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BLACKPOOL GAY SCENE GUIDE
THE BLACKPOOL
GAY DIRECTORY
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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
list all the gay scene entertainment venues: Mardi Gras,
Flamingo, Flying Handbag, Pepe's, Taboo, DT Bar, Churchill's, New
Road Inn, FG2, Roxy's, Funny Girls, Lucy's Two, Trades Bar,
and the Alabama, plus of course the Acqua and the
Honeycombe saunas. 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 link to our own copy of their publicised 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.
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  A
considerable number of the hotels, guest houses and holiday flats
are gay owned. Some are notorious with an anything goes attitude
where you don’t go to bed to sleep, but most are far more
conservative, so 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! Many of them are members of a local gay organization
(the most successful of its kind in Europe) that is known as:
BAG's (Blackpool Accommodation for Gays).
All
BAGs establishments will be gay owned and 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 any of 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 on 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.
The
North Shore area near to the Railway Station and close to the gay
scene is where you'll find most of the gay-run hotels and guest
houses. 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 and guest houses, some highly recommended, even as far down
as South Shore that cater more for those people who perhaps like
to visit the scene, not exactly live in it.
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 If
you are looking for the Cruising Area you need to head down Talbot
Road, which itself can be quite cruisy, go 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.
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 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 is 'on tap' everywhere here, and so are all the
sexual diseases you can imagine, including HIV.
Always carry condoms with you and insist on safer sex, then
all you'll take home with you will be great memories.
Info:
safer sex. Info: condoms -
how to use.
Drugs are everywhere too. 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.
A Good Time? Well, if you manage to remember most of
what is in this panel - then you'll probably have one!
If it all goes 'tits up': Remember, millions of
people (literally) visit Blackpool each year and have a
fantastic 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 even
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.
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