Blackpool: what is it really like now?

[WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll]

We watched an old 'run' of episodes of Four In A Bed and one of the couples ran a Hotel/B&B in Blackpool. It looked a wonderful place and they seemed like excellent, accommodating hosts - I'd really love to stay there once we're able to travel freely again.

I used to absolutely love going to Blackpool. My family (when we were kids) went there every year and it holds so many fond memories. Obviously, it's never been intended to be the most sophisticated of places, but that doesn't bother us at all.

However, we haven't been there for over 20 years and I just hear an endless catalogue of woes about how unspeakably terrible it is now, full of addicts taking drugs in public, lots of crime, and that nobody in their right mind would ever consider going there now. Even when close family members who live in a rather nice county (not a posh one, though) went a few years ago, the taxi driver who picked them up from the station asked where they'd come from and, when they told him, asked, open-mouthed and genuinely shocked, "But why?!?!?!"

It's clearly still very popular and still sees a huge number of visitors every year, so what's the skinny on it? If you live there or nearby, have been recently or have other knowledge of the town, please tell me the honest truth as you see/know it - good and bad! Are there any particular places or aspects that you remember fondly (or still love) and/or anything that has well and truly been destroyed forever?

It’s a very divisive topic on mumsnet.
Basically yes. Everything you heard is true. Blackpool has more social and drug problems than most places. The b&bs now house many criminals and unsavoury individuals.
Also you can have a lot of fun there.
Personally I love it. But I enjoy lurid slushies and booby lollies and flashing lights and chips.
Those of a more Bodenesque persuasion may not like it quite so much. I see it through rose tinted spectacles of nostalgia, and I imagine if your childhood wasn’t filled with Blackpool memories from a better time, it’d be hard to see past it’s current (rather depressing) state.
I bet it’s been ravaged economically by covid though .
That said, when it reopens, I’ll be there!

god it is SO grim and depressing
like really awful

We went about 10 years ago...even the 75P shop was boarded up....went into a cafe for coffee....it was cheap nasty instant stuff...and then the staff mimicked our southern accents and made comments about cuppacinos and lattes etc which I found quite funny ..lasted a few hours and drove to Lancaster.....It was a grim experience.

You could watch videos from this channel- the guy literally walks around Blackpool with a camera. I come from Blackpool but left to go to university in the 80s and didn't go back. I did visit family about 5 years ago and found it a sad experience seeing how it has changed since my childhood
Here's a livestream from today (plus he has videos of specific areas)

It was like that in the 90s, you just didn't see it.(local)

Currently it's cold, wet and very windy.

I love the illuminations, the piers, the Tower Ballroom is phenomenal. I love going on a tram all the way along the prom.
Yes, it’s rough, but unfortunately that’s the flip side of many seaside towns. I imagine it’s been decimated by Covid.
It is what it is, and if you visit with that in mind I’m sure you’d have a great time.

It’s not very nice. I’ve been a couple of times in the hope of proving myself wrong, but I was unable to.

It's okay for a visit for the illuminations, quick mooch on the pier and the arcades for the shove penny machines / donkey derby game. There's a really nice eat-in chippy just outside Blackpool we've been going to since DS was a baby (of course not this year). We took DS's friend who immigrated from Australia a few years ago and he had a brilliant time. But we probably wouldn't stay more than one night (though we live close enough to drive home anyway).

So basically a Google maps street view drive around kinda thing first ?

Thanks very much, all - some very interesting and diverse viewpoints there. I didn't know it was already 'a thing' on MN to cause more bunfights

I will check out that chap's videos - thank you.

I know you can do a Google drive-around, but it doesn't really give you a full sense of the atmosphere in general and indoor places - I've done that on occasion, but, although fun for old times' sake, it's isolated form actually experiencing the place.

