Papas Fish And Chips - Blackpool

We didn't have the best experience here at Papa's but the food was lovely. 

The part that wasn't great was that there was just 2 members of staff working and it was really busy. There was 1 person in the kitchen and 1 person out on the floor so he was taking orders for food and drinks, cleaning the tables and taking food to the tables. I felt really bad for them when I a big group of about 20 people turned up and we had already been waiting an hour for our food so knew they were massively behind. 

We both had the Chip Shop Platter, it is a battered haddock, chips, a battered sausage, and a parsley fishcake. We both really loved the food as it was cooked perfectly and the batter on the haddock was nice and crispy.

I loved that they have a cocktail menu so I had a few very delicious strawberry daiquiris and was surprised that they came out in such large glasses as usually they are little glasses.

The prices are really reasonable for food and drinks. We both had mains, I had cocktails, Sean had beers and it didn't even come to £60.

The restaurant is really big with loads of tables and it's very stylish. If you want to go on a weekend, I would suggest booking so you aren't disappointed.

Blackpool Ballroom

The Blackpool Tower Ballroom is one of those places where it doesn't matter if you are a dancer or not, it's an amazing experience just being there. It’s not just a dance hall, it’s an experience that makes you feel part of something timeless.

💃 The Blackpool Tower Ballroom: A Dance with History

Step inside the Blackpool Tower Ballroom, and you’re instantly transported to another era. The chandeliers sparkle, the gilded balconies curve elegantly around the room, and the polished wooden floor seems to whisper stories of dancers that have glided across it's boards. It’s no wonder this ballroom has become a bucket-list stop for visitors to Blackpool. I lost track of time just by looking up and admiring the beautiful architecture.

🕰️ A Touch of History

• The original ballroom opened in August 1894, the same year the Tower itself was unveiled.

• The current design was created by Frank Matcham, one of Britain’s most celebrated theatre architects, who gave the ballroom its ornate, theatrical flair.

• The dance floor is a marvel in itself, made up of 30,602 individual blocks of mahogany, oak, and walnut, carefully arranged to create a surface that’s perfect for gliding across.

• Above the stage, you’ll spot a Shakespearean inscription: “Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear” a nod to the ballroom’s blend of art and performance.

• The ballroom has hosted countless events, from local dances to the dazzling Strictly Come Dancing specials, cementing its place in British pop culture.

🎶 The Sound of the Wurlitzer

No visit is complete without hearing the famous Wurlitzer organ that we were glad to see was being used the day that we visited. Since 1975, organist Phil Kelsall has been filling the ballroom with music, creating the soundtrack for dancers twirling across the floor. The sound is rich, nostalgic, and instantly makes you want to join in.

🌟 Why Tourists Love It

Visiting the ballroom isn’t just about watching, you can:

• Sit back with tea and cake while the organ plays because you can book to afternoon tea and sit on either the blue or red tables that are at the sides of the dance floor. If you don't want to have afternoon tea, there is a counter to get hot drinks and snacks.

• Step onto the floor yourself and try a waltz or foxtrot. I really enjoyed sitting and watching people dancing, some were dressed up very smartly or dressed up like they were about to enter a dance competition. Then there were some who were in jeans and t-shirts, but I loved that no one cared who was wearing what, they were all there to dance.

• Simply soak up the atmosphere, imagining the generations who’ve danced here before. Which is what we did, we watched the dancers, listened to the music and just took in the room.

It’s casual, welcoming, and surprisingly affordable, making it a perfect stop whether you’re a dance enthusiast or just curious about Blackpool’s heritage.

🎫Tickets

The Blackpool Tower Ballroom is another attraction on the Merlin Attraction Pass so the ease of booking is a really big bonus.

Backstage - Cleveleys - Blackpool

Other than The Waterloo, Backstage is the music venue to check out in Blackpool. 

It's a small venue but they love live music and have bands playing in there on a regular basis.

We were there for a band's single launch and absolutely loved the place. There was lots of cool music memorabilia on the walls, there isn't much seating so be prepared to stand, but if you are there for a band you will probably be standing anyway.

The prices for drinks are really reasonable and the staff are really nice. 

If you are planning a trip to Blackpool and want a night of live music, check this place out to see if there are any gigs on.

Pirates Bay Family Bar - Central Pier - Blackpool

The Pirate Bay Family Bar is the perfect place to come with the family for some good entertainment. You will find it at the very end of the Central pier, you can't miss it.

