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?

I'm from Blackpool and moved away years ago. Went over frequently until very recently (finally persuaded my DM to sell up and move near me before her house became worthless - she now can't believe she lived there so long!).

Re the paedophile issue mentioned upthread - YES! And the Sandcastle is the place that they like to hang out....nearly naked kids etc. No way would I take my DD there. Ever.

Also yes to St Anne's, Lytham, the zoo and Stanley Park being lovely. The beach is also now gorgeous.

If I was going to stay there, it would be either St Anne's/Lytham, or an AirBnB in Poulton or Over Wyre in places like Hambleton. Really lovely areas which have zero tourism.

Its such a shame because just outside Blackpool there are some lovely villages and stunning countryside. It's just the town itself which has an unrelenting air of seediness and despair.

I live about an hour's drive from Black pool ,it is what it is ,there are of course lots of deprived areas but there's pleanty to do for children ,it's popular with hen and stag do,s it's no worse than any seaside town tbh ,I think if people have visited once for twenty minutes ten years ago they can't really form a proper opinion really 🙄, St Anne,s is a mile away from Blackpool and it's lovely

Sorry, I meant Hambleton has zero tourism, St Annes obviously does.

I thought it was awful there...left after an hour!

And I'm not sure why staff in cafes would be mimicking southern accents ? Blackpool gets visitors from all over the uk I'm sure they have heard different accents before 🤔

we go every year, my kids are used to luxury holidays normally but always say they enjoy Blackpool the most.

Some areas are really run down and they have lots of BNB's filled with unemployed men.

Blackpool tower is lovely so is the zoo and the pleasure beach.

My kids save their pocket/birthday money and go shopping, play the slots, eat crap.

The coast line is beautiful as you walk up to Clevelys and Bispham, very flat too.

Lytham is such a lovely town about 10 min drive, sand dunes and a coastal nature reserve.

@trevthecat

I live in Blackpool. Originally brought up in nicer town next door. We moved here 6 years ago as house prices are much much cheaper. We live in South shore, just south of the pleasure beach. Yes Blackpool has the highest rate of looked after children in the country, very high drug rates etc but I have never felt in danger. We have amazing resources for children, youth clubs, baby groups, free training. The schools have so much community spirit. They have so much extra funding to help out. The council have been given enormous grants to improve the town and the next phase is starting soon, with new hotel, entertainment centre etc. It's got really rough bits but the council are trying to sort the problem. I've never seen anyone taking drugs in the street or violence.

I agree with feeling safe, I didn't realise the looked after children stats. Interestingly a few years ago I was in HMV behind a heavily pregnant woman, her toddler and her partner I presume. She was off her head and the partner was buying loads of kids DVD's, I presume to keep him entertained while they were taking drugs.

We stay in Lytham or Ribby Village.
Let's me honest, they're just nicer, classier places to stay. Some of the restaurants in Lytham are gorgeous! You can then drive to Blackpool for a visit. We walked along the prom in the sunshine and it was glorious. We had ice creams from an amazing Italian near the Pleasure Beach.

We saw Stephen Mulholland filiming 'In for a Penny'on the beach. Huge crowd around. We went over and saw the TV companies Security having to move on some of the local undesirables.Some clearly just off their head. Some sneaking around eye up handbags etc. They were toothless, zombiefied smack/crack heads. Very sad to see how many of them there were!

I’ve been a couple of times for the day and it’s ok- the rides are great, my kids loved them and there’s no shortage of chippies to go to. However, I didn’t like it once it started getting dark- atmosphere changed, lots of people clearly the worse for wear, some with their own kids and we left then and there. Might have just been unlucky with where we were at the time. I can’t comment on the rest of Blackpool though as we were only on the sea front but it’s reputation isn’t great.

You've no authority on here Jackie Weaver...no authority at all !

Read the standing order,s READ THEM AND UNDERSTAND THEM🤣🤣

It’s horrendous. I don’t understand why anyone would choose to visit there when’s there so many nicer places to go!

Not all seaside towns are like this-there’s absolutely loads of nicer ones.

@tanguero

You've no authority on here Jackie Weaver...no authority at all !

Bleak, high unemployment, everywhere closed, a ghost town.

@Develsko everything is closed because of lockdown! It's absolutely not a ghost town! Car parks are always full, pubs always full, attractions always have queues! It's a ghost town in the depths of winter but definitely not in summer

Whilst I'm sure COViD has had a massive impact on Blackpool's economy I wouldn't say it's a ghost town in high season ,as I said I only live about an hour's drive away so we sometimes go for an afternoon ,pre COViD times during the summer it's usually packed

We normally visit every year. My kids love it and it was my childhood holiday destination so I love Blackpool too. There are homeless people and beggars, but there are here in Birmingham.

We normally stick to the seafront/piers and pleasure beach.

I would never do on a bank holiday or weekend again after going on a bank holiday once and drunk people everywhere. Teenagers passed out or vomiting in the street, gangs of drunk men shouting abuse. Vile.

@trevthecat - I'm in South Shore too! I bet we live around the corner from each other! It really annoys me when people make sweeping generalizations about Blackpool. Unless you go wandering in the more undesirable areas (and if you were on holiday, why would you?) you are very unlikely to see any drug taking. Yes we have a few homeless people but surely every town has!

It's a great place to bring up kids, there's always something to do and as trev said, the schools are amazing. My son's primary really was outstanding.

I was brought up in a guest house, so I'm Blackpool through and through!

@itstheyearzero hello neighbour!! We actually live in an old guest house! People are very quick to judge how it used to be. I've never seen any trouble

I live an hour away and often visit. It is what it is, I like it 🤷‍♀️

I remember watching a programme about Blackpool and someone on it said that one reason the town has a high homeless population is because people who are down on their luck gravitate there as they associate the place with happy memories from their childhood. I found that quite poignant.

Laughing at it being a ghost town, it’s always heaving (pre-Covid obviously).

We know the truth @trevthecat! And it's OK for us to slag it off but I just won't stand for them grockles doing it

I like Blackpool. Yes, like many UK seaside towns it has its share of issues but whenever we have been there we have had lots of fun. My dc think the water park is what heaven will be like.

I'm not sure I'm in step with MN taste though. A few years ago we had a summer holiday in Kessingland and decided one day to visit Southwold down the road having heard on here how wonderful it was... and I much preferred Kessingland.

Last time I went to Blackpool I was about eight. A big fat women fell on top of me in the street, I haven't been back since.