Blackpool's most Notorious Street 

Sadly Central Drive is one of the poorest ward's in the whole of the country. By the very nature of my job, I have been behind some of those front doors which were eye watering to behold and not just because of the acrid urine and human fecies smells. I even attended a "sex dungeon/heroine squat" in a ground floor flat. I was accompanied by some long serving police officers and they could not recall a more deprived scene in a long time. As for the "999 What's your Emergency" series, I'm amazed that Blackpool Council allowed another camera crew to film us again this year. That show was a fair and accurate representation of life in Blackpool.

What a dive. Visited Blackpool many times over the years, especially in the 70's and early 80's when I was growing up. It was pretty respectable then, guest house landladies all ran a tight ship and it was a safe place to walk around even late at night. As for me, I now live in the US so Blackpool seems like a million miles away but I still have very fond memories of my time there. Thanks for uploading this.

Thanks stephen. Spent many years walking down central drive from grassmere road into town. Can't believe how much blackpool has deteriorated

I moved from Australia to Bradford in 2016. I have visited Blackpool about 4 times over these years and although fun was had doing all the usual things around the beach, there was a very dark feeling over the city. I would always leave feeling a bit... glum. Like it was a tired, worn out old place that was simply used and abused by the tourism sector, meanwhile the regular people that live there are suffering in a rusty silence. I am pleased you are telling it's story though Steve - I hope the quality of life issues improve with your beautiful city. God bless

A Walk On The Wild Side at its best this is a classic video & what Stephen does better than anyone else. The variety of videos is first class 👍🏻

When I lived in Blackpool from 1986 to 1991 I used to walk the length of Central Drive almost every day, never had an issue, never felt unsafe. I find all of these videos fascinating because It realistically shows what Blackpool is like nowadays compared to what it was like then & sadly It really does appear to have gone downhill quite rapidly over the years although I'm sure If I were to ever return for a holiday (I'm in New Zealand today) I'd have a blast.

My son lived above McColls for a while when he first moved to Blackpool 10 years or so ago. I only visited him there once (in 2014), but Central Drive seems much more run down now. Mind you, living near Aldershot there is not much difference!

Its so sad to see how much Blackpool has gone downhill.

I was in Blackpool back in October and I couldn't believe the state the place was in even sections of the promenade were so run down.

just cancelled my holiday trip to Blackpool..............................might do Middlesborough instead...lol

I love how the tower is a visible, lighting up hope, over all the human problems on the street. Thanks so much. I really enjoy your walks and the details you point out. I imagine it can be pretty stressful to run a shop on that street xx take care

Moved to Blackpool in retirement, love the town which should become a city. I know I know...

Thanks for an insight of Blackpool again Stephen excellent work and content

You ought to offer Blackpool to the film industry as a location for a post Apocalypse movie. Obviously, it would need a bit of tidying up first.

My grandad used to own a chippy on central drive back in the 40s 50s they Qued in there 10s and 100 s and my mum used to live around there as a little girl she made loads of pocket money with her bag carrier at Central station ,the good old days in our great old town hopefully be great again one day .

Another great video Stephen very interesting, I think the knife bins are a great idea if people use them never seen them before 😊

Thank you love these you have a knack for it.

Please do keep your eye on the Old picture Hall, and film it in the day time so we can all see what's going on with that building and how it becomes part of the new complex.

I think that, with the new £300 million pound complex, Central Drive's days are possibly numbered. It's hard to imagine that they would want that right on it's doorstep. Most of the buildings on that section of Central Drive are not well maintained and probably too expensive to repair. Bond St is exactly the same. Once thriving and busy areas, now decaying away into ruin.

Love you videos well detailed brill commentary .Keep them coming .😉

Excellent video again.

Another interesting video Stephen 👍love the Tower all lit up, looks awesome xxx❤❤❤

Thank you Stephen as usual great job ,keep safe 👍👍

A thoroughly enjoyable video 👏

Thankyou for that interesting walk eye opener the way other people live

Really like ur video's please keep making more .

Great Footage as expected.

The girls used to come from all over Lancashire to escape the poverty, unemployment and degradation in they're home towns just to end up living in a slum in Blackpool and getting addicted to drugs by the various pimps and scum businesses that used to run Blackpool. The shameful conservative council never did anything for anybody and this is why Blackpool slid into the seedy and dirty squalid place it's become and also why it's avoided by most self respected holiday makers who prefer to take they're family holidays elsewhere now. Once a town gets a bad reputation it very rarely becomes respectable again and Blackpool has been seriously neglected for far too long.

