Opening of Houndshill

The original Hounds Hill Shopping Centre in Blackpool, which opened in 1980, played a significant role in modernising the town’s retail landscape. Conceived as part of Blackpool’s efforts to upgrade its shopping environment, the centre was designed to address the growing demand for contemporary retail spaces and attract more visitors to the town centre. The planning phase involved consultations with retailers and town planners to ensure that the new centre would complement Blackpool’s existing retail offerings. Houndshill Shopping Centre is an indoor shopping centre and the only one in Blackpool. It’s located in the centre of the town with one entrance opposite the Tower on Bank Hey Street. Construction began in 1978 and a car park was built above it, spanning over 4 floors, with a focus on integrating modern retail spaces within the historic context of the town. Upon its opening, the Hounds Hill Shopping Centre featured a variety of retail outlets, including both national chains and local businesses, providing a diverse shopping experience. It included modern amenities such as ample parking and a layout designed for convenience.

The centre was well-received and contributed positively to Blackpool’s retail environment. It offered a new, organised shopping experience and attracted a range of shoppers. However, as shopping trends evolved and the demand for larger retail spaces grew, the original centre was eventually succeeded by a more expansive development. The new Hounds Hill Centre, which opened in 1991, built on the success of the original by offering an expanded range of shops, dining options, and facilities to better serve the growing customer base. The original Hounds Hill Shopping Centre was instrumental in laying the groundwork for these future developments and contributed to the broader revitalisation of Blackpool’s town centre.

A new extension was opened In September 2008, at a cost of over £30million, featuring Debenhams as the new flagship store, which trebled the size of the shopping centre. But this store would eventually become Frasers. To accommodate the anticipated extra footfall, the multi-story car park was extended. The owners of Houndshill at the time, BCC Eiffel, went into receivership in 2019, putting the future of the centre into doubt. Blackpool Council bought it soon afterwards for £47million. Within a few years, a new building was erected in place of a small car park to accommodate Backlot Cinema, Blackpool’s first and only IMAX theatre.