Tag: Landmarks

Lytham St Annes RNLI Shop

Posted by

There isn’t much information online about when the Lytham St Annes RNLI Shop was built but RNLI shops have humble beginnings, starting in the early 1920s as small cake stalls organized by volunteers to raise funds for local lifeboat stations. As the charity’s popularity grew, these stalls began to sell RNLI-branded souvenirs and Christmas cards. The first official shop within a lifeboat station was established in 1990, creating a dedicated space for supporters. The RNLI shop in Lytham St Annes, run entirely by dedicated volunteers, offers a variety of gifts and souvenirs, from homeware and clothing to toys, greeting cards,… Read more »

Thompson Family Takes Over Pleasure Beach

Posted by

Blackpool Pleasure Beach was founded in 1896 by Alderman William George Bean, a man with an entrepreneurial spirit who initially aspired to make his mark in advertising on New York’s Madison Avenue. After an unsuccessful attempt to break into the advertising world, Bean returned to the UK in 1897, bringing with him a vision inspired by the bustling amusements he’d seen in the U.S. He set up two amusement ventures: one in Great Yarmouth near Euston Road, and the other in Blackpool, located near the tram terminus. While the Great Yarmouth park struggled to attract visitors, the Blackpool location flourished…. Read more »

Blackpool Taco Bell

Posted by

Taco Bell has opened its first location in Lancashire with a new drive-thru restaurant in Blackpool. The popular US fast-food chain began serving customers on Rigby Road, near the Central Drive junction, on Thursday, 22 June 2023. This vibrant new eatery offers its signature Mexican-inspired dishes, including tacos and quesadillas, every day from 10:30 am to 11 pm. The two-storey restaurant seats up to 52 guests in its spacious upstairs dining area, while the ground floor features digital self-order kiosks and a reserved table for disabled customers. Taco Bell also plans to introduce a delivery service across Blackpool. The menu… Read more »

Blackpool Tourist Information Centre

Posted by

Festival House on the Promenade is home to Blackpool’s VisitBlackpool Tourist Information Centre, a modern facility inaugurated by HRH Prince Edward. This is the ideal spot for discovering everything that’s happening in Blackpool! Each year, more than 100,000 visitors stop by Blackpool’s Tourist Information Centre. The dedicated team here ensures that everyone can make the most of their time in Blackpool, whether they need in-person assistance or have queries by phone at 01253 478222. For non-urgent questions, the team is also reachable via email. The centre offers a wealth of information on all that Blackpool has to offer, along with… Read more »

Viva Blackpool

Posted by

Viva Blackpool has grown from humble beginnings in 2012 into a cornerstone of entertainment in Blackpool, often dubbed the “Vegas of the North West.” Since opening, this vibrant venue has welcomed visitors year-round, employing over 65 team members who all earn a living wage. For over a decade, Viva has captivated audiences with a unique fusion of show-bar excitement, dazzling performances, and a touch of classic glamour. Set on Blackpool’s iconic Golden Mile, they offered a trip back in time to the fabulous era of the 1950’s for a unique and high-quality dining and entertainment experience. Featured classic car fitted… Read more »

Ashton Gardens in St Annes

Posted by

Ashton Gardens, a park in St Annes, opened in 1916 on land that still shows traces of its original sand dunes. It was first created in 1874-75 as St George’s Gardens by landscape gardener E. Thomas for a local development company. In 1896, the gardens were offered to the council for £12,000, but they declined. Later, O.J. Porritt took over the lease and in 1912 proposed building on the site. This sparked interest from the council, but the cost seemed too high. Just in time, Lord Ashton donated over £25,000, allowing the council to buy the land and improve it…. Read more »

Lytham Cricket Club

Posted by

Lytham Cricket Club was established in 1855 by Squire Clifton from Lytham Hall. After 91 years of playing friendly matches, the club joined the Manchester & District Association in 1946. In 1963, the estate, including the cricket ground, was sold to the Guardian Royal Insurance Company. By 1967, the club expanded to include cricket, tennis, hockey, and soccer, and by the late 1980s, the club had bought the ground, securing its future for cricket. First-class cricket arrived at Lytham in the early 1980s, though benefit and second XI county matches had already been held there. The inaugural County Championship match… Read more »

Madame Tussauds

Posted by

Madame Tussauds Blackpool is a celebrated wax museum that opened its doors in 2011. It took over from the former Louis Tussauds Waxworks and now showcases more than 80 lifelike wax figures of celebrities, TV and film stars, athletes, and musicians. The museum’s most recent addition, as of April 2024, is a wax figure of Alison Hammond. In March 2010, Blackpool Council and Leisure Parcs struck a major deal to acquire several of Blackpool’s most iconic landmarks. This £38.9 million agreement, backed by both national and local governments, included Blackpool Tower, Winter Gardens, Louis Tussauds Waxworks, and the Sea Life… Read more »

Blackpool Transport

Posted by

Blackpool Transport was established by the town council in 1885, marking the beginning of its operations with the opening of its tramway on 29 September 1885. The tramway initially utilised a conduit system for electric operation, but this method faced significant challenges. Consequently, in 1899, the system was upgraded to a 550V overhead wiring system, which proved to be more reliable. In July 1920, Blackpool Transport expanded its services to include buses, launching its first route between Cleveleys and Thornton railway station. The introduction of bus services within Blackpool itself began in December 1922, with the inaugural route running between… Read more »

Blackpool Sandcastle Water Park

Posted by

The Sandcastle Waterpark, which first opened its doors on 26 June 1986, was established on the site previously occupied by the South Shore Open Air Baths. This venture marked a successful collaboration between public and private sectors. As an indoor waterpark, it boasts an impressive array of attractions, including 18 water slides. Notably, it features the Master Blaster, renowned as the world’s longest indoor roller-coaster water slide, and the Sidewinder, the pioneering vertical indoor drop slide. The park offers a variety of family-friendly attractions, such as the Ushi Gushi Action River, the Shimmering Shallows, and the Typhoon Lagoon Wavepool. For… Read more »