From the World Café on Central Drive to the Southbank Centre’s New Poets Collective, local writer and community worker Rob Mason is telling Revoe’s story on his own terms – in poetry, not poverty headlines.
Revoe was once one of the most vibrant areas in town. Its history runs through many of the town’s families and, without doubt, its people were the main proponents of the town’s tourism offer. Its proximity to the promenade and the town centre made it a prime location for workers to live and raise families.
You can still find Blackpool donkeys living up the alleyways of Ribble Road today. Over time the area has become run down – plagued by transience, poverty, low educational attainment, poor quality housing and all the usual ailments that accompany such conditions. It’s also become the focus of poverty porn purveyors from across the country.
Whilst outsiders write us off, there is a lot going on in Revoe. I’ve lived here on and off throughout my life, and the sense of community now has never felt stronger. After the riots following the tragic Southport murders in 2024, the government made funding available to communities across the country to support cohesion. Community project Revoelution worked with Come Cook with Us, a project that teaches culinary skills, on Central Drive to establish a World Café, open to all, with the idea of bringing different cultural groups together to eat.
The café has been a great success, so when I was invited to write a poem about it, I jumped at the chance.
I’ve been working with Revoelution for some time now as a community development worker, as well as living in the area, and so I’m continually frustrated to see the likes of Billy Moore – a former boxer turned content creator whose online persona trades on his prison past – stood on the corner of Kent Road and Princess Street talking about how bad it is, when actually just 30 seconds up the road, you’d find a thriving and loving community.
Additionally, having been accepted onto the Southbank Centre’s 75th New Poets Collective, there was an opportunity to celebrate my community during their A Poet in Every Port Tour. When the National Poetry Library’s Mobile Poetry Library visited Blackpool over the weekend of 25th July, for two days of poetry performances, workshops and open mics, I was able to share my poem and contribute to this celebration of our cultural history and local dialect. This weekend and appointment was thanks to The Old Electric, who fostered a relationship with the Southbank to bring the celebration to our town and get my foot in the door for this fantastic opportunity.
Throughout my time living and working here in Revoe, I’ve seen firsthand the work that goes on to support and connect the community. Truth be told, we were already doing a pretty good job at Revoelution. As a stalwart of support for the area’s residents, the door is always open and the kettle always warm. We have community gardens, cafes, arts and craft clubs, as well as offering support for housing, benefits and finding work.
The World Café continues every Monday from 11am-1pm, and you are welcome to join. For a donation of whatever you can afford, you’ll enjoy a warm, fresh home-cooked meal and a hot or cold drink. Add to that a diverse and welcoming community, showcasing the best Blackpool has to offer in hospitality and culture, and it’s a fantastic start to your week.
Special thanks to Rob Parr at Come Cook with Us, James Walmsley for his vision, everyone in attendance at the café over the weeks, and finally to Louis for his outstanding work filming and producing this video. My book, The 5 Ps of Poetry is out now and available here.
