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[[Blackpool]], [[Lancashire]], [[England]] is often described among many things as the ''gay capital of the North'' (with [[Brighton]] equally often being described as ''the gay capital of the South'').
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Although having a large gay population, Blackpool has been slow to catch on to the idea of Gay Pride Fesitvals or Mardi Gras, even though Blackpool is a tourist and entertainment town. 2006 saw the successful first 'Blackpool Pride', with a follow up already being planned for 2007.
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Here is a list of varoius aspects of the Blackpool gay scene including bars, pubs and nightclubs in Blackpool.

Bar B, which has superseded the now closed Basil’s on the Strand, is above Funny Girls with the entrance to it on the right-hand side of the building. This venue is quite dancy but has nice lounge areas off to the side away from the loud music and also has a pool table...with Resident DJ Tim Coulton on the Decks every Thursday & Sunday when most drinks are £1.50 and also on a Saturday night. DJ Moz Morris has just taken residency on Friday nights @ Bar B presenting BABYLON, DJ Moz is a name many people will remember from the Old Flamingo as well as DJ Tim...Bar B is totally different from any other venue in Blackpool as its more like a nightclub, some say its like the old Flamingo with its intense party atmosphere.

==Flamingo==
The Flamingo is one of the oldest nightclubs of its kind in the country, having operated from the same site since the beginning of the 1980s until [[2006]]. The original building in which it was housed, overlooking [[Blackpool North railway station]] on Talbot Road, was bought by [[Blackpool Borough Council|Blackpool Council]] and is scheduled for demolition, which would see the redevelopment of large sections of the town. It relocated to a new, larger premises on the [[27 January]], 2006. The new club is located in the old [[Odeon Cinemas|Odeon cinema]] building on Dickson Road, not far from the original site, alongside a newly-built Flying Handbag pub and the now well established Bar B and world-famous drag cabaret venue Funny Girls.

==Flying Handbag==
The Flying Handbag originally formed part of the old Flamingo complex on Talbot Road, opposite Blackpool North railway station. Internal doors linked the two venues, the pub continuing to serve alcohol to clubgoers after its own doors had closed, and serving as a quiet "chill-out" area.

It moved to new, purpose-built premises on [[January 20]] [[2006]], occupying a former open-air car park on the corner of Queen Street and Lord Street, not far from the original site. The transfer of the Flamingo to the old [[Odeon Cinemas|Odeon cinema]] building next door a week later saw the completion of local gay entrepreneur [[Basil Newby]]'s "gay village" project, with four large venues on one block.

==[[Funny Girls]]==
[[Funny Girls]] is a world-famous [[Drag (clothing)|drag]] cabaret burlesque showbar. It was formerly located on the corner of Queen Street and The Strand, a site now occupied by the Australian-themed [[The Walkabout (pub chain)|Walkabout]] bar. In the early 2000s it relocated to the old Odeon cinema building on Dixon Road, which had recently been bought by local gay entrepreneur [[Basil Newby]]. It was the first of four venues to open on that block. The other establishments, Bar B, The Flying Handbag pub, and finally the Flamingo nightclub, all cater primarily for lesbian, gay and bisexual customers, whereas the clientele of Funny Girls is mainly heterosexual. It was also a featured location in the BBC-miniseries ''[[Blackpool (TV serial)|Blackpool]]'', and appeared before royalty on two consecutive [[Royal_Variety_Performance|Royal Variety Performances]].

==Lucy's Two==

Located at 68 - 70 Abingdon Street.

Lucy's Two, formerly "Lucy's Bar", is a gay bar, primarily catering for women, but welcomes those respecting its nature. It also markets itself as a "dog friendly" venue.

==Mardi Gras==
Mardi Gras is located below ground level in the [[National Express]] coach station/[[Prudential]] complex on Talbot Road. It has been established for many years, for a long time one of only three gay venues in the town not owned by Basil Newby's "In The Pink Leisure" group (the others being "Lucy's Bar", later "Lucy's Two" and also the DT Bar). It features regular cabaret and male strippers, hosted by veteran drag performer "Stella Artois".

==Pepe's==
==Roxy's==

Situated on the lower end of Queens Street, not far from '''Lucy's Two.'''

Has a multi-level interior, with a dance floor downstairs, and seating/tables both up and downstairs. It is decorated in a rustic psuedo-gothic style.

Entertainment includes Drag Cabaret, Karaoke, and general variety.

==Taboo==
==References==
* [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/tories2003/comment/0,13807,1060684,00.html It's not goodbye to Blackpool, just au revoir]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/lancashire/lifestyle/2003/08/05/in_the_pink.shtml Life looks better in the pink] [[BBC]] on gay Blackpool
* [http://www.roxyhart.com Roxy Hart]

==External links==
* [http://www.itponline.co.uk/flamingo/index.asp Flamingo Club]
* [http://lucystwo.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/index.jhtml Lucy's Two Official Site]
* [http://www.towncasinos.com/towns/blackpool/Night-Life/mardi/main.html Mardi Gras bar website]
* [http://www.roxyhart.com/roxys.html Roxy's (at Roxy Hart.com)]

* [http://www.astabgay.com AstaBGay Blackpool's Gay Guide]
* [http://www.queeryouth.org.uk/phpnews/news.php?action=fullnews&id=142 Superb Blackpool 'Scene' Guide at queeryouth.org]
* [http://www.funnygirlsshowbar.co.uk Official Funny Girls website.]

[[Category:Nightclubs in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Blackpool]]
[[Category:LGBT nightclubs]]
[[Category:LGBT history of the United Kingdom]]

Latest revision as of 21:37, 10 June 2017