'I’d give anything to go back' - residents remember Blackpool’s famous clubs and bars
If you could step back in time and relive just one night out on the Fylde coast, which pub, bar, or nightclub would you choose - residents have their say.
For many, it’s Jenks, the legendary Talbot Square haunt where locals like Michael Hargreaves and Ian Sandham recall unforgettable live music nights.
Daniel Charlton, said: “The original Tache!”
Dave Smith, said: “Tower Lounge. The only bar you couldn't fall over in no matter how drunk you were as you stuck to the carpet.”
Stephen Jones, said: “Rumours and Lucy’s bar on Talbot Square was the best night out when it was open.”
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Smokie, Whamm and countless others - alongside the dizzying energy of a packed dance floor.
Others championed Rumours, Lucy’s Bar, or the Tower Lounge, remembered as places where the drinks were flowing.
Mark Stephenson, said: “Cahoots and Syndicate. The best bar and the best nightclub the town has ever had and will ever have.”
Philip Rhodes, said: “I never went to The Highland Room. Blackpool Mecca is a place I'd love to visit.”
Peter Singleton, said: “The old Flamigo 2001 was fabulous, it now had Sainsburys built on its footprint.”
The nightlife tapestry stretches across decades:
Main Street’s “Double Your Money Tuesdays” had gamblers and party-goers alike feeling lucky, while The Palace boasted a revolving dance floor and Rock FM on stage for free drinks and contests.
The Highland Room at the Mecca, Illusions on the Strand and Cahoots captured the disco fever, each venue delivering music, lights, and nights that seem impossibly far away.
Fleetwood contributed its own gems: Planters, The Mariners and The Dolphin held stories of teenage escapades and first loves.
Sarah Gillian, said: “I always wanted to go to Flying Handbag for my 16th birthday but I was never allowed! I'm 39 now and live in New Zealand but Blackpool is where I was born and will always be home!”
Lynne Brown, said: “The Gaiety Bar or Dixieland Bar. Great nights in there in the early 1970s.”
Some answers reflected nostalgia for hidden corners of the coast’s nightlife: The Lifeboat, a quiet hideaway, or The Mexican Bar and Lemon Tree, perfect for late-night music sessions.
Then there were tales of legendary drinking spots like Trader Jacks, Addisons, Bananas, Bunters, and the ever-popular 007 Club, each with a personality all of its own.
The responses reveal more than just favourite venues - they capture moments of youth, friendship and reckless joy.
From Sequins, Man Fridays, and Adam & Eve, to quirky mentions like Stix, Twisted Wheel, and Top Floor of J R’s, it’s clear Blackpool’s nightlife was a patchwork of extraordinary experiences many of which only live on in memory.