Blackpool Rocks Again.

Posted on 7 May, 20247 May, 2024 by Bigpip

Oh my christ! There’s going to be a Gavin and Stacey special this Christmas. That was the main topic of conversation on the four and a half hour drive from Cardiff to Blackpool. Do we really want to know what happened on the fishing trip?

So began a weekend of Rock and Roll at The Waterloo. Last year, they hosted a Motorhead weekender and they’ve done the same again this year. A number of rock bands on the bill and the fantastic Motorheadache tribute act, doing two sets this year.

We arrived at our hotel for the night and as we pulled up outside, there were two residents / inmates smoking on the deck outside the front of the hotel. A sight that immediately gave me reservations about the place that had been chosen!

We checked in and went to the rooms. Four of us went up, the two ladies Cath and Stef, then Birchy and myself. Both of the rooms booked were twin rooms. The ones we were given were doubles! Back down to reception to get it sorted!

To be fair, the rooms weren’t too bad. The ladies had a bit of an issue with their bathroom but they did send someone up to give it the once over. Ours was not bad. The bed was very comfortable and the hotel was quiet enough.

Image Credit: Cath Jones

Blackpool and The Waterloo

When we went to Blackpool last year, we didn’t really take much time to wander through the town. If I remember then we taxied down to the Waterloo. This time we decided to take our time and to walk from the center down to the venue.

We didn’t really realise how derelict the town appears. There are some nice looking areas on the outskirts but the inner part of the town is well past it’s sell by date.

The Waterloo however is a good venue for live music and very much a Motorhead bar. We certainly spent some time trying to work out what bands had played The Waterloo Bowl though!

I took things fairly easily because of the drive home the next day. I did have a few pints but not as much as I would have had normally on a Saturday.

Sunday

We vacated the hotel by 10am the next day. A short wander away from our hotel was The Norbreck Castle. According to Trip Advisor, this is the worst hotel in Blackpool apparently!

Norbreck Castle Hotel
(Not a Castle)

This stunning Castle like hotel offers a warm welcome to the famous Seaside Resort of Blackpool.The hotel has 480 bedrooms, many with sea views that offer a comfortable and relaxing stay.

I can’t say that I’d be that relaxed staying somewhere that looks like Colditz! The Tripadvisor reviews are just hillarious.

Terrible!!! Filthy, food horrible. There was a half drunk glass of something on the stairs that was there from when we arrived til when we left. Lift didn’t work. Light bulb missing from bedside lamp. Key cards did not work. Horrendous. Will never return

Date of stay: October 2023
Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip: Never go

Tripadvisor didn’t give our hotel a very good score but there were only a few reviews.

We decided to head north and ended up in Cleveleys, a few miles above Blackpool. It was head and shoulders above its more famous neighbour.

There was a little family run cafe where we had some lunch. They did these massive deserts and while I was so very tempted, I managed to resist but oh my, they looked fantastic!

From there, it was then 5 hours on the road back to Cardiff.

The tale of the scale.

Despite eating lots of junk food over the weekend, burgers, chips, pies and lots of haribo, I wasn’t expecting miracles on the scales of doom this week.

I was pleased therefore that the scales registered a half pound loss again. Not much but it’s a loss and it’s heading in the right direction. I have 2.5lbs to go until I hit the three stone loss. I am hoping for a good week next week.

I had my Club 10 award recently and I manage to pick up Slimmer of the Week too this week. Very please with that as I’m running out of beans!! 😉