They have live music most days and there is entertainment for the kids while parents can sit back and relax.

The bar is huge so there is plenty of seating and tables, they do amazing cocktails and it's connected to the indoor arcade so there is loads of things to keep the kids busy if the party ganesm balloon animals and dancing doesn't appeal to them.

They do food but I haven't eaten there, we always seem to go just after eating lunch but the food we had seen come out that other people had ordered looked really nice and didn't hear any complaints.

Wetherspoons - The Jolly Tars - Cleveleys - Blackpool

 
The Jolly Tars is a Wetherspoons pub so as I have said before about other Wetherspoons pubs, you get what you paid for.

We went on a Thursday night and it was packed. For the first 15 minutes we were there, there was no tables free and was just saying we should look for somewhere else to go when we saw some people stand up to leave and we basically jumped in there seats. I don't know if it was just lots of people on holiday as Cleveys is a quite far up from the Blackpool main promenade but still accessible by the tram. Or if there was a club nearby that was having a big event. We were there as it was the closest place to the music venue Backstage.

We both had mixed grills and even thought it was packed, it didn't take long for the food to come out to us. Some of the food was a little dry but it still good food, we enjoyed it.

There is loads of seating, we got a really nice booth to sit in but we saw tall tables to stand around and sofas as well as normal tables inside and out.

Blackpool Tower

There’s something magical about spotting the Blackpool Tower as it rises above the promenade. Whether you’re arriving by tram, car, or on foot, it’s impossible to miss that iron giant standing proud since 1894 above the buildings, a Victorian dream inspired by Paris’s Eiffel Tower, but with a distinctly British seaside twist.

🎡 The Adventure Begins at the Base

Your journey starts at ground level, where the Tower buzzes with energy being filled with tourists going to one of the many attractions that lead off from the lobby. Step inside and you’re greeted by a mix of history and fun:

• The Tower Circus has been entertaining crowds for over a century, with acrobats and clowns delighting families since the day it opened. I love that it is the same family that has been running the circus for all this time.

• The Tower Ballroom is pure elegance, think gilded balconies, chandeliers, and the sound of a Wurlitzer organ filling the air. It’s so iconic that Strictly Come Dancing regularly films here.

• For those who like a thrill, The Tower Dungeon offers a cheeky (and slightly spooky) dive into Lancashire’s darker past.

🚡 The Ascent: Lifts to the Sky

Then comes the climb. The lifts whisk you upwards through the Tower’s steel frame, and with each floor you’re leaving the bustle of the promenade behind. It’s a moment of anticipation, kids press their noses to the glass, adults clutch their cameras, and everyone wonders just how far they’ll see when they reach the top.

🌅 The Tower Eye & SkyWalk

At the summit, the Tower Eye delivers the payoff: sweeping views across the Fylde Coast. On a clear day, I've been told that you can spot the Lake District peaks, the Welsh hills, and even the Isle of Man off in the distance.

And then there’s the SkyWalk, a glass floor that lets you look straight down to the streets below. It’s equal parts terrifying and exhilarating, the kind of experience that makes you laugh nervously before snapping that must-have selfie. I'm not going to lie, it took me a few minutes to work my way out onto the glass to have my picture taken and then it took my longer to get Sean to walk out to have a picture with me. I was very happy to see there was a bar at the top so we could sit at a table with a drink and look out at the view.

🕰️ A Tower with Stories to Tell

What makes the Blackpool Tower special isn’t just the view, it’s the history woven into every level. I was built with over 2,500 tons of steel so it's not surprising that it was once the tallest man-made structure in Britain. Generations have danced, laughed, and gasped their way through its attractions, making it a living time capsule of seaside culture. As you are working your way up to the top, you go through amazing exhibits showing you the history of the tower, I found it so fascinating.

🎫Tickets

This is another attraction that you can get on the Merlin Attraction Pass so even more savings to be enjoyed.

Premier Inn - Angel Islington

If you are going to O2 Islington for a gig, this is the perfect hotel for an overnight stay, it’s right next to the venue.

My husband, Sean, and I stayed there when we went to see Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons for Sean’s 40th birthday. We wanted to make sure that we both had a wicked time and was able to have a drink so I was really surprised that I found a Premier Inn that was really close and just under £100 for the night.

We parked in the underground car park for the shopping centre that the venue is in, it was £30 for 24 hours, considering that’s in London, it’s not bad lol.

