{"product_id":"blackpool","title":"Blackpool By Heart","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"_chunkWrapper_yu34g_39\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eEveryone thinks they know Blackpool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_chunkWrapper_yu34g_39\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eThey've done the Prom between the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003epiers. They've had a bad pint \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003esomewhere with a neon sign. They've \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ebeen robbed by a seagull, queued \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003etwenty minutes for something \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ethey didn't enjoy, sat in traffic \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003efor an hour looking at the Lights \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ethrough a windscreen with a kid \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ecrying in the back, and gone home \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003esaying it's not what it was.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_chunkWrapper_yu34g_39\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eAnd \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ethey've seen about four \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ehundred yards of it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_chunkWrapper_yu34g_39\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eI was \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eborn here. My dad worked at Lightworks, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ethe unit where the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eIlluminations are actually built, so I \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003egrew up knowing what next \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eyear's tableaux looked like before \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eanyone else did. I've spent forty-odd \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eyears watching people \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ecome to this town and miss it entirely, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003enot because they're daft, but \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ebecause nobody ever tells them where to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003elook.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_chunkWrapper_yu34g_39\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eSo I wrote it all down.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_chunkWrapper_yu34g_39\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eThis is not a tourist board leaflet.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_chunkWrapper_yu34g_39\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eThere's no glossy nonsense in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ehere about a hidden gem of the North \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eWest. I'm not going to pretend \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eBlackpool doesn't have problems, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ebecause you're not stupid and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eneither am I. What I've written is what I'd tell you if you turned up at my door and said right, we've got two days, where do we actually go.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_chunkWrapper_yu34g_39\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eWhat's inside\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_chunkWrapper_yu34g_39\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eThe chippy question, settled properly. Which ones locals queue outside before they've even opened, which ones are coasting on a Prom location, and why the best one in town is nowhere near the seafront. I've named names and I'm ready for the arguments.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_chunkWrapper_yu34g_39\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eHow to do the Illuminations without hating your life. The single worst way to see them is the way almost everybody does it. There's a night in early September that hardly any visitor knows about where you get the entire promenade before a car is allowed on it. There's a month when they're at their best and it isn't the one you're thinking of. And there's a way to see all six miles that costs you a couple of quid and doesn't involve a car park.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_chunkWrapper_yu34g_39\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eThe quiet end. Where to go when the middle of town is heaving, which stretch of beach the locals actually use, and where to stand for the sunset that day trippers never see because they're queuing for a doughnut a mile south.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_chunkWrapper_yu34g_39\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eThe Blackpool that isn't on the seafront at all. A proper grand park with Italian gardens ten minutes from the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003earcades. A museum \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ethat's free if you live here and that \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ehalf of us still \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ehaven't been \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ein. An oyster bar that's been sat \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eon the front since 1876, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003equietly outliving everything \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ebuilt around it. An ice \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ecream shop \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ethat's had the same \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003efamily \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eand the same \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003erecipe since \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003e1928.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_chunkWrapper_yu34g_39\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eThe events calendar, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ehonestly rated. Which ones \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eare genuinely worth planning a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003etrip around, which ones will \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eruin your parking, and what to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003edo when the whole town is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003efull.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_chunkWrapper_yu34g_39\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eWhere to eat that \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eisn't the seafront. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eCafés, breakfasts, the places \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ewe go on a normal \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eTuesday.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_chunkWrapper_yu34g_39\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eThe rain plan. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eBecause you'll \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eneed one, and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eimprovising it while wet is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ehow bad days \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ehappen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_chunkWrapper_yu34g_39\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eGetting here, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eparking, and the tram. The bits \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ethat turn a good day \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003einto a stressful \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eone if you get \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ethem wrong.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_chunkWrapper_yu34g_39\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eAnd one spot in particular.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_chunkWrapper_yu34g_39\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eT\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ehere's a place \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eI nearly left \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eout. I went back and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eforth on it, because part \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eof me thinks some \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ethings should stay ours. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eIt's in there, with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eexact directions, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ebecause I decided \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eit's better shared \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ethan forgotten.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_chunkWrapper_yu34g_39\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eWho this is for\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_chunkWrapper_yu34g_39\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eFirst-timers \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ewho want to do it \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eproperly instead of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003edoing the strip and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eleaving disappointed. Families who \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ecome every year and have quietly \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003edone the same six things \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003esince 2014. People bringing \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003egrandkids and hoping it \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003estill feels like it did. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eAnyone who's been \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003etold Blackpool's rough and wants \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eto know what's actually true. And \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003epeople who grew up here, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003emoved away, and want an hour \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eback in it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_chunkWrapper_yu34g_39\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eA promise about the Lights.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_chunkWrapper_yu34g_39\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eThe \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eIlluminations dates, the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eswitch-on, and the events \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ecalendar move every single \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eyear. Buy this once and you'll get \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ethe updated edition each \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eyear, free, for as long as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eI'm writing it. No guide \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ethat goes stale twelve months after \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eyou buy it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_chunkWrapper_yu34g_39\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eInstant \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003edownload. Read it on your phone on \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003ethe train up.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_chunkWrapper_yu34g_39\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_animating_yu34g_10\"\u003eBlackpool doesn't need defending. It needs someone to point at the right things.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Roots \u0026 Routes","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57820862972286,"sku":null,"price":9.97,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0942\/8218\/7134\/files\/A_finished_print-ready_book_co_GPT_Image_2_11568.png?v=1786176559","url":"https:\/\/rootsand-routes.com\/products\/blackpool","provider":"Roots \u0026 Routes","version":"1.0","type":"link"}