The Galleon Bar, Blackpool prepares to sail again

It was a legendary name from Blackpool’s pub and clubland past relaunched to a wave of excitement nearly 10 years ago and as Blackpool looks to reopen again this weekend questions are being asked as to whether The Galleon will set sail again.
Musician, entertainer and owner of the Galleon Bar, Blackpool Stephen PierreMusician, entertainer and owner of the Galleon Bar, Blackpool Stephen Pierre
Musician, entertainer and owner of the Galleon Bar, Blackpool Stephen Pierre

Entertainer and businessman Stephen Pierre re-opened the bar and alternative music venue The Galleon in the former Lucy’s Bar site, on Abingdon Street, near Blackpool Central library.

The original Galleon venture having opened at the bottom of Adelaide Street in 1954 and for many, many years, a magnet for musicians, students and the showbusiness fraternity.

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It is the ‘mixed bag of the weird and wonderful’ and the love for the music, which inspired Stephen to open a venue of his very own and when the original bar shut down led him to vow to ‘bring the Galleon back.’

He says it was an ‘impulse decision’ to purchase the two floor property when one became available in centre of the resort in 2009. Too good an opportunity to pass and after picking up the keys to his dream venture, he set about creating something new and exciting for Blackpool’s music lovers and its visitors.

Hanging at the door are the words of Jools Hollands from his impromptu visit when playing in the resort in 2016 who described it as possibly ‘the finest decorated music bar he had seen in Europe.’

Despite living in London since 1996, the Galleon has been Stephen’s ‘labour of love’ and maintained his strong connection to his hometown.

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It was with a tinge of sadness, the bar did not reopen to fanfare last weekend as the Fylde coast slowly crept back to life but instead in doing what is right for the business, working towards a slow introduction at the end of July.

Stephen said: “The Galleon is a project I’m so very, very proud of and all we achieved in the last eight years, typically it would be that last year was most certainly our best after working so hard to establish the uniqueness and the experience of this alternative venue.

“It’s sad we can’t have a celebratory return but like returning to a church and not being able to pray, The Galleon is all about the music that mild eccentricity, the character and the togetherness - it wouldn’t be fun without it.

“So instead we’re going to go a little continental and have asked permission to set out some small tables at the front with a view to open from 1pm to 12am.

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“The idea is to see the return of a steady crowd and we’ll soldier on.

“We have had the breathing space and lifeline in the furlough scheme. The bar is ‘match fit’ as you would say and so there is that sense of optimism that perhaps isn’t felt elsewhere.

“There is a real risk of many music venues being wiped out of existence but hopefully Galleon has saved itself from sinking.”

Until the community venue is able to re-open, Galleon staff remain on hand to volunteer their time every Sunday to support The Streetlife foodbank .

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Between 2pm-4pm The Galleon Bar is welcoming donations of tinned foods and toiletries .

Last weekend the venue featured as part of the first virtual Blackpool Music Festival organised by Jon Bamborough MBE.

For more on the bar visit https://www.facebook.com/galleonbarblackpool.

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