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?

Got a great seafront if you like running or cycling. Can do 10 miles without going on the road.

I'm always really impressed by the fact that it has its own actual motorway going to and from it! Shared with some smaller towns and villages, of course, but it's obviously the primary destination/purpose of it - considering the much larger, much more heavily-populated parts of the country that don't have any motorways near them at all. I presume this must have been planned and built when Blackpool really was in its heyday, and would have seen colossal numbers of visitors in the Summer.

I think most places have their 'problem' areas, but 'Blackpool' seems to me to be used as a catch-all for all the bad places. So much cheap and cheerful, brash and tacky family fun on offer for those who like that sort of thing (including us!), but the 'challenging' aspects are all that people think of.

As for the stag and hen parties, it seems a little unfair to blame Blackpool for the people who are visiting and don't even live there. I wonder how many people will cheerfully go there for their own hen/stag party 'because it's good brash, rowdy fun', but then avoid it at other times 'because it's full of rowdy hen and stag parties'!

The regeneration and addressing problem issues that trev mentioned upthread sounds great and really positive; however, I'm thinking that, even if they radically transformed it and sent it all upmarket and 'bijou'- like a northern Bath - those after that kind of place would still avoid it like the plague 'because it's Blackpool and Blackpool is ghastly', whilst those of us who do like that kind of thing would end up feeling alienated and then not go back.

Mind, I'm the kind of person who sees the Bridge Cafe on The Apprentice - the one you're supposed to instantly view as grim, dismal, downmarket and a place for losers - and thinks it looks like a nice honest, decent cafe where you'd get a big plate of delicious greasy non-pretentious food that wouldn't cost you a fortune!

@Pedallleur

Got a great seafront if you like running or cycling. Can do 10 miles without going on the road. Some nice areas at North shore e.g. Bispham and Clevelys with some stunning areas in the area behind Blackpool e.g. Kirkham. Actual town centre is grim but hasn't been great for 40 yrs. St. Anne's and Lytham are nice. Actually got 2 big private schools in the area, Rossall near Fleetwood and Arnold school in St. Anne's so no lack of money in the area.

I thought Arnold had been knocked down ages ago?

@bluerad - Arnold was merged with King Edwards and Queen Mary's near Fairhaven lake in St Annes. It's now called AKS Lytham.

Dd is 16 and we went when she was about 4 once for a short break.

There was plenty to do and they loved the Tower etc.

I will always remember, however, her asking me 'Why is that lady wearing her bra and pants in the street?' as we passed a very chilly looking young lady who was being paid to stand in the street and tout for trade for one of the bars.

@alwayshappensonnye what was Marton Mere like?

We went about 3 years ago - stayed in an hotel though and not a B&B. We loved it. Loved the lights, the trams and the tower. The pleasure beach was also good fun.

My friend is really picky and she kept saying how nice it was that there was no litter and no swearing!

I'd happily go back.

I visited Blackpool a couple of years ago for the first time in about 30 years. We stopped in Lytham but went for the day to Blackpool.

I was pleasantly surprised at how the Pleasure Beach had improved - it used to be open for anyone to wander around and you paid for rides as you went, but now you have to pay to get in which has reduced the crowds and gangs loitering.

That was the only positive though. I'm no stranger to insalubrious places (I've lived in one of the most undesirable towns in Britain), but I've never visited a place that feels as seedy and grotty as Blackpool.

I don't know Blackpool at all, but I think I live in the southern equivalent because I live in Hastings and everyone loves to pile on and slag Hastings off on mumsnet.

So my sympathies are extended to @trevthecat and others on this thread who actually live in the town and possibly know it a lot better than those who merely visit! It's hard to fight against the seaside town bias that seems to exist on this site.

I have the same problem when I defend my hometown. Clearly if you want to be snobby about seaside towns Blackpool is the northern target and Hastings is the target down south!!

Vintagevixen Wed 10-Feb-21 21:46:55
I don't know Blackpool at all, but I think I live in the southern equivalent

'I think I live in the southern equivalent'.....Er....no you dont' ,there is NO 'southern equivalent'. There is NO equivalent.....anywhere !

Really interesting thread. We used to go twice a year until I was about 12 so I have very fond memories of Blackpool. Since having kids I hanker to go back and my kids there but my friends who live in the locality tell me it's a shit hole and I will be sorely disappointed so I still haven't done it

@tanguero

Vintagevixen Wed 10-Feb-21 21:46:55 I don't know Blackpool at all, but I think I live in the southern equivalent

'I think I live in the southern equivalent'.....Er....no you dont' ,there is NO 'southern equivalent'. There is NO equivalent.....anywhere !

Sure you're right, we haven't got a tower or a ballroom for a start (our pier ballroom burnt down 10 years ago) but what I meant is it seems to be the equivalent in the amount of middle class sensibilities it offends!!

We love visiting the illuminations, not sure about living there, but can see the appeal. You get a lot of house for your money

So 12 years ago my DH took me to Blackpool for a 'romantic' weekend away as I had never been there. All I'll say is this... 1. we agreed to never speak of it again 2. it is unlikely we will ever go back there again 3. We are still together but not as a result of that weekend...

We love Hastings though 😄

Old Hastings is lovely.

I find it grim and depressing

I think Margate is grim and depressing too yet told it’s now the place to be for artistic hipsters

Poor Margate as if the place wasn’t bad enough

I think my point is proven - clearly some people just don't like certain seaside towns be they north or south!!

I was born there in 1969 and grandparents lived there until the 90s.

When I was a kid it was a fantastic place. The perfect British holiday resort full of fun, piers, donkey rides, arcades, candy floss, the illuminations, going up the tower, the ballrooms (my parents were dance teachers)

As a teen it was the best place for weekends away. Cheap accommodation, loads of brilliant pubs and clubs..

Sadly it's no longer like that. We went about 5 years ago. Drunks brawling and puking on the sea front promenade at 10am. So many boarded up shops and hotels. It was grim. Not at all family friendly or fun.

I like the illuminations though it takes hours to drive through. The pleasure beach beats a lot of other theme parks in the UK so worth a visit and it’s ok for a wander on the promenade and to look at the pier and get chips.
St Anne’s is great especially in summer time, the beach is good for a walk. I like to go a few times a year.

We drive an hour to go to the pleasure beach for the day. Absolutely love it! Never stayed overnight in Blackpool though - I'd choose St Anne's or Lytham I think.

[quote Figmentofimagination]@bluerad - Arnold was merged with King Edwards and Queen Mary's near Fairhaven lake in St Annes. It's now called AKS Lytham. [/quote]
@Figmentofimagination scooting off to look at their website. Thanks.