Garlands

What it is

Garlands is Blackpool's everyday drag bar. While Funny Girls does the big staged production, Garlands brings drag to the pub: resident queens who DJ, sing, host games and roast the room, from mid-afternoon onwards, every day of the year. Entry is free and there is no cover charge, so you can wander in for one drink and end up staying for three hours of singalongs.

The bar was renovated recently, and it has a bold feature wall made for group selfies, booths, long banquettes and bar stools around a small dancefloor. It calls itself an LGBTQ+ venue that welcomes everyone, and the crowd is a friendly mix of locals, weekend visitors and hen groups who have heard about the drag.

History in brief

Talbot Road is where Blackpool's gay scene began: the original Flamingo club and the first Flying Handbag stood at the station end of the street. Garlands keeps that end of town in the scene. It is run by the Lancashire brewer Thwaites, which also operates the Flying Handbag and a couple of other Blackpool bars.

What's on through the week

Garlands says it has ten resident drag DJs each week, plus three live cabaret spots from visiting queens or kings. The resident queens are usually on from around 3pm. The regular pattern is:

• Monday: Shazza and Bonnie la Blue.
• Tuesday: Shazza's Singalong, followed by Bonnie la Blue's Big Camp Gameshow.
• Wednesday: guest cabaret with Bunny Hopps and Missie Jay.
• Thursday: Aariella Galore and Dragalicious.
• Friday: Dragalicious and Campy Galore.
• Saturday: Bunny Hopps, Andi Martine and Campy Galore.
• Sunday: guest cabaret with Campy Galore and Bernie de Bra, plus the Lucy Fur comedy drag show.

On bank holiday Sundays Garlands joins other quarter venues for indoor beach parties that raise money for Blackpool Pride.

Drinks and food

The focus here is drink, not food. The standing offers are among the best value on the scene:

• house lager and smooth bitter at £2.50 a pint, all day, every day
• double spirit-and-mixer deals at under £5
• half-price cocktails from Sunday to Thursday before 5pm
• bottles at three for about £8.50, and shots at four for £10

There are also bookable drinks packages for birthdays and celebrations, such as a reserved table, a party package or a wine-and-cheese option. You arrange these through the venue.

Who it suits

Garlands suits anyone who wants drag without a ticket, singalongs without shame, and a cheap round. It is especially good in the afternoon and early evening, when you can actually talk to the queens. It gets packed on cabaret nights and at weekends, so arrive early for a seat.

Accessibility

No accessibility details are published. Contact the bar through its website before you visit if you need step-free access.

Location and nearby

Garlands is on Talbot Road, the main street linking Blackpool North station with the town centre, a few minutes' walk from the station. From here it is a short walk to Funny Girls, the Flying Handbag and the Queen Street bars, and a little further to Lord Street.