Author: Ed

Boulevard Hotel

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Opened in 2018, The Boulevard Hotel has quickly become one of Blackpool’s top destinations for families and leisure travelers. Situated next to Blackpool Pleasure Beach, the hotel features 120 modern rooms, many offering spectacular views of the Pleasure Beach and the Blackpool coastline. Its prime location makes it an ideal base for families looking to enjoy the theme park, as well as nearby attractions like Sandcastle Waterpark and the South Pier. The hotel has garnered numerous accolades since opening, including a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence and the Best Hotel for Families award at the 2019 British Hotel Awards. It has… Read more »

The Big Blue Hotel

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The Big Blue Hotel in Blackpool is a contemporary, family-friendly hotel located on the grounds of the famous Pleasure Beach theme park, offering a unique and immersive experience for visitors. Opened in 2003, the hotel was designed to provide guests with a modern and vibrant place to stay while enjoying the thrills of Blackpool’s iconic amusement park. With its bold, striking exterior, featuring shades of blue and contemporary architecture, the Big Blue stands out on Blackpool’s promenade, drawing attention with its playful and colourful design. The hotel boasts over 140 rooms, offering a range of accommodations from standard rooms to… Read more »

Fleetwood Pier

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Fleetwood Pier, also known as Victoria Pier, was officially opened on Whit Monday in 1910, measuring just 492 feet (150 meters) in length, making it one of the shortest piers in the UK. Built at the tail end of the golden era of pier construction, it was the last pleasure pier to be constructed in the country. Over the years, the pier hosted a variety of attractions, including a cinema opened in 1942 and a pavilion added in 2011. The pier’s history has been marked by several setbacks, the most significant being a devastating fire on 25 August 1952, which…

Ripley’s Believe It or Not

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Opened in 1974, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! in Blackpool is a must-visit for anyone curious about the bizarre and the extraordinary. Spread across two floors, the attraction features eight themed galleries, each showcasing a fascinating collection of unusual artifacts, oddities, and interactive exhibits from around the world. Whether you’re exploring peculiar cultural relics, remarkable people, or the wonders of nature, there’s something to amaze and intrigue at every turn. The concept behind Ripley’s Believe It or Not! comes from Robert Ripley, a cartoonist, adventurer, and collector of strange stories. Ripley traveled the world in search of the weirdest and… Read more »

Mr B’s and Golden Mile Amusements

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Mr B’s Golden Mile Centre opened its doors in 1968, marking a new era for Blackpool’s amusement scene as the town’s first purpose-built arcade. Prior to this, most arcades were makeshift structures—canopies or converted sheds attached to the fronts of old hotels and guesthouses. Located on Central Promenade, Mr B’s was a modern two-story building that boasted a variety of rides, including Waltzers and Dodgems, alongside a wide selection of slot machines and pinball machines, making it a major attraction for both locals and visitors. Tragically, on 2 July 2009, the arcade was devastated by a fire that completely destroyed… Read more »

From Trocadero Cinema to Happy Dayz Amusements

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The Happy Dayz building, now a popular amusement arcade, has a long and varied history that began far from the world of gaming and entertainment machines. Originally opened as a cinema on 17 May 1912, the building was first known as the Central Beach Cinema. Located on the Promenade opposite the Central Pier, the cinema offered both film screenings and live stage performances. This dual purpose made it an important part of Blackpool’s entertainment scene, but its history would prove to be anything but stable. By the early 1920s, the cinema underwent its first name change, becoming the Trocadero Cinema…. Read more »

Funland Amusements

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Funland Amusements in Blackpool was built in 1861 when Read’s Bazaar, Market, and Sea Water Baths opened. The site was later the location of Coney Island amusement centre before becoming the Funland Amusements visitors know today. Situated on Blackpool’s famous Golden Mile, nestled between the SEA LIFE Centre and Madame Tussauds, Funland lives up to its name with a big arcade filled with plenty of games, children’s rides, and that classic seaside favourite – bingo. As one of the largest amusement venues in the area, it offers a diverse range of entertainment options for visitors of all ages. The arcade… Read more »

Nickelodeon Land at the Pleasure Beach

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In 2011, the Thompson family and Blackpool Pleasure Beach entered into a landmark agreement with Viacom, the owners of the global Nickelodeon brand, to transform a section of the park into Nickelodeon Land. This 4-acre, £10 million redevelopment was aimed at creating a fun-filled, immersive experience for younger visitors. It replaced the former children’s area, Beaver Creek, which had closed in 2010. The new area was not only a fresh take on the park’s family offerings but also included several major updates to existing attractions. For example, the park’s Rollercoaster was completely rethemed and reopened as Nickelodeon Streak, while the… Read more »

Stageworks Worldwide Productions

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Amanda Thompson, daughter of the legendary Geoffrey Thompson and granddaughter of the founder of Blackpool Pleasure Beach, has been a pivotal figure in the continued success of the iconic amusement park. As President of Stageworks Worldwide Productions, a company she founded in 1982, Amanda has helped bring a variety of spectacular live shows to stages and ice rinks around the world. Under her leadership, Stageworks has become renowned for producing unforgettable performances, including those staged at the Pleasure Beach, where her talent for blending entertainment and innovation continues to shine. Having joined the Pleasure Beach team in the early 2000s,…

Tommy Steele at The Grand Theatre

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All round entertainer Tommy Steele starred as Dr Dolittle at the Grand Theatre. The photo was taken on 20 February 2008 out in front of the theatre. Tommy Steele brought a lot to the Doctor Doolittle role, which made perfect sense as he’s starred in so many shows that have been good for the whole family. From a title role in 1960s musical Hans Christian Andersen, via Half a Sixpence, to his stint in Scrooge, the showman is the embodiment of classic family entertainment. The cheeky cockney was perfect for a national tour of Doctor Doolittle, the smash-hit musical about the vet who…