Blackpool Central Side Streets & Red Light Area

[@dank4815]

Such a shame old guest houses were bought up and used as cheap bedsits. I grew up on Ribble Rd in the 80's & 90's and it was a lovely area, so much so we could all leave our front doors open all day.

[@michaelobrien9825]

That's because nobody had anything to steal back then.

[@DMC888]

The council has stopped this now. It’s quite hard to get change of use from guest house to residential.

[@allangreenley9901]

@@michaelobrien9825 good point of fact u made nobody had anything in them days worth stealing maybe a tv that's it

[@Juststuffinnitbruv]

i grew up on belmont ave mate , happy days

[@Alexander_Stevens]

I spent a bit of time in the mid-90s too, The George, Popeyes, that chippy on Ribble Road. Always felt very safe, lots of proud working class families settled there in their first homes from the towns they had moved from. A forgotten area for long-term residents I guess

[@AnimalMagnetism1965]

I was chuckling all the way through this. I love your commentary on the sketchy areas of Blackpool!

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Thanks. I must do more!

[@belong53]

When Central Station was open this area of Blackpool was vibrant. I worked in the Palma cafe in 1967/8, The luggage boys were bust taking holiday makers luggage on Sack trollies to their boarding houses.

[@saml962]

Used to go to Blackpool a lot during my childhood & teenage years. I’ve since moved to America and was looking for a good KZbin channel & videos to show my husband what Blackpool is like. Great videos & so interesting. Thank you!

[@MegaVector2011]

Great fact about Darren Matthews, aka Steven Regal aka Lord William Regal. I used to watch him on World of Sport in the 70's when I was a kid and he wasn't much older. He became a worldwide wrestling superstar and overcame many difficulties with substances as he had an addictive personality. Proper tough guy who is a master of his craft and one of the best wrestlers this country has ever produced. Thanks for the info.

[@bowjana8128]

where did he live in Blackpool

[@KJJ8518]

God I remember him from the wrestling. He used to play a bad guy.

[@martinjones8861]

I love Blackpool and I used to go there with my family every year .There is a lot of snobbery about Blackpool .It is a shame how the place has gone .Blackpool is a very important town because it represents generations of the English working class and their simple pleasures .There is more history is this town than all the stately homes put together .

[@twinkle3026]

There used to be a very fragrant smelling sweet factory somewhere around here, about 12 years ago and the whole area smelt delicious, it really did! Thank you Stephen, for another great tour! xxxxx

[@bond0666]

Couldn't pay me to live there, how depressing

[@thisperson5294]

It's not Plan A for anyone. 😥

[@charleneclark1817]

Years ago people found it hard to get booked up for a B@B so sad to see Blackpool the way it is now

[@junemckenzie3380]

Really liked this video, gave me a giggle when walking speeded up. Great to see all the backstreets, thank you Stephen 🙋

[@kevstraw1812]

Interesting video pal. I'd be interested in finding out more about Park Road, and surrounding streets. It fascinates me to learn what the area is like, and a bit more about the area's history. Just for the record William Regal (or Steve) is now part of AEW (All Elite Wrestling), and manages a faction called "Blackpool Combat Club". Great work pal! 👍

[@briandoherty3249]

It's not just the roughest part of Blackpool. It's one of the poorest areas of England.

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Correct.

[@JamesSmith-iz4mv]

Really loved that video you do a fantastic job love watching them well done Stephen 👏

[@wendyjones2351]

Hi Stephen thank you for another great video as always yes blackpool has got some rough looking roads but also has some really nice parts if I looked hard enough round my area I bet it wouldn't be too pretty lol great video very informative have a great evening xx

[@Fran1963UK]

It saddens me to see the decline of Blackpool. I'm from London and my mother was from Sheffield. We used to go to Blackpool for 2 weeks every year in the 70's and 80's and have fantastic holidays. I have really fond memories of walking around the streets with my mum. I don't think she would have picked a B&B in Palatine Road now! Thank you for your informative vid.

[@G4RY1159]

My 1st Blackpool holiday was a 2 week Holiday back in 1974 - I was 5 Id go maybe 2 or 3 times per year when I was a teenager and ended up living and working in the town for about 6 -7 months, first time I took my daughter when she was 3 and would visit Blackpool with her pretty much every year sometimes again twice per year - a few days in the summer then again September weekend ''last Sep weekend'' Not been back since 2018 as it was that bad I just couldn't justify it as going on Holiday, the last two years I've went to Norfolk.

