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Great Beer, particularly Real Ale (Cask Ale), in and Around Blackpool, a Famous Seaside Resort on the NW Coast of England This White Beer Travels Web page is largely based on visits to Blackpool, in 2005 and 2006. The prime purpose of the first visit was not for beer, see below, but naturally some was partaken of. This is reported on in this Web page, which will be expanded as further visits to Blackpool and its environs are made. The main focus of this Web page is places that feature unfiltered and unpasteurised Real Ale, a term for a type of Specialty/Speciality/Craft Beer, coined by the UK's premier beer consumers' organisation, CAMRA (www.camra.org.uk), the CAMpaign for Real Ale, in 1971, the first year of its existence. The formation of CAMRA truly did save Real Ale (Cask Ale) for the nation, at a time when the big brewers were seemingly trying to kill it off, by forcing the beer drinking public to drink poor imitations of Pilsner style beers (called Lager in the UK), along with ghastly, pasteurised and filtered fizzes, such as the infamous Watney's Red Barrel. I denote whether any pubs mentioned appear in CAMRA's Good Beer Guide (GBG), e.g. GBG 2007 means that the place in question appears in the 2007 edition (published in September, 2006). Note that, should a place not appear in the GBG, it could, but does not necessarily mean that it does not serve Real Ale, or that there are problems with its Real Ale; the choice of pubs competing for entry is so great that a number of places serving Real Ale in tip-top condition have to be excluded for space reasons. Also, if, for example, a pub is in the 2006 guide, but not the 2007 one, it can by no means be assumed that its beer quality has deteriorated. Some of the pubs are on CAMRA's National Inventory of pubs that have interiors of outstanding historic interest, these being featured in the booklet The CAMRA National Inventory. Pub Interiors of Outstanding Historic Interest (NI), and a superb website produced by CAMRA dedicated to them, www.heritagepubs.org.uk; click here for more details. Unless indicated otherwise, all beer prices quoted on this page are for a pint of draught/tap beer or a 33cl bottle. Most pubs are typically open seven days a week from 11am (Noon on Sunday) to 11pm (10.30pm on Sunday). If a pub that is featured opens at significantly different times to these, they will be detailed. Note that licensing laws in England and Wales were subject to a major reform in November, 2005, with the much publicised introduction of twenty-four hour drinking. However, licences for this have only been granted to a small proportion of pubs, these not being typically of interest to the lover of Real Ale. However, many Real Ale outlets have extended their hours, to, for example, open at 10am in the morning and close an hour later at night, i.e. at Midnight. Should you need to use public transport to get about the UK, whilst Beer Hunting, or whatever, then the Traveline UK Public Transport Information website is absolutely invaluable: www.pti.org.uk. Click here for a White Beer Travels Web page covering stress-free navigation, when using your own car or a coach/bus to get from Pub A to Pub B, etc. 2005 and 2006: Trips based in Blackpool, Lancashire The main purpose of the 2005 visit to England's most popular and biggest seaside resort, Blackpool, on the Fylde coast, in the NW of England, was to attend an excellent, long weekend of jazz, the Swinging Jazz Party (www.swingingjazzparty.com), which takes place each year in an hotel on Blackpool's North Shore, the Hilton Hotel, North Promenade (A584) (corner of Derby Road), FY1 2JQ, tel 01253 623434, www.hilton.co.uk/blackpool. The Hilton is just a little North of Blackpool's most famous and prestigious hotel, the Imperial Hotel, North Promenade, FY1 2HB. The jazz weekend has a brilliant atmosphere; it is superbly organised by Tom and Chris Baron. It takes place in the Hilton's Royal Suite, which has very good acoustics. Most attendees and the artists stay at the Hilton during the weekend. The eighth Swinging Jazz Party, in 2007, will