... There is something very quintessentially English about seaside piers and in Britain they are largely restricted to England, with a handful in Wales and none at all north of the border in Scotland.
Blackpool in the north west of England is unusual because it boasts three different piers. ... Read review
Only a 12-minute seabus ride from downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, this harbor front ... more
hotel offers a contemporary health club, comfortable guestrooms and a gourmet on-site restaurant.Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier features a state-of-the-art fitness center with a yoga studio and 25-meter swimming pool. Guests can relax in the sauna or the steam room, then enjoy the outdoor deck. In the evening, guests can enjoy fresh seafood and a variety of regional product at the hotel's restaurant.The guestrooms at the Pinnacle at the Pier Hotel boast flat-screen TVs and spacious work desks. Guests will also appreciate in-room mini-refrigerators and microwaves as well as free tea and coffee service. After a busy day, guests can watch an on-demand movie or relax on the private balcony.
Information: :Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
Advantages: Lots of fresh air, fully accessible by disabled visitors Disadvantages: A small admission charge
If you think about the main English seaside resorts then the chances are that they will have a pier. There is something very quintessentially English about seaside piers and in Britain they are largely restricted to England, with a handful in Wales and none at all north of the border in Scotland.
Blackpool in the north west of England is unusual because it boasts three different piers. The North Pier, Central Pier and South Pier. As ... ...location of the three. It is also the oldest pier in the town and at 503 metres long it is also its longest pier.
Eugenius Birch was drafted in to design The North Pier. He had been responsible for the design of Britain's first seaside pier at Margate. This was his second pier project and following its success he would go on to design a further twelve English piers and the name Euginius Birch would soon become synonymous with English ... more
If you think about the main English seaside resorts then the chances are that they will have a pier. There is something very quintessentially English about seaside piers and in Britain they are largely restricted to England, with a handful in Wales and none at all north of the border in Scotland.
Blackpool in the north west of England is unusual because it boasts three different piers. The North Pier, Central Pier and South Pier. As its name suggests The North Pier has the most northerly location of the three. It is also the oldest pier in the town and at 503 metres long it is also its longest pier.
Eugenius Birch was drafted in to design The North Pier. He had been responsible for the design of Britain's first seaside pier at Margate. This was his second pier project and following its success he would go on to design a further twelve English piers and the name Euginius Birch would soon become synonymous with English seaside piers for eternity.
An estimated 20,000 people gathered on the promenade on the 21st May 1863 to witness the official opening of The North Pier. Created largely as a leisure facility the pier became an instant success and within a little over a year of its official opening plans were being drawn up for Blackpool's second pier.
Whilst its principal design was for leisure it did also have a practical use and a landing jetty was created at its tip. This jetty was used for both commercial boats and pleasure boats and in 1857 the Pier Company was formed who operated steamboat pleasure trips from here.
Today, The North Pier is a Grade 2 listed structure and a major tourist attraction in the resort. A bar/pub was built at the far end of the pier in the 1960's called "The Merrie England Bar" and an amusement arcade was built at opposite end of the pier on the shore. By this time the jetty had long since ceased to be used and remained unused until it was transformed into a helipad during the 1980's.
The Merrie England Bar and the amusement arcade are still there, or at least they were during my most recent visit in September 2008.
One of the other main attractions on The North Pier is The North Pier Theatre. This stands on the far end of the pier close to the location of the original jetty. It dates from 1939 and can seat up to 1,500 people. The North Pier Theatre is actually the third theatre to stand on this same spot, both of its predecessors having succumb to fire. The original theatre was built in 1874 and destroyed by fire in 1921. The second theatre, built shortly after the destruction of the first burnt down in 1938. Let's keep our fingers crossed that the third and current one is more lucky.
Entry on to the pier is through the amusement arcade on the shore. There are also a couple of gift shops here too. It is free to enter this area but there is an admission charge of 50p for adults to enter on to the actual pier. Children, senior citizens and disabled visitors can however enter free. A turnstile at the payment kiosk leads onto the pier and at the side of this there is a door that can be opened to allow wheelchair users access to the pier.