[@2000stephenellis]

I remember going to Blackpool loads of times as a teenager back in the late 80`s... back then you could fall asleep in a bus shelter (like i used to after a few "pops") and absolutely no-one would harass or try to rob you .. don`t think i`d dare to be a teenager doing it nowadays ! ..and i never realised the Stevonia connection to Hanratty till now .there is a film starring Christopher Ecclestone called "Let him have it" that documents the case . thanks for sharing ! everyday is a school day no matter how old you are ! .. thanks for posting this ... just wish things could be like how they were when i was younger ...

[@scooteringblackpool8249]

The film was about the Derek Bentley case around a decade before the A6 murder.. Bentley was a young man with learning difficulties and his accomplice was under 18 so escaped the rope. Hanged for the murder of PC Sidney Miles on the roof of a warehouse in Croydon during a break-in.

[@meirionhughes8137]

Fabulous, Mr walk on the wild side . Please Keep them coming, thanks again 💚👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿.

[@petergregory9029]

Discovered you here by chance. Wow ! Thank you so. This is a unique archive of the day, up there with Pepys. Just glimpsed your other vids. Off for more.

[@Grid56]

Even the beer monster outside the pish and fips shop recognises you Stephen 😂

[@LeopardprintBet]

This is brill, thanks. Amazing the places and people I used to hang round when young without even thinking about it. I thought the very bad lads (well, men really) were so exciting. Now, I’m a very middle aged woman who is (most of the time) pretty sensible!! So interesting. Thank you x

[@steveshakespeare8492]

Cheers Steve,just finished another fascinating watch with abit of history thrown in,till next time 👍

[@eldavido8249]

I now live in Spain but my dad had a shop on central drive years ago, thank you this brought back some happy memories.

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@eldavido8249]

@@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool my dad had the shop 2 doors away from where J cabs was, opposite Soearmans butchers. Was always rough but honest, now it looks a bit scary.

[@rasherstx]

Really enjoyed your walk around there i cannot belive how run down some of the estates look.does the council not care about these areas anymore..but thanks for the tour..great work.

[@TheBorzoilover]

You are a brave man Stephen i don't think i could be paid to walk down Central drive these days bad enough driving along the drive.

[@paulharwood5362]

You walked past my house Steve !!...wish i could escape but who wants to live in Revoe ...twinned with Bucharest ...take care

[@suegosling414]

Another look on the 'wild side,,' great video thankyou Stephen 😁😁😘😘

[@kokloketan1177]

An interesting video on the inner areas of Blackpool which l haven't seen before..These are so many corner shops and some of the building are quite old and left empty...Stephen once you done a great video job showing us around another side of Blackpool.

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Thank you 🙏🙏🙏

[@alanguy-nj3vc]

Love watching your videos my friend keep up the good work

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Thanks 👍

[@dougaldouglas8842]

One of the reasons we go abroad is to get away from the slum that is the United Kingdom. The authorities could have turned this nation into something very, very special, presented a place of scenic pleasure, instead of dereliction. Owners of boarded up hotels, and other buildings should be ordered to sort things out.

[@DMC888]

Most of it is privately owned and it makes no economic sense to do it up. The cost of building materials is through the roof and semi decent hotels in Blackpool are cheaper than a small flat in London. You could try forcing the owners to do them up, but no bank is going to fund a renovation where the end product is worth less than what was spent.

[@dougaldouglas8842]

@@DMC888 True. What gets me is that there is money to purchase land, money to build houses and flats on that land, and yet nothing toward doing the same here. I have seen whole estates demolished, sold off to developers, and houses then new houses built and sold off. Compulsory purchase orders would be the way to go, and developers would welcome this.

[@DMC888]

@@dougaldouglas8842 the issue is how cheap property is in Blackpool. It’s like South Wales, if you were given a building plot for free you still couldn’t get lending to build something. Even more so now most building materials have gone up 50%.

[@dougaldouglas8842]

@@DMC888 I know exactly what you mean and this would be fine if it were not for what is going on. Why is government and parliament funding the developers of properties, in certain areas, and not in others? There was a time that developers were just plodding along nicely, and then government, through parliament gave billions to the same to build new properties, and offices, and the like, and so our towns and cities became one large building site. Now why has not the same government granted the likes of Blackpool the same, to pull down and rebuild? The wicked thing about this is that the developers risk no money, free money, and make money from constructing buildings, so it is, win, win, win.

