It's all here in Blackpool, from the tacky (and don't we all enjoy a bit of tacky now and then?) to the tasteful, with no shortage of Gay Hotels or Guest Houses with their late-night Bars in which to stay and make new friends. Your only problem may be getting everything in if you're only here on a short break. But you'll have fun trying!
Blackpool's large and excellent Gay Scene caters mainly for fun loving people. Drink, dance, and sex is very much the order of the day. Every day. The Gay Scene here is not dependent on the weather, although the wallpaper is always best in the summer. However, that is not to say that there is nothing here for the more reserved kind of person. The bars are much quieter (in all senses) during the day even though they may still have entertainment and cheap drinks on offer. Many of the hotels and guest houses have their own comfortable licensed bars where people can relax and read, chat, make new friends, or watch television at their leisure.
We at AstaBGay list all the gay entertainment venues including: Mardi Gras, Flamingo, Flying Handbag, Pepe's, DT Bar, Churchill's, New Road Inn, Bar B, Roxy's, Funny Girls, Lucy's Two, The Faith, Club Rendez-vous plus the Acqua Sauna and the Honeycombe Sauna. There are short descriptions of what to expect at the venues and our views on each one. We also provide a link to each venue's own web site, if they have one. For some of the venues whose web sites are not updated often enough, we supply a clickable link to our own copy of their publicized program of events etc. The Blackpool Gay Scene Map covers all the gay entertainment venues so you don't have to waste time getting lost whilst finding your way between them. Some gay-friendly cafés and restaurants that we have tried and enjoyed are listed, as are a wide range of services from accounting to costume hire.
Gay Hotels and Guest Houses etc.
A considerable number of hotels, guest houses and holiday flats are gay owned, some notorious with an anything goes attitude where you don’t go to bed to sleep, most are far more conservative, but whatever it is you’re seeking it’s sure to be here. It’s just a matter of finding it. A few are totally gay, some gay only at certain times, many (even though they are gay owned and run) may only be gay-friendly. Unless you actually ask when you contact them, your first visit may just be a matter of luck as to whether it’s the right hotel for you.
Most of the hotels and guest houses have a licensed residents bar (not all, so check if this is a necessity) that is open quite late. A few we know keep their bars open until the last guest has returned “in case they want a drink before they turn in”, then may even remain open until the last guest has gone to bed - or passed out!
BAG's (Blackpool Accommodation for Gays).
Many of the gay hotels and guest houses, or gay holiday flats, are members of the well-respected local gay organization (the most successful of its kind in Europe) that is known as: BAG's (Blackpool Accommodation for Gays). All these establishments have to pass and maintain certain standards and will be gay owned and run so therefore more likely to have a better understanding of the gay lifestyle and what it is that gay people require from their holiday - always something worth considering. Plus, of course, you needn't be embarrassed at these places should you forget to hide the evidence of last night's pleasure! - Think about it!
These BAG's establishments are usually able to supply you with cheap concessionary tickets or passes for certain venues (gay and straight) throughout the town, and should be able to tell you which of the gay venues is running a cheap drinks night the day you’re there. At least one of the gay venues is always likely to be having cheap drinks on offer, or will be running a doubles bar.
Gay Hotel Land:
The North Shore area near to the Railway Station and close to the scene is where you'll find most of the gay-run hotels. The main areas are around High Street, Lord Street, Dickson Road, General Street, and all the streets that cross these – but not totally. There are several other gay or gay friendly hotels, some highly recommended, even as far down as South Shore who cater more for those who like to visit the scene, not live in it.
ITP venues (Basil Newby’s 'In The Pink' empire):
The huge and famous Flamingo nightclub has now re-located. Entrance is through the glass walkway in Queen Street. The new five times larger multi-levelled, multi-million pound venue is a clubbers paradise. Main ultra-modern under-lit dance floor on the bottom level with another one, often running a different theme, on the top level. Hi-tech sound and lighting. Two large projection screens and banks of video screens. Cabaret acts often include Headliners. Modern bar areas on every level. Now has an open late license that's normally 4am, but 6am on some days. A top of the range venue that really is the ultimate in clubbing. Check our In Archive page for the opening night of this venue.