Awesome v log brave man walking that end of Blackpool hats off to you.. Really loved the background music in parts sounded like an 80s film 😂🎶

I loved Blackpool as a child but didn't revisit for about 25 years because people said it had become rundown.I was pleasantly surprised to see it was still much the Blackpool of my childhood and I had a great day.Yes urban decay has set in the backstreets but in comparrison to where i live its nothing.I Will be returning in near future.

As the great karl pilkington said " If it looks grim at night it's going to look even worse during the day". I am not trying to be mean but..... I was given a hotel for FREE for the weekend I think you have covered the area in another video. It was near the KFC and the 24 hr Tesco's , we stayed for roughly 5 hours before leaving. I remember it was roasting hot with industrial sized bins over flowing with all kinds of junk with a massive rat sifting through its contents and the smell was horrendous. That street was busy with tramps taking up half of the walkway so you had to shuffle around them, literally zombies walking about, I found out later it was "spice" a drug they were on. Every conversation we were hearing as we walked the length of the street towards the beach front was either broken english or foreign. It looked like people had given up and they are just excisting. This was last year.....

New subscriber from Manchester!!!! Excellent job 👌👌👌!!!!

I lived on Reids Avenue for a few years. Run down for sure but I have so many warm memories. Watching this was nice 👌

Coronation Street signing in enjoy your content mate subbed and ready for more

I had my first job on leaving school in central drive. 1982, I was an apprentice in a mechanics shop, below the Multistory carpark, looks like the the car park and garage have been demolished now. I used to travel in from my parents house in Elswick each day on my moped. Happy days👍

Great vlog and hopefully the are gets redone soon.

Ive a fifty in my pocket that says he's been up those stairs behind Atherton's Carpets.

Great video, I’ve only been once but feel like I know Blackpool very well now ! Ready for my two visits next year . Castle nor-break is my only experience of accommodation so the bar was set at the very bottom 🤣

Another great video Steven

Used to live just of central drive back in the 80s , totally different place back then , unbelievable how it's gone down hill 😡

I live at the top of Grassmere road, near the roundabout. When I moved here back in 1988, it was nice around revoe library and a huge xmas tree used to be placed there every year. That end of Central drive was always busy, that cigarette waste gallery used to be a Lloyds bank and the old cinema across the road had been converted into a bar which later became a popular line dancing bar, I passed it once at night when I worked as a bouncer at the Castle, and saw what I assume was a drunk stag party dressed as native Americans armed with silly plastic bows that fired sucker arrows, they were ambushing random line dancers dressed as cowboys that were exiting the building, good times. Now all you seem to see are dossers sitting on door steps either drunk or stoned out of their gourd. The whole street needs renovating and converting into modern homes instead of spending on silly things like ten grand on a silly tree.

Even the music was making me tense!

Steve. I would love you to check out a mini TV series called Funland based in and filmed in Blackpool. You will probably know all the locations, such as Mercy's, Ambrose Chapel and Pondarosa Hotel. Keep up the good work 😍

I believe Blackpool will make a comeback in a few years. Travelling abroad is being made a bit diifficult now

My home 🧡 glad I got off that street when I was still growing up

I was born in Mereside in 1956 and remember all these places when they were buzzing. Central Station was super busy and Central Drive was a safe place to go but Ibbison Street before it was redeveloped was a place to avoid. The King Edward Cinema was thriving and the King Edward pub was a safe place for a lively pint. I have not been back for thirty years and it is so sad to see these excellent VLOGs. I have happy memories but it became a forgotten town and no longer attracts the thousands of families each year that made in wonderful. So sad. Excellent videos. More of the same please.

Yes, it was i who told you about what constitutes a brothel. I had my massage parlour, directly across the rd from the lady above Atherton's carpets. This was back in 2000. I occasionally used to go and give her a hand, if she rang me, with an adventurous client! LoL! Happy days! Great video, Stephen! Thank you! xxxx

This so sad I grew up in Blackpool 71 Grasmere Rd!! Central Dr used to be so nice alot of family ownd shops and butcher's to the top end café s and tourist shops rock hats so sad... The George pub was local for all 50s60s Goodfellows lol and well known gangsters also scotch bar and many more but they kept local area safe!!! I still have family that live on Lune Grove mecca used to be the place on a Monday night till 10 lol for us young ones and Saturday mornings wow remember the picture house used to go there Saturday's morning and the odeon used to live at 3 high st when I was 8 then we moved to Grasmere!!! Wow how it's changed I also moved to USA I was a international makeup artist for Christian Dior live in Miami beach now but I do miss home Thank for sharing your video's

Keep up the good work Stephen I work with your brother and he’s a true legend most kindest guy I’ve met helps me out with a lot of stuff does Allan 🙌

I would have loveddd to have been from Blackpool man it’s my fav place and I actually like how behind the nice sights n stuff it’s run down rather then posh, my sorta places these and I love going Blackpool

Another very interesting video Steve, thank you. 2 years on it's still the same. Shame to see all the derelict buildings especially the grand old ones. You're right the residential part of Central Drive is much nicer. From Bloomfield Road down to St Anne's Road most of the houses and gardens are well looked after. Just like Lytham Road a derelict part and a nice well looked after part.

