Blackpool
 

Been to Blackpool today, the weather was lovely and the beach seemed really clean, lots of people in cossi's soaking up the sun. Just walking down the prom thinking how nice it was to take our daughter (nearly three) for some fresh air when she said "whats that lady doing"? She was referring to a blow up doll hanging halfway up a wall outside a shop, fortunately we were on the opposite side of the road so she couldn't see any details. I know Blackpool is well known for being tacky but it really lowers the tone of the place, they could've at least put a frock on it!

Re: Blackpool
 

You should just be thankful you was at blackpool. I was working from 10am til 7pm.

the sun was blinding through the window i tell ya.

Re: Blackpool
 

lived there for a few years, when you get past pleasure beach goin towards st.annes its not as tacky,but i know what you mean with having youngsters.st.annes is much more child friendly.

Re: Blackpool
 

It's been sunny but blowing half a gale here today and the wind was coming from the North, i.e. damned cold. They must have been hardy souls on the beach in cozzies. Me, I'll wait till the week after next when I go to soak up my twice yearly Maltese sunshine. ;)

I haven't been to Blackpool for years but, I can assure you, it was just the same "in my day". I remember giving my eldest daughter (now aged 41) some money to go and buy chocolate from a stall on the Front when she was about 10. She came back with a chocolate willie. Her father's face was a study. :D

Re: Blackpool
 

you should try cleveleys too, its much nicer than blackpool .they are going to do all the prom up this year ,and build a cinema and complex ,,,should be allright then ..

Re: Blackpool
 

ahh blackpool

does anyone remember when you could go there without running the risk of ..

been harrassed by beggers outside everyshop

confronted on almost every corner by vibrators , dildos and blow up dolls

running the risk of been stabbed

been mugged

having your bag stolen as you play an arcade game

picking up TB or worse from the dirty beech and side streets



welcome to blackpool dont foget to bring the kids :(

Re: Blackpool
 

Sweet sounds pretty awesome!

Re: Blackpool
 

no chav and i'm older lol

Re: Blackpool
 

I agree that Blackpool certainly does have an image problem. But, as with most things, it is what we have made it. Blackpool traders are not much different than traders anywhere else and if stuff like blow up dolls and vibrators did not sell they would not be in the shops.

Maybe if Parliament gets off its backside and pushes through the casino proposal things will change for the better, the plans that I have seen are certainly very impressive.

The area does seem to have more than its fair share of pensioners and benefit claimants, who are not very economically active, and I suppose that they represent a considerable obstacle in any attempt at regeneration. Still it's good that North West Water have been forced to clean their act up, the beach has definately improved in recent years. The EU is good for some things.

Re: Blackpool
 

I agree about the beaches being cleaner. It certainly looked that way when I was there last. I remember that there was always a risk of catching a black ribbed knobbler whenever you paddled in the sea at one time. I know that there have been plans discussed to try to clean up Blackpool and make it less tacky. It now has the dubious honour of being the stag and hen do capital of the North West, so blow up dolls and various marital aids dangling in shop windows are only to be expected. Hopefully it won't be too long before they make it a little more family friendly.:D

Re: Blackpool
 

A serious question -- you were obviously aware about the sleaze on display in that area of Blackpool so why choose to walk in view of it all ?

Re: Blackpool
 

Somtimes it cannot be helped, its there before you know it, as a frequent visitor to blackpool i must say iv'e got used to it & i don't see it but if you have't been for awhile & you have children with you it can be a shock to the system.

Re: Blackpool
 

perhaps people should be able to take their kids to the UK's most popular seaside resort without them been subjected to pornographic materials

blackpool like to promote themselves as a family resort with attractions like sea world , the tower and the pleasure beech but it is almost impossible to reach these places without been confronted by blow up dolls and sexual aids

perhaps blackpool council should enforce the law where pornographic material should not be shown to children

i am not a old prude and couldnt care less what people buy or use on each other but displaying these items right next to attractions for familys and children is wrong

just my 2 cents

saying all that the council allow the sale of illgal copies of cds on the sea front so dosnt look like they care about much

Re: Blackpool
 

i hope the plans for the casino thingy does go through ,i think it will attract more respectable gambling if the casino,s are run more like the james bond thing ,and i should imagine there will more security to keep the riff-raff and beggersfrom the bus shelters etc ....................(there but for the grace of god )

Re: Blackpool
 

It is illegal for retailers to display outside shops or in their window displays overtly sexual products, it's up to the Council to moniter and fine traders who break these laws.

Blackpool has a fruity' kiss-me-quick' image and that is part of it's appeal, but saucy postcards are one thing, but the open display of adult material isn't that good an idea for a resort that also promotes it's self as being a family destination.

Do also beware that if instead of a Li-lo, you go into the sea with a blow up doll you may have some explaining to do if you're washed up on the Irish coast. ;)

Re: Blackpool
 

I live in Cleveleys and it's more family friendly there! Blackpool is trying to clean up it's act,but it's gone down the anything goes/stag and hen parties road,it can be a place to see drunks taking a wizz in the street in broad daylight with no attempt to hide the fact to what they are doing,people flat out on the pavement,being sick,I could go on and on,
the place needs to be made to think that for every person it attracts it turns more people away,I'm broad minded but the place is nasty at the moment!

