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’s a shitbox

If you're a fun person, you'll have fun in Blackpool!

We went last year and it felt like the pandemic had hit it hard. Lots of boarded up shops etc. It was really hard to find anywhere to eat, only seemed to be McDonald's or a few pubs, and lots of the B&Bs looked closed. The deprivation was really evident.

It probably didn't help that the weather was bad the whole time we were there, but it just felt like quite a sad place to be, and I say that as someone who used to love Blackpool and previously thought the hen parties etc were part of its charm. I hope it can recover

It's seriously rough, people drinking at 10 am in the morning, openly using drugs and so delightful to see a woman openly urinating on the street... The only positive I could say is that the police presence is extremely high!

I live in Blackpool and it suffers from lack of investment and people with social problems being dumped here due to the abundance of multiple occupancy buildings. But if you want a tacky fun holiday it’s great . We are soon going to be gentrified though as lots of “posh” people from down South are now snapping up the cheap properties!

I used to love going as a kid, nice summers day out. We used to win loads of teddies and sometimes my parents would pay for a B&B. Now it’s not really my cup of tea but I would probably go for the day with my friends who have younger kids. It’s just very tacky, brash, in your face. But more run down now. I mean it’s luxury compared to Rhyl (where I also spent many days out as a kid)

The sandcastle is excellent. Other than that we wouldn’t go back. B&Bs have dropped in standard and there’s not much left in the centre.

I dread to think what it is like now, it was a terrible dump 25 years ago.

It is no worse than any of the other run down seaside towns and unlike some of them it does still have plenty of attractions. I live within day trip travelling distance and it is still very popular as a day out. Kids generally love it.

@Snowdropsarelovely I don't know what back alleys you're walking down to see that behaviour but it's a terrible sweeping generalisation.
Comments like that are why the tourism suffers. I've grown up near Blackpool and worked in retail in the town centre for 5 years and not once did I see that kind of behaviour. Even on the many many nights out I've had.
I saw worse when I lived in Manchester.

We went last year for a night. The hotel was awful, basically a bed in a room with no room to walk around it and a grotty bathroom. However if you ask my 7 year old he would say it was the best holiday he has ever been on. We are quite well traveled and he has been to many fantastic places around Europe but the lights/ atmosphere of Blackpool in October really appealed to him.

I stayed in a B&B there a couple of years ago (during covid) when I was dragged went to a 40th birthday weekend with DP.

The B&B STANK. Ugh. The people who ran it were lovely, very kind and friendly, wanted you to feel at home. There was a one way system for covid but nobody adhered to it and they didn't care either way.

I didn't feel safe when we went out for drinks there. As others have said, very run down and a lot of people out to obviously do nothing but get completely trashed. Clearly an impoverished town which is a shame as it had so much charm in previous years.

I was a curmudgeon even as a child though, was never impressed by the lights.

It is a dump. Tacky doesn't really cover it. Think buildings falling down one street back from the front.

That happened as I came out of the Grand theatre !! I don’t know Blackpool well enough to know whether you would regard that as a back alley but I was shocked at what I was seeing. Plus obvious drug use

Horrible place if you're there anywhere other than tourist bits and even then can be hairy.
I was dragged to Ma Kelly's after a show. Dear god. I was scared

If you're into crumbling/boarded up buildings, like to indulge in a bit crack with other like minded people.... it will be perfect.

I am here now for the weekend with my husband and 3 kids. Two nights is enough and the weather has been very kind to us. Hotel is decent too (one of the better ones). So far we have watched the fireworks that were on last night, visited the illuminations, Madame taussauds, the Blackpool dungeon and the sea life centre. Had fish and chips now we are chilling in the hotel.

It is a lot better than some other seaside towns like Skegness as there is so much more to do. For two nights it is what it is. My kids have actually had a great time.

The social deprivation is awful - it's one of the most deprived areas of England and has a high percentage of children living in poverty. I think there are similar issues in many seaside areas.

I have a love/hate relationship with Blackpool. The attractions are quite fun, and the lights are cool - the tram parade and fireworks last night looked awesome, but scratch beneath the surface and there is a hell of a lot of deprivation, kids selling drugs, socio-economic problems. And the weather is typically grim. In fact it’s not so far beneath the surface.
It’s the same with a lot of seaside towns to be fair, but Blackpool is one of the biggest names. They are a magnet for waifs and strays.
You can still have a brilliant time there if you are going for a short break. I’ve had some brilliant days/nights out. I wouldn’t want to spend too long there though.

Ma Kelly’s. Praying for you 🤣

Absolutely everything is wrong with Blackpool. Been twice and hated it both times.

Surely you’re aware that it’s one of the most deprived areas in the UK?

Like everywhere you can find nice areas and bad areas
back streets shithole but no idea why you would be on them

There are people - a lot of people - off their heads on spice.

It’s a hell hole. You don’t see the sights you see in Blackpool anywhere else. I felt like I needed to bleach my eyeballs on leaving. Never again.

It’s not charming it’s just shit.