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Blackpool is a seaside town in Lancashire, England. Situated along the coast of the Irish Sea, it has a population of 142,900, making it the fourth-largest settlement in North West England behind Manchester, Liverpool and Warrington. It lies 40 miles (64 km) north-west of the city of Manchester, and less than 30 miles north of Liverpool  City centre. Blackpool is the fourth most densely populated local authority district of England & Wales outside Greater London.

Blackpool rose to prominence as a major centre of tourism during the 19th century, particularly for the inhabitants of northern mill towns.

Economy

TVR was a major employer in Blackpool.

This is a chart of the trend of regional gross value added of Blackpool at current basic prices by the Office for National Statistics with figures in millions of British Pounds Sterling.


While Blackpool enjoys a large number of small businesses and self-employed people, there are some large employers. The government-owned National Savings and Investments is based at Marton, together with their Hardware random number generator, ERNIE ( "Electronic Random Number Indicator Equipment") which picks the Premium Bond numbers, while other government agencies are based at Warbreck and Norcross further up the Fylde coast. Burtons Foods produce biscuits and other bakery products, Klarius UK manufactures automotive components, and the Glasdon Group is a plastics manufacturer which makes litter bins, park benches and reflective road signs.

TVR formerly produced sports cars at its Bispham factory. Blackpool was also the original site of Swallow Sidecar Company forerunner of Jaguar Cars.

Retail is also becoming a major contributor to Blackpool's economy:

Many Blackpool residents work in the retail sector, either in the town centre or the retail parks on the edge of town.

Blackpool's main shopping streets are Church Street, Victoria Street, Bank Hey Street, Abingdon Street and Talbot Road. There is currently one shopping centre within the town, Houndshill Shopping Centre. This has recently been redeveloped with the opening of a new Debenhams department store along with other major high street names.

Tourism

The Pepsi Max Big One at Pleasure Beach.

Blackpool is heavily dependent on tourism. In what is often regarded as its heyday (1900-1950), Blackpool thrived as the factory workers of northern England took their annual holidays there en masse. Any photograph from that era shows crowds of tourists on the beach and promenade. Blackpool was also a preferred destination of visitors from Glasgow and remains so to this day. Reputedly, the town still has more hotel and B&B beds than the whole of Portugal. The town went into decline when cheap air travel arrived in the 1960s and the same workers decamped to the Mediterranean coastal resorts due to competitive prices and the more reliable weather. Today Blackpool remains the most popular seaside resort in the UK, however the town has suffered a serious drop in numbers of visitors which has fallen from 17 million in 1992 to 10 million today. Similarly Pleasure Beach Blackpool was the country's most popular free attraction with 6 million visitors a year but has lost over a million visitors since 1998 and has recently introduced a £5 entrance fee. Today, many visitors stay for the weekend rather than for a week at a time.

Conferences

The Tower and Illuminations Blackpool's Central Pier in Winter

Outside the main holiday season, Blackpool's Winter Gardens routinely hosts major political and trade union conferences, ranging from that of the Conservative Party and the Transport and General Workers Union with thousands of delegates and visitors, to substantially smaller gatherings such as the Communication Workers Union conference.

2009 was the last year that the National Union of Students used Blackpool for its Annual Conference, they will now be hosted by the Sage Gateshead.

In January 2011, Blackpool will host the NEEC Conference (formerly the North of England Education Conference) a key date in the education calendar.

Entertainment

Blackpool remains a summer entertainment venue, specialising in variety shows featuring entertainers such as Ken Dodd and Roy 'Chubby' Brown.

