Morecambe Is OnThe way Up! (Morecambe in General)

Member Name: freeandsingle

Product:	Morecambe in General
Date:	07/05/09 (218 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: lots of improvements and nice clean beach.

Disadvantages: Has a bad reputation.

Morecambe is a seaside town in Lancashire on the Northwest coast line.
It has taken some criticism over the last fifteen years or so for being tatty and run down.

When I was a child it was a lovely place to go and I have fond memories of playing on the beach and visits to Frontier land amusement park.

Alas it has changed drastically since those happy days and yes it has lost its appeal for a lot of people but I feel that the town is not being given a chance, so my review is going to be about the good things to be found there.

History:

Originally there were three villages Poulton, Torrisholme and Bare, a railway line was built in 1848 linking them to Yorkshire and this made the area far more accessible to people eventually they merged to become a popular holiday town called Morecambe.

By the mid 1980's The town had started to go down hill people wanted the overseas holidays and due to the loss in tourism the whole place seemed to grind to a halt.

But now things seem to be picking up in this seaside haven a lot of work has been put into the seafront and larger shops have opened up in the last couple of years.

The Promenade:

The sea front is five miles long believe it or not and Morecambe bay is the largest sea estuary in the UK. Over the years the sea walls have taken a hammering from gales and storms so the local council had to make a decision about protecting the sea front. With a government grant 'The Tern Project' was born and after rebuilding the seafront Morecambe can be proud of its attractive Promenade with sculptures of Terns placed all along the front.

Happy Mount Park:

This is a large very well kept park on the Eastern end of the promenade; it opened in 1921 and is a popular place for families in the summer months.
The children can enjoy the water play area and pirate world indoor play area as well as a round of crazy golf.
There is a café that has a varied menu, and for adults you can enjoy a game of tennis or have a dabble on the Bowling Green.

I was impressed with this park and I thought the flower beds were exquisite and so well kept, I take my hat off to Morecambe they have got a fantastic park for everyone to enjoy.

The Winter gardens:

These are on the front of the promenade and are better known for being called The Victoria Pavillion Theatre.
The building itself is very regal looking and the outside was lovingly restored to its former glory in the 1990's.

At the moment the inside is being renovated by a Charity called 'Friends of the Victoria Pavillion'it is a big task that they have taken on and they rely on donations and fund raising to achieve their final goal of turning it into an entertainments centre and theatrical school, they intend to re name it after Thora Hird the actress.

I did go into the main foyer to see just how much work had been done; a table top sale was on at the time. It is a remarkable building but it is clearly a large task to complete but how wonderful it will look when it is finished.

The Midland Hotel:

This is a large hotel built right on the sea front and for years it was empty and an eye sore for the town but now it has been renovated and open for business.

There is a large car park and when you first step into the place you are taken back in awe.
The reception area is huge, every thing looks bright and shiny and the whole place has that Art Deco style.

You don't have to stay here to enjoy this hotel it is a lovely place to just call into for a meal or coffee, the terrace lounge at the back looks out onto the bay and the whole atmosphere of the place is stunning.

Eric Morecambe Statue:

This bronze life size statue stands on the promenade and Eric is posing with his arm up and leg cocked, the ornate steps leading up to it has 'Bring Me Sunshine' carved into them, I was actually surprised just how short he was, but it is a lovely site and the people of Morecambe were over the moon when the Queen herself actually unveiled it in 1999.

Leisure facilities:

There is a large bowling alley with twenty lanes and a four screened cinema just off the front with a bar and restaurant so something for everyone to enjoy.

Shopping:

The main shopping area is the Arndale Centre in the actual town, it is not a huge place but I believe there are plans to build this up but there is a great indoor market behind the Promenade and opposite a retail park with Morrissons, Next, and a large Home improvement store.

Places of Interest nearby to Visit.

Heysham is only a stones throw away and has wonderful sand dunes and of course Half Moon bay, this is a lovely little beach and not too overcrowded.
Above this bay on the cliff tops is the ruins of St Patrick's Chapel, it is one of the oldest religious buildings in Lancashire dating back to the 8th century so worth a quick visit you can see the stone coffins minus the occupants now of course but very interesting non the less.

The Lake District is on the door step and one of my favourite places Carnforth. This town is a delightful place to visit with its book and antique shops and quaint little cafes and bistros. There is certainly enough to entertain you for a few hours and then a walk along the canal tow path can be a relaxing experience.

Overall View:

Morecambe has a long way to go I admit, but it certainly is not a dump as so many people think.
A lot of work has been put into it over the last few years and it desperately needs the tourists to come again, so if you are in the area why not stop by and take a look, it is striving to regain its popularity and the improvements up to now are a credit to the town.

There is one thing that the town has changed that I think is a mistake and that is the railway station. It was a wonderful old building with character and as a child I used to be mesmerised with the birds flying around in the roof, it has now been renovated and turned into a family fun pub and a new open air modern railway station has been built away from the promenade itself. I realize that the station had to be moved to make way for the facelift but the old building has lost its heart.

How to get there:

By Road take junction 33 off the M6 and just follow the sign posts and if you are travelling by train the connections from Main line Lancaster are every half an hour during the Summer Months.

Summary: Go and take a look for yourself it has vastly improved.