Apologies for the misleading headline, that was just a swipe at the sensationalist journalism of the Gazette. But as announced in Friday’s Gazette there is a very interesting plan for the former Palace nightclub.
I feel this is just the sort of establishment that Blackpool so desperately needs, it is just the sort of place I have been longing for in this area and it definitely somewhere I would use.
This all just seems too good to be true; no fancy artists impressions, no ridiculous 2015 opening dates, a well established company behind it with the capital as well as the vision and even local pub protector Dave Daly has thrown his support behind it, this really does sound good!!! Then again an establishment of this calibre is not exactly competition for The Castle is it?
An interesting point I feel I must make though, I have been longing for someone to fill this ugly building for ages and it is great to see someone has finally come in with a plan but we must remember the Noble Brothers (Coral Island owners) actually applied to redevelop the building with a multi-purporse entertainment complex so what did the then [Labour] council do, rejected it for the stupid casino. Like I say I like the sound of The Sands Venue much better than what the Nobles had planned but the lesson should be don’t turn away good opportunities when they are there.
But that aside, I feel this is a breakthrough in more than one way. Obviously this is great news as another hard to fill unit is being put to excellent use but I also hope it will finally encourage more high quality establishments; chains and independents in the town centre. A fine example of this is Highfield Rd near me, San Marcos restaurant used to occupy a small unit on Highfield Rd, then when Booths on Lytham Rd closed they moved into there on a bigger format with a very good reception from what I have heard, I still need to visit sometime soon, I have heard very good things. But this has sparked a chain reaction of other restaurants opening including a coffee house, a bistro and some ethnic restaurants like Plumbjabi (highly recommended). I sincerely hope The Sands will have this effect in the town centre, hopefully getting those other empty nightclubs; Linekers, Jellies and Klub DNA filled.
The palace used be on TV, it had a national reputation with the hit man and her.
I hope it works but there are 2 issues here that have killed off the pubs.
The smoking ban which I support but was badly implemented and the cost of booze which is crap prices for crap quality.
Only time will tell but I hope it works to bring in the crowds of peoper people and not the dregs.
I am ideally hoping this venue will sit with the likes of the Green Parrot on Clifton St and Septembers Champagne Bar and Restaurant appealing to the more refined clientele. Like I say I am hoping the ‘San Marco effect’ will replicate on the town centre. The best thing is like I said there is no 5 years from now opening dates, it is planned to be opened around August and they are starting recruiting staff next month. I feel things are finally moving in the right direction.
like septembers bar! yes TB, well said. QUALITY.
I certainly hope so, quality is what we need, out with the old in the new.
yes its the way forward, i like the palace in the 80s, it was awesome, perhaps those days can return?
I would like to see the other empty venues filled also because they look awful empty but that cheap tat market between Linekers and Klub DNA does the site no favours. That would be a good site for a restaurant/cafe also especially when the fabulous Tower Headland is finished.
yes the tat has to go, I would rather see fewer venues but of a higher quality.
Exactly, as I have said before quality not quantity should be what matters. It is good to finally see some decent private sector investment in Blackpool and like I say I hope it stimulates more investment.
It will because it breeds confidence, when you look at the national mess we are in, Blackpool is doing surprsingly well in my view. Now we need suppoprtive and dynamic MPS, to win over INFRASTRUCTURE improvements.
Like the replacement for the A585,electrification, extension of the south line,airport expansion etc.
Is this the kind of quality you are talking about?
http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Top-cafe-bar-loses-licence.6089563.jp
Running a quality restaurant is one thing. Running a bar/nite club is another thing entirely!
I do welcome the Sands venue and know for a fact that one of the UK’s most successful nightclub operators is still in two minds about investing in Blackpool.
Good point there Jonbamboro, that is not the sort of thing I expect from an establishment like Septembers, it it was The Castle which is always full of drunken football fans and stags n hens, I wouldn’t be the slightest bit surprised.
The champagen bar is ok, the other part was crap I am lead to believe.
I want our new MPs to focus on INFRASTRUCTURE improvements, the private sector will take note and that could spur on additional investment.The Fylde by comparison has poor infrastructure.I am sceptical about the claims for electrification,I will only believe it when the next government confirms those plans after the election and the next budget.
So what’s the actual proposal then? Another nightclub? I’ve not clicked the link as it takes forever on my phone!
As for Septembers, I went in there a few times and it’s chav central. Maybe it’s the closest a chav will get to a real champagne bar.
I’m glad they had their license taken away because it was unruly and quite unpleasant.
Looking at their website on how they currently work, it looks like their entertainment in planned in the same way Legends is at the Central Pier with a stage and tables in front of it but just on a bigger scale.
It also looks like there is a jazz feel to it but I’m sure they will have a variety of “entertainers” on there.
The only thing i would say about San Marcos is that they still have the original Booths floor, it takes the magic away… aside from that its a class restaurant.
As for this sands venue thing, i welcome it, its something that should not have taken this long to do.