Events and festivals

    * Blackpool Dance Festival is a world famous annual ballroom dance competition of international significance
    * For the last three years, Blackpool has played host to the Rebellion Punk Rock Festival, an annual event which moved back to Blackpool after a few years in nearby Morecambe
    * Blackpool Illuminations consisting of a series of lighted displays and collages arranged along the entire length of the sea front, seven miles (11 km) in total, attract many visitors from late August to early November; a time when most British seaside resorts' holiday seasons have already ended. 2009's festival dates are 4 Sep 2009 - 8 Nov 2009. This results in some spectacular traffic snarl-ups as most people now view the lights from cars and coaches which crawl nose-to-tail along the whole length of the sea front, particularly so at weekends and during school holidays. Each season a famous person "flicks the switch" to turn the lights on in an opening night switch on ceremony. The BBC Top Gear team, minus James May, were on hand to activate the lights for 2008.

Gay Blackpool

Blackpool is often described as the "gay capital of the North" (with Brighton often being described as "the gay capital of the South"). Blackpool had its first gay pride celebration in 2006. Historically, seaside resorts have been able to provide niches for minority groups. Blackpool, like other English resorts, has had a reputation for being a safe community for gay people. During World War II, there was a proliferation of cafés, pubs and clubs where homosexual men could meet in Blackpool. In the 1990s, the town began to be promoted as a gay tourist destination. Blackpool contains several bars, pubs and nightclubs aimed at the LGBT community. These include Funny Girls (a burlesque cabaret showbar), FG2, the Flamingo, the Flying Handbag, Lucy's Two, Pepe's, Roxy's, Mardi Gras, KAOS, Taboo and dtBar. The local gay community is now also catered for by two online radio stations - 3D Radio and Blackpool Gay Radio featuring a mix of music, local news, features and celebrity interviews.

Regeneration

Blackpool is continually striving to improve its position within today's tourist industry. One controversial proposal, which had the involvement of the local council, was to transform Blackpool into a casino resort along the lines of Las Vegas and Atlantic City, making it the centre point of gambling in the UK. However, Manchester was unexpectedly selected for the initial trial by the Government's Casinos Advisory Panel. Since this decision, Blackpool's council and MPs have lobbied Parliament extensively, claiming their bid was misunderstood. The local newspaper, the Blackpool Gazette, sent a petition signed by over 11,500 local residents and visitors demanding the decision be reconsidered. On 29 March 2007, the Advisory Panel's recommendations were approved by the House of Commons, but rejected by the House of Lords, meaning the bill must now be reconsidered by parliament. This has led many in the town to feel that Blackpool has been given a "second chance" to prove its case, and as of April 2007, the town's representatives were still heavily lobbying parliament to award the casino to Blackpool. However, in early 2008, the House of Lords threw the super casino proposal out.

Other future projects include a £500m scheme to build Storm City a proposed multi-themed indoor entertainment complex on a 30 acre site between Rigby Road and Central Drive. Storm City would house:

    * A 12,000 seater arena
    * Four world class hotels
    * Shopping areas
    * Five themed entertainment areas
    * Rooftop gardens
    * Blackpool's own version of the London Eye

In March 2007 Blackpool Council signed up to a three month deal to work exclusively with the developers of Storm City.

A second scheme, which is primarily aimed at the local population, but will also benefit those holidaymakers travelling to the town by rail, named Talbot Gateway would be a £285m civic quarter, for which international project management specialist AMEC has been chosen to transform what is at present a rundown area around Blackpool North railway station into a what Blackpool Council hope will be a world class gateway with new office and retail space as well as a public square, dubbed the Talbot Plaza. The development would be 'wrapped' around Blackpool North railway station so that rail passengers arrive at street level into the new plaza with views down onto the seafront, making their arrival into Blackpool a much more pleasant experience than at present. The regeneration company behind much of the towns current and future development, ReBlackpool are working with Blackpool Council and AMEC to sort out the planning application.

Regeneration work has recently been completed on Waterloo Road in South Shore that has transformed the area into a modern vibrant shopping centre. £1 million of public investment is helping to improve the public realm and act as a catalyst for the regeneration of South Shore.