When I booked, I saw the option to have a Plus room which had a few little extra perks and seeing as it was a special occasion, I went for it. We got a bigger room, a proper coffee machine, a nice comfy chair, a walk-in shower and a city view. Well, I say a city view, most of our window was frosted so I couldn’t actually see out the window. I had to hold my phone above the frosted line to see our view.

The bed was super comfy and I loved that the bedside tables were tables that were as high as the mattress and were on wheels so we could move them if we needed to.

The shower was amazing, I sometimes find hotel showers can be a bit hit and miss but I didn’t want to get out of this shower. The water pressure was perfect, I had plenty of room to move around and I got the water temperature right straight away.

I didn’t pay for breakfast when I booked but the lovely man on reception let us book a table for breakfast and then we paid in the morning when we turned up to eat. It was a buffet breakfast, we had the cooked breakfast which was mushrooms, sausages, bacon, friend and scrambled eggs, tomatoes, baked beans, black pudding and hash browns. We loved the sausages as they tasted like proper sausage from a butchers, which makes all the difference to us.

There was plenty of cereals, fruit, breads, etc if you didn’t want cooked food.

EP Review - Best Medicine - Revenant

If you haven't already heard of Revenant, you have been missing out, these guys are taking the UK by storm and they are not slowing down.

Their EP - Best Medicine is out on the 11th of April and it is going to rock your socks off because from start to finish, it is full of absolute bangers!!

Public Service Announcement

Love this song! It gets you up off your bum for a right old boogie! It's got such a great energy to it that it will have you jumping around shouting "This is a public service announcement, listen to what I say" even after the song has finished.

Best Medicine

The song is about the singer, Sam, finding the love of his life and falling head over heels in love with her. He can’t eat, he can’t sleep, he’s losing his wits.

I found out in a recent interview with the lads that Sam wasn’t always a singer and after hearing this song, I can’t think of why. He has a brilliant voice and along with the harmonies on this track are just all perfectly put together. Plus, as it is about his personal experience, you can hear the emotion in his voice talking about finding love.

Don’t even get me started on the guitars….ok… they are frigging amazing! Throughout the track, you can hear them

Runaway Rage

A slightly slower track but full of juicy guitar parts that will have you bending like guitar strings. I particularly love the slide guitar parts, I think it's from my years growing up listening to country music that makes this song so appealing to me.

Least I Can Do

This song gives me visions of sitting out in the garden in the sun with a cold drink and having this song playing to bring the chill vibe. It's a song about working hard for what you have and sharing what you have. It's a brilliant feeling good song.

Miss You

A nice acoustic track to finish off the EP. I think this is a after-a-break-up song, it's a bit sad but it has a beautiful melody. I really like the fact it is acoustic so that it stands out against the other songs on the EP.

***Originally posted on my music blog Suzy's Musical World

No Catch - Brighton

This is my favourite vegan place in the whole world! Me and my buddy Carmen do our best to go here whenever we are in Brighton so if you are ever in Brighton, you need to try it.

I absolutely love the vegan cod and chips and curry sauce, it was amazing. I thought it would come out greasy because it’s fast food but it wasn’t greasy at all and it was so tasty.

 I don’t know exactly what they put in it to make it taste like it is cod but it is spot on. The chips are perfect as well, nice big chunky chips that are fluffy on the inside but crispy on the outside and the curry sause was perfect as well, proper chip shop curry sauce.

It is a little pricy but the food is worth it and because it is right on the seafront, you can have your food as a takeaway and walk over the road to eat it on the beach.

Married 15 Years Today

It’s quite hard to believe that 15 years ago today, myself and Sean took a big step in our relationship by getting married.

It was one hell of a day, the ceremony wasn’t until the afternoon but I had so much to deal with before then that I was so glad when the ceremony was done so we could go to the pub lol.

I’d booked a lady to come and do my nails as well as my mum’s and bridesmaids’ the night before the wedding. I emailed her a few days before to make sure she knew where to park and confirm times when she said she thought she was doing our nails on the Saturday, not the Friday. After she realised that she had read my email wrong, she moved some things around so that she could come to us on the Saturday morning, which wasn’t really what I wanted as it was one more thing to do on the day and I didn’t want everyone rushing to get stuff done, but it’s what we went with. What didn’t really help was that I paid quite a bit of money for her to come and do our nails but I was getting messages from everyone a few days after the wedding saying their nails had come off.