run from Saturday, the 1st to Tuesday, the 4th of September, with a jam session on the evening of Friday, the 31st of August, for early starters. The schedule for the long weekend of jazz is packed, which leaves only a little time to visit some of the Real Ale outlets in and around Blackpool, but most of the ones visited proved to have their merits, most having some unusual beers on offer. A great feature of them was that the beers sampled in them were generally in top-class condition, with landlords in charge who were very obviously interested in ensuring that this would be the case on visit after visit. I returned in 2006, and covered some more of the areas pubs/Real ale outlets. The Pubs/Real Ale Outlets Unless indicated otherwise, the pubs are in Blackpool itself. If not in Blackpool they are in places that are quickly reached from it by local public transport, or are not too far by car (don't drink and drive), or are in a town that one typically passes en route to Blackpool. For all the pubs featured, I quote their post code; plugging this into www.streetmap.co.uk provides a location map, as does the more versatile maps.google.co.uk. The New Road Inn, 244 Talbot Road, FY1 3HL, This is a superb Jennings house (www.jenningsbrewery.co.uk), which can be spotted on the left of the tracks, as you are coming into Blackpool North railway station. The New Road Inn typically has four different Jennings beers on handpump; it has a multi-roomed interior. Being away from the seafront, its clientele are mainly locals and beer tourists, armed with the Good Beer Guide. Your Pint is served in a glass topped to the brim; there is no need to ask for a good-grace top-up here! The Ramsden Arms Hotel, 204 Talbot Road, FY1 3AZ En route to The New Road Inn, when walking from Blackpool North railway station, on the right, you can't miss the impressive Brewer's Tudor exterior of this marvellous place; it forms the whole block between Buchanan Street and Seed Street. It dates, in its present form, from 1933. It has unquestionably the best pub interior in Blackpool; purists point out that some modifications have been made, and there are the odd fruit machine, but one can sit to avoid these and enjoy what really is a splendid place, with continuous seating all round its lengthy interior walls (backs for everyone), and things hanging everywhere and on shelves, such as tankards, horse brasses, brass plates and Toby Jugs, in its various rooms and alcoves (there is a splendid one for darts); although it is badged a Tetley Heritage Pub (as well as also being badged "Under Old Management"), Real Ales did not include Tetley Bitter on my April, 2006 visit, but Guest Beers delivered from a massive island servery, included Burton Bitter, Taylor Landlord and Phoenix Bitter (£1.60), the latter being GBG quality, although it has not recently been in the GBG, but it has had past accolades such as being voted the local CAMRA branch's Pub of the Year in 1988/9; it has a marvellous mix of clientele and excellent bar staff, who sing along to the background music; yes, a Blackpool must-visit. Little Fat Jack's Social Club, 75-75A George Street (corner of Elizabeth Street), FY1 3HY Also close to the New Road Inn, down the street on which it is on the corner of, Elizabeth Street, is the 2003 West Pennines CAMRA Club of the Year. It beer range varies, but it typically has Real Ale from the Phoenix Brewery, in Heywood, Greater Manchester. CAMRA members can enter on production of their membership cards. The Pump & Truncheon, 13 Bonny Street, FY1 5AR, This is opposite the Police Station, a hundred yards/metres or so South of the Town's famous Grade I listed Tower (www.theblackpooltower.co.uk), Central Promenade, FY1 4BJ, of Ballroom and its Wurlitzer organ, Circus and the Tower itself fame. Under the stewardship of Keith Slater, The Pump & Truncheon, which was formerly The Brunswick Hotel, and once in the Hogshead chain, has a marvellous selection of beers, including examples from the town's Blackpool Brewery, such as BPA (Blackpool Pale Ale) (4.2%). Churchills Bar, 83-85 Topping Street (on the corner of Wood Street), FY1 3AF, (GBG 