Category: 2019

Blackpool Tower Receives a New Illuminated Heart

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Image taken by © David Hulme For more than a century, Blackpool Tower has stood at the centre of the resort’s famous Illuminations, its distinctive silhouette forming one of Britain’s most recognisable landmarks. In August 2019, as the Tower celebrated its 125th anniversary, one of its best-known lighting features was carefully replaced during the first phase of a major LED modernisation project. The upgrade introduced new LED lighting to the Tower Top, the west face of the structure and a newly constructed illuminated heart. At the same time, responsibility for maintaining the Tower’s external lighting transferred to Blackpool Council’s Illuminations Department,…

Nigel Farage and Ann Widdecombe Bring the Brexit Party to AFC Fylde

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On 4 May 2019, Nigel Farage and Ann Widdecombe appeared together at Mill Farm, the home of AFC Fylde, as part of the Brexit Party’s campaign for the 2019 European Parliament elections. The event attracted a crowd of around 1,600 supporters, making it one of the party’s largest campaign rallies in the North West during the election campaign. The venue’s main stand was filled with supporters who had travelled from across Lancashire and beyond to hear speeches from the party’s candidates. Nigel Farage was the principal speaker, setting out the Brexit Party’s argument that the result of the 2016 referendum…

Jacinta: The Last Fleetwood Trawler and the End of an Era

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For many years, the trawler Jacinta stood as one of the most important surviving reminders of Fleetwood’s proud fishing heritage. Once a hardworking deep-water fishing vessel that sailed to the rich fishing grounds of the North Atlantic, she later became a floating museum and heritage attraction. However, after decades of preservation efforts, the decision was made in 2019 to scrap the vessel following serious structural deterioration, marking the end of a remarkable chapter in Fleetwood’s maritime history. Launched in 1972, Jacinta was built as a modern stern trawler, representing a new generation of fishing vessels. Unlike older trawlers that hauled…

Farmer Parrs Tractor Shed Bistro, Jumping Pillows, Museum and Animal World

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Farmer Parrs Tractor Shed Bistro is a family owned and run fully licensed restaurant in Fleetwood that opened in 2019. They serve sumptuous breakfasts and elegant lunches – all in a beautiful setting. Light, bright, spacious and stylish. The Tractor Shed Bistro is the perfect location to meet friends and family or to impress business associates. They have also brought back their very popular Sunday Lunches. Tasty roast dinners served from 12pm-3.30pm every Sunday between September and April. But there’s so much more to see and do at Farmer Parrs. They have the fabulous museum called the Fylde Country Life…

Blackpool-Born Simon Sadler Buys His Local Football Club

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Simon Sadler, born on 18 October 1969 in Blackpool, is a British entrepreneur and the founder of Segantii Capital Management. He became the owner of Blackpool Football Club in 2019, purchasing a 96.2% stake and ending the Oyston family’s 32-year control. In his second full season at the helm, Sadler oversaw the club’s promotion to the Championship, marking their return to the second tier of English football after a six-year absence. Sadler grew up on Bispham Road in Blackpool and had a summer job renting deckchairs. He attended Moor Park Primary School, Warbreck School, and Blackpool and the Fylde College before… Read more »

James Cartmell Gets Voice Role for DreamWorks

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James Cartmell is an English actor known for his work in both theatre and voice acting. He gained recognition for his role in the West End production of Milked and became the voice of the titular character in the British animated series Where’s Waldo. Cartmell also voices Gilber Barker in the 2021 Netflix series Go, Dog. Go!. Born in Lancashire, England, Cartmell attended Kirkham Grammar School and began pursuing acting and voice lessons in 2007. During his school years, he was actively involved in music and sports, competing in athletics at a competitive level with UK Athletics. He later joined… Read more »

The Birth of Young Farmers DIY AGM at Blackpool

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The Young Farmers Community was established in 2018 in response to the cancellation of the long-standing National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) Annual Convention. The NFYFC made the difficult decision to discontinue the event following reports of anti-social behaviour at the 2018 convention in Blackpool, held over the May bank holiday weekend (4–6 May). While the federation insisted it had not been “banned” from any host towns, it ultimately chose to end the convention after 50 successful years. The announcement, made on 2 August 2018, was met with disappointment and frustration from young farmers across the country, who had…

Art B&B Opens its Doors on the Promenade

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Art B&B first opened its doors in 2019 after Blackpool Council purchased the former Ocean Hotel on the promenade between Banks Street and Springfield Road for £203,000 in 2016. The traditional Blackpool B&B has been transformed and reimagined by over 30 established and emerging artists, who have curated the 19 rooms and communal spaces to offer a truly unique stay. As a community business, Art B&B reinvests its profits into arts and community projects, making it a distinctive boutique hotel designed to engage and inspire guests. The team behind Art B&B took a tired seafront hotel and entrusted its decor… Read more »

World War Drama filming on St Annes beach

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The BBC’s filming of World on Fire at Lytham St Annes has drawn significant attention, as the North Beach has been meticulously transformed to replicate the beaches of Dunkirk. The dramatic recreation of one of World War II’s most pivotal moments showcases the production’s commitment to authenticity. The scene forms part of the series’ exploration of the Dunkirk evacuation, a crucial episode in the early years of the war that saw the rescue of hundreds of thousands of Allied troops trapped on the French coast. World on Fire, created by Peter Bowker, offers a deeply human perspective on World War… Read more »

Valeo Confectionery Continues Blackpool’s Sweet Legacy

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If you’re curious why a Pontefract-based company with a presence on Vicarage Lane appears in Blackpool’s timeline, it stems from its historical connection to Clifton Road, once home to Daintee Confectionery, a renowned Blackpool company. Over time, the UK arm of Toms Confectionery acquired Daintee along with Taveners and Parrs between 1992 and 2001, eventually rebranding as Tangerine Confectionery. Tangerine itself changed ownership multiple times and, in August 2018, was acquired by Valeo Foods. By December 2019, the company’s name officially became Valeo Confectionery. In January 2006, Toms Confectionery rebranded following its purchase by a management team from Toms International… Read more »