Let's show the UK a different side to Blackpool, we're the clear winners of UK City of Culture in my opinion

Blackpool South MP Chris Webb has declared the resort as the “clear winner” in the race for UK City of Culture 2029, urging the government to formally recognise the town’s cultural heritage, creative talent and community spirit with the title.

With the announcement of the shortlist expected soon, Mr Webb said he was confident in Blackpool’s chances, arguing that the bid offers an opportunity to challenge negative perceptions and showcase the town to the rest of the country.

“This town deserves to be on that list and, for me, we are the clear winner,” he said, with Blackpool’s bid having received the backing of every MP in Lancashire, with more than 20,000 people adding their names in support.

Mr Webb has spent the past two years promoting the town’s case in Westminster, including meeting Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy in March, shortly after Blackpool was longlisted. He later welcomed Ms Nandy to the town for the switch-on of the Illuminations and hosted Tourism Minister Stephanie Peacock in August to showcase Blackpool’s attractions.

Mr Webb said he wanted decision-makers to experience the town first-hand rather than form their opinions solely from what they read about it.

“For too long Blackpool has been talked down and has dominated headlines for all the wrong reasons. I want that to change,” he said. “I want government to back us, invest in us and give us the opportunity to shine a spotlight on the good. It’s time to show Blackpool in a new light.”

A town with cultural ambitions

Acknowledging that Blackpool is a town rather than a city, Mr Webb said its size, visitor economy and cultural offering made it a strong contender. Blackpool is the UK’s 45th largest place, with a population of 141,500 and a visitor economy worth £2 billion - bids are not restricted to cities, with Blackpool meeting the requirements.

He described Blackpool as a “capital of culture”, reflecting the ambition set out in the town’s Cultural Strategy to become the UK’s Coastal Capital of Creativity by 2030. The MP said Blackpool’s cultural identity extended beyond its best-known landmarks, including Blackpool Tower, the Winter Gardens, the Grand Theatre and the Illuminations.

These attractions reflect the heritage of the world’s first mass seaside resort, established to provide working people with entertainment and leisure. However, Mr Webb argued that the town’s cultural story was also one of continual reinvention.

Blackpool’s motto, Progress, reflects a history of innovation, including the introduction of the world’s first practical electric tramway and the Illuminations, which have lit up the Promenade since 1879.

He highlighted the role of heritage restoration in expanding the town’s cultural offer, pointing to the council’s decision to take the Winter Gardens and Blackpool Tower into public ownership in 2010. Their restoration has helped bring more shows, events and cultural activity to the town.

Other examples include the Grundy Art Gallery, which doubled its visitor numbers this year with a Monet exhibition, and Showtown, which is set to welcome the V&A’s David Bowie: On Tour exhibition in 2027.

Mr Webb also emphasised the importance of popular entertainment, working-class leisure and Blackpool’s LGBTQ+ history, alongside community initiatives such as Abingdon Studios’ We’re Still Here project and independent arts organisations taking creative work into neighbourhoods across the town.

He said he believes this combination of heritage and contemporary creativity sets Blackpool apart from its competitors. “Our heritage isn’t a souvenir, it’s the foundation for what comes next,” he said.

A lasting legacy beyond 2029

Winning the title would bring £10 million in funding, but Mr Webb said the longer-term opportunities it could create were equally important. He pointed to the potential for new jobs, support for local businesses and opportunities for young people to build their futures in Blackpool.

The MP also reiterated his support for a proposed world-class arena at Blackpool Central, noting that the government has committed £20 million to explore the project. He said he wanted that commitment to translate into reality, providing venues capable of supporting the town’s ambitions and creating a cultural legacy that would endure beyond 2029.

The timing of the City of Culture bid is also significant, with 2029 marking 150 years of the Illuminations and 135 years since Blackpool Tower and the Grand Theatre opened. The Winter Gardens will mark its 150th anniversary the year before.

Blackpool’s bid had been built through the combined efforts of the council, Creative Blackpool, cultural organisations, artists and residents, with Mr Webb arguing that the town’s own people were its strongest advocates, adding that Blackpool’s reality did not always match the picture presented in national headlines.

The MP also urged residents to continue supporting the campaign and sharing what they value about their town. He said the ultimate aim was to give Blackpool the recognition it deserved and allow its culture, creativity and community to take centre stage.

“What if we could show the rest of the country a different side of Blackpool?” he said. “A Blackpool that celebrates its creativity, its culture, its heritage and, above all, its people.”