[@charleneclark1817]

People do go abroad to get the weather. If people decide to go on holiday in the UK it's a caravan or wigwam break.

[@danielmorris9159]

That king Edward pub is massive when people come too Blackpool it’s mostly the front you go too people don’t mostly see the other side nice seeing places were people live.

[@manephewlenny6401]

You need to create your own range of Blackpool shirts with the text DOMESTIC GOING ON OVER THERE with 100 arrows pointing everywhere.

[@rogerbarton497]

Palatine Rd (246) was in my family abt 1911-1939 Hornby Rd (24, Hornby House Hotel) run by a family member, c1911

[@juliec70]

Great video Stephen, it's a shame to see the buildings in a state they need painting outside 😕

[@jen6251]

Good video tonight can't wait for the next ones next week

[@Alexander_Stevens]

Hey Steve, this is the first time I’ve checked this one out, I’ll give it a watch now

[@daveenglish5026]

up whitby at the moment, love your videos, Thank you.😊

[@neilvernon5539]

still a dump not going anytime soon oh dear

[@lindadavies7292]

There are also lots of good areas to Blackpool.

[@jasonvlogs423]

Such ashame looks so run down those streets 👍

[@patparry389]

Great vid Stephen thank you.Loved voice overs.😂🙂

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Glad you liked it Pat.

[@davidnm21]

Certainly looks a run down area. I agree with you that’s not the sort of streets I want to walk after dark. As for those underground toilets, I used to have one of them near me here in Gt Yarmouth. They were the sort you descended into darkness because nearly all the time the lights were broken. Interesting to see the positive side of Blackpool as well as this negative side.👍

[@RadioJonophone]

I arrived from Manchester at Central Station a few times and had fun at Bethesda back in the day.

[@martinwhite8333]

Just came back from Blackpool visiting a friend and it was a very depressing place. The town centre was quite intimidating in the evening due to the number of winos harrasing people for money, lager in one hand, Smartphone in the other. Why anyone would want to go on holiday there is a mystery to me.

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

We do have our fair share of crackheads & beer monsters.

[@Dianelt]

I love your videos. Me and my sister called in to the post office on central street to the post office, my god what a dump. I waited outside and I kept getting glared at!! In hindsight now I know why!!! 😂

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

It is a proper shady area round there Diane.

[@martinhunt5340]

my auntie had a guest houses ribble road, we went there for years on are hols to blackpool , and in the morning the donkeys come down the road going to the beach the good old days

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Yes they keep the donkeys around that area.

[@chrishilton3139]

I work in blackpool quite a lot and i do feel the place has become q dumping ground for all the wasters. Seems your either on drugs , alcoholic or severe mental health to live in blackpool, mainly central drive area and lytham road is dog rough. Alot of the customers i visit who live in these bedsits aren't winning at life ( lets just say )

[@davidscott9483]

Another one of your interesting videos Steve, I had to laugh those underground toilets we had them here in Birmingham , and the one that was known too all was the (Silver Slipper) and if you went in them you would come out a different person, no need to go around feeling horny pop in the Silver Slipper and you would come out feeling so relieved, how times have changed, keep up the brilliant work..... Dave

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Thanks David.

[@toneybucket2051]

Always reminded of stays in Blackpool and we stayed on Reads Avenue at the New Central Hotel where i met Tessy o'shaes brother !!!!!

[@DianneMorrison]

Did you know that the New Central was ,many years ago, a maternity hospital. I was born there in 1942..

[@catherinegreen7879]

Very interesting video Stephen. Lovely walk about on the back streets brilliant.

[@MrVxrman]

Interesting video Stephen 🍻 Thanks for sharing m8y 👍🏻

[@paulcgburrows7267]

Loved it m8 this is going to be a great vlog m8 big numbers 😀 we'll done Stephen Cheatley

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

I hope so Paul. These are the type of videos that usually do very well.

[@Dianelt]

Does anyone know the street where the Jaggy Thistle was?? Me and my sister used to frequent there back in the day when Blackpool was a fantastic place to go to. We always went round Central Pier, the Stanley, Lifeboat, Foxhalls and Jaggy Thistle xx

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

I think it was either Pier St or York St in Foxhall. You can see the area in my It's Grim Up North video from a few months back.

