Fylde Coast Archives - Blackpool Social Club

16 Jun

Exhibition Review: Fragments of Time by John Threlfall

David Simper0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsblackpool arts scene, Fylde Coast, photographic exhibition, photographs

The evening of 2nd June 2025 saw David Simper catch the service 61 bus to the Tea Amantes cafe and gallery to catch this exhibition of fine art photographs taken by local photographer, John Threlfall. I was familiar with John's work, as it frequently pops up on my Instagram feed, its quality standing out. Whereas I have always favoured monochrome, he goes for saturated colour, with the occasional monochrome for a change. In the light of this, I was particularly keen to catch this exhibition. On entry I found a buzzing cafe and John about to make his speech, thanking…

10 May

Photo Essay: Lytham Hall

David Simper0 CommentsHeritageblack and white photography, easter trip, Fylde Coast, lytham hall, photo essay

Following on from my Good Friday foray to Heron's Reach, Easter Sunday saw me take the service 3 to town and the service 11 to Lytham for a nice trip to Lytham Hall, where I knew that things would be buzzing. Buy an adult day pass for seamless bus interchange and a substantial discount on walk up fares, a family pass is also available. It's getting to be a substantial walk between Lytham centre and the Hall for me nowadays, but once through the main gates it's all really rather pleasant and the distance soon passes. On approaching, as I…

28 Feb

Gallery: Blackpool and North Fylde on film

David Simper0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsblack and white photography, Blackpool, cleveleys, fleetwood, Fylde Coast, leica, leica cl, monochrome photography, public transport

The light dawned photographically bright on 5th February 2023 and it was time for a photo trip. That roll of Kentmere (other brands are available) film had been sat on the shelf too long and was screaming 'shoot me now, shoot me now'. I used to use and like Kentmere photographic paper in my teens and 20s (I can just about remember that) and was keen to try this affordable 400 iso product. I selected my Leica CL 35mm camera and the Jupiter 50mm lens, with 'Made in USSR' engraved on the barrel, and loaded that film. With a 24…

27 Feb

Theatre review: Barely Visible

David Simper0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & PerformanceBlackpool, blackpool arts scene, dance, Fylde Coast, LGBT, the old electric

I wolf down a chip supper after work and catch my usual service 3 bus for my first visit to The Old Electric venue and a radical, one-woman dance show. On entering, I had no idea what to expect. Entering the stageless auditorium, I find myself on the front row of this intimate space – as a shy person, not necessarily good for me, but hey, I try and go with it. The only scenery was a metal disk with a protruding pole. Right on cue, choreographer and performer, Rowena Gander, appears and the show is on. It consists of…

06 Dec

Gallery: St Anne’s on 120 film

David Simper0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsashton gardens st annes, black and white photography, Fylde Coast, Lancashire, st annes, st annes pier, st annes war memorial

Running low on a few things, I had picked up that the art supplies shop in St. Anne's had been rejuvenated and decided to take a trip out (26th October 2022). The medium format camera and a roll of film accompanied me. With a day pass on my phone, I took the service 3 to town and then caught the service 7 in Market Street, which soon had me in St. Anne's town centre. I walked up the small incline to The Crescent to find Dawson's Art and Craft Emporium. This is well stocked with high quality…

23 Jan

Shifting Sands: Artist Nicky Thompson revives the classic railway poster

David Simper0 CommentsHeritage, Visual Arts & Exhibitionscommunity rail, community rail lancashire, Exhibition, fylde, fylde borough council, Fylde Coast, lytham hall, railway posters, South Fylde Line Community Rail Partnership, sustainability, sustainable transport, train travel

[vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text] North West-based artist Nicky Thompson has unveiled a new poster series in the style of the striking railway posters designed and issued in the 1920s and '30s. With influences from Art Deco to Art Nouveau, these eye-catching posters will be exhibited at the lovely Lytham Hall between 4 February 2022 and 30 September 2022. A selection of original heritage railway posters will also be shown alongside them. My previous articles have often mentioned the railway industry as promoting top design work and these posters are another prime example of this. These pieces are real artistic survivors and I…

17 Nov

State of the art building to bring 3,000 civil servants to Blackpool town centre

David Simper0 CommentsLocal NewsBlackpool, building, built environment, bus, civil service, climate emergency, cycling, energy efficiency, environment, Fylde Coast, job creation, jobs, public realm, regeneration, sustainable building design, sustainable development, sustainable transport, talbot gateway, trains, trams

Sited on King Street in Blackpool Town centre, a new £100m state of the art building will soon take shape to accommodate 3,000 civil servants from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). This will make a major and welcome beneficial change to the Blackpool skyline. As part of a strategic plan to centralise civil service jobs in the heart of Blackpool, workers from the Warbreck House and Ryscar House complexes will occupy the building when it opens in the autumn of 2024. This will provide a welcome boost to and diversify the town centre economy and will be a…

05 Feb

Aunty brings Aardman Animations workshops to the Fylde Coast

Blackpool Social Club0 CommentsLocal News, Visual Arts & ExhibitionsAardman, animation, Blackpool, children, clay, families, Fylde Coast, model making, online, workshops, wyre

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] This February, Blackpool-based community arts group Aunty Social are hosting online model making workshops with the fantastic Aardman Animations. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text] Fylde coast residents are invited to join expert model maker Jim Parkyn for a fun, hands-on clay modelling workshop where participants will make their very own model of Shaun the Sheep – The unusually bright and clever sheep who lives at Mossy Bottom farm. [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] Jim has been a freelance sculptor and model maker for Aardman Animations for over 20 years. He's lead on several series of Shaun the Sheep and you can see his work in a variety of Aardman…

30 Jun

Welcome to Blackpool Social Club: arts & culture in lockdown and beyond

Blackpool Social Club0 CommentsLocal NewsBlackpool, Counter Culture, creative, creative blackpool, Culture, Fylde Coast, Introduction

Claire Griffiths welcomes you back to the newly rebranded Blackpool Social Club. You might remember us as altBlackpool back in 2018. Whilst we have been offline we have created a beautiful new logo, revamped our website and welcomed a new partnership with Big Issue North magazine. Blackpool Social Club is inspired by Blackpool's resilient, creative and independent nature. Emerging from these strange dystopian times might be challenging, but we will be right here beside you exploring what's happening and where. Some of the old team are back and our excitement is tangible as we welcome new contributors. We're getting ready to…