The seaside town has been a popular spot for Greater Manchester holidaymakers for decades
Visitors to the seaside town have confirmed they don’t plan on returning.(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)
Before the advent of affordable package holidays and foreign travel, seaside towns like Blackpool were the chosen get-away spots for Manchester holidaymakers.
The coastal destination was all the rage in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, experiencing remarkable growth. The 1800s saw the construction of iconic landmarks such as Blackpool Tower, the Pleasure Beach, Winter Gardens and all three renowned piers.
Blackpool was particularly popular among the working classes of the North, who relished the health benefits of sea bathing and fresh air, a stark contrast to the smog-filled, industrial landscapes of Manchester
In 1801, Blackpool had a mere population of 473. However, by the 1890s, the town was home to 35,000 residents and welcomed a staggering quarter of a million holidaymakers annually, reports Lancs Live.
Blackpool Council’s £300m Blackpool Central Scheme has hit a snag.(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)
Two of the town’s most iconic hotels were erected in the latter half of the 19th century – the Grand Metropole in 1873, an extension of a hotel first opened in 1785, and the Imperial Hotel built in 1867.
However, Blackpool’s golden era was not destined to last.
Despite its decline, Blackpool continues to attract hundreds of thousands of tourists, many of whom have been visiting since their childhood.
But now, some holidaymakers say they have had enough with the Lancashire town.
One couple from Manchester, seasoned holidaymakers to Blackpool who wished to remain anonymous, voiced their disillusionment with the seaside spot.
“It’s not what it used to be,” they said. “It’s worse than it was before, a lot worse. It’s all alkies and druggies now.”
‘The hotels have gone to hell’
June and Tony from Waterfoot near Rawtenstall, 15 miles north of Manchester, who make regular visits to Blackpool each year, have noticed a downturn in the area.
June and Tony from Rawtenstall say Blackpool’s hotels “have gone to hell.”(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)
“It’s really handy for us and it’s a friendly place but we have seen a decline,” June remarked.
“It’s very, very sad. My heart goes out to Blackpool.”
Tony added: “It’s a real shame. The hotels on the Prom have gone to hell.”
‘We won’t come again’
Mr and Mrs Jones from Gloucestershire, loyal visitors to Blackpool since 1980, have declared they will not return after their recent trip.
The couple, who were spending a few days in the resort this week, say they have made up their minds.
“We’ve come twice in a year at times,” Mrs Jones recalled. “But it’s gone downhill. It’s nowhere near as nice as it used to be.
“We actually hadn’t been for about four years but since the last time we came we’ve seen it go from up ‘here’ to down ‘there’. I’ve said to [my husband] ‘we won’t come again’.”
Alex and Elizabeth Foulds claim the area is “not how it used to be.”(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)
She added: “We went to Skegness a few years ago and that’s just as bad.”
Blackpool is consistently identified by government statistics as one of England’s most deprived areas among 317 Local Authority regions, considering factors such as income, employment, education, health, crime, housing access, and living conditions.
The Office for National Statistics reported that last year, 28 per cent of the population in Blackpool were categorised as “economically inactive”, meaning they were neither employed nor actively seeking employment.
Yet, not all who hold Blackpool dear have turned their backs on the coastal town. For some, like Ann and Richard Kelly from Durham, it maintains a special place in their hearts.
Ann said: “I used to work at the Norbreck Hotel. It was a beautiful hotel back in the day.
Blackpool Council’s £300m Blackpool Central Scheme has hit a snag.(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)
“We’ve been to Blackpool dozens of times and used to bring our kids here when they were growing up. Now we bring our grandkids.
“But everything costs so much more these days. I was stunned when I saw how much it costs to go to the Pleasure Beach. Blackpool always used to be packed but now when we come here we go ‘where is everybody?’.
“It’s just so quiet. I’ve never known it be so quiet. It’s completely different to when I used to work here 50 years ago. It’s just not the same anymore.”
Changes over the years have become evident for many visitors.
Elizabeth and Alex Foulds, from Paisley in Scotland, draw a bleak comparison between past holidays and the present.
“It’s not how it used to be,” Elizabeth said. “I’ve been coming here since I was a bairn and it holds such happy memories for me but it’s sad to see how things are now.”
Regeneration efforts
Blackpool Council is showing a strong commitment to enhancing the town’s reputation.
Although the highly anticipated £300m Blackpool Central Scheme, promising a flying theatre, dual indoor theme parks, a 200-room hotel, a public square, as well as multiple bars and restaurants, hit a snag due to the developer’s failure, initiatives are moving forward with the demolition of the old police station on Bonny Street commencing this week as part of an effort to draw fresh investment.
The vision is that the Blackpool Central project will contribute significantly to the town’s £1.98bn tourism sector, which currently provides jobs for more than 22,000 locals.
Councillor Lynn Williams, the Leader of Blackpool Council, emphasised the project’s importance: “Blackpool Central sits right at the heart of our plans to make Blackpool better for everybody.
“I believe that this is one of the most exciting leisure development opportunities in the country.
“I look forward to finding a company that shares our vision for a world-class leisure development which creates jobs for our local people, extends our tourism season and supports our local economy to grow.”