The Flying Handbag, now re-located in their modern, purpose-built State-of-the-Art building, is a Fun Pub that's open from 11am every day. Cruisy, but with a good atmosphere! Fun DJs that you really don't want to take on! Small professional Stage with room in front where dancing is possible if no acts are appearing. Regular Acts / Strippers / Drink Promotions etc. Food is available from a sensibly priced menu that should satisfy everybody. Quieter in the daytime, at night it becomes a vibrant venue with a Cheeky Party atmosphere, and one that's often not for the easily offended! Outside there's a heated patio, and up some steps a rooftop garden with a balcony for the posers. Mandatory! Check our In Archive page for the opening night of this venue.
Pepe’s, is a mostly male basement bar with a small (very) dance floor and regular strippers. Good music, but sometimes too loud for what the place is. Open in the day as well, it’s a handy drop-in if you’ve been shopping or doing the tourist thing. Well worth a visit.
Funny Girls, the legendary burlesque bar with its girly-boys, is here mainly for the straight tourists but it gets its quota of gay people as well (who are expected to "behave" - the bouncers don't like you getting amorous). Popular in season, the tables may be a little expensive for the average gay punter who’ll be quite content to stand for around a fiver entrance fee.
Bar B, which has superseded the now closed Basil’s on the Strand, is above Funny Girls with the entrance to it on the right-hand side of the building. This comfortable (settees etc) place with good music, dance floor and a stage has a great variety of themes, cabaret acts and strippers most weeks.
Roxy's is a Fun Pub / Club which gets a good following. Best described as gay-friendly as in season it can often be flooded with straight (but not troublesome) tourists. The launch party with radio and television coverage on May 23rd 2003 was a huge success. Roxy Hart, the host, and her sidekick deejay Lady Wincey, along with all the talented and entertaining staff, make sure there's never a dull moment!
Other gay venues include:
Mardi Gras, a basement club that is open all day from noon with regular cheap (branded names) drinks. Another good place to pop in at any time. With a dance floor and a stage they have cabaret every night, and more in the daytime at weekends and on Bank Holidays, with regular strippers on as well. A big plus is their cheap drinks at regular times (often all day) which are branded names and not from an unknown source. Sunday afternoons, and on some other special occasions, baskets of free chicken nuggets are often put out on the bar and tables. The host is Stella Artois, drag, bit of a viper tongue at times – but all in fun (we hope!). She can sing and doesn’t have to mime, but can annoy by talking over the record if you’re dancing. She’ll kid you the bottle she sometimes downs whilst performing is real whisky. We don’t believe a word of it.
The Mardi Gras raises a great deal of money for Body Positive and HEAL with their regular (at least monthly) Charity Nights on which they stay open later- usually 3am. It's a very popular club that’s a must to visit!
The DT Bar under the Station Hotel on the corner of Dickson Road and Talbot Road is the newest gay venue. Good atmosphere, music and drinks offers with food served until 9pm. Run by managers Trevor and Dean it's likely to be a big success as the owner also has the Via Fossa in Manchester and the Admiral Duncan in London.
Churchills is a gay-friendly old-time pub (with mostly gay staff) found convenient by many straight tourists in the season. Mainly, but by no means totally, older generation. The popular Bingo & Quiz on Tuesday nights is usually great fun, and there are karaoke events, sing-alongs, and lots of other enjoyable entertainment throughout the week, with late opening at weekends. We're told that there is good food available at most times too!
The New Road Inn is a little further out, but easily walked to, and is much quieter than the main venues in the town, although they do play some good background music. It is more a gay-friendly traditional pub that is looking to form pool teams, and have darts matches etc, but they do have party nights, and some good karaoke on Sunday afternoons.
Lucy's Two is a lesbian / gay venue conveniently situated in Abingdon Street. Run by Marlene, a well-known local lesbian hotelier, and her partner Joyce along with a good crew it has become quite popular, especially with the lesbians who lost the original (but not connected) Lucy's in 2002. Rare for the gay scene in Blackpool, this venue has disabled access and facilities.
