Enjoying retirement
In The Red Rose County
For a nice change we attended a one day Lancashire match at Blackpool's cricket ground in Stanley Park which I had last visited in the Sixties. It was a lovely day, nice atmosphere (almost like a large village cricket match), and a great match (Lancs won just!). I was particularly struck by the pavilion which I could enter as a Lancs Member. It has been picked out by CAMRA on numerous occasions as the best club in the country, and no wonder. It had an extraordinary range of real ale and the food included things like fillet steak with all the trimmings for £20 which can't be bad. Membership for us would be £20 a year which I will certainly consider for next year. We did take a small picnic but I knew Stanley Park itself was worth a visit so we we strolled there in the lunch break. We made first for the Art Deco cafe which was the best park cafe you could imagine. The building was unique....... and the interior just as good with separate areas for food, ice cream and alcohol. The food came in large portions and was cheap (the Lancashire way). You exit onto a grand terrace....... which overlooks the Italian Gardens........ Good details everywhere. A pair of lions at the entrance to the gardens were copied from those in Florence and cast in bronze. We also found a walled garden which was a delight........ The lake was pretty special too. and by its side a bandstand with its own seating arena........... The park has its own BMX track which is the longest, national standard, BMX track in the country....here's a part of it. Looked good to me. And the pics don't do the play area justice. We thought it the best we have seen. No wonder Stanley Park was picked out in 2019 as the country's best-loved park. The whole area around the park is full of splendid and cheap houses, mainly traditional Victorian/Edwardian........ but with some new....... and the prices made us wonder...this house for instance recently sold at a similar price to our small terrace......... ....and its kitchen would do many an expensive house proud. This one is currently for sale for £169k. Nice. This one rather more! I know my Mum and Dad got angry when people criticised Blackpool (and Lancashire in general). They thought they didn't know what they were talking about. How right they were............
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August 2023
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