2006, GBG 2007 page 237) This town centre pub has some of the trappings of an Irish Pub, with a "Traditional Irish Sunday Lunch", characterful customers, live music, but it also has four handpumped Beers, including, on my April, 2006 visit, Burton Ale, Bateman XXXB, and Wells Bombardier (£2.30). Uncle Tom's Cabin, 44-46 Queen's Promenade (on the corner of Knowle Avenue), FY2 9RW Uncle Tom's is a pioneer of Blackpool's entertainment venues; it was built in 1850. It is close to the "Cabin" tram stop. It is on the seafront, North of the Hilton Hotel, see above. Uncle Tom's "not much of a cabin now" - it is quite big and not cabin-like - has kept with the times with its TV screens for football, and a number of fruit machines, but if you manage to avoid these, you can enjoy Real Ales such as Hook Norton Bitter and Everards Tiger for £2 (April, 2006). Saddle Inn, 286 Whitegate Drive, FY3 9PH This has a plaque proclaiming it to be the town's oldest pub; it dates from 1776. This is some way out of the centre, but can be reached by bus. Real Ales typically include Fuller's London Pride, Adnams Broadside, Thwaites Original Bitter and Wells Bombardier. Thwaites (www.thwaites.co.uk), being based in Blackburn, Lancashire, have quite a few outlets in Blackpool. They are a well-regarded brewer of Real Ale, but many of these outlets will be keg-only, this being what many holiday makers and day trippers, as well as Blackpudlians, unfortunately go for, along with poor quality Lager. However, there are some Thwaites Real Ale outlets in Blackpool. A website that warns of pubs with no Real Ale is mentioned below. From this, two promising Thwaites pubs are: the Highland Hotel, 206 Queen's Promenade (on the corner of Hesketh Avenue), FY2 9JS, a traditional locals' pub with accommodation, that is further North up North Promenade than Uncle Tom's Cabin, which is covered above; and The Duke of York, 60 Dickson Road (roughly parallel with North Promenade), FY1 2AW. Both these have Thwaites Original Bitter (3.6%) and Lancaster Bomber (4.4%) on handpump. Lancaster Bomber was first brewed by Mitchells of Lancaster on the 6th of June, 1994, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of D-Day. Following the closure of Mitchells, it became part of the Daniel Thwaites portfolio. Yates's Wine Lodge, 2-10 Talbot Road (on the apex corner with Clifton Street), FY1 1LF (No Real Ale) This is Blackpool's most famous pub; it opened in the 1880s after one in Oldham, Greater Manchester. When I last visited the place in the 1960s, the atmosphere was electric, many of the clientele being significantly merry from downing large measures of cheap, but alcoholic Yates's own label "Cyprus Sherry" and/or Australian Sweet White Wine, the latter being particularly nasty, i.e. completely unrelated to the quality Australian Wines that are commonplace in the UK today. These concoctions are no longer available, and the sawdust on the floor has gone, i.e. its interior has been brought into line with the modern-day Yates's that have sprung up everywhere, these bearing no relationship to the classic originals, such as this one, as it once was. It was most sad to see it so altered on the 2005 visit, especially as its marvellous exterior, albeit with modern, Yates's-only badging, gave me the impression that all might be well inside. Finally, to cap it all, there is no Real Ale. The Dunes, 561 Lytham Road, FY4 1RD, This is not in the town centre, but it is on the right on the number 11 bus route To Lytham, which you are bound to get to if you are a Real Ale fan and come to the area, see above and below. If travelling on the bus from the town centre, watch out for The Farmers Arms on the left, and get off at the next bus stop (named "Farmers Arms", which is also served by the number 5) beyond the lights (for the junction with Harrowside/Highfield Road). The Dunes is a little further down from the bus stop, on the opposite side of the road, just beyond Lovie Horrocks Park. On my April, 2006 visit, Greene King IPA was £1.92 and Hart Temptress was £1.98. The latter was excellent. The Dunes is a typical large, semi-partitioned seaside