A rare photos of The Stone Roses at Blackpool's Empress Ballroom in August 1989. They had finished a UK wide summer tour in Blackpool selling a 4,000 capacity show. It has since been described as the ultimate Stone Roses performance, marking the moment where both they and the Madchester scene had truly arrivedplaceholder image
A rare photos of The Stone Roses at Blackpool's Empress Ballroom in August 1989. They had finished a UK wide summer tour in Blackpool selling a 4,000 capacity show. It has since been described as the ultimate Stone Roses performance, marking the moment where both they and the Madchester scene had truly arrived

11 incredible scenes to take you back to Blackpool in 1989 including Stone Roses at Empress Ballroom

Claire Lark
By Claire Lark

Digital Journalist

Published 17th Jul 2026, 06:00 BST

It was the year when Corrie’s Alan Bradley was famously killed by a tram.

And it was the year when crowd trouble spilled on the terraces in a Blackpool FC match against Birmingham. A tortoise society was formed too. These rarely seen photos rewind to life in the last year of the 1980s, capturing moments during pivotal change in Blackpool, knocking on the door of a brand new decade.

In case you missed them: 17 pictures of the oldest buildings in Blackpool including 18th Century gems Blowing Sands cottage and Raikes Hall

9 lost scenes of Blackpool streets, buildings, shops and people in the decade of the 50s

9 lost scenes of Blackpool streets, buildings and shops in the decade of the 70s

Teacher Laura Turner, is sprayed with gallons of water by Alexandra the elephant at Blackpool Tower Circus for a special wash and shampoo session on Wednesday 25th of October 1989. Laura loved elephants and won the chance to have her unique hairdo in a National Childrens Home Charity auction

7. Blackpool 1989

Teacher Laura Turner, is sprayed with gallons of water by Alexandra the elephant at Blackpool Tower Circus for a special wash and shampoo session on Wednesday 25th of October 1989. Laura loved elephants and won the chance to have her unique hairdo in a National Childrens Home Charity auction Photo: Frank Orrell

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The Red Arrows fly over Blackpool's North Pier 1989

8. Blackpool 1989

The Red Arrows fly over Blackpool's North Pier 1989 Photo: submit

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1989 was the year holiday company Cosmos launched their flights from Blackpool to Majorca

9. Blackpool 1989

1989 was the year holiday company Cosmos launched their flights from Blackpool to Majorca Photo: archive

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1989 members of the Blackpool and Fylde Tortoise Society. Among those in the picture are Kevin Newton, Margaret Anderton and Eileen Dobson

10. Blackpool 1989

1989 members of the Blackpool and Fylde Tortoise Society. Among those in the picture are Kevin Newton, Margaret Anderton and Eileen Dobson Photo: Submit

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Waterloo Bowling Championship at the Waterloo Hotel

11. Blackpool 1989

Waterloo Bowling Championship at the Waterloo Hotel Photo: Submit

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