POPULAR CLIFTON Street cabaret bar the Green Parrot was mysteriously closed this week amidst a storm of rumours that the venture has crumbled due to financial pressure.
The bar – owned by Funny Girls star Betty Legs Diamond (real name Simon Green) – has only been open for 15 months and was a welcome change from the dinge and classless night venues in Blackpool. If it is true that this parrot is now dead, it represents a disaster for the recovery of Blackpool’s town centre and is sure to sap the morale of other business owners.
Italian restaurant Rocco’s has also allegedly bitten the bullet, but on the plus side the former Schofields venture has reopened as Kartels, a classy new night spot run by local people which is reportedly doing very well and only last weekend hosted a packed after-show party following the Rock FM Live gig at the Winter Gardens.
But these businesses need support. Alan Cavill has allegedly promised to assist businesses on Clifton Street with improved lighting from the Illuminations department but this has not materialised. Furthermore, despite repeated requests they continue to refuse to move the £20,000 hoardings that have surrounded the former Yates’ site for the past 18 months.
It’s unclear whether the council is simply relying on natural selection to whittle the businesses down, or whether it is simply out of ideas. Either way, there will be more to come if it doesn’t get it’s finger out.
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The council never had any ideas to run out of in the first place,when the green parrot shuts and is to be changed/brought down you,will boxers scaffolding be erected there?
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lol, I couldn’t possibly comment.
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lol boxing clever eh?
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It is a shame about the Green Parrot, Simon has put his heart and soul into the venture but many mistakes were made. The pricing policy was wrong and charging to come in when there are less than a dozen people in there???? Then charging more to sit in seats, behind those who have paid less????
The show part was great, the promotional team did a great job but the business end let them down. Having Enterprise Inns as your landlord is the nail in the coffin!
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so – is it finished or not ?
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so is it finished or what ?
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Hi Kev. Shortly after my article, the Gazette also reported it as being in the financial mire and said that the property owner, Enterprise Inns, had taken control of it.
Last time I looked (within the last few weeks) it was open again.
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its a shame, however you may be interested to know that Betty Legs Diamond is alive and kicking her legs in Newcastle….
The trouble was the venue and its concept was too “up market” for blackpool and a tadge on the dear side…….. Great Idea, wrong place…………. Wish simon the very best with his venue in Newcastle.
Sorry day when the MD of ITP let him go over a little pay wrangle………… that could have been sorted ….
Funnies lost its Jewel in the crown, now the crown is jeweless………………. and star less a lack lusture show now sorry folks.
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I wouldn’t say it was ‘too upmarket’ for Blackpool. Blackpool needs more upmarket venues because I am sick of Blackpool being labelled as ‘cheap and cheerful’ or ‘anti culture’ and other such misguided stereotypes. I have no problem with paying more for a more quality venue. There are some right dives in Blackpool and The Green Parrot was a breath of fresh air.
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The Sands can certainly be bracketed in the ‘upmarket’ area. At first glance it’s offering looks out of place given the culture of most of the visitors to Blackpool.
The fact it is investing and expanding over the closed season is a lesson to all of us.
Do not take things at face value.
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Precisely, there are affluent areas in Blackpool and surrounding Fylde Coast and people do want upmarket venues like me. I would rather go to a classy venue like The Sands or Green Parrot than a dump like Hamish’s bar or The Castle anyday. There is a demand for upmarket venues and I say we need more of them.
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i dont disagree with you in any of your sentiments
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