To ask what's wrong with Blackpool?

[Allnostalgic]

There have been a few threads about Blackpool lately. I haven't been to Blackpool for at least 20 years. From what I can remember it was ok but then I was a teenager.

I have been tempted to go back to see what it's all about but always see it described as being hellish. I know it's a deprived part of the country but is it really that bad? What's actually bad about it?

It depends what you're after. I was nearby last year and we had a day at the beach there. We loved it. We hit the rides, arcades, pier. The kids had a brilliant time. Yes it is tacky but sometimes a bit tack is great.

It's turned into a dump, nothing like years ago. It's full of people selling cheap tat every where (not the usual holiday stuff you used to see). Most of the food places have gone and amusement have dated very badly. I have said we will not go back again it's a dump.

Well when I went we went to a big waterpark, the pleasure beach, went to see a couple of shows, it was ok from memory.

I've been to beautiful seaside towns but a lot of them are run down and tacky I'm really intrigued what makes Blackpool so much worse. I'm not saying it's not bad, I'm just fascinated because I've never heard of anywhere described in such a way.

Blackpool is brilliant but you have to accept it for what it is - loud, brash, in your face seaside fun. And the lights in winter are fab!

Blackpool is what it is - cheap, tacky. Nothing wrong with it if that’s what you’re after. However, as a town it is very socially deprived and parts of it are very run-down. The last time I was there (admittedly over 10 years ago) I saw a blatant drug deal within 10 minutes of being there. That aside, there’s definitely tacky fun to be had.

I went as a kid and loved it, took my kids 15 years ago now and it was hellish, I mean worst hotel I've ever stayed in, I needed to cover my kids eyes in the broad daylight in the street due to the outfits and cover their ears too (stag parties) food options were terrible or expensive or chips (I cant do chips everyday!) I haven't been back, may have improved?

I We had a nice dinner at the Beach House there last year. beachhouseblackpool.co.uk/ And fun at the Pleasure Beach.
It is run down though. I think there's just no money there. And because it's cheap, with things like the cuts in benefits people have been moved there without it being a choice and the local services and support they need aren't there.

The beach and the front are nice.
But get a few streets back from them and it's deprivation and poverty and desperation.
It's been that way since I was going there in the 90s.

It’s a shit hole.

It's good for what you want from a tourist perspective - beach, arcades, water park, theme park.

I live in the town below Blackpool (it's lovely, do visit), but i see the bad parts.

It's a British northern seaside town, it's what's expected

I LOVE Blackpool. Love it.

I love the arcades, the piers, the rides. Its just a fun place.

I wouldn't wnat to live there but on a sunny day I love walking down the golden mile with an ice cream.

I grew up visiting there and with my own kids there's been many caravan holidays we've had there.

I think the people who say it's hellish are probably snobs tbh.

I loved it as a kid.
I loved it as a night out in my 20's and now in my 30's I take my kids and we love it.

Yes it's tacky and run down but it's still enjoyable. It just depends on how much you can look past.
It would always be first choice for a weekend away with the kids.

If you want the promenade, the amusements and the rides you’ll get what you expect but head further into the town and you’ll see the rundown, socially deprived areas.

I went last year for work and couldn’t wait to leave. It was so depressing and I say that as someone that has fond memories of it as child.

We used to go every year for the illuminations when we were kids and loved it - fish and chips for supper, a walk along the prom and half an hour in an amusement arcade.

Suggested to DH we spend a night there a few years ago on our way to Wales for a holiday, rekindle a few childhood memories. It was awful. Illuminations nowhere near as good, crowded with roaring drunk stag and hen parties, nasty eating places. One couple shagging in one of the seafront shelters and as pp have pointed out, away from the promenade the poverty is pretty shocking.

Along the promenade i think is what you expect from a run down British seaside resort - amusement arcades, chippies, worn out looking B&Bs etc- but go a block or two back and it is a sight of serious deprivation and poverty.

I’ve always loved Blackpool, I grew up very close to it and spent most of my weekends there growing up. After leaving for many years and returning in 2015 I was surprised how good it was, I had these images that it was really run down, yes there are parts but I was fairly impressed with the front. But I think it’s definitely been hit hard by covid, I went back last week and it’s definitely gone down hill quick. Houndshill was very deserted with closed up shops, and the whole are was full of homeless and drug users. I know they have always been about but they definitely outnumbered everyone else. Sadly Blackpool is very much a dumping ground by certain government departments which dosnt help.

I do hope it gets some investment as it could be a great place again. Definitely won’t stop me visiting, especially the lights.

Most seaside towns in the UK are run down though. Skeggy isn't much better, although we had a fab long weekend in neighbouring Ingoldmells at the start of the year, because we love the tacky 😁😁

You can make Blackpool the holiday you want. I love shopping there, the pleasure beach and the general tackiness. Lytham is much nicer and more upmarket with gorgeous Airbnb places with lots of luxury.

Day time it’s ok ish. Exactly what PPs have said- tacky, but run down, but fun for kids seaside flore sort, chippies, arcades etc.
night time is vile. Stag and hens literally falling over drunk, men literally just pissing in the street. Stinks of piss and vomit everywhere. I’m talking 8/9 at night too. It early hours. This was 2/3 years ago when we went to see the illuminations. Never again!

It's fucking awful in the best way!

I went for a few days in November 2017 or 18 and I had a brilliant time.

It's a bit grotty and very tacky but that is entirely part of its charm. I'm taking the kids this summer, cant beat a bit of grot

I went last year, the famous Blackpool prom area is grubby and run down. The back streets are just awful. We went as a family with Teenagers and couldn't find a decent clean pub for a pre dinner drink, apart from Wetherspoons - which isn't saying much. My sister and me took a walk to the Blooms Gin bar on the pier, it was nicely done out but (and I'm not exaggerating here) half a dozen bottles of Gin and 3 Cocktails on draught does not a Gin Bar make!

Love the amusements, the tower, the beach, the circus. Its brash and nosy and busy and expensive. But we love it.

It really is a tale of two towns though because by 5pm on weekend evenings it's full of drunk stag and hen parties. You can't get anywhere decent to eat unless you've booked. My 7 yr old was actually quite unsettled by some of the people yelling and fighting and throwing up everywhere. But I read something on here recently about York being much the same.

We still love Blackpool, we'll still go for a couple of nights in the winter to see the illuminations.

I love Blackpool. Its tacky seaside fun. Plus I love the zoo.