I got blethering to the guy who owned our hotel. He had been slowly tarting the place up for 6 years. He said the problem was that to finance it in one go he would have had to raise his prices, if he did that he was pricing himself out of the market that was his bread and butter.

For all it's faults I like Blackpool. The piers, Coral Island, the Pleasure Beach, the Tower and the like are great for bairns. My daughter is 3 so doesn't have the preconceptions we all do about the place and she loved it, she keeps asking to go back. The frustration for me is when you see what they have done right at the sea front, it could be better if that effort was spread more widely.

I suppose if you want something a bit more refined Lytham St Annes is only 10 minutes up the road and you can still get to the Pleasure Beach in a hit and run if you wanted.

[Andy74]

They know their audience. Every second person in a Hun top so very little effort needed to cater to the needs of most of their visitors.

I hadn’t been since I was a kid until this week. Relatives have a flat there and I grudgingly came down for a few days with the family.

The sun is shining so that makes anywhere bearable.

The kids have enjoyed things and the Sandcastle water park is excellent.

Wouldn’t take much just for the odd decent coffee place or good quality place to eat but really difficult to see anything in the whole town that comes close.

Lytham St Ann’s on the other hand is great.

[degenerated]

I visited Blackpool during the close season a few years ago. I can't think there is a more miserable place in the UK.


Give Morecambe a try, It won't disappoint :greengrin

[AFKA5814_Hibs]

Blackpool has had problems with crime, deprivation and social problems for years. I don't say that as a snob, I've been to Blackpool many times as a child with my parents, as a family with my kids and with pals for a boozy weekend. Away from the Pleasure Beach and Promenade its a bit of a **** hole.

[I'm_cabbaged]

Give Morecambe a try, It won't disappoint :greengrin

I was down in the Lake District 3 years ago and it was pissing down one day so we went there for a game of ten pin bowling. What a ****ing dump!! The sad thing is that as a child my friends used to go there on their holidays and I used to be jealous of them going to this exotic place 🤣
Suppose affordable package holidays killed these places

[Hibrandenburg]

Am I the only person from Scotland never to have set foot in Blackpool?

[Keith_M]

Am I the only person from Scotland never to have set foot in Blackpool?



No, there's at least two of us.

[staunchhibby]

Now 3 of us

[lapsedhibee]

Now 3 of us
4

[Scouse Hibee]

Like Rhyl land similar seaside **** hole locations.

[Kato]

45. I've seen the tower from a distance when I stayed with pals in the Magazines just outside Liverpool.

Sent from my SM-A405FN using Tapatalk

[stu in nottingham]

Never liked the place having visited two or three times over the years. Filthy, depressing streets behind the front, not much decent to eat, full of stag and hen parties, the place has always felt a bit like a coastal visit at it's most desperate to me. Stayed in Southport with relatives many times and although quieter, it's much more pleasant. As others have said, I find Lytham St Annes lovely as well

[bringbackbenny]

Never liked the place having visited two or three times over the years. Filthy, depressing streets behind the front, not much decent to eat, full of stag and hen parties, the place has always felt a bit like a coastal visit at it's most desperate to me. Stayed in Southport with relatives many times and although quieter, it's much more pleasant. As others have said, I find Lytham St Annes lovely as well

Spent a day in Southport a few years back - lovely town - nice buildings well maintained, fantastic. however the only downside is we were there around the 12th July and it seemed like every single marching orange order band from NI was encamped for the weekend and p*issing it up big style. the marches were at some unforsaken hour with no one around then the rest of the day they took over most of the local pubs

[Hibby70]

Been taking the kids to Florida for a good few years now. Took my daughter to Blackpool for a few days expecting her to hate it compared to our usual holiday.

She loved it and we had a right good laugh. It is what it is. Yes it's a dump and the rides are ancient but it's all a bit mad and great fun.

[CropleyWasGod]

I'm going to be against the tide here.

I had an Uncle who lived there when I was a kid, so obviously he was my favourite 😆 Spent many brilliant times there.

As an adult, seeing my kids have the same enjoyment out of it was just as good.

The best thing about it, for me, is its tackiness. It doesn't pretend to be anything other than what it is. Even the fact that, in essence, it hasn't moved on from the 1970s is irresistible to me.

I can't wait to take the Grandkids there.