In March 2010 it was confirmed that a deal had been made between Blackpool Council and Leisure Parcs to purchase some of Blackpool's most notorious landmarks. The deal which totals £38.9m and has Government and local Government backing will include the purchase of:

    * Blackpool Tower
    * The Winder Gardens
    * The Sea Life Centre
    * Louis Tussauds Wax Works
    * Indoor Gold Centre
    * Bonny Street Market
    * Mr T's Amusement Arcade

It was also announced that the tower would be run by Merlin Entertainments Group (who currently run the London eye) as well as it seeing a programme of repairs totalling £10m, the first phase of which will be completed for the 2011 season. Merlin Entertainments Group will also take over the running of Louis Tussauds Wax Works converting it into their bigger more well known brand, Madame Tussauds Was Works. There has been no current announcement on who will run the Winter Gardens or if the council will run it, however it was announced that it would see a £5.5m refurbishment to create new multi purpose conferencing venue.

Both the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) and Blackpool's regeneration company ReBlackpool were crucial players in securing the deal.

Major attractions

Blackpool Tower, a Blackpool landmark. Central Pier, Blackpool Twin Climbing Towers, Blackpool Central

    * Blackpool Tower, opened in 1894; it has been a dominant landmark of the Blackpool skyline since that time. Inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, it is 518 feet & 9 inches (158 m) in height. Beneath the tower is a complex of leisure facilities, entertainment venues and restaurants, including the world famous Tower Ballroom and Tower Circus.

    * North Pier - The northernmost of Blackpool's three piers. It includes a small shopping arcade, a small tramway and the North Pier Theatre toward the end of the pier. The pier end also used to have a helicopter pad, but this was damaged in a Christmas storm in 1997 and collapsed into the sea.

    * Central Pier - The middle pier, includes a large Ferris wheel and shops.

    * South Pier - The southernmost pier. Almost directly opposite the Pleasure Beach, it houses a theme park.

    * Pleasure Beach Blackpool - An amusement park with rides including the Pepsi Max Big One, which was the world's fastest and tallest complete circuit rollercoaster between 1994 and 1996.

    * The Winter Gardens is a large entertainment and conference venue in the town centre. It includes the Opera House (one of the largest theatres in Europe), Pavilion Theatre, Empress Ballroom, Spanish Hall, Arena and Olympia.

    * Stanley Park - Grade II historic park and gardens with golf course, cricket club, sports arena, lake, art deco restaurant, model village, gardens, etc.

Other attractions

    * Beach - Stretching along the whole seafront. The main natural attraction for tourists.

    * Funny Girls - Drag Cabaret Burlesque Showbar, located on Dickson Road.

    * Blackpool Zoo - provides a home to over 1,500 animals from all over the world.

    * Grand Theatre - Victorian theatre designed by Frank Matcham. Also now known as the National Theatre of Variety.

    * Great Promenade Show - Series of modern artwork installations along Blackpool's South Promenade. Includes the Blackpool High Tide Organ an unusual musical monument which uses the movements of the sea to make music.

    * Louis Tussaud's Waxworks - waxwork museum, featuring models of celebrities, musicians, sports personalities and the famous Chamber of Horrors.

    * Doctor Who Exhibition closed in 2009 - the biggest Doctor Who exhibition in the UK - contains props and costumes from the long-running BBC TV series, including some from recently aired programmes.

    * Sandcastle Water Park (now known as Waterworld) - An indoor swimming pool with slides and waves. Next to the South Pier.

    * Odeon Cinema - Situated on a multi-complex site, on Rigby Road, with 10 screens.

    * The Syndicate Nightclub, holds just over 5,000 people.

Transport
Air

Blackpool International Airport operates regular charter and scheduled flights throughout the UK and Europe. The airport is actually just over the borough boundary into Fylde Borough, although a proposal to reorganise Blackpool's borders would see the airport incorporated into Blackpool Borough. This airport which was formerly known as Blackpool Squires Gate Airport, is one of the oldest in the UK having hosted public flying meetings in 1909 and 1910. After a gap, it has been active from the 1930s to date. Airlines currently serving Blackpool include Jet2, Manx2 and Aer Arann.

