Evening activities in Blackpool with small children?!

MrsMalthouse

Hi there Moneysavers! I'm new here and was wondering if you could help me plan my first holiday as a family. (Don't know whether to be :j or :eek: !)
We are going to Blackpool from 8th-11th June but we are on a tight budget. We are staying in the Travelodge on South Promenade (We took advantage of the £19 room offer!) and we do have a couple of activities planned but we would like somewhere to take the kids in the evening to eat (Ages 3 and 8 months) that serves something other than fish n chips (As we'll probably eat enough of that during the day!). Something like a Pub meal would be fine. It needs to be child friendly though and not too expensive. I also want to stick to the Promenade if possible as I don't want to get lost anywhere!:o

Also, if anyone has any ideas for cheap Blackpool tower/Pleasure beach/Sandcastle etc tickets, I'd be very interested! I'm a newbie to travelling with kids so any advice would be great. Thanks a lot and sorry for the longish post!

M_A_R_I_E

The tower is great. You can spend a whole day there. Do you have any tesco clubcard points? You can use them to get tickets. Worth the money as you won't have to spend anything else when you re in there.

Maybe take some picnic-y type things with you for lunches to cut down on cost of food. eg sandwiches for first day, pasties, wraps etc. Take all drinks and snacks too.

Last time we were there we had a nice family meal in a 'pub' inside Coral Island. It's near the tower. Pub inside is really family friendly - kids menu, high chairs etc - and not expensive. The pub s called The Buchaneer i think.

Have a great time!

MrsMalthouse

I don't have a Tesco clubcard-I don't seem to be able to get my head around the points/vouchers thing when it comes to the trips etc they have listed. I know that probably makes me seem really dumb but it seems so much more complicated than my Boots card! I've been to the restaurant inside Coral island a few years ago-it was pretty reasonably priced if I recall correctly. I can't seem to find out their opening times though...
I'll be trying to take some food etc but we can't carry too much as we don't drive and will be having to carry all our luggage with the pram too so we're trying to travel light!

moominmama72

I know you want to stick yo the front so you dont get lost but you really dont have to, you can head in land to the other 2 main streets (1 is Lytham rd & can't remember the others name) many more cafes and most are child friendly. To get your bearings just look for the tower, or head back to the front

Mine are quite big now (7 & 11) but I always check for childrens menus, if they have one they're child friendly.

The Pleasure Beach is definately no good for such small children any more, it used to be great when you could just walk in and let them have the odd ride on beaver creek, now you pay £5 in if you don't buy a wrist band (8 month old free but have to pay from 2years up!) so its more aimed at those big enough to go on all the rides.

I'd definately recomend the tower, I don't do tescos either but book on line, its cheaper, you dont have to queue and you pre book your circus tickets so can get the seats you want.

I'd also recommend Coral Island mine always loved the car ride in there and the buccaneer bar .

The Central & South piers both have plenty of childens rides and family bars(not sure when they'll be open as its term time but worth a look.)

Another thing I'd suggest is get tram passes and have a ride up fleetwood not that much there but mine always like the ride out there.

Bunnie1982

Pizza Hut is a very short distance from where you a staying, and is on the seafront in front of the Pleasure Beach. As the above poster advised, there also many restaurants along Lytham Road and Central Drive, both of which run parallel to the Promenade.

It all depends what sort of food you are looking for, I can highly recommend an Italian and a (sit in) Curry House a short walk from where you are staying. There is also a Yates on the promenade and also a Wetherspoons on Lytham Road.

With reference to the above about the trams, the line is currently closed between Cleveleys and Fleetwood but it is expected to be open by the end of May.

snugglepet20

Blackpool entertainment is not cheap and a lot of places do not offer much discount. If you do not have vouchers etc book online for places as there is generally a 15% discount on the door price. Don't bother with the sea life centre though it is pretty boring for a 3 year old and pricey for what it is.

lynnexxxo

I can't remember what the name of it is, but upstairs from the 'manchester' pub on the prom is a family friendly pub with acceptable food and a soft play area.

The food might to be haute cuisine, but the kids can play and you can have a glass of wine in (relative) peace.

MrsMalthouse

Thanks for all your advice-I didn't know there was a Pizza Hut on the Prom. Also, I might check out Lytham rd and Central drive too as it's been recommended by a couple of people-what's on there apart from cafe's? Just little souvenier shops etc or anything else worth mentioning?

Re the 'Manchester' pub-I had been told that it had been closed for being rough-it that wrong?

lynnexxxo

Actually I don't know if the manchester pub is still open. It was two summers ago when we were there.

moominmama72

How are you getting to Blackpool? If your coming by train it is well worth seeing if Blackpool South is a possibilty instead of the main Blackpool North station as its much nearer to the Travelodge. Last time we went we changed trains to go there (at Preston I think cant quite remember) even though we had to get Blackpool North train to get to change. Seems mad but had break from train and snack while waiting for next one and was much better for little legs and cheaper than a taxi or bus from Blackpool North to the Travelodge.

Lytham Rd & Central Drive full of cheap clothes & souviner markety type shops (all quite tacky but its Blackpool not Paris LOL) Lots of Cafes, a few pubs & some small corner shop type supermarkets (Tesco local & SPA type things), newsagents & off liecences. I'm sure there was a KFC on one of them too. There is also a huge McDonalds on the front near Yates and just round the corner heading in from the front is the best Ice-cream in Blackpool

MrsMalthouse

Knew about the Mc.Donalds already-we'll probably end up going there but wanted some healthier options too because I know we're going to be chip shaped by the time we get home otherwise! We're going by train so I'm going to try and get South tickets-do you think it would be cheaper to book online or something like that for train tickets?