I left Blackpool a little over 10 years ago now and haven't been back in nearly 6 years. I found A Walk on the side by accident a few months back and I have been an avid watcher ever since. Keep up the great work Stephen 👍👍👍

So bloody sad,best years of my life spent there as a kid.King Edward appartments.i was 19 /20 am 51 now so long time ago.still sad.

Stitch In Time is actually my family’s business however I do agree the street needs sorting

Stephen My town has got a poor reputation After viewing your latest GEM My town is a paradise after following you down there btw you’re a brave man too !

My parents came from Manchester to stay in a hotel on Central Drive (think it was on the corner of Palatine Road) for their honeymoon just after the war. Sounds unlikely now, but Blackpool, and the world, was a much different place almost 80 years ago of course. I'm sure they would be baffled to say the least to see how it is now.

Blackpool was always my no 1 UK holiday .... Still love the place to this day... Respect from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍

Used to live in a bedsit in the early 90`s above a jewellers (Think its a hoover shop now) across the road from Bethesda Rd and what once was a public toilet. It was dreadful then and doubt it has changed much in the calibre of resident since :)

I've visited many times and had no idea there was also a Central Station. Blackpool North always seems quite central to me! Was the Central Station the destination of an offshoot from the line to Blackpool North or South? Although I'm sure those who say Blackpool has deteriorated have a greater insight than I do, every time I'm there I seem to spot at least one major improvement that the council has made, so I hope the town is now displaying signs of regeneration compared to 10-15 years ago?

Blackpool is such an amazing city but has so many problems , sort of fascinating really the contrast between the tourism side and it’s darker side

Central station still a car park? I parked there in 1968 when I went to Blackpool with my then girlfriend. I watch your videos as Blackpool has bittersweet memories for me. I have been before and since. Keep up these fascinating accounts of Blackpool.Sad that Blackpool has a knife problem. It is drugs. Simple. In 1968 I did not see such problems. Make your own minds up to the reasons.

Next time i'm in Blackpool i'll know where NOT to go.Utterly depressing to see a traditional seaside town blighted by lowlife dragging the area down,that's all it is.It's even starting to look and sound like the Coney Island of the UK esp how it was in the 1970s.

I grew up on Central Drive but at the bottom end & went to Primary school just near this area. That was 30+ years ago, I live in the US now. It was never great, but nothing like this

Great video. I've never gone along Central Drive after dark when I'm on holiday due to all the stories I've heard! Admittedly I have been propositioned by a lady of the night at Palatine and that was in broad daylight in the middle of summer!! I understand the old Bethesda Square toilets had a certain notoriety about them too..... its an interesting road and you've made a great show of it. Keep up the good work!!!

we go to Blackpool every July to watch the darts at the Winter Gardens. Always drink at the King Edward beforehand as they have dartboards, never felt unsafe altho i have always felt for the people of Blackpool. It needs serious investment. Hopefully this area will improve now.

I have always loved Blackpool, I used to holiday there as a child, as a single lad, as a husband and as a dad. I have fond memories of the Harlequin cafe, if we came for the day when I was a kid we used to always have our supper there, it was the only place I would drink Horlicks 🤣 that's going back 50 years and it wasn't quite as run down then 🤣. I still go to Blackpool frequently nowadays, usually for the air gun shop BAR which is on Elizabeth st I think. In fact I was there last Wednesday for a drive through the lights 👍👍👍

I was taken often as a child to Blackpool and had really good memories, I visited recently some 40yrs later and didn't stay long... Like Butlins it has become old and grubby with, I hate to say it a brooding feeling of menace to it... Saddens me.

I worked at the Palma Cafe as a schoolboy in the summer holidays in 1968. It was owned then by an Italian family.

Can you do a video on the stagebox as the last who runs it, Daniela is such a decent person and has interesting story in sure.

I can remember in the 1960's Central Drive being an amazing place to shop, so sad to see it now.

with that intro music, thought you might be cruising down the road in an open top red ferrari, miami vice style?

