Blackpool - I probably wouldn't recommend it
Discussion
Just back from Blackpool and a stag do.*. First (and I suspect last) visit.
fk me, what an absolute sthole.
Points of note:
The classiest, least repellent pubs were Wetherspoons.
There is a deeply uncomfortable mix of falling-over drunk people and families by midday.
"Family Bar" shouldn't be a thing.
"Kids eat for free in the Casino" really shouldn't be a thing.
Two streets back from the prom looks like the set from Escape from LA.
Two streets back from the prom at night is Escape from LA.
I may not be the best parent in the world, but when I see two heroin addicts having a fight at 11pm, then 30 seconds later, see a Dad and his ~10 year old son walking around, I do question WTF is going on in some people's heads. It's bad enough seeing families in pubs mid-evening, surrounded by hammered stag and hen parties.
So, if you were thinking of visiting, I probably wouldn't recommend it. If you live there, you have my sympathies. I'm sure there are nice bits, but they're bloody hard to spot in a forest of neon, infant pick-pockets, drug-ravaged zombies and large groups of men and women dressed as sailors, or gnomes or crayons or whatever.
The Lifeboat Pub, on the other hand, was utterly welcoming, if you like that sort of thing.
.*. Yes, I know I'm part of the problem. #irony
fk me, what an absolute sthole.
Points of note:
The classiest, least repellent pubs were Wetherspoons.
There is a deeply uncomfortable mix of falling-over drunk people and families by midday.
"Family Bar" shouldn't be a thing.
"Kids eat for free in the Casino" really shouldn't be a thing.
Two streets back from the prom looks like the set from Escape from LA.
Two streets back from the prom at night is Escape from LA.
I may not be the best parent in the world, but when I see two heroin addicts having a fight at 11pm, then 30 seconds later, see a Dad and his ~10 year old son walking around, I do question WTF is going on in some people's heads. It's bad enough seeing families in pubs mid-evening, surrounded by hammered stag and hen parties.
So, if you were thinking of visiting, I probably wouldn't recommend it. If you live there, you have my sympathies. I'm sure there are nice bits, but they're bloody hard to spot in a forest of neon, infant pick-pockets, drug-ravaged zombies and large groups of men and women dressed as sailors, or gnomes or crayons or whatever.
The Lifeboat Pub, on the other hand, was utterly welcoming, if you like that sort of thing.
.*. Yes, I know I'm part of the problem. #irony
I used to go to Blackpool as a kid in the 50's and it was a great place, heaving with tourists, you literally couldn't see the sand for deck chairs.
Then, in the mid sixties, cheap package holidays to Spain for £30 hit all seaside towns hard.
Blackpool is OK on a lovely Summers day, The Pleasure Beach has some good rides, but on a miserable wet windswept day it is hell on earth, especially in Winter.
It has a big homeless and drug problem, once you go inland from the prom a few streets, but it's no worse than many other places.
The illuminations are worth seeing in Autumn, if you have never seen them.
Then, in the mid sixties, cheap package holidays to Spain for £30 hit all seaside towns hard.
Blackpool is OK on a lovely Summers day, The Pleasure Beach has some good rides, but on a miserable wet windswept day it is hell on earth, especially in Winter.
It has a big homeless and drug problem, once you go inland from the prom a few streets, but it's no worse than many other places.
The illuminations are worth seeing in Autumn, if you have never seen them.
I went for a weekend away with my three year old last year. We had a fantastic time!!
The town has lots of social problems but A morning on the piers then afternoon at the Pleasure Beach followed by F&Cs then the next day at the Sandcastle pool - I could have taken her to Disneyland and had less fun.
Big thumbs up from me!
The town has lots of social problems but A morning on the piers then afternoon at the Pleasure Beach followed by F&Cs then the next day at the Sandcastle pool - I could have taken her to Disneyland and had less fun.