(Am I sounding like the 2 camp guys out of Chewin The Fat? I hope so.😆)

[marinello59]

I'm going to be against the tide here.

I had an Uncle who lived there when I was a kid, so obviously he was my favourite 😆 Spent many brilliant times there.

As an adult, seeing my kids have the same enjoyment out of it was just as good.

The best thing about it, for me, is its tackiness. It doesn't pretend to be anything other than what it is. Even the fact that, in essence, it hasn't moved on from the 1970s is irresistible to me.

I can't wait to take the Grandkids there.

(Am I sounding like the 2 camp guys out of Chewin The Fat? I hope so.😆)

Oh the banter. :greengrin

[stu in nottingham]

Spent a day in Southport a few years back - lovely town - nice buildings well maintained, fantastic. however the only downside is we were there around the 12th July and it seemed like every single marching orange order band from NI was encamped for the weekend and p*issing it up big style. the marches were at some unforsaken hour with no one around then the rest of the day they took over most of the local pubs

Yes it's a day on the calendar to avoid in Southport. A lot get the train up from Liverpool, been a tradition for a long time. Best avoided.

[Lendo]

Spent a day in Southport a few years back - lovely town - nice buildings well maintained, fantastic. however the only downside is we were there around the 12th July and it seemed like every single marching orange order band from NI was encamped for the weekend and p*issing it up big style. the marches were at some unforsaken hour with no one around then the rest of the day they took over most of the local pubs

I was Liverpool for a stag weekend and we all decided to jump on the coach and go out to Southport for the afternoon in the sun.

Huge mistake. Turned up and it was heaving with Rangers tops, flutes and Orange Order.

On the subject of Blackpool. I visited Tower World for the first time in 25 years and was amazed to see that the fibreglass dinosaurs still had the same holes and damage that I remembered as a kid.

Horrible place

[heretoday]

Never liked the place having visited two or three times over the years. Filthy, depressing streets behind the front, not much decent to eat, full of stag and hen parties, the place has always felt a bit like a coastal visit at it's most desperate to me. Stayed in Southport with relatives many times and although quieter, it's much more pleasant. As others have said, I find Lytham St Annes lovely as well

They are quite posh though.

[calumhibee1]

An utter dump.

Not been in years and it doesn’t sound like it’s got any better. Always thought it was one of the chavviest places I’d ever seen.

[HH81]

Blackpool is excellent for the rugby league magic weekend.

Lads on beer talking rubbish is my experience with it.

Seen Hibs at Blackpool a few times too.

In terms of it as a place you know what you are getting. Cheap hotels and plenty of no thrills rubbish.

I suggest the Village hotel for a bit of luxury.

[StevieC]

Am I the only person from Scotland never to have set foot in Blackpool?

There will be an age factor to this as well. 40 years ago the Blackpool weekend would be written in stone. Half of Edinburgh would be heading down in September, with half of Glasgow going the weekend after. Businesses in Blackpool would actually call them the Edinburgh weekend and the Glasgow weekend.

It quickly deteriorated though with the affordability of holidays abroad, and I feel its now lost the family destination appeal and dependent on stag/hen parties and drinking weekends.

I remember a pub called The Jaggy Thistle that was full of entertainment for families on a Saturday when I was there as a young teenager .. passed it on a visit in my 20s and it was doing topless mud wrestling during the day!

[Allant1981]

Love blackpool for a weekend away, pleasure beach is great for the kids, the tower may be needing updated inside but if you have never been up it then its a good experience if not a bit pricy, the sandcastle is also a good day out, glad i dont go away for weekends with most folk on here 😁

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

I remember a pub called The Jaggy Thistle that was full of entertainment for families on a Saturday when I was there as a young teenager .. passed it on a visit in my 20s and it was doing topless mud wrestling during the day!

I remember watching An OF game in there about 15 years ago, lunchtime kick off, Chris Sutton scored the only goal with the last kick of the ball which was handy as I had backed him for first scorer! Topless barmaids, poppers and cheap beer, whats not to like. 😲

[lord bunberry]

There will be an age factor to this as well. 40 years ago the Blackpool weekend would be written in stone. Half of Edinburgh would be heading down in September, with half of Glasgow going the weekend after. Businesses in Blackpool would actually call them the Edinburgh weekend and the Glasgow weekend.