pub, with TV screens for football, and Sunday Roasts on a, er, Sunday. Opposite The Farmers Arms is one of the Booths Supermarket chain (www.booths-supermarkets.co.uk), these being fairly local to this area; they have a good selection of bottled beers from the UK. Also on the right, on the same bus route, nearer the town centre, is a J D Wetherspoon (www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk) outlet, The Auctioneer (235-237 Lytham Road (in a block between Shaw Street and Bagot Street, the latter being the name of the nearby number 10 and 11 bus stop), FY1 6ET). Waterloo Hotel, Waterloo Road, FY4 2AF (No Real Ale) This is on the number 7 bus to Lytham; it is on the corner of Central Road, the A5099, on the right, when travelling from the town centre. There is no Real Ale, but it is a very impressive looking place, that is a very famous crown green bowling venue; the green, unusually, is surrounded by a grandstand, attesting to its importance in the Bowls world. In the 1960s, I used to live fairly close to Blackpool, and visited it regularly; the beer of choice was Boddingtons Bitter from Manchester, which is near to Ashton-under-Lyne, where I was born; it was a most distinctive, straw coloured beer, that was very hoppy, a true world-classic. However, many years before Boddingtons were taken over by Whitbread, Boddingtons themselves had emasculated it, which was no doubt the attraction for Whitbread who turned it into a national brand, which the latest owners, that load of Bankers, InBev, are carrying on, with a keg version, the most common version of it that you will come across in countless pubs that are badged Boddingtons, in Blackpool. There is a cask-conditioned (Real Ale) version, brewed by Hydes in Manchester (www.hydesbrewery.com), InBev having shamefully, albeit characteristically, closed the Boddingtons Brewery, in Manchester. Boddingtons Cask Bitter was available in most of the Real Ale outlets visited on the 2005/6 visits to Blackpool, generally because the landlord has no choice in the matter. Remembering the beer of old, which the new one is nothing like, I never drink it. In any event, I do not touch InBev beers, such as Hoegaarden and Leffe, this Belgian company being no friend of the small independent brewer, in Belgium and elsewhere, who are in constant danger of being driven out of business, or taken over by them. In fact, not letting these InBev beers pass your lips is no loss, since with Interbrew/InBev recipe meddling, they have become very moderate anyway! Bispham Hotel, Red Bank Road (corner Warbreck Drive and the approach road to Sainsbury's), FY2 9HY,
The above two photos of the Bispham Hotel and its sign, were taken by John White, in April, 2006. There are a number of excellent Samuel Smith pubs in and around Blackpool, these offering its Samuel Smith Old Brewery Bitter on handpump, at £1.30 (April, 2006), versus a typical price of around £2 for beers of a similar strength, in almost every equivalent outlet in Blackpool. In the Bispham Hotel, the Sam Smith's was in immaculate condition. Red Bank Road tees off Queen's Promenade, see below, by the prominent Bispham Tram Station. The Bispham Hotel has a most impressive Art Deco exterior and interior. This Sam Smith's outlet and the next entry are close to stops on the number 1 bus route, which goes along the seafront. As may be suspected, also going along the seafront between Starr Gate, in the South, and Fleetwood, in the North, are Blackpool's famous trams. Victoria Hotel, As per the previous entry, this is a Samuel Smith pub. Victoria Road West, goes eastward from nearby the "Cleveleys" tram stop. When I was about seven years old, in the early 1950s, I spent a week in a B&B in Cleveleys, on holiday with my parents, Edwin White (1926-91) and Ada White (1925-2006). We got the train to Blackpool and walked to the B&B, which is quite a distance on foot. A very early memory I have is wondering how on earth they found it, something which I am certain has developed my interest in navigating to places, especially ones with a beery connection! When I was en route by tram from Blackpool to Fleetwood