After years of hearing about the seaside resort, an Irishman living in the UK went to see what all the fuss was about – and he was not disappointed
When you think of seaside towns in the UK, the one that probably springs to mind first is Blackpool. This popular spot has been a go-to destination for Brits for many years, thanks to its retro vibe, great fish and chips, and wealth of attractions.
Although there’s a lot to love, it was actually voted one of the worst UK seaside towns recently, in a survey by the consumer experts at Which?. Nevertheless, Manchester Evening News writer Liam De Brun decided to pay it a visit for the first time after hearing countless stories about it from his late granny – who had even travelled there from Derry for her honeymoon.
Not only did the town match his expectations – it even surpassed them, with Liam describing it as the ‘perfect’ day.
Liam and his girlfriend made the trip last weekend when much of the country was swept up in Oasis mania. Arriving on the train from Liverpool and spotting the iconic tower for the first time, they were ready for a day of adventure.
Their first task was to check-in at The Chatwal Boutique Hotel, which involved a short tram ride.
He said: “It was exactly like I imagined – there were endless takeaways, football tops from teams all over the country and buildings that felt like they hadn’t changed a bit since the 1980s. Getting off at a stop which had a poster of Sooty displayed with pride, we left our luggage with the hotel’s receptionist and made a mad dash to make our 1pm booking at Blackpool Tower.”
This landmark, which is a whopping 131 years old, is a must-visit if you’re in Blackpool — especially if you are a Strictly Come Dancing fan. It’s all about reaching the top, and Liam did just that.
He recalled: “It’s a euphoric feeling having the wind hitting your hair as you get a beautiful view of the Ferris wheel on the pier, the gorgeous beaches and the blue sky.”
After ticking off the first item on their list, they had an hour to grab lunch before heading to Madame Tussauds, eventually finding themselves in a place that seemed ‘straight out of a David Lynch movie’.
The bar was serving cotton candy alongside vodka, there was a man belting out Wonderwall to a small audience on a stage surrounded by fruit machines, and someone was performing parkour across empty tables.
With fish and chips fuelling them, they headed to the wax museum. Liam joked: “I’m still confused why the first figure showcased is Alison Hammond when later you get to meet Beyoncé, The Rock and Corrie’s own Jack P Shepherd.”
Liam’s ‘highlight’ of Blackpool’s Madame Tussauds was the replica of The Rovers Return Inn from Coronation Street. Sadly though, it was pretty busy that day, making it ‘impossible’ to share a pint with Deirdre Barlow.
As someone who has been sober for two years, Liam admitted he sometimes finds it hard to find things to do in the evening.
But he said: “Blackpool’s largest free admission attraction Coral Island was the answer to my prayers. Not only is there arcade games and a casino, but the pirate theme elevates it to an indoor fun park that could rival any other.”
Despite not becoming a millionaire, he did discover a love for the 2p coin pushers.
After a stroll along the pier under the setting sun, they rounded off the night with another serving of fish and chips from Lily’s Traditional Fish and Chips, which Liam described as the ‘perfect end to the perfect day.’
He concluded: “While it’s more impressive to say you’ve been to Paris, generations of families have travelled here for a reason.
“There’s a spirit to it that commercialised cities will never recover. Everyone is there for a good time, to forget about their worries, and in my case, prove it’s worth waiting two decades to tick a destination off your bucket list.”