Club Rendez-vous , a venue in Queen Street that hoped to become more gay than str8 changed hands after just 5 months. It's still trying for gay under the new owners who were to update it, but that seems to be delayed. Described elsewhere like a social club. Update: This venue is presently closed - to re-open sometime as a "men-only" bar, if some rumours are to be believed. A later rumour suggests it could become a Prowler Store.
The Alabama Showboat in Cocker Square can be good fun. It's not a gay venue but if you sample their excellent entertainment you'll soon discover the connection with the gay scene!
The Faith on North Promenade with an entrance in The Strand, an area once famous for Basil's on the Strand, is another recent gay venue to open. A nice bar, but this area can be very vibrant with partying heterosexuals, especially of a weekend night time.
Gay Saunas:
There are two gay saunas, the Acqua, and the Honeycombe. Both seem to offer everything a gay man wants; the Honeycombe perhaps for the more adventurous; the Acqua for its closeness to the scene and long opening hours at weekends. If you’re a sauna person you really need to visit both to make your personal choice.
The Main Cruising Area:
Head down Talbot Road, which itself can be quite a cruising area, through Talbot Square and cross the road to the sea-front. Turn right and follow the path behind the War Memorial that runs between the Promenade (the top) and Lower Walk (the bottom). This is Middle Walk. You may need to walk a fair way (it's about a mile long) before meeting anyone. The more private Lower Walk is normally used after you have met up. Beware, if you are a sand freak and decide to use the beach. As the tide comes in, a river can appear by the sea wall quite rapidly cutting you off from the steps back up. Busiest times are weekend evenings, especially in the summer, and the ages frequenting here range from "lock you up and throw away the key" across the board to "I need a hand with my Zimmer frame"! As with most cruising areas, this is not one of the safest places to be after dark. Police sometimes operate in this area in an effort to make it safer - they are not out looking for gay people to arrest, but are there to deter homophobic attacks. If you are based in South Blackpool (the Pleasure Beach end), the sand dunes near Starr Gate opposite Pontin's Holiday Camp can be popular in the summer months, but nude sunbathing and sexual activity in this area is now actively being discouraged by the police after complaints from locals and tourists.
Streetwise:
Blackpool is no different from any other large town or city these days, but if you're here having a good time it's so easy to forget to remain streetwise:
If you're going 'out on the town', unless you are with a group of friends and feel you can't be threatened, always leave your valuables back at the hotel - in the safe if they have one.
Never leave coats, bags, mobile phones, or drinks unattended.
Never go back to a drink that has been left unattended.
Never take a drink from someone you don't know or trust unless you've seen it poured.
If you lose your keys, or have them stolen, ring the hotel and tell them immediately.
On the streets here, as in most places today, it is not wise to stop if someone asks you for a cigarette or some small change.
Sex:
It's 'on tap' and in abundance everywhere here. And so are all the sexual diseases you can imagine, including HIV and AIDS. Always carry condoms and insist on safer sex, then all you'll take home with you will be some great memories. Info: safer sex http://www.playingsafely.co.uk/worried/contraception/safer_sex.asp. Info: condoms - how to use http://www.playingsafely.co.uk/worried/contraception/use_condom.asp.
Drugs:
Again, everywhere. But if you're not an expert, or it's not your thing, this is not the place to be tempted. The worming tablet you could get would ruin the rest of your holiday.
Good Time:
If you manage to remember most of this - you'll probably have one!
Finally, if it all goes "Tits Up"!
Millions of people (literally) visit Blackpool each year and have a great time, but just occasionally something can go wrong with a person's holiday. A loss of money, medicines or personal effects, an accident or an illness, or perhaps a mugging (yes, they can happen here too!); the possibilities are endless - that's life! But being gay puts you at no disadvantage in this gay-friendly town which is geared up to cope with most eventualities. There are plenty of places where you can seek help or advice. We have listed most of the major ones on our Blackpool Gay Help and Support page which you may want to copy, or print, before coming.
Visit the website: http://www.astabgay.com for more information.
Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Michael Knell
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