To think Blackpool might be best left in my memories?

[Lovethissweater]

About 20 years ago I went to Blackpool as a teenager.

We spent a few days there and did the Sandcastle waterpark, the Tower and circus, the Pleasure beach, Madame Tussaud's, we rode the trams and went in the arcades. It was tacky but fun and I don't remember it being that rough or run down, but I probably wouldn't have noticed as a teenager.

Every now and then I think "I bet my kids would love Blackpool", they'd love the tower and the waterpark, then I google the place and read how everyone says it's an utter dive and run down, really rough and full of drinks and addicts and I think perhaps it's better I leave Blackpool as a nice memory in the past!

@PineappleDanish If they are genuinely excited, it can only be because they have never been before. The pub that used to be (maybe still is) under the Tower, at the back of it, was one of the roughest pubs in England, according to the crime stats. It was in The Guardian once, alongside some gangland pub in Moss Side. Nice!

I have worked in so many of the cafes along the seafront, and in the arcades too, during sixth form and University holidays, and I can honestly say that I wouldn't eat in any of them. Food hygiene is rank, and whether the oil that things are cooked in is vegetarian depends on who is asking

This thread makes me very loyal to the town I was so desperate to leave in the 80s, having grown up there in the 70s. Blackpool is a long thin town stretched out up the Fylde Coast. The further away from the centre you go up or down the Fylde Coast, the more pleasant it is. I grew up in the Northern bit. We'd sometimes went into the central bit but rarely so. Even more rarely go central and away from the front. Whenever I go back I keep dd on the front.

Theyve given the front a big makeover in the last few years.We enjoyed it when we went in the summer for the day.

Meh we live about an hours drive from Blackpool ,it is what it is we go sometimes for an afternoon yeah it can be a bit of dump full of stag and hen do,s but it's been like this for years, I wouldn't stay there but it's ok for an afternoon

The problem with this thread is that a lot of the criticism of Blackpool is based on experiences from years ago. The ‘pub under the tower’ for example hasn’t been there for many years now.

You always get the on here Mollly start a thread about Butlins you will get loads of reply ,s about posters experience ,s from the 1980,s I don't Blackpool it's our nearest seaside resort I'm not sure it's any worse than a lot of seaside resorts tbh.

I don't mind*

It's the worst place I've ever been. It's hard to understand how somewhere by the sea can be so soulless.

I used to Love it as a kid but not been back for about 20 years.
I think most traditional seaside towns suffer the same sort of social issues and not enough being done to solve them due to financial cuts.

I'm from the North and we spent many years in Blackpool, during the holidays.
We have stayed at the big blue hotel ( about 5 years ago) nice staff, nice place. The Pleasure beach has had a revamp, coffee you can actually drink and pleasant staff. Sandcastle has deteriorated massively over the years. In November we went to watch the firework championships. Honestly, I could swear as a family we all got high from the plume of cannabis, it was rife EVERYWHERE. I wouldn't go back again.

Blackpool is one of the most deprived areas in the country, lots of crime, drugs and poverty.

Try Southport (Pleasureland) definitely has a nicer "feel"

We like our yearly 3 night Blackpool trip. Pleasure beach and tower on the Tesco vouchers and half price Sealife makes a cheap holiday. Coral Island's fun too and the trams are fantastic, so clean and fast. I do agree about the station being a grothole though.

I see PPs have said to go to Southport instead and my advice wold be just don't. The fair is rubbish, daylight robbery for what there is and they open and close when they feel like it rather than advertised times ime. It's like a ghost town by 6pm as well. Oh, and watch out for the aggressive religious types on the pier who shout at you if you don't want one of their stupid leaflets. I've stepped in when I've seen them haranguing kids whose parents have said no to them.

@mollypuss1 I haven't been to the bit behind the tower for ages, except to go to Waterstones. However, I was in Blackpool a few months ago. All I said about the roads behind the Prom and much of North Shore and Central being a shitheap, are true.

Sure, areas like Layton, Poulton, Cleveleys, Thornton are nice enough, as are the main tourist attractions once inside them. And the Prom has had a lot of work done.

But overall, the town is bloody horrible, with a seedy atmosphere and massive social deprivation. The statistics on this are out there.- it's one of the most deprived towns in the UK and it has a massive drugs problem. People not seeing or knowing about it doesn't mean it isn't there.