on the 1st of May, 2006, passing the Cleveleys tram stop, and noting that it was close to the road on which this place stands, brought the memory of all this back to me. I was going to Fleetwood to check out some pubs fro this Web page, but had only been there for half an hour or so, when I got a call on my mobile phone (cell phone) that my mother was dying, so I rushed back to the hospital that she had been taken to that day, on the other side of the country, where she died an hour or so before I got there. In my parents' memory, I will return to Cleveleys and navigate myself to this Sam Smith's outlet, which I had planned to visit on my return from Fleetwood, on the 1st of May, 2006, but clearly could not. The Shovels, 260 Commonedge Road, FY4 5DH, GPS: 53.779308o N, 3.017812o W, The Shovels is some way out of the town centre, but is readily reached on a number 14 bus. It is about half a mile South of the A5230 junction with Commonedge Road, the bus stop named "The Shovels" being just outside the place. It has a superb selection of handpumped beers, chosen by its mega-keen landlord, Steve Norris, these including, on our 2005 visit, one from the marvellous local Hart Brewery (covered soon), Fernandes Triple from the excellent Fernandes Brewery, in Wakefield, West Yorkshire (www.fernandes-brewery.gowyld.com), and a couple from the also excellent Titanic Brewery, in Stoke-on-Trent (www.titanicbrewery.co.uk). The Cartford Hotel,
Cartford Lane, Little Eccleston, near Poulton-le-Fylde, PR3 0YP, www.cartfordinn.co.uk, GPS: 53.860557o N, 2.880850o W, (GBG 2006, GBG 2007 page 246)
At the back of the Cartford Hotel, is the Hart Brewery. Of course, its beers are to be had in the pub, e.g. Nemesis (4.5%) at £1.98, the same price as Phoenix Navvy (3.8%) on our visit. The pub, which is run by Andrew and Tracey Mellodew, is superbly situated by the Cartford Bridge, a toll bridge carrying a minor, unclassified road over the River Wyre, which reaches the Irish Sea at Fleetwood; the hotel is eight miles from Blackpool, and about the same distance from Preston, half a mile off the A586, from which it is signed, as the Cartford Inn. The Cartford Hotel cannot be reached by public transport. The Taps,
The above photo of this marvellous place, was taken by John White, in April, 2006. When you visit the place, it is easy to see why The Taps was CAMRA's West Pennines Regional Pub of the Year, in 2004, and the runner up in CAMRA National Pub of the Year, in the same year; this really is an absolute don't-miss, top-class place, both for beer, atmosphere, and the building itself, one of Lytham's oldest. It is very easily reached, as it is close to the terminus of the number 11 bus from Blackpool, which is called "Lytham Square" (which is also served by the onward-travelling number 7 bus), this bus stop being in Lytham's most pleasant Market Square. (Note that some number 11 buses only go as far as St Anne's Square.) Turn right on getting off the bus, and take a left out of the square and then a very quick right onto the required Henry Street, The Taps, being quickly reached on the left, just before the corner with Queen Street, the latter leading to the Ribble Estuary, which is most pleasant for walking along; The Taps, in a previous incarnation (Clifton Arms Vault & Tap Room), was the bar for the Clifton Arms Hotel on the riverfront (West Beach (A584), FY8 5QJ). The Taps' landlord, Ian Rigg (Riggy), has two house beers brewed by Titanic: Taps Best (3.5%) and Taps Mild (3.5%). On our 2005 visit, the Top Sail (4.3%) from the Crouch Vale Brewery (www.crouch-vale.co.uk), in Chelmsford, Essex, was truly magnificent; this will quite likely not be on, on your visit, but I am confident that there will be something just as good, taste-wise and condition. The current beers available are given on the place's website; some will be from Greene King, who own the place, but not obviously so. There are also some bottled Belgian Beers. Food is available on Monday to Friday, from Noon until 2pm. The Taps has a splendid interior of bare brick and polished floors. Riggy's parents used to have a famous Manchester pub, called