Myself, my bridesmaids (Simone, Fran and Jodie), parents, and some of my guests were all in the same hotel and the night before the wedding we were told that we could use the little function room the next day for us all to sit in to have our nails and hair done. They said there were no bookings so it’s not a problem. We thought this was great so the next morning, everything was set up, it was all going to plan, until the hotel owner came in screaming and shouting at us that we shouldn’t be in there. I tried to explain that we had been told we could use the room but he continued to shout at us and told us to go down to the breakfast room instead. We did do this but he later complained that the room then smelt like hairspray and nail polish. It turns out that he had booked the room out but hadn’t actually told anyone but was blaming us for being in there.

My mum had fallen over a few days before the wedding and had 2 black eyes so she nipped out to Boots to have a makeover at the make-up counter. She'd gone in the day before to ask about concealer and the lovely lady she spoke to had told her that she would do her make-up for her.

At lunch time it started raining which annoyed me a lot as I didn’t know how I was going to get to the car and then from the car to the registry office without my hair getting wet after just having it done. Lucky enough, the rain held off when I needed to go to the registry office so that was a little blessing.

My mum was getting overly worried about everything going to plan and got so stressed that one of my guests had a bit of dig at me about it. I couldn’t understand why my mum was getting so stressed as the only thing I had asked her to do was get her nails done, everything else was fine. I found my mum and told her she was a silly plonker, which she did find funny, and we hugged it out.

I forgot my flowers in the hotel bar and didn’t remember until I was in the car and nearly at the registry office but lucky enough, my sister-in-law Rachel was still there and picked them up for me.

I rolled up to the registry office car park to see Sean and his groomsmen, Jason and Dave, walking into the building so we had to go round the Maidstone one way system to give them time to set everything up in the room we were using for the ceremony.

When I finally got to go in, I needed to go into a little room with the registrar to confirm I was who I said I was, that I wanted to get married, etc etc etc. That was all fine, that was the easy bit of the whole day lol.

I was standing in the hallway with my dad, bridesmaids’ in front of me, waiting for the music to start so we could walk in and out of nowhere, I started crying. Full on crying for no reason. So the pictures and video of me walking into the ceremony looked more like someone was walking to their death rather than their future husband lol.

The ceremony went really quick, thank goodness, and before I knew it, we were back outside as husband and wife. We had lots of pictures taken and then it was off to the pub. My brother had brought his Bentley to drive me around in, so took me and Sean to the pub and then a few other trips to get people from the registry office to the pub as it was starting to drizzle a bit.

The lady, Jenny, who ran the pub where we holding our wedding reception, let us have it free because we were going to be bringing in so many people. She asked if the locals could still come in to drink and we said yes seeing as we knew them all, so everyone was happy. I found out a few days later that she had taken a month’s worth of money in that one night lol. I did tell her there was some heavy drinkers coming lol.

It was lovely having everyone in one place for once as it wasn’t very often that both sides of our families were in the same place at the same time. I got a real surprise when my Uncle Billy turned up, he was in a wheelchair because he was disabled so I wasn’t sure if he would be able to come and then he turned up haha.

Everyone had a brilliant time, at one point, I had a pint glass with vodka and coke in it. Everyone was buying me drinks and I was starting to get annoyed having to hold multiple glasses so I got the barmaid to put them all in a pint glass for me. I know, classy right? haha

After the reception, we went back to the hotel and we were in the bar until 2am, I wanted to go to bed but Sean didn’t so I went up just yet. Only problem was that I didn’t tell Sean what room we were in, so when he did want to come to bed, he didn’t know where he was meant to go haha. He eventually found me after waking up a lot of other guests by knocking on their doors. He looked so relieved when I opened the door to him haha.

Then, in the middle of the night, I woke up to find Sean wasn’t in the bed. I went to the bathroom and sitting upright in the bath with his arms crossed over his chest and fast asleep, was Sean. I woke him up and told him to get into bed but his response was that he was having a bath, even though there was no water in the bath. I tried a few more times to get him to come to bed but he insisted he was having a bath, so I left him there.

I got a wake up call from my nephew Jack to make sure I was up and ready for breakfast and I told him to f off. To be fair, I had told him to ring me to wake me up but I wasn’t happy about it haha.

So, that was 15 years ago, I better start thinking about how we are going to celebrate when it's been 20 years, definitely need to have a big party for that one.