[@anthonygiglio9860]

Great Video Steve I Enjoyed It 😊

[@sillmare]

Back Ribble Road was where the Loco club was for railway men. Trevors was a great shop as well. I lived in that end flat in Ibbison Court where the tree is and the white van is outside (7.13 minutes into your video). The open window is the landing window so it must still have damp problems. It was owned on Leasehold by the landlady and had severe damp problems and she never sorted them. I got out when I discovered that released on probation people were being housed in the next door flats and their mates were banging on my door thinking that the released offender lived in my flat. Certainly a very scary place. On the corner further down was J Cabs and I used to ring them if there was a problem for me and they looked out for me. Central Drive was a nightmare as well. The Brothel was on the corner and if as a female you took the shortcut to the Coop you were propositioned by clients who thought they could get services on the cheap. Very rough area indeed.

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Ibbison Court was our stomping ground back in the late 80's and early 90's. I think it's gown downhill even further since then.

[@DeanPorterEsq]

Sad to hear of the baby. I used to use the laundered on central drivers you passed and the music who further up before I moved back to london.

[@Grid56]

Like a lot of the hotels, the houses have suffered from a lack of investment. Some serious damp patches on that new white paint. It looks like some spend more on their cars (BMW, Merc etc) than they do on their houses😢.

[@gazza9463]

Stephen may I ask? Do you live in Blackpool or nearby? I have started recently to catch up on your back catalogue. Very interesting. Warts and all look along the Fylde coast. Personally I like Lytham, but have stayed several times at a dog friendly hotel in Thornton Cleverleys. Surprised to learn from you're goodself that Star wars had some scenes filmed there. Anyway, please keep up the good work.

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

I do live in Blackpool pal.

[@friendlyhorseuk7220]

Great video. I could almost taste the ambience. Useful information here. You're on top form.

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@milels6917]

Not the Blackpool I knew when I stayed with Auntie in South Shore for school holidays She loved taking me to the theatre and shopping ect it all seemed so posh to me after coming from smoky Stoke

[@Toonarmy1504]

Used to live on woolman road years ago used to see it all

[@cameronashworth1754]

Love these videos - I come to Blackpool for the full week for the darts every year for the last 15 years but don't get to see much of these areas. Do meet some characters in the pubs however. The next Grand theft Auto game should be set in Blackpool :D

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

That's a good idea. I'd definitely play that!

[@john111257]

Brilliant again matey

[@davidjones4456]

Central Drive used to be lovely. Old cinema was a nightclub. Was there another coach park much further down away from the centre. I remember my parents walking me all down that road.

[@mrpscorpio]

I love watching your videos. I am intrigued though where are you residing. As you review all areas. A video review of your area would be great 😊

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

I've done a walk around my own patch. That was last year & I'm doing another one soon.

[@davidai9024]

Hi Stephen , We just returned from Blackpool and visited Lytham my God Lytham is like another planet compared to Blackpool, it's so much nicer , like a rich part of London , it's amazing how you can jump the bus and in just over 30 minutes your in a completely different environment, when we were in Lytham all I could see was luxury cars, fancy shops and restaurants, such a shame Blackpool has become almost apocalyptic 😩 Stephen do you think the redevelopment will go ahead in Central drive with the 300 million pound attraction? I really can't see it happening, I hope it does or Blackpool will be finished.

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

I hope so David, but it may not quite be the state-of-the-art theme park that was originally envisaged on the plans. A lot of things can change in the time it will take to get things going, but at least they have started on the multi story car park.

[@jenscholes202]

@@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool they will be starting work on the Tramtown redevelopment this year which in future years will include a cafe and some retail units

[@kenjones8574]

If that's a working girl crossing the road at 028 I'll be keen my money in my pocket 😂

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

The thought did cross my mind!

[@AnimalMagnetism1965]

🤣🤣

[@RAFchurchlawford4469]

Ken Jones: "If that's a working girl crossing the road at 0:28 I'll be keen" 😲

[@sammolloy3919]

A change is needed. Big job.

[@johnowen5686]

Steve knows all the red light areas !!!!!!!!!!!

[@Swordy78]

You walked past John Bishop 11.49.....if it isn't him it's his doppelganger haha

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Looks like he's fallen on hard times.

[@jackie-carper]

Thanx again Stephen

[@tvplayzfloptok.1]

Can you make a tour video of Blackpool?