Tommy Ducks, which was illegally knocked down overnight by its brewer-owners, Greenalls, and he has tried to recreate some of its atmosphere in his own pub. There are a number of restaurants on The Taps' street, Henry Street, some of which are frequented by famous golfers, as can be The Taps, when the rotational Open Golf Championship is in progress at the Royal Lytham & St Anne's Golf Club (www.royallytham.org). The Hastings Club, 26 Hastings Place (on the corner of Upper Westby Street), Lytham St Anne's, FY8 5LZ, For a photo of this club of clubs, see the top of this Web page. The Hastings is off the other side of the Market square from the previous entry, The Taps. It is very close to Lytham Railway Station (served by trains from Blackpool South). The Hastings was voted CAMRA's National Club of the Year, in 2005, the judge's commenting on its excellent décor and mixed clientele of different backgrounds and age. It typically has twelve interesting beers on handpump. Around five of the Real Ales are permanently on sale, the others being ever-changing Guest Beers. The regulars include: Black Sheep Bitter; Wadworth's 6X; and Moorhouse's Pendle Witches Brew and Pride of Pendle. In April, 2006, Guest Beers (served in glasses etched with "Award Winning Guest Ales") suggested that the beer selectors had a propensity for Blonds, i.e. beers noted included Tring Sidepocket, Archers Villager (£2.05), Hopback Summer Lightning, Lancaster Blonde and Moorhouse's Blond Witch. All the beers partaken of were immaculate, which includes a number of beers that were first-out-of-the-pump-just-after-opening-time, a sure sign that everything possible is done in The Hastings to ensure that your beer is at its best. Food includes: Vegetable Lasagne at £4.50; Various Sandwiches; a Portion of Home-Made Chips at £1.50; and "Pav's Famous Steak and Ale Pie at £6.50. I had the latter, and it proved to be top-class; the Steak, which is not diluted with Veg, is sourced from a renowned Butcher nearby; it is marinated in a Moorhouse's beer. In the evening, the chef, Pav Higgins, produces highly regarded Tapas. Free membership is available to all; different levels of membership provide different levels of discount. However, card-carrying CAMRA members are admitted without any requirement to become a member. Club MD, John Forshaw, and its General Manager, Jon Simmons, are Real Ale fanatics, who ensure that the Real Ale on sale in the club is of the highest quality. Yes, an absolute don't-miss for the Real Ale fan. The Hastings Club is open from Noon until 11pm, every day of the week. In the Market Square itself, opposite the bus stop, on the corner of Pleasant Street, the Ship & Royal is also worth checking out for its Ebony Caryatids behind the servery. Should you wish to stay overnight close to The Hastings, nearby is The County, Church Road, FY8 5LH, a hotel in the Premier Travel Inn chain of budget hotels (www.premiertravelinn.com). Thomas Drummond, London Street, Fleetwood, FY7 6JY, This is one of a number of GBG entries in the well-known fishing port of Fleetwood. It is a well above average Wetherspoon's outlet. The Steamer at Fleetwood, 1-2 Queen's Terrace (on the corner of Victoria Street), FY7 6BT, GPS: 53.924348o N, 3.005300o W,
The above photo of the exterior of The Steamer at Fleetwood, was taken by John White, in May, 2006. The Steamer, which typically has Caledonian Deuchars IPA and Wells Bombardier on handpump, is very close to the Fleetwood Museum, 6-7 Queen's Terrace, FY7 6BT (www.nettingthebay.org.uk, stopped working in July, 2006). Queen's Terrace runs along the Western bank of the River Wyre, just before it enters the Irish Sea. Victoria Bar, North Euston Hotel, The Esplanade, Fleetwood, FY7 6BN, GPS: 53.927737o N, 3.008610o W