It quickly deteriorated though with the affordability of holidays abroad, and I feel its now lost the family destination appeal and dependent on stag/hen parties and drinking weekends.

I remember a pub called The Jaggy Thistle that was full of entertainment for families on a Saturday when I was there as a young teenager .. passed it on a visit in my 20s and it was doing topless mud wrestling during the day!
Such an underrated sport. :faf:

[StevieC]

I remember watching An OF game in there about 15 years ago, lunchtime kick off, Chris Sutton scored the only goal with the last kick of the ball which was handy as I had backed him for first scorer! Topless barmaids, poppers and cheap beer, whats not to like. 😲

No problem with that .. I was just pointing out the way Blackpool had changed from family friendly destination of choice to being run down and catering for stag parties and lads weekends.

In an ever decreasing market The Jaggy Thistle obviously chose a route it felt would allow them to stay open .. but a Google search shows that it is not only permanently closed but was also demolished about 10 years ago!

[StevieC]

Such an underrated sport. :faf:

It was actually quite funny, as I don’t think the families that were in were prepared for it. Probably a pub that had been a family favourite over the years and they hadn’t realised the Saturday entertainment had changed from previous years.

I think the same happened in the Bier Keller that weekend. Lots of couples in enjoying a drink and then suddenly there was a “sticky Vicky” style errr “entertainer” on the stage .. which saw numerous females getting up and walking out, dragging their partners with them.

This must have been about 30 years ago, and I’m guessing a period where family weekends were deteriorating and businesses had to try and attract a new type of customer.

[Just Alf]

No problem with that .. I was just pointing out the way Blackpool had changed from family friendly destination of choice to being run down and catering for stag parties and lads weekends.

In an ever decreasing market The Jaggy Thistle obviously chose a route it felt would allow them to stay open .. but a Google search shows that it is not only permanently closed but was also demolished about 10 years ago!NOOOOOOooooooooo! :-(

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

No problem with that .. I was just pointing out the way Blackpool had changed from family friendly destination of choice to being run down and catering for stag parties and lads weekends.

In an ever decreasing market The Jaggy Thistle obviously chose a route it felt would allow them to stay open .. but a Google search shows that it is not only permanently closed but was also demolished about 10 years ago!

There's a pub with the same name just off Talbot Road, no idea if it's owned by the same people or if it's even still in existence. Perhaps BH will know.

[WoreTheGreen]

There will be an age factor to this as well. 40 years ago the Blackpool weekend would be written in stone. Half of Edinburgh would be heading down in September, with half of Glasgow going the weekend after. Businesses in Blackpool would actually call them the Edinburgh weekend and the Glasgow weekend.

It quickly deteriorated though with the affordability of holidays abroad, and I feel its now lost the family destination appeal and dependent on stag/hen parties and drinking weekends.

I remember a pub called The Jaggy Thistle that was full of entertainment for families on a Saturday when I was there as a young teenager .. passed it on a visit in my 20s and it was doing topless mud wrestling during the day!

Must have been glorious watch

[Keith_M]

...

and then suddenly there was a “sticky Vicky” style errr “entertainer” on the stage .. which saw numerous females getting up and walking out, dragging their partners with them.

...


Ah Benidorm, what a program



😆

[Renfrew_Hibby]

Is Blackpool central area not the most deprived postcode in the UK or something.
We go down quite regularly but always stay either in a lovely residential area a couple of miles to the north or St. Annes which is a couple of miles to the south.
Both lovely areas, quite wealthy too.
Its just the town centre has over the years attracted a combination of Jimmy Savile creeps, conmen, Roma and recently some desperate Eastern Europeans, a perfect storm.
We enjoy the traditional front, the lights and all that but we spend most of our time in St. Annes or enjoying the Fylde countryside

[DH1875]

Avoid this week. The huns are playing them and apparently 10k of them are going for a sash bash (no seriously, this is supposedly a thing).

[Lancs Harp]

Avoid this week. The huns are playing them and apparently 10k of them are going for a sash bash (no seriously, this is supposedly a thing).

I live in nearby Lytham, news to me Rangers are coming to town. Certainy not on Blackpools website. Blackpool played Newport on neutral territory today and play Carlisle next week.

[Scouse Hibee]

I live in nearby Lytham, news to me Rangers are coming to town. Certainy not on Blackpools website. Blackpool played Newport on neutral territory today and play Carlisle next week.