[@hazelmanship7516]

Great walk Stephen,

[@tehf00n]

I remember walking down Reads Avenue and a lady came upto me and asked "Are you looking for business?" It was really sad.... mostly because she was ugly and I was skint.

[@tootsy1100]

Brilliant thanks Stephen. I missed the one about murder at the imperial. Can't find it anywhere 😟

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

It's on tomorrow pal.

[@tootsy1100]

@@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool great stuff thanks

[@dougie6886]

It's such a shame the way Blackpool is looking now. But there are many towns in the same state. All are very sad.

[@DanielJacksonMusic]

0:09 exactly why I won’t live in Blackpool! 🤣🤣 great video! Cheers mate!

[@carolsmith6012]

Great video, Central Drive, it was always focal point, coming into Blackpool n palatine road

[@petelaycock2842]

Agree a lot of these houses are probably structurally sound but just need some TLC (and money!) Yankees cap is cool, Stephen 🧢

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Thanks Pete.

[@karenimran3349]

I’ve visited Blackpool once many years ago. That was enough. Never visited again. This has got to be the worst seaside place in Britain

[@g.pmoore4293]

What a very sad place 😢

[@g.pmoore4293]

I think the saddest thing about Blackpool is that people save up all year to go on holiday there !

[@mattgosling2657]

Looks like a complete dump, I've had a holiday there when I was a kid but I wouldn't go for a day trip anymore.

[@angelairvine3091]

Loved it , great video 🎥

[@kokloketan1177]

Stephen ..can you please in your another day video some areas in poulton le fylde ? An old English countryside little town..

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Hi Kok Loke Tan. I certainly will visit Poulton very soon!

[@vanquishpurr]

With the proposed plans parts of Central Drive will be knocked down and the area rejuvenated. There’s going to be a multi storey car park, shops, restaurants and an area for large events to take place outside.

[@terrywatson7997]

Good evening Stephen from roasting Gosport. Still liking Blackpool though.

[@chrishilton3139]

All them trainers hanging mean ' a drug dealer is nearby ' thats come from USA were all the hoods have it. Loads of streets in Manchester and Liverpool are the same

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Oh wow I never knew that. Mind, not surprising it's a high drug activity area. It was like that when I hung around there but I'm glad I didn't try any. There was a local lad who was always getting into trouble for drugs and we kind of held him up as a sort of role model. Glad I didn't follow his path.

[@barryedwards1336]

Blackpool apart from it's main frontage promenade, it's mostly a short walk to what is fast becoming a absolute decaying slum, most areas are dying on their feet as this video shows.

[@markabbott4786]

Love your films Stephen weldone mate

[@shaw99livecouk]

Good solid knowledge of underground toilets red light district and working girls Respect..

[@davidrendall2886]

Another good video Stephen

[@donnataylor5673]

I’m totally intrigued by ur vids keep up gf work

[@clivehammond3213]

I live n cambridge proud be I was born in cambridge still do a great city with lots of people and history

[@frannyscully9791]

I rented a room at number 32 Woolman rd in 1985. I seem to recall the corner of Ribble and Woolman road was a chip shop where you stood and videoed Costcutters.

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Thanks for watching.

[@wisher21uk]

Loved it thanks Stephen

[@mandycoulbeck8692]

great video stephen

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Thanks Mandy.

[@tobyjackman3212]

Nice red brick architecture with the pub & picture hall etc. Shame it's such a depressing crap hole 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@theagunton3811]

Hi I lived there on Rydal for nearly 18 years. Worked for William Hill. Think alot of the gals left when they shut the yorkshire bank on the corner of Palatine. My ex propositioned a few going to the cashpoint there. Offered a service to him for £35 but told them he only had a fiver. She said that will do so told her to p*** off. Honest I used to get propositioned walking home from work....!!!!!

[@johnhenfrey5936]

Is The Holborn Hotel on Queens Promenade still trading? Also further up the road was, Uncle Toms Cabin is that still going ? Also a cafe I think it was near central pier called, Lindys? Thanks very much indeed.

[@jujulionesselsa1416]

Made me feel so sad about the baby being killed by drinking the methadone its just awful. And let's face it, it is murder poor little mite. Yes I have heard of the James Hanratty case on a documentary.

[@myopinion1758]

I'll be watching pal 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@englishguineasjb]

Parts of it are more like central Romania, than central drive