The North Euston Hotel is an historic hotel, with a most impressive façade, and an interior to match. The Victoria Bar is incorporated into the hotel, but can be entered directly from The Esplanade, see the photo, above right. The photo on the left features one of Blackpool's famous trams at the "Fleetwood Ferry" tram stop, which, as can be seen, is close to the hotel. Both photos were taken by John White, in May, 2006. "Fleetwood Ferry" tram stop, the tram end stop, is the most Northerly of the tram stops. Real Ales in the hotel's Victoria Bar include Fuller's London Pride and Wells Bombardier. Using the foot ferry, on Queen's Terrace, one can get to Knott End-on-Sea, on the other side of the river, where the pub very close to where the ferry lands you, The Bourne Arms, Bourne May Road, FY6 0AB, has Real Ale. Wyre Lounge Bar, in the Marine Hall, The Esplanade, FY7 6HF, This bar is owned by the local Council. It has a good selection of Real Ales, including ever-changing Guest Beers, from the likes of Moorhouse's and Hart. Black Horse, 166 Friargate, Preston, PR1 2EJ,
Preston is typically passed through en route to Blackpool by train. It is well worth breaking the journey for this place, and other pubs in the town, such as the next entry. The above photos of this classic pub were taken by John White, in April, 2006. It is housed in a Grade II listed building, the. It is owned by the justly renowned Stockport brewers, Robinson's. On my visit in April, 2006, their Old Tom (8.5%) on handpump was, well, simply wonderful. This was £3.10. Other Real Ales included Best Mild at £2, Bitter and Best Bitter, at £2.10, and there was also Ward's Bitter and a Guest Beer from Hartley's (these beers being brewed by Robinson's). The Black Horse is on the pedestrianised section of Friargate, on the corner of Orchard Street, next to a Wilkinson supermarket, and close to the Market Square. It is a wonderful, multi-roomed, atmospheric pub full of wonderful local characters philosophising, with much wood, interesting glass work, mosaic floors and nicely carpetted floors, and lots of seating with my much favoured backs. There is background music, which suited my ears. The Old Black Bull, 35 Friargate (A583), Preston, PR1 2AT,
The above photo of the splendid external lettering on this don't-miss pub was taken by John White, in April, 2006. This excellent Real Ale haven is further down Friargate from the previous entry, on the corner on the left, after crossing the Ring Way (A59). It has a marvellous selection of Real Ales, kept in immaculate condition by Stan and Pam Eaton. On my April, 2006 visit, I had a wonderful pint of Hartwick Grippenheart, from the Lancaster Brewery (www.lancasterbrewery.co.uk), which opened in 2005. This was a Guest Beer; Permanent Beers include Cains Bitter from Liverpool. On the opposite corner of Friargate, on the Ring Way, there is a modern J D Wetherspoon outlet, The Greyfriar, 144 Friargate, PR1 2EJ. Other Pubs. Local CAMRA Branch There are many more pubs listed for the area on the Blackpool Fylde & Wyre branch of CAMRA's most useful website, www.blackpoolcamra.org.uk. Indeed, the site tries to list every pub in its area, including those only having Keg Beer, i.e. those not selling the UK's best type of beer: Real Ale. The only Blackpool restaurant listed in Michelin is the September Brasserie, 15-17 Queen Street, FY1 1PU, tel 01253 623282. There are a couple more in the nearby St Anne's part of Lytham St Anne's: Atrium (in the Dalmeny Hotel), 19-33 South Promenade, FY8 1LX, tel 01253 716009, www.dalmenyhotel.co.uk; and Greens Bistro, 3-9 St Andrews Road South, FY8 1SX, tel 01253 789990, www.greensbistro.co.uk (open Tuesday to Saturday from 6pm to 10pm). The official tourist website is www.visitblackpool.com. This covers Blackpool's famous live entertainment and illuminations, its three piers, and its number one attraction: the Pleasure Beach, on the South Shore, a top-class fun fair. There are Tourist Information offices at 1 Clifton Street (opposite Yates's Wine Lodge), FY1 1LY (does not open on Saturday or Sunday), and on Central Promenade, near The Tower. Public transport is covered by www.blackpooltransport.com. As would be expected, this has details of routes and multi-journey tickets, that offer considerable savings over simple single and return tickets, if one is covering a number of pubs, the best ones being quite spread out in Blackpool and its environs. John White (1945-), |
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