Big thumbs up from me!
as a youngster from Liverpool we used to get a bus to "see the lights" in Blackpool I'm talking 1980s it had fond memories for me as I came from Liverpool and it was a dark bleak place then ...Blackpool seamed cool all the lights twinkling and so on seamed like a lovely place .....so fast forward 10years and I think to myself that's it I'm of to Blackpool to make my millions ...what a st hole back then,.... this story is for another time...
nichio3478 said:
I went for a weekend away with my three year old last year. We had a fantastic time!!
The town has lots of social problems but A morning on the piers then afternoon at the Pleasure Beach followed by F&Cs then the next day at the Sandcastle pool - I could have taken her to Disneyland and had less fun.
Big thumbs up from me!
Same for us, as depressing as it is to admit it. If you have kids of a certain age and have the mental capacity to avoid the drunks, tarts and scumbags your children will love it.The town has lots of social problems but A morning on the piers then afternoon at the Pleasure Beach followed by F&Cs then the next day at the Sandcastle pool - I could have taken her to Disneyland and had less fun.
Big thumbs up from me!
Smitters said:
Just back from Blackpool and a stag do.*. First (and I suspect last) visit.
fk me, what an absolute sthole.
Points of note:
The classiest, least repellent pubs were Wetherspoons.
There is a deeply uncomfortable mix of falling-over drunk people and families by midday.
"Family Bar" shouldn't be a thing.
"Kids eat for free in the Casino" really shouldn't be a thing.
Two streets back from the prom looks like the set from Escape from LA.
Two streets back from the prom at night is Escape from LA.
I may not be the best parent in the world, but when I see two heroin addicts having a fight at 11pm, then 30 seconds later, see a Dad and his ~10 year old son walking around, I do question WTF is going on in some people's heads. It's bad enough seeing families in pubs mid-evening, surrounded by hammered stag and hen parties.
So, if you were thinking of visiting, I probably wouldn't recommend it. If you live there, you have my sympathies. I'm sure there are nice bits, but they're bloody hard to spot in a forest of neon, infant pick-pockets, drug-ravaged zombies and large groups of men and women dressed as sailors, or gnomes or crayons or whatever.
The Lifeboat Pub, on the other hand, was utterly welcoming, if you like that sort of thing.
.*. Yes, I know I'm part of the problem. #irony
A remarkably accruate description of the place.fk me, what an absolute sthole.
Points of note:
The classiest, least repellent pubs were Wetherspoons.
There is a deeply uncomfortable mix of falling-over drunk people and families by midday.
"Family Bar" shouldn't be a thing.
"Kids eat for free in the Casino" really shouldn't be a thing.
Two streets back from the prom looks like the set from Escape from LA.
Two streets back from the prom at night is Escape from LA.
I may not be the best parent in the world, but when I see two heroin addicts having a fight at 11pm, then 30 seconds later, see a Dad and his ~10 year old son walking around, I do question WTF is going on in some people's heads. It's bad enough seeing families in pubs mid-evening, surrounded by hammered stag and hen parties.
So, if you were thinking of visiting, I probably wouldn't recommend it. If you live there, you have my sympathies. I'm sure there are nice bits, but they're bloody hard to spot in a forest of neon, infant pick-pockets, drug-ravaged zombies and large groups of men and women dressed as sailors, or gnomes or crayons or whatever.
The Lifeboat Pub, on the other hand, was utterly welcoming, if you like that sort of thing.
.*. Yes, I know I'm part of the problem. #irony
There's only really the promenade and the one road inland that is at all acceptable, the rest of the centre would benefit from a bulldozer.
As others have said, Blackpool has enormous social, drug and alcohol problems. Until there's a significant change it will be a place to avoid for many people.
Driver101 said:
Go on to TripAdvisor and find The Royal Vincent hotel.
I have no idea how that level of filth and safety issues has managed to stay open.
A mate booked it for a group of us and it was unbelievable.
Anything above 1 star has to be a fake review.
Wow, that is something else I have no idea how that level of filth and safety issues has managed to stay open.
A mate booked it for a group of us and it was unbelievable.
Anything above 1 star has to be a fake review.
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