Blackpool's Romany gypsy fortune teller Sarah Petulengro explains why her job on Central Pier is never boring

The mystique of the crystal ball has fascinated generations of visitors to Blackpool.

Fortune telling, clairvoyancy, spiritalism or palm reading - whatever you choose to call it - is one of Blackpool’s oldest traditions.

For 216 years, the practice has been woven into the fabric of the town becoming as much a part of Blackpool’s identity as its piers and promenade.

And despite all that time, it is a tradtion still very much alive today.

Sat in her booth on Central Pier, surrounded by crystal balls and draped in rich red and gold furnishings, Blackpool’s own Sarah Petulengro is proudly carrying that legacy on.

This year marks 25 years in the family business for Sarah, whose family name has long been at the forefront of fortune telling in the resort.

That business all began in 1810, long before the town became a best loved resort.

Romany families had settled on the South Shore sandhills, offering palm readings, clairvoyance and spirital advice to curious visitors.

Sarah’s ancestors planted the seeds of what would become one of Blackpool’s most famous traditions, attracting people from across the world - including celebrities - all eager to discover what the future might hold.

“They were originally on the north side of the beach,” Sarah explained.

”Once they realised they were doing well, with queues building up, they decided to put roots down in Blackpool.”

For generations, the gift has been passed down through the women in Sarah’s family.

Her mum, grandmother and great-grandmother were all clairvoyants and for Sarah, following in their footsteps was natural.

She left school at 11, explaining that within traditional Romany way of life, learning practical skills was prioritised and formal education was a choice.

Despite having no qualifications, Sarah spent eight years working as a bank clerk before eventually feeling pulled back towards clairvoyancy full-time.

She had already been practising since her teenage years and began charging for readings at the age of 16.

Before that, she would spend hours sitting quietly beside her grandmother in her booth at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, listening, watching and learning the craft.

“There are different ways to do a reading - tarot cards, palm reading, crystal balls - but you need the intuition as well. “You have to feel it and that is what takes practice.”

“Anyone can learn how to read cards, they do it all the time online but it’s the intuition you need to do a proper reading.”

I asked Sarah if she does tell people things they probably don’t want to hear.

“I do sometimes but it’s better that they know than not,” she said. “I always make sure customers leave in a better state of mind than before the reading.

“Some people come for reasurrance or because they are looking for answers and most people feel much better afterwards. We want to be positive.”

Sarah, now 41, still lives closely alongside her extended family in Blackpool, in a street she says is filled with cousins, aunts and uncles.

“It’s never boring! There is always someone to talk to.”

Sarah now has her own TikTok channel, with 55k followers.