Blackpool town centre currently has 20 empty shops, the majority on Talbot Road, according to a count by LancsLive. The seaside resort has lost both its markets: Bonny Street Market closed permanently earlier this year, and Abingdon Street Market is not due to reopen fully until November 2033. Despite this, residents and business owners emphasise a story of change and resilience.
Traders Val Cella and Lynn Sadurskis, former stallholders at Abingdon Street Market, have combined their businesses with three others into a single shop on Victoria Street, preventing that premises from becoming the 21st empty unit. Lynn attributed the Talbot Road vacancies partly to uncertainty over the new tram route, but noted that Victoria Street is 'picking up' and that Houndshill Shopping Centre has no empty shops. She expressed optimism that new retail developments will attract more visitors.
Major regeneration projects are underway, including Blackpool Central and the transformation of the former Debenhams unit in Houndshill into a Frasers Group destination featuring House of Fraser, Sports Direct, and a Flannels luxury retailer. Val Cella highlighted events like Christmas by the Sea for boosting winter footfall, predicting a 'big turn around' next summer.
However, some residents lament what has been lost. Kay Williams, who moved to Blackpool a year ago, said the closure of Bonny Street Market would have a lasting impact, as 'a lot of people came for that especially in the summer.' Daniel Carpenter, who works at Booze and News, acknowledged that Blackpool cannot compete with Manchester's shopping centres but remains busy in summer. He described the regeneration as an 'uphill battle' that should have been addressed years ago.