Please do a Palma Cafe review Stephen. Always wonder what it is like in there.

It looks a right dump and coming from Southampton I know a dump when I see one .

Central Drive used to be a decent street, lots of cafes and shops and takeaways, it is a shithouse now, such a shame as it is in the middle of a lots of cracking BnB's Nice tour Steve

Hey i was at that chippy the other day 😂😂 im really enjoying these only moved here a week ago so can look around in my bed hahaha

We have got a few iffy spots in Cromer it seems to be all over the country and sea side places seem to have more than their share I know that Felixstowe in Suffolk has one of the largest import and cargo systems in Europe and a hell of a lot of those containers bring in a lot of drugs and people get hooked pretty quick it's a sad inevitability but the whole of the UK has a serious problem Very good vid Stephen sort of brings the truth home very sad from David Cromer

Not sure about the owner of the Palma cafe being the same for the last 30 years, but I had a summer job the when I was 14/15 so that was 1969/70 so it’s definitely been around for about 50 years.

What I like about your videos is the informative descriptions you talk about. Also, something you do that is very good is pan around slowly. (nothing worse than watching a video and zipping left, right, up, down just to make you dizzy LOL). a lot of these streets and places you talk about are unknown and you explain calmly and clearly the history of them. I do find myself driving through these places and telling the wife all about them and she thinks I am really knowledgeable about Blackpool, so nudge, nudge, wink, wink, don't tell her where I get my knowledge from haha. As usual, another good video so keep them coming. Just one thing, are you carrying the camera? or is it strapped to your body? or hidden? as people don't seem to see it and just carry on as normal? (always puzzles me that one).

Thank you Stephen good to see a different side of Blackpool. I always look forward to your videos.

James Hanratty remember him from a school trip to London and visiting Madam Tussauds wax works they had him in there with A6 murderer over his head and a question Mark? Always wondered did he really do it.

Great Videos mare,watch them every night.Brings back many great holiday memories

Got to hand it to you Stephen you've got more balls than me walking around Central Drive alone. It was alway a iffy place when we were in South Shore 1991 to 2005. Great video and thanks for braving it.👍

If it gets much worse around there, The Equalizer theme music may be more appropriate in future vids! Defo looks a bit edgy; But staying on the waterfront, fair to say one is generally OK. Interesting stuff 👍

do you know if the Dog and Partridge pub is still there? it was near the South under a snooker hall

Wasn’t the Commonwealth sporting club on central drive? I would play snooker competitions there in late 70’s early 80’s great memories

Palma cafe good cooked breakfast 👍 x

I’ve always thought King Edward pub seemed like it might have been a really good pub back in the day. The building itself is still nice it’s just a shame the area around it has gone the way it has.

Thank you for sharing my drone flight matey

Great Vlog Ste... Very informative... Now that's what I call a real "Walk On The Wild Side" 😱

Good Evening Sir, This is the first time in a long time I have been able to watch a video again and relax into it. Work has taken over. Great video sir I thoroughly enjoyed the watch. Was the bingo hall the one which was knocked down on your previous videos. All the best.

I didn't know that pub had gone. What happened to it? Was it unsafe?

Hi just wondering was the big shop opposit the massage flat was it could the dolphin restraint

Be careful out there alone Stephen! Fantastic video, great 80s style music too 👌

It's very run down it needs a miracle to recover it from the dead

blackpool tower!that looked beautiful there,all red!i've only been up there once,in 1984!i used to love those tea shops and amusement arcades!five pence a cup!a time gone by eh!in the same time again,our generation will be gone!

When my grandparents became frail, they got a sheltered flat just off Central Drive, on Ibbeson Court I think. Wonder if that development's still there? I wouldn't have thought it would be very good for frail elderly and disabled people to live there at the moment! Mind you, when they were there one of the residents was murdered... it even went on Crimewatch! Wonder if they caught his murderer?

I was walking the same areas as you did the night after at 10pm looking for a decent chippy, and there was plenty of activity ( not surprising really). Central Drive definitely has a atmosphere of it's own! So alot of what you mentioned in this video makes alot of sense now! Thanks for sharing 🙂

Stephen that was a great batch of videos. Thanks

The drugs have just taken over Blackpool and I can't see it getting any better in my life time, sorry to say, thanks Steve

Walked down there in the day in October when staying in Blackpool.Quite a few cafes which didn't look bad.I was surprised the amount of Shops.I'll probably walk down there again.The area I live in had a murder 2 streets away knife stabbing.Around the Corner a fued with drug dealers armed response came people ramming each other's cars then hitting each other with a baseball bat! maybe that's why it didn't phase me walking down there!