Announced last week

[matty_f]

Never liked the place having visited two or three times over the years. Filthy, depressing streets behind the front, not much decent to eat, full of stag and hen parties, the place has always felt a bit like a coastal visit at it's most desperate to me. Stayed in Southport with relatives many times and although quieter, it's much more pleasant. As others have said, I find Lytham St Annes lovely as well
:agree: It’s probably the most depressing place I’ve ever been. The Pleasure Beach and a couple of the other attractions are fine but you scratch the surface and you see a place that’s riddled with poverty and social issues.
I’ve only been a couple of times, and I’d happily never go back.

[Allant1981]

:agree: It’s probably the most depressing place I’ve ever been. The Pleasure Beach and a couple of the other attractions are fine but you scratch the surface and you see a place that’s riddled with poverty and social issues.
I’ve only been a couple of times, and I’d happily never go back.

You could easily say that about loads of places in the country that have tourist attractions

[Hibrandenburg]

:agree: It’s probably the most depressing place I’ve ever been. The Pleasure Beach and a couple of the other attractions are fine but you scratch the surface and you see a place that’s riddled with poverty and social issues.
I’ve only been a couple of times, and I’d happily never go back.

Sounds exactly like Atlantic City. Every social problem you can think of, drawn to the city like moths to a light. Awful place. I did have Blackpool on my list for a stopover on my way north next trip home, think I'll keep driving now.

[Santa Cruz]

:agree: It’s probably the most depressing place I’ve ever been. The Pleasure Beach and a couple of the other attractions are fine but you scratch the surface and you see a place that’s riddled with poverty and social issues.
I’ve only been a couple of times, and I’d happily never go back.

Is that not down to the Town being so heavily reliant on Tourism for employment opportunities? I think Great Yarmouth has the very same problems for the same reasons.

[degenerated]

Is that not down to the Town being so heavily reliant on Tourism for employment opportunities? I think Great Yarmouth has the very same problems for the same reasons.I think the English seaside resorts are all much the same these days. Margate is an absolute state as well now and I didn't even bother stopping the car in Whitley bay.

[Pretty Boy]

I think when it comes to deprivation and poverty Blackpool is just infinitely more noticeable because it's 2 or 3 streets away from the main tourist areas.

I wonder how many tourists who visit Edinburgh leave with the impression it's all a wonderfully affluent city where we eat caviar for breakfast. Jumping on a bus from a Newington B&B to the Royal Mile then a wander from castle to Holyrood Palace with a stop at the Pleasance to take in a show is essentially visiting a giant theme park. How many people are aware that Dumbiedykes is 5 minutes round the corner or know of the homeless outreach projects on Holyrood Road? I wonder how many tourists know of the existence of Niddrie, Magdalene, Muirhouse, Oxgangs, Moredun etc. In Blackpool you can't miss it, in Edinburgh we have just hidden it away.

[DH1875]

I live in nearby Lytham, news to me Rangers are coming to town. Certainy not on Blackpools website. Blackpool played Newport on neutral territory today and play Carlisle next week.

Wednesday night by looks of it.

[Andy74]

I think when it comes to deprivation and poverty Blackpool is just infinitely more noticeable because it's 2 or 3 streets away from the main tourist areas.

I wonder how many tourists who visit Edinburgh leave with the impression it's all a wonderfully affluent city where we eat caviar for breakfast. Jumping on a bus from a Newington B&B to the Royal Mile then a wander from castle to Holyrood Palace with a stop at the Pleasance to take in a show is essentially visiting a giant theme park. How many people are aware that Dumbiedykes is 5 minutes round the corner or know of the homeless outreach projects on Holyrood Road? I wonder how many tourists know of the existence of Niddrie, Magdalene, Muirhouse, Oxgangs, Moredun etc. In Blackpool you can't miss it, in Edinburgh we have just hidden it away.

True but the bits in Blackpool that are supposed to be presentable are an absolute state.

I was probably more surprised at the food and drink offerings. Expected the run down seaside town but no one has yet thought that a decent standard food place or coffee shop is needed!

[degenerated]

Couldn't agree more, though I reckon I've done my part in helping them with Scooter runs in the late 80s and also the punk weekenders that alternated between Blackpool and Morecambe :greengrin

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

Wednesday night by looks of it.

Cancelled due to Covid issues.

