Tag: Landmarks

Blackpool Sports Centre Opens

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On the site of the former park nurseries, the Blackpool Sports Centre was built in 1996, further enhancing Stanley Park’s reputation as a hub for sports and recreation. The sports hall, designed with versatility in mind, offers facilities for a wide range of activities, including badminton, table tennis, and 5-a-side football. It also features a 60-meter running track, catering to athletes and fitness enthusiasts of all levels. This development marked a significant investment in Blackpool’s sporting infrastructure, helping to provide local residents and visitors with access to high-quality facilities for both recreational and competitive sports. The Sports Centre is part… Read more »

Blackpool Cricket Club Opens

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Blackpool Cricket Club has a long and storied history, dating back to its origins in 1890. The club was initially based in various locations within the town before it found a permanent home at Stanley Park. The land, a sprawling 256-acre site, was gifted to Blackpool Corporation in 1924, as part of a grand vision for the development and expansion of the town’s public amenities. This ambitious project led to the creation of Stanley Park as a key community space, with facilities for leisure and sports. As part of the broader development, a cricket pitch was laid in 1925, alongside… Read more »

Parks Art Deco Cafe

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The Parks Art Deco cafe is frankly stunning. A majestic art deco building set in beautiful Stanley Park, the cafe was built in 1926 and is grade two listed. It is owned by Blackpool council and is fully licensed, although as we went for breakfast we didn’t indulge in the glorious jugs of Pimms they had advertised. There is seating both indoors and outdoors facing the Italian gardens, so wherever you choose to sit you certainly have a room with a view. When I was in Blackpool last month, the local historian Ted Lightbown also took me to the Stanley… Read more »

Blackpool Zoo Opens

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Blackpool Zoo officially opened its doors on July 6, 1972, marking the beginning of what would become one of the town’s most beloved attractions. The zoo was developed on the site of the former Stanley Park Aerodrome, an historic airfield that had fallen out of use. Amelia Earhart was one of its many famous visitors. You can see her name mentioned on the blue plaque below. Its transformation into a zoo was part of Blackpool’s broader efforts to expand its appeal beyond the famous seaside attractions and provide visitors with a unique, family-friendly experience. From its inception, Blackpool Zoo was… Read more »

The Solaris Centre

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Originally built in 1938 as a Winter Garden, the Solaris Centre had deteriorated over the years, becoming a decaying eyesore along the promenade. Thankfully, instead of opting for demolition, Blackpool Council chose to restore the building and commissioned Mellor Architects to revitalise it. The vision was to transform the Solaris into a regional hub for environmental action, where each organisation or company occupying one of its many units would contribute to environmental sustainability in some way, earning the privilege of calling the Solaris their home. For more information about Mellor Architects and their role in this project, click the link… Read more »

North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce

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The building on Amy Johnson Way in Blackpool, which serves as the headquarters for the North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, was completed and opened in 2002. The road was named after the pioneering British aviator Amy Johnson and the building was built by Chris Hermolle and Ed Christiano of Encore Developments. This modern facility was strategically located to offer good accessibility near major transport routes and amenities. Equipped with contemporary facilities, the building features meeting rooms, conference spaces, and administrative offices designed to support the Chamber’s diverse range of business services. It acts as a central hub for… Read more »

The Old Electric Theatre

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Just a short stroll from the promenade, Blackpool’s newest community arts venue provides a unique setting for creative activities. The venue aims to make arts and culture accessible to everyone in Blackpool, offering a range of shows, engaging activities, educational programmes, and varied experiences. The Electric Sunshine Project (TESP), founded in 2016, was established to nurture creative expression through workshops, events, projects, and performances. Their mission is to break down barriers and encourage children, families, and individuals to explore their creativity. The name ‘Electric Sunshine’ pays tribute to Blackpool’s historic achievement in 1879 when it became the first town in… Read more »

Grand Theatre

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BlueBlueThe Grand Theatre in Blackpool is a historic venue that has been a central part of the town’s cultural scene for more than a century. Designed by the famous Victorian architect Frank Matcham, it first opened its doors on July 23, 1894. The theatre showcases Matcham’s distinctive style, blending Baroque, Rococo, and Gothic influences. Its lavish interior, adorned with intricate plasterwork and gold detailing, makes it an impressive and visually captivating space. Over the years, the theatre has seen several restorations to maintain its historic appeal while updating its facilities. It was saved from demolition in the 1970s by passionate… Read more »

Royal Palace Gardens

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“To go to Blackpool and not visit the Royal Palace Gardens is to visit London and not visit the Crystal Palace or Westminster Abbey, or go to Rome and not visit the Vatican or the Coliseum!”London Weekly News – 1891 The Royal Palace Gardens was a world famous destination for variety and music hall stars and touring exhibitions and battle re-enactments like ‘Savage South Africa’ and the ‘Afghan War’. With its lavish Grand Opera House, Indian Pavilion and famous botanical gardens, conservatories and menageries, it covered an area of over 40 acres. It was the first of Blackpool entertainment complexes… Read more »

The Legacy of Premier Bowl

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The tenpin bowling centre on Central Drive in Blackpool opened on 1 October 1965, just a short walk from the seafront. It had thirty-six Brunswick lanes all on one level with A2 type pinsetters. The centre operated until the early 1970s when the Rank Organisation decided to close all its remaining bowling centres, although the Blackpool Mecca Building remained. In the 1970s, it became well-known for The Highland Room, which was a major Northern Soul music venue. From 1977, it hosted the Commonwealth Sporting Club but closed down in the 1980s. It’s not clear if the building was used in... Read more »