In 1927 the local council announced that an airfield would be built near Stanley Park, which would become Stanley Park Aerodrome offering flights to the Isle of Man for £1.80. The airport opened in 1929 and was officially opened by then British Prime Minister, Ramsay MacDonald in 1931. However, with the opening of Squires Gate Airport a decision was announced in 1936 by the Ministry of Transport to close the Stanley Park airfield. In fact, civil operations continued until the outbreak of war with scheduled services to the Isle of Man and elsewhere. During the war, Stanley Park was used as a Royal Air Force training station, known as No. 3 School of Technical Training. Vickers assembled many Wellington bombers here and Beaufighters were repaired for the RAF. The airfield closed in 1947. The land that the airport stood on now covers Blackpool Zoo as well as a hotel and golf course. The hangars from the old airport are still in use as the elephant enclosure for the zoo.

Bus and coach

Blackpool's Talbot Road bus station and multi-storey car park.

Buses and coaches are operated by:

    * Blackpool Transport operates the main bus services in and around Blackpool, under the operational name of Metro Coastlines.
    * Stagecoach operates the regional bus and coach services in and out of Blackpool, under the operational name of Stagecoach in Lancashire or Stagecoach Express.
    * National Express operates the main long distance coach services in and out of Blackpool.

Facilities include -

    * Blackpool Talbot Road Bus Station which was the main town centre bus station, but is now used by Stagecoach and National Express services, and is officially called Blackpool National Express Coach Station. Blackpool Transport stopped using the bus station in the early 2000s after a disagreement with Blackpool Council regarding the state of the bus station building. Blackpool Transport now use Market Street and Corporation Street as their bus interchange which is located in the heart of the town centre.
    * Blackpool Lonsdale Road Coach Station the main coach station in Blackpool, is located in South Shore. This is mainly used by independent coach operators and also by some National Express services. The coach station has a cafe, shop and toilet facilities but is in a state of disrepair.
    * Blackpool Colosseum Bus & Coach Station was the main bus and coach station in South Shore. Located next to Blackpool Transport Headquarters, it was demolished to make way for a Somerfield supermarket.

Railway

Train operators serving Blackpool include:

    * Northern
    * TransPennine Express

Stations in the town are, or were:

    * Blackpool North (originally Talbot Road)
    * Blackpool Pleasure Beach
    * Blackpool South (originally Waterloo Road)
    * Layton (originally Bispham)
    * Squires Gate (just outside the borough boundary but serving Blackpool International Airport)
    * Blackpool Central (originally Hounds Hill, closed 1964)
    * Burlington Road Halt (closed 1949), reopened as Blackpool Pleasure Beach Railway Station in 1987
    * South Shore (renamed Lytham Road 1903, closed 1916)

Blackpool once had two railway termini with a total of over 30 platforms, mainly used by excursion traffic in the summer. Blackpool Central, close to Blackpool Tower, was closed in 1964, whilst Blackpool North was largely demolished and rebuilt as a smaller facility. The route of the former excursion line into Blackpool Central is now used as a link road from the M55 motorway to the town centre. The line into Blackpool via Lytham St Annes now has a station serving Blackpool Pleasure Beach but terminates at Blackpool South station. The line into North station is now the more important.

Road

The M55 motorway links the town to the national motorway network.

Tram

A double-decker balloon tram on the promenade at Bispham

Tramway route

Blackpool tramway runs from Starr Gate in Blackpool to Fleetwood and is the only surviving first-generation tramway in the United Kingdom (UK). The tramway dates back to 1885 and is one of the oldest electric tramways in the world. It is run by Blackpool Transport as part of the Metro Coastlines, owned by Blackpool Council. The tramway runs for 11 miles (18 km) and carries 6,500,000 passengers each year.