Lots of UK seaside towns are full of deprivation. They seem to attract drug addicts and ex offenders.

I've never been to Blackpool...and don't think I'd risk it to be honest.

Well the pub you mentioned has been closed for over 5 years now so you clearly haven’t been in ages, and Waterstones is directly opposite the tower, literally a 30 second walk from the pub you mentioned. I’m not denying Blackpool has social deprivation, It does, but that has no bearing on someone coming here for a day trip or short holiday which is what this thread was about. The area behind central is probably the worst in terms of being run down and there are far too many shithole B&Bs but that doesn’t mean the whole of the town isn’t worth a visit, Blackpool has a lot of great places and there has been a lot of money spent in the last few years tying to clean up its image and rejuvenate the centre as others have also mentioned. Overall the town is not bloody horrible but it does have its horrible areas. I disagree that it is seedy also, what’s seedy about it?

Lots of UK seaside towns are full of deprivation. They seem to attract drug addicts and ex offenders.

I read that they get put their deliberately, often after a prison term, as the housing is cheap due to much less market for B&Bs now.

I was in Blackpool last year as DH was working there. Strange place. The actual seafront with all the steps and walkways is really good. The town itself on the other side of the road is somehow garish yet depressing. The locals were very friendly.

I did see some quite rough behaviour from visitors, mornings were best, families doing bucket and spade stuff on the beach and having donkey rides.

I wouldn't go there on purpose for a holiday.

Southport was just weird. I couldn't see the sea, just brown flats that went on forever and a kind of post apocalyptic atmosphere.

Is the castle pub still there behind the tower? I didn't think to look the last time I went.
Julie king, the gobshite Liverpudlian lived there which just about sums it up for me.
If you don't know of her, Google her.
Shudders.

It’s a shithole. And so so expensive.

Unfortunately The Castle pub is still there, that’s another I’ve never been in, doesn’t look my type of place.

@mollypuss1 These aren't personal criticisms to you, you know? It's criticism of a place. And good to know that I haven't been recently, I wonder where the hell I was then? (I entered Waterstones from the Hounds Hill entrance which is why I didn't notice whether the pub is still there. That ok with you?)

It's seedy because overtly sexual tat is sold freely in shops along the Prom, despite the fact that it is a supposed "family" place, and at a height where kids can see it.

@mollypuss1 I went in, one quick drink and out again.
I went in the Foxhall a few times but it burnt down, along with the market.
Had a couple in the Manchester, not good and got slung out of the handbag.
Many years ago. I'm now a respectable middle aged? Woman. 😁

I’m not taking them as personal criticisms, you can criticise the place as much as you like, I don’t have to agree with your criticism however. You do know it was you who originally said that you hadn’t been to that area in ages, not me, so you’re sarcasm makes little sense.

Maybe we have different views on the meaning of seedy, some of the tacky souvenir shops do sell ‘inappropriately shaped rock’ which I agree isn’t good and should be stopped, but theres no open prostitution or stuff of that nature which to me is what makes an area seedy.

DH grew up going twice a year and loved it. PIL were always telling us how amazing it was and we should take DC, stop going abroad.
We then arranged for them to go for a long weekend for their 40th wedding anniversary. They were very quiet about it after and refused to go with some other family.

I used to feel guilty about not taking my children to the illuminations.
Maybe I don’t need to feel quite so guilty now.
We had a week at pontins when kids were 4,6 and . Had a lovely time.. that’s 34 years ago.
We might’ve done the illuminations when they were a bit older..down and back in a day.
Funnily enough my dd used to say she hated old decaying seaside resorts.
A year after I married exh and I had a weekend there ( 1976) and thought the zoo was fabulous.
I hope it still is.
Haven’t been back since the 80s
Probably won’t now.

I really like Blackpool, but then I am quite common.
You know what you're getting - it IS lairy, but there's lots to do, and young kids don't really notice the seedy aspects. We're near enough to day trip, and so we tend to go really early, and then we can pack up in the early evening before things start to unravel. If I were further away I might stay in Lytham and day trip it from there.

Thanks for replying, I've loved reading some of these replies.

I know that there are far, far nicer seaside towns if you're looking for a nice beach and a generally lovely place.

I liked the idea of Blackpool for a bit of nostalgia, and thought the dc would enjoy the activities.

I was interested to know just exactly what it is about it that people find so bad I think that's been answered. I've got fond memories of the place so I'm not sure I want to ruin that.