The pier is perfectly flat and therefore a popular place for disabled visitors to come to. All along its length there are benches to sit on, some of which have parasols above them and there is no denying that this is a perfect place to chill out. When I visited here recently it was a lovely day and I can confirm that the pier is quite a sun trap. It was also not too overcrowded although I can imagine that at times during the peak holiday season that it can be.
When you part with your 50p admission fee you are given a booklet with money off vouchers. These include a free ride on the carousel plus money off vouchers at the bar on selected drinks and also money off ice creams and coffee etc. Not one to turn down a freebie I persuaded my other half to accompany me on the carousel ride which is located next to the theatre at the far end of the pier. This was probably the first time I had been on a carousel since I was a child and we had a great time!
I enjoyed visiting The North Pier and would certainly recommend it to anyone that is in Blackpool. The North Pier Theatre looks lovely from a distance but when you get up close it you realise that it is looking a little bit shabby and could do with a lick of paint but if you put this aside everything else along the pier is clean and tidy and during my visit there was no litter whatsoever.
At the end of the pier there are wonderful views to both the north and south and on a clear day you can see for miles. The North Pier is located quite close to Blackpool Tower about midway in the resort as opposed to at the northern end as its name might mislead you to think. The air always seems fresh and clean as you get out over the sea as well.
Advantages: Nostalgic, family entertainment at a fair price. Disadvantages: The weather! Good eating houses away from the Pier are a long walk.
Having visited the NorthPier Theatre in July 2007 to see two shows, namely Music Music Music and Liberace Live From Las Vegas, I was highly impressed with the quality of the entertainment and was dismayed to hear that the Theatre might be closed for 2008. Fortunately, this is not to be and it now looks as if there will be a full season of great entertainment, which is I gather, presented by the same people who presented the two 2007 shows that I saw.
MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC was a presentation of what used to be The Black and White Minstrel Show, although political correctness prevented the company from 'blacking-up'. There were songs in the 'old' tradition of George Mitchell and the cast contained original Minstrels cast members Bob Hunter and Les Want who were supported by a very lively company, The Minstrel Maids with some absolutely ...
Advantages: hhmmmmmm, let me think....... Disadvantages: Musty smelling, dirty toilets
I recently visited the theatre at the end of NorthPier I Blackpool to see a great show called The Kings of Swing?..but that's another review, so on with this one!?
~~~~~~History~~~~~~~
The pier gets its name from the position it occupies along Blackpool Promenade, being the northern most of the 3 piers. It was originally opened in 1863 and was designed by Eugenius Birch, now being one of the oldest piers left designed by this man. The pier is 500m long and the theatre occupies a position towards the very end of the pier. Although the pier was officially opened in 1863, it was not until 1874 that the theatre was opened and at that time it was known as the Indian Pavillion owing to the style and deoration of the building. Unfortunately, the Pavillion had a seious fire in 1921 and was forced to close for 3 ...
Advantages: Fresh, Fun, Exhilarating Sea Views & Great Entertainment Disadvantages: More deckchairs & outside seating needed.
I have just enjoyed a week in Blackpool and my favourite time was enjoying the beautiful scenic views on NorthPier. It is amazing to sit at the end of the Pier and enjoy a drink watching the sunset and the thousands of starlings that fly overhead is a natural phenomenom. We visited 3 shows the best being Soap Queens with Debra Stephenson and Bernie Nolan.,
Great comedy, brilliant songs and the audience made two emotional standing ovations. The Theatre is a lovely, vintage and beautifully restored little gem. Steeped in Victorian swags, tails and ambiant atmosphere you are transported back in time. The lights, the views and atmosphere is one of the best we visited in the resort. The staff were friendly and very theatrical. We loved it.
Joey Blower the resident comedian at The Merrie England Showbar at the front of the Pier is a comedy ...