The tramway was for a long time the only working tramway in the United Kingdom (UK) outside of museums. It was also the UK's first electric system. However there are now a number of other tramways including Manchester Metrolink, South London Tramlink, Nottingham Express Transit and Sheffield Supertram.

On 1 February 2008 it was announced that the Government had agreed to a joint Blackpool Transport and Blackpool Council bid for funding toward the total upgrade of the track. The government will contribute £60.3M of the total £85.3 m cost. Both Blackpool Council and Lancashire County Council will each provide about £12.5M. The Government's decision means that the entire length of the tramway from Starr Gate to Fleetwood will be upgraded and also sixteen state-of-the-art trams will replace the current fleet.

Filmography

View from the tower, looking south

The resort is featured in the 1934 film Sing as We Go, starring Gracie Fields, as well as other cinema and TV productions, including Hindle Wakes (1952) and Funny Bones (1995) starring Lee Evans and Oliver Platt and directed by St. Annes born Peter Chelsom, Holiday (1957), and The Parole Officer (2001) starring Steve Coogan.

The Japanese film Shall We Dance (1996) closes with a scene at the World Ballroom Dancing Championships in Blackpool. All the hair styling for the film was completed by Blackpool born and bred hairstylist Eileen Clough, who has been in the trade since the 1960s. In the Hollywood remake of the film (2004) Blackpool is mentioned but not shown. The remake was also directed by Peter Chelsom.

Blackpool is the setting for Bhaji on the Beach (1993) directed by Gurinder Chadha. The film Like It Is (IMDB) (1998) directed by Paul Oremland was also partly filmed in Blackpool. The opening scenes were filmed in the Flamingo. The 2005 television comedy/thriller series Funland revolved around the fictionalized, seedier aspects of Blackpool.

Rick Steves' Europe introduced the viewer to the resort, explaining the history and its attractions.

The town also features heavily in the BBC television serial Blackpool starring David Morrissey, Sarah Parish and David Tennant, first broadcast in 2004 along with the one-off follow-up Viva Blackpool, broadcast in June 2006.

Music

Blackpool was notorious for having imposed an indefinite ban on the Rolling Stones from performing in the town in 1964 after a riot broke out among the audience who had found their performance suggestive during their concert at the Empress Ballroom. The ban was lifted forty-four years later in March 2008.

The Jimi Hendrix - Experience video and DVD features concert footage of Hendrix's performance at Blackpool's Opera House in 1967.

The Jethro Tull song "Up the 'Pool" is about Blackpool, singer Ian Anderson's childhood home.

The White Stripes recorded their first official DVD, Under Blackpool Lights at the Empress Ballroom in the Winter Gardens on the 27th and 28th of January 2004.

Media

Newspapers that cover the Blackpool area include the Blackpool Gazette which is the daily evening newspaper covering the Fylde Coast area, known locally as The Gazette. They also publish a free weekly newspaper, the Blackpool Reporter, which is delivered to householders in Blackpool. The Gazette also publishes a daily online version in Polish, Witryna Polska (Polish Gazette) to cater for the local Polish community. The Lancashire Evening Post is a daily evening newspaper covering the county of Lancashire.

Local radio is provided by Radio Wave, a commercial radio station based on Mowbray Drive in Blackpool which covers the Fylde Coast area. The radio station broadcasts on 96.5FM and is owned by media company UTV. Blackpool also falls in the coverage area of BBC Radio Lancashire, Rock FM, Magic 999, Smooth FM 100.4 and 105.4 Century FM.

Blackpool Gay Radio provides a part-time radio service catering for the local gay community featuring a mix of music, local features, news and celebrity interviews.

In March 2009 Blackpool will have a dedicated news radio service, in the form of internet radio station Blackpool Internet Radio News. A test broadcast will be available over the weekend of 14 and 15 March 2009, with the launch following shortly afterwards.

Television is provided by Granada - the ITV franchise holder for the North West region, which covers Blackpool and BBC North West the regional BBC station for the North West region, which covers Blackpool.