Back in its glory days, this UK seaside town was once considered one of the best – but has since been branded ‘poor and rundown’. However, could a hefty investment see Blackpool become the next Dubai?
Once the ‘King’ of UK seaside resorts, this infamous town has witnessed its reputation plunge into the gutter. With seven miles of golden sand, an acclaimed funfair, a restored Victorian theatre, and a soaring 500ft tall tower – Blackpool has all the foundations of a great coastal town.
For years, it was the place to go for a dip in the sea, a trip to the arcades, and an unbeatable fish & chip dinner. However, in recent years it has been tarnished as one of the UK’s most ‘dangerous seaside’ resorts, as it grapples with economic deprivation and high crime rates. Despite near-constant negative coverage, Blackpool’s visitor numbers are still on the rise, with 2023 figures showing the seaside resort attracted a whopping 21.5 million tourists. This is a six per cent increase compared to the year before and was branded ‘very encouraging’ by Blackpool Council leader councillor Lynn Williams.
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Amid growing calls for the UK to employ a dedicated tourism minister, Chris Moss, the Telegraph’s ‘destination expert’ says Blackpool should be turned into the UK’s version of Dubai. In a recent article, he described the ‘much-loved’ town as becoming ‘poor and rundown’, blaming a ‘myriad’ of issues including ‘local council mismanagement’ and no tourism minister being able to offer advice.
“It could be a sort of Macau or Dubai, but liberal and friendly and for all social classes,” Chris wrote. “Blackpool has heritage and history but doesn’t boast about it (the new Showtown museum is a step in the right direction). It needs infrastructure, money, vision and promotion. We need to reinvent Victorian resorts for a 21st-century market.”
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Since 2013, a long-term initiative called the Talbot Gateway Development, has been pushing efforts to transform the town. The £350 million fund, led by Blackpool Council and Muse, aims to redevelop the area around Blackpool North train station in order to bring over 8,000 workers and students into Blackpool town centre and create more jobs and opportunities for local people.
Blackpool’s £350 million investement
“A first phase was completed in 2014 with the opening of the 125,000 sq ft Number One Bickerstaffe Square council office, a Sainsbury’s supermarket and a refurbished 650-space multi-storey car park, alongside extensive public spaces for the community to enjoy,” Blackpool Council said. “A second phase was completed in 2024 with the opening of a 144 bedroom Holiday Inn and Marco Pierre White restaurant, as well as a new tramway extension and interchange with Blackpool North train station.
Planning permission for a 50,000 sqft office building which will bring an additional 1,000 workers to the Talbot Gateway was submitted in May 2024. According to the Express, the hope is that this investment will attract new businesses, encourage tourism, and provide jobs for local people, ultimately reducing the issues of crime that have plagued the area.
The Mirror has approached Blackpool Town Council for comment.
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