Warwick's Amusements

Warwick and Janet, along with their family, marked 50 years of running Warwick Amusements across the Fylde coast. Looking back on their journey, the couple expressed how much they’ve enjoyed the last five decades. While they continue to play an active role in the business, they’re excited to see their children and grandchildren take it forward as Blackpool undergoes a period of renewal.

Both Warwick and Janet come from families steeped in fairground traditions, with their grandfathers being travelling showmen who took rides and slot machines around in wagons. In the early 1970s, as a newly married couple with a baby, they decided to settle down and open their own amusement arcade. The decision involved significant risk and hard work, but they were determined to make it a success.

They spent several years searching for a suitable location, but with limited funds, many opportunities were out of their reach. Eventually, they found a property on Dale Street. Although the building was in poor condition and located off the main promenade, it was still beyond their budget. They decided to take a bold step, selling everything they had – their car, their house – and approached multiple banks to secure a loan.

Their gamble paid off, and on April 11, 1974, they opened their first arcade on Dale Street. A second location followed in 1977 on Bolton Street. In 1984, they became pioneers in the area by launching Blackpool’s first Adult Gaming Centre (AGC) on Highfield Road, followed by further sites across the town, including locations on Whitegate Drive, Central Drive, Clifton Street in Lytham, Westcliffe Drive in Layton, Waterloo Road in South Shore, Topping Street, Talbot Road, and Church Street. Most of these original sites are still operational today, with their son adding a shop on Abingdon Street.

Over the years, Warwick and Janet have led the way in the amusement industry. They ensured all their customers were over 18 well before it became a legal requirement in 1989. They also launched the popular ‘Second Chance Lottery’ with the Blackpool Gazette in 1994, inviting people to bring in discarded National Lottery tickets to be entered into a weekly £100 prize draw. The scheme ran for more than 20 years.

Warwick and Janet take great pride in serving their local community, with around 90 percent of their customers being regulars rather than tourists. They offer a more personal service than larger arcades, with many people visiting not just to play but for a chat. Their employees are also considered part of the family, with many staying with them from a young age all the way through to retirement. The couple has been part of their staff members’ lives, attending weddings and funerals over the years.

For Warwick and Janet, customer service has always been the cornerstone of their business. They’ve found that the harder you work, the luckier you get. They’ve always had faith in Blackpool’s potential and remain optimistic about the town’s future, confident that both Blackpool and Warwick Amusements will continue to thrive in the years to come.