The bar and club scene is dominated by one group In The Pink Leisure Ltd run by local businessmen Basil Newby. In The Pink is responsible for the famous Flamingo Club as well as Basils on the Strand, Pepe's Bar, The Flying Hand and the infamous Funny girls drag bar. To cater for the annual influx of gay men Blackpool has many gay owned and gay-friendly hotels and guesthouses. Here is a selection. A number of the hotels belong to B.A.G.S (Blackpool Accommodation for Gays). The B.A.G.S group of hotels ensure the gay visitors to Blackpool receive a warm welcome and are accepted fully regardless of their sexuality. These hotels and guesthouses can often offer concessions to the gay clubs in the town. If the hotel name is highlighted you will be able to visit their webpage or send the hotel an email. (updated January 2006).

If you contact any of these hotels please mention you saw their name on The UK Gay Travel Guide (www.gaytravel.co.uk / www.gayhotel.co.uk) or Gay Britain Network. Thanks Simon

The legendary Flamingo club has undergone many refits over the years (Gay since 1980) but the latest project was the most ambitious ever. It has transformed the club into the largest 7-day-a-week venue in Europe and is now regarded as a major touring venue for larger-than-life PA's and Groups. Flamingo's has also now relocated to its new home. After a multi million pound refix, the excellent venue has numerous bars, huge dancefloor and a state of the art light and sound system. Doors open from 11pm - 4am, 6pm on Saturday (closed Tues/Thurs). The music is excellent and the club is packed at weekends with a young attractive crowd.

The Flying Handbag is billed as a 'traditional pub' but nothing could be further from the truth! The atmosphere is a combination of good old camp with the added ingredient of imagination. The staff are always looking at ways of giving you a 'night to remember' and run regular theme nights that invariably include the deployment of the largest legally available pyrotechnics and confetti bombs!

Funny Girls goes from strength to strength with its move to the old Odeon cinema venue. The sheer size of the venue and quality of the show is incredibly impressive.Although the audience is very mixed, we can thoroughly recommend an evening here. Bar B is a new dance bar situated above Funny Girls offering a friendly atmosphere. Funny Girls, Flamingo Club and many of the other gay bars are also closely situated to many of the gay hotels situated in and around Lord Street.

All In The Pink venues offer selected half price drinks during the day and it doesn't take too many questions to find out which venue has reduced price drinks and/or cabaret on the night of your visit!

Blackpool Pride Weekend 2009 - Celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Lifestyles with our second Pride Blackpool. This year's event takes place on Saturday 16thh and Sunday 17th May 2009 with a parade and loads of special events at all the local bars and clubs. See website for further details.

01253 296262

The Bradbury is a gay owned licenced hotel aiming to provide comfortable and affordable accomodation in a relaxed and friendly environment. We offer this on a room only or B&B basis, with evening meals available on request. A variety of room sizes are available including single, double and family. TV and tea making facilities are included in all our standard and en-suite rooms.

Situated just a few minutes walk from the town centre, Blackpool Tower and British Rail, we are ideally situated to enjoy the shopping, sightseeing and nightlife that Blackpool is famous for. Ray & Tony Bradbury

Website: Email

The New Lyngarth opening in August 2009 will provide an intimate and discreet retreat in a super - convenient location in the heart of Blackpool.

The New Lyngarth will reflect the warm friendly atmosphere to be expected when staying with friends, if you shun modern soulless accommodation - this will be the place for you.

Owned and managed by Andrew Brown who, with great attention to detail will offer 12 individual guest bedrooms named after Lancashire towns and villages.

In keeping with the original character of the building, rich colours and fabrics will be used to make The New Lyngarth deeply comfortable. The looks may be lavish but the atmosphere will be as homely as it gets. All guests that stay at The New Lyngarth will quickly feel as though they have lived there forever.

Apart from the 12 individually designed rooms The New Lyngarth has to offer, a key feature will be its service - from ironing to late-night room service to theatre bookings. Whatever your reason for being in Blackpool you will find them very useful.

The New Lyngarth will also have its own intimate restaurant offering a wide range of Home Cooked dishes from Pizza to Pan Asian style dishes.

If you fancy a relaxing drink may be pre-dinner drinks or a nightcap - these will all be served in the drawingroom of The New Lyngarth, which will be a lovely space to relax in after a hard day’s shopping, sightseeing or after the beach.
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The Wilcot Hotel is a gayed owned hotel situated close to all the major gay night life of Blackpool. The Hotel is fully licensed and boasts a very modern and stylish Bar and Dining Room. En-suite rooms are available and evening meals can be arranged upon request. We are a very relaxed hotel and sure you will not be disappointed with your stay with us! Contact Terry and Adrian.

"Excellent hosts, close to gay scene, good food and value for money" - (Gay Travel Guide - September 2004)

Website: Email

Welcome to the Belvedere Hotel. We are an 8 bedroom, immaculate hotel, offering quality ensuite accommodation.

We are ideally situated in the North Shore area of Blackpool, just a few minutes walk from the "scene" and as members of BAGs, can offer concessions to the Flamingo Night Club, Acqua Sauna with the new Funny Girls/Gay complex being just minutes down Dickson Road.

We are also close to Blackpool North Rail Station and all other amenities of central Blackpool. Contact: Linda or Sandra.

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The Berkeley… a home from home for your holiday, romantic break or business stay. Offering 1, 2 and 3 bedroom newly furnished suites catering from single occupancy to urban families of eight.

Benefiting from an unrivalled corner position with all suites having full sea views, free on site car parking, ramped or one step access, lift to all floors, laundry facilities, sun lounge and patio. We are just a 10 minute walk to the gay scene, yet in a peaceful setting away from the noise of the nightlife on the prestigious Queens Promenade - why not make The Berkeley your Blackpool address.

2-3 Star self catering accommodation
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Blackpools 'Number 1' quality only exclusively Gay Hotel situated just 1 minutes walk from all the local gay scene.

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International Gay Guide is the standard companion for gay men who travel.

Chock full of information, Spartacus sheds light on the richness of gay life and helps bring together countless men from around the world. The key to getting the most out of the big gay world out there!

This guide contains over 25,000 useful addresses as well as valuable background info about gay life and travel worldwide. The guide is the authoritative source of information on the rapidly ever-changing gay scene. An absolute must for every gay traveller!

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Not every gay man can afford, or even wants, to pack up the suntan lotion and shorts for an exotic vacation so the Gay Times Great Britain and Ireland guide is perfect for those who want to explore Gay Britannia.

Written by John Szponarski, the book covers the gay scene in the country's most popular cities such as London and Manchester, and also takes in the new gay scenes exploding out of the depths of rural England too. Bars, clubs, pubs, saunas, hotels and cruising grounds are all covered here in a lively and down-to-earth style. Jonathan Weir.
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