[tamig]

Cancelled due to Covid issues.

I wonder if they will still travel down regardless?

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

I wonder if they will still travel down regardless?

I would imagine the majority will.

[tamig]

I would imagine the majority will.
Ferr fortnight n'at. So you're probably right.

[Since90+2]

True but the bits in Blackpool that are supposed to be presentable are an absolute state.

I was probably more surprised at the food and drink offerings. Expected the run down seaside town but no one has yet thought that a decent standard food place or coffee shop is needed!

Edinburgh, for a city of its size, does have its run down areas but none of then are terrible.

I'd imagine you'd feel pretty scared if you walked through some areas in Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester or London as a tourist at certain times of the day. In Edinburgh we have rough bits but I wouldn't class any of them as being particularly dangerous.

[Scouse Hibee]

Edinburgh, for a city of its size, does have its run down areas but none of then are terrible.

I'd imagine you'd feel pretty scared if you walked through some areas in Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester or London as a tourist at certain times of the day. In Edinburgh we have rough bits but I wouldn't class any of them as being particularly dangerous.

All major cities have areas that don’t feel safe to walk around at night, although in this day and age you are just aslikely to be set about on Princes Street as you are anywhere else.

[stu in nottingham]

All major cities have areas that don’t feel safe to walk around at night, although in this day and age you are just aslikely to be set about on Princes Street as you are anywhere else.

Ditto here. Think of the busiest most central places in the city and you'll find stabbings in Nottingham, in broad daylight, amongst shoppers.

There are a good few inner city areas I wouldn't go to at any time day or night though, even team-handed.

[Since90+2]

Ditto here. Think of the busiest most central places in the city and you'll find stabbings in Nottingham, in broad daylight, amongst shoppers.

There are a good few inner city areas I wouldn't go to at any time day or night though, even team-handed.

I stayed in the meadows area of Nottingham a few times around 10 years ago. That was an eye opener, made places here look fairly tame.

[blackpoolhibs]

It's absolutely rammed at the moment it must be doing something right. :greengrin

The town attracts the druggies and criminals from every town in the country, they even put paedo's from other area's into sheltered housing here, i mean WTF children on tap.

Hopefully the bed and breakfast owners can earn a bit through this pandemic, as they have been through hell, glad i'm out of that game. :greengrin

To be honest i had a drive down the front yesterday when i went to St Annes, and like most seaside resorts, it looks tired, but nobody seemed to mind as the sun was breaking the flags.

It is a bit of a hovel just a few streets in from the front, but i dont go there so who cares? :wink:

[stu in nottingham]

I stayed in the meadows area of Nottingham a few times around 10 years ago. That was an eye opener, made places here look fairly tame.

Well done for negotiating that! The Meadows is part of the massive problem with 'area code' drugs gangs, some used to have it tattooed on their neck 'NG2'. They are the 'Blue' gang - supposedly because it's near the Trent waterfront with the main rivals from St Ann's who call themselves the 'Blood Gang' (red).

Stabbings are pretty much the norm and fairly random. I'm not sure Edinburgh has anywhere quite like it.

[Jakhog1]

Ditto here. Think of the busiest most central places in the city and you'll find stabbings in Nottingham, in broad daylight, amongst shoppers.

There are a good few inner city areas I wouldn't go to at any time day or night though, even team-handed.

We were staying at Rufford last week an we went into Nottingham for the day, loads of Jakeys sitting about, these two mad guys walking about with a massive stereo speaker blasting out Bob Marley, definitely had a bit of an edge to it, was nice enough up at the castle area though, maid Marian car park was a complete dump though, would not be in a rush to go back

[stu in nottingham]

We were staying at Rufford last week an we went into Nottingham for the day, loads of Jakeys sitting about, these two mad guys walking about with a massive stereo speaker blasting out Bob Marley, definitely had a bit of an edge to it, was nice enough up at the castle area though, maid Marian car park was a complete dump though, would not be in a rush to go back

Don't want to hijack the thread but I'd totally agree with you. Used to be a good place with lots going for it, not so much any more. Had a really attractive and large market square that's turned into chavsville. Shops closing down everywhere (suppose that's many cities), high rise student accommodation being built everywhere and a half-demolished shopping mall that's beyond description. There are plenty of lovely places to live in the wider county but as for the city, it makes me itch these days. Shame.