Category: 2023

Blackpool Author Homer Jackson Lamour Publishes His First Novel

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Homer Jackson Lamour was born in Blackpool on 11 December 1946. He received a professional qualification as an associate of The Chartered Institute of Secretaries (ACIS – qualified by examination in 1972). He also took A levels in his forties and then two degrees: English at Aberdeen University and History at Cambridge University. His first novel was published on 22 August 2023. Click the image above to buy the book on Amazon The following text has been taken from Amazon’s promotional copy on for the book: This work can be classified as post modernist absurdist literature in the style of…

Blackpool Cricket Club Festival

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The Blackpool Cricket Club’s music festival, also known as the Blackpool Cricket Club Festival, was held on Saturday, August 23rd, 2025, and featured UK tribute bands, a live DJ set by Graeme Park, street food, and fairground rides. The event, which ran from noon to 9:30 pm, was organised to support Trinity Hospice. As far as we can tell, the music festival was in 2023 – as shown below. Blackpool Cricket Club hosts several events like the Blackpool Adored Festival and other beer festivals throughout the year, as listed on their official website, according to a search result. Blackpool Cricket…

Hickory’s Smokehouse Launches in Thornton-Cleveleys

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Hickory’s Smokehouse in Thornton-Cleveleys officially launches on 22 September 2023, bringing a taste of the American South to the Fylde coast. The restaurant opens in the former Iron Horse pub on Fleetwood Road North, a well-known site that is given a complete transformation. The venue is part of the Hickory’s Smokehouse chain, which has established a reputation for recreating the spirit of Southern hospitality and cuisine. The concept is rooted in authentic barbecue traditions, with menus shaped around smoked meats, slow cooking and bold flavours. Diners are offered brisket, ribs, pulled pork and fried chicken, alongside signature sides such as…

Opening of £5 Million Club 3000 Bingo

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On Saturday, 1 July 2023, Club 3000 Bingo officially opened its latest venue at Festival Leisure Park in Blackpool, marking a significant milestone as the company’s 24th club across the UK. This new venue represents a £5 million investment, transforming the former Swift Hound Pub site into a modern, state-of-the-art bingo hall designed to offer an exceptional experience for both regular players and newcomers alike. The grand opening was a spectacular affair, drawing over 800 guests who enjoyed an evening filled with entertainment and celebration. Highlights included a captivating magic show by Craig Harper, as well as special appearances from… Read more »

Two Blackpool Metro Trams Find a New Home

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For a true taste of Blackpool Metro heritage, you can visit the two historic trams now located at Brickhouse Farm Cottages, a family-operated holiday retreat dedicated to accessibility and inclusivity. The Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust had been seeking to find new homes for their trams for some time. While many were dismantled for parts, set 3 was fortunate to be preserved at Brickhouse Farm Cottages in Hambleton. On 6 December 2023, the final two 1930s Fylde Coast trams were saved from what has locally become known as ‘the tram graveyard’. According to a Facebook post, the trams, which were the… Read more »

Cleveleys based Michael Davies Publishes his Debut Novel

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Michael Davies is a versatile writer whose work spans stage, screen, radio, online platforms, and print. In October 2024, he released Thin Ice, the latest instalment in the Bill Kemp series, following Outback, which was published by HarperCollins in May 2023. The series features the protagonist Bill Kemp—described by Jeffrey Deaver as “part James Bond, part Philip Marlowe, and all hero”. Kemp originally appeared in Desmond Bagley’s posthumously published thriller Domino Island, which Michael was commissioned to complete in 2019. Outback serves as a spiritual sequel, honouring Bagley’s legacy in the centenary year of his birth. Desmond Bagley himself had… Read more »

David Hogarth Launches His Second Book

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Local writer David Hogarth hosted a soft launch of his memoir recounting his life growing up in Blackpool. David Simper popped along to find out more. After a little bus confusion due to one company’s real time information system announcing a bus that doesn’t exist, I caught the alternative service 61 down to town and walked down to the Tea Amantes cafe and gallery, for local author David Hogarth’s book launch. The word had certainly got round for this one and by the time I got there, the place was packed. I recognised David as a regular at the excellent… Read more »

Brassic Cast Comes to Blackpool for Series 5

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Brassic cast members Michelle Keegan, Tom Hanson, Bronagh Gallagher, Aaron Heffernan, Carl Rice, and Muzz Khan run riot on a Blackpool pier and try their luck in the arcade in season 5. Reeling from the dramatic events of the Series 4 finale, Vinnie and the gang face big repercussions from their entanglements with the dangerous MacDonagh brothers and powerful drug buyer Manolito. With both criminal big-wigs now on his case, Vinnie needs to negotiate his exit strategy – and fast. But there’s a lot on his mind, especially as he’s still trying to figure out what the hell is going… Read more »

Tower Fire False Alarm

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An unusual incident at Blackpool Tower on 28 December 2023 resulted in emergency services responding to what was initially thought to be a fire near the iconic structure’s viewing platform. However, the supposed flames turned out to be orange netting blowing in the wind, creating an illusion of fire. The situation escalated when images and videos shared on social media seemed to show flames at the top of the 158-meter-high tower. Lancashire Fire and Rescue, taking the reports seriously, dispatched six fire engines, a drone team, and climbing specialists to the scene. The police helicopter later clarified that no fire… Read more »

Lytham and St Annes Town Crier

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Kila Redfearn was officially appointed by the Squire of Lytham, Lord of the Manor on Sunday, 12 March 2023 at Lytham Hall. She has made history by becoming Lytham’s first female town crier. As a town crier, she will often need to get loud, but the post requires other more important qualities, such as having a…