Re: Blackpool
 

Ah well -- the not my fault syndrome rears its head again. I would think that most people from this area over the age of say twenty, are well aware of what Blackpool has to offer.

So why go if the items on the "Golden Mile" offend ?

The above not applicable to first time visitors.

Re: Blackpool
 

reminds me of that wonderful episode of only fools and horses ...majic:D

sorry i should have quoted garinda ,about being washed up with a blow up doll ..:confused:

Re: Blackpool
 

i guess most people still go to salvage what little there is left of blackpool that they experienced as children to share with their own kids


my grandparents took my parents to blackpool and my parents took me just like i take my children to do the things and experience the things as i did as a child and although you can find similar things and do the same things at different resorts they just arnt the same as blackpool somehow

Re: Blackpool
 

i know exactly what you mean ..my grandchildren love the tower and pleasure beach etc..its just not the same any where else ,,and the fish and chips ,,yum..

Re: Blackpool
 

Its a while since we've been to Blackpool, last time Ellie was too young to notice, this time we thought we'd kept well away but she's very observant, the fact that these items are on display doesn't offend me its just not very family friendly, when infact Blackpool is marketed as a family friendly place.

Re: Blackpool
 

WHY should there be large seaside resorts where your not at ease taking children?thats the question that should be asked of modern society.

Re: Blackpool
 

I'm a little surprised in reading of this. It would appear to me that the objects described transcend beyond novelty items to sex aids and as such I would assume that shops that sell them would come under the auspices of the laws pertaining to sex establishments. These regulations quite clearly limit the number of such outlets in a locality and also prohibit what can be displayed in public view in the front shop window. Monitoring and control is the responsibility of the local authority.

I can only assume therefore, that Blackpool council are failing in their statutory duties. This is incompetence. I wonder - are they twinned with Hyndburn council?

Re: Blackpool
 

having lived in blackpool i think that they are even more incompetant tealeaf i know youll find that hard to believe,but they even prosecute delivery drivers for delivering goods,up north shore, i used to deliver to the grand theatre and you cant park after 10-30 but the theatre don't open while around 11-30,theres no where to park near the place so if you have a heavy delivery-bear in mind you have also to carry it up the stairs as well,you park outside aND RISK A TICKET,i was fortunate but a couple of the other drivers not so.

Re: Blackpool
 

Blackpool is and should be a family resort, and blow up dolls (perhaps they are just very sophisticated Lilos, as in Lilo Lil?) should not be on show. They aren't even on show in Soho, because the police enforce the rules.

That said, bit of a wander, one evening late I went into our kitchen. In the flat opposite, I could see a body hanging. Horrified, I called David and asked if we should call the police, just in case it was someone who could be rescued. David said he wasn't keen on the idea, so we wrangled a bit - just then, a light went on in the flat opposite, so I thought well at least somebody knows and can do something.

Am I glad I didn't call anyone - the following morning I looked across - what I had thought was a suicide attempt turned out to be a blow up doll hanging from a hook!!!!

Re: Blackpool
 

BLACKPOOL means what its name tells us (its a cess pit) if i go its not by choice,would rather stay away!its dirty,forever having roads/ prom dug up,more cameras than an accy web meeting...lol, dirty pokey hotels/guest houses cheap trash sold on every corner,

would rather go out in the country side any day!

Re: Blackpool
 

I've only been there twice, but you just sold it to me!

Do you have the names of any of the dirty hotels?

Re: Blackpool
 

http://www.iknow-northwest.co.uk/blackpool/
there you go garinda enjoy, i am supposed to be going tomorrow on a freeby to a trade fair even the thoughts of the free beer does not appeal....lol.

Re: Blackpool
 

It might have been good for a laugh, though. I know plenty of policemen who might well find that situation to be a good story for the end of the day! Of course, the neighbor in the flat opposite might be miffed. However, folks who leave a blow up doll, at least one that might be mistaken for a real person, hanging where it can easily be observed might benefit from a mild embarassment.

Re: Blackpool
 

I live here...................believe me it's a s*** hole. But it's a nice s*** hole to visit when the suns up.

Re: Blackpool
 

Blackpool.........................best place to go for a good night out!!


I feel safer in Blackpool than going down Burnley/Accrington or Blackburn!!!!

Re: Blackpool
 

Haven't been in over 3 years and it was grotty then;it sounds even worse now! Having said that;my friends regularly drive over on a week night for a wander round?!?:confused:

Re: Blackpool
 

I have to admit that I haven't been to Blackpool for about 5 years. The last time I went it was really tacky but we had a good time anyway. I remember Blackpool when I was a child with Kiss me quick hats and donkey rides. The blow up dolls were not evident on the seafront back then and although still a bit tacky it was more family orientated. Remember sitting on the sand with my nana and the rest of the family. It was always windy and people had those wind break things that they used to try and get changed behind without anyone seeing them.:D