Also, I have all my childhood memories, but my DS has never been there. He's probably the only 8yo who likes FiaB (enjoys the maths and vague 'gameshow' feel), but he was excited by seeing it and asked if we can go. He likes playing bingo at home, so I imagine the full-scale seaside bingo experience would prove very exciting for him too. oddly enough, he didn't give the beautiful surroundings of Chichester (the B&B in the programme at the other end of the posh spectrum) a second glance - very unmumsnetty indeed

In my view, it's not good. Far too tacky and run down these days. In its hey day it was such a lovely place to visit - all those wonderful shows at theatres, great food and cheeky fun opportunities. The BnBs were legendary for their welcoming atmospheres and lovely dining rooms with a full meat and two veg option served on china with lots of bread and butter.

Now its just homeless people, drug addicts, benefits scroungers and cheats. You can't get a good bag of chips - they are all now swimming in grease - everyone is rude and it's just vile. The BnBs are all full of people waiting for council houses and they arent even welcoming any more. Such a shame.

I went last summer for the day with 4yo dd.
It was ok went to sandcastles, the fair, had a little play on the beach. Would probably not bother again for a few years. Would not stay over(an hour from home so no need). Entire place stinks of chip fat although we had our tea in a lovely little Italian away from the main stretch.

I was going to recommend that YouTube guy ‘walk on the wild side’ I was watching it the other day and it just reminded me why I need to not ever visit Blackpool.....

Pick your bnb very carefully, last year I chose one which had great reviews on tripadvisor but it was a dive. The promenade is nice, Blackpool tower is worth a visit. The worst bit about Blackpool was the crowd it attracted, lots of rough people.

We have family there so I have been a few times. We always stay in St Anne's which is not Blackpool but super close and very nice with a lovely beach and pier. The prom is good fun for a day out. Last year we cycled all along the prom, you can cycle for ages without having to go on the road.
We spent a nice weekend there. It helped that the weather was good.
Just don't go inland from the prom.

We go every year (before covid) it's really great fun for kids well and adults too if you can look past it being a bit run down. We only stay for one night as you can do everything there in two days we do pleasure beach one day (paid for with Tesco clubcard vouchers) and then arcades at night and then the next day we go to the beach, one of the other attractions such as the tower, arcades and then home.

We visited 3 yrs ago and I vowed never to return.

St Anne’s further on down is nice.

Blackpool no. It’s very very run down.

Like every city and town it has run down areas and also more affluent areas.

That's it really. Anyone visiting with a modicum of common sense can avoid greasy chips and instant coffee quite easily

I used to work for a charity that supported homeless people in the Blackpool area. It was grim beyond belief....

Most beach towns are run down it's what you make of it. I love a good weekend in Blackpool with friends or a day out with children. There to have fun not judge the state of a town. Always busy so must be popular for a reason 🤷‍♀️

It is run down and if you just go scopula of streets back from the promenade the poverty is very obvious.

But my DCs love it!

There’s loads to do even when it’s raining. But it’s expensive- admissions to the pleasure beach, tower, Madame Tussaud’s, the sandcastle, the arcades and the sea world were over £100.

You can get dirt cheap accommodation but be wary that the ‘bargain’ ones aren’t actually homeless B&Bs!

People can be snobby about it but it’s for the kids and they dont have an awareness of that do why does it matter?

I never saw evidence of drug use.

We go every year with the kids to see the illuminations. We stay over. I don't really like it but the kids love it, we go in the arcades, get fish and chips, walk ok the pier and then live entertainment/disco in the hotel in the evening. If it wasn't for the kids we wouldn't go.

I only ever see people having a good time there so it always makes me happy. Young and old, people having fun. There's a few nicer places opening up now as well.

For me it suffers in the way that Amsterdam does. It has become synonymous with one thing (drugs in Amsterdam, pissed up stag/hen parties in Blackpool) and so it attracts people who want that sort of thing. But beyond that there's still a beating heart of goodness. My main advice would be stay just outside, have a great time during the day and get out by darkness!

Actually i guess Amsterdam also attracts sex tourists so perhaps Blackpool has the edge