Peek-a-Booze

What it is

Peek-a-Booze is a bar with rooms in the old Blackpool style: drink and watch a show downstairs, then climb the stairs to bed. It describes itself as a hotel and cabaret bar in the heart of the gay village, built on the message that everyone is welcome. The venue says the LGBTQ+ community is celebrated here, and it draws a mixed crowd of gay regulars, hotel guests and friends.

The atmosphere is cheerful and unpretentious. Think cheap drinks, a host with a microphone, a raffle or bingo card in your hand and a singer or drag act later on. In 2026 it promoted itself as winner of a "Most Inclusive Cabaret Hotel & Bar" title.

What's on through the week

The bar advertises live entertainment seven nights a week. The regular weekly pattern in autumn 2026 was:

• Monday: bingo, then Blankety Blank, hosted by Wayne, from 7pm.
• Tuesday: karaoke with DJ Keiron, from 9pm.
• Wednesday: free bingo from early evening, then Play Your Cards Right with Wayne.
• Thursday: karaoke with Wayne, 9pm to 11.30pm.
• Friday: an afternoon karaoke contest, Winner Takes It All, with DJ Keiron (2pm to 6pm), then a guest singer from around 9pm or 10pm.
• Saturday and Sunday: guest vocalists, drag and comedy cabaret from around 9pm.

Guest acts rotate weekly. Recent bills have included drag comedian Belinda Scandal, double act Bosom Buddies, the camp comedy show Doctor Woof, Sheela Vim with 80s hits, and a run of returning local singers. The venue also stages occasional tribute nights and charity fundraisers. A May 2026 raffle, for example, raised money for an animal charity.

Food and drink

This is one of the few quarter bars with a proper daytime kitchen. Home-cooked meals are served daily from 9am to 7pm, and breakfast is available all day, so it doubles as a brunch stop for anyone staying nearby. Drinks are kept cheap, with classic cocktails, spirits and beers. Many of the cabaret shows are free to watch.

Rooms

Upstairs are budget, adults-only rooms. There is no lift, so upper floors are reached by stairs. If you want to be close to Funny Girls, Lu-Lu's and the rest of Dickson Road without paying hotel prices, it is a practical base.

Who it suits

Peek-a-Booze suits people who like their nights out sociable and silly: bingo, karaoke, a singer, a giggle. It is also good for older visitors and for anyone who prefers a friendly bar where the host will chat to them rather than a thumping club.

Accessibility

There is no lift to the rooms, and no step-free information is published for the bar. Phone ahead if access matters.

Getting there and parking

The bar is on Dickson Road, a short walk north of Funny Girls. Nearby car parks include Cocker Street and Cocker Square pay-and-display, General Street, and the Talbot Road multi-storey.

Location and nearby

Lu-Lu's Cabaret Lounge is a couple of doors away, and the Belvedere and The Duke are close by. Funny Girls, Man Bar and the Queen Street strip are about five minutes' walk south.

Staying or visiting: Peek-a-Booze Hotel

What it is and who it welcomes

Peek-a-Booze, at 72 to 74 Dickson Road, is a cabaret bar and budget hotel in the heart of the gay village. It describes itself as an inclusive venue that celebrates diversity, where everyone is welcome. In practice the crowd is a cheerful mix of gay men, lesbians, drag fans, regulars and straight friends. The rooms are adults-only.

This is classic Blackpool: a lively bar on the ground floor and simple rooms upstairs. Stay here if you want the cheapest bed in the quarter and plan to enjoy the entertainment below. Look elsewhere if you are a light sleeper.

Rooms

The rooms are simple doubles for one or two guests. Each has a comfortable bed with good linen, an en-suite shower room with towels, a flat-screen TV and tea and coffee. They are priced per room rather than per person, from about £30 a night, which makes Peek-a-Booze one of the best-value stays on the scene. All rooms are non-smoking. The hotel is about 200 metres from North Pier.

Food and bar

• Food is served every day from 9am to 7pm, and breakfast is available all day. Expect home-cooked comfort food with veggie options. It is also a handy breakfast stop for people staying at room-only guesthouses nearby.
• The bar opens at 9am. It stays open until midnight from Monday to Thursday, and until 1am from Friday to Sunday. Drinks are reasonably priced, from draught beer to cocktails and top-shelf spirits.
• Entertainment runs on most nights. Recent weeks have included bingo and game-show nights, karaoke, a Friday afternoon music session, and live singers and drag acts at the weekend. Weekly listings are posted on the venue's events page and app.

Peek-a-Booze also sells its own merchandise, including hampers, tumblers and fans, and has picked up a number of local hospitality awards.

Location

You are on Dickson Road, a short walk north of Funny Girls. Lu-Lu's and the Duke are on the same stretch, Pride Lodge is about six minutes away on High Street, and the Queen Street bars and Man Bar are three to five minutes south. Blackpool North station is about five minutes away.

Parking

There is no on-site parking. Nearby options include:

• Cocker Street and Cocker Square pay and display (cash, card or phone)
• General Street car park
• the Talbot Road multi-storey, run by the council
• the car park at Blackpool North station

Charges and opening hours vary, so check before you travel.

Accessibility

There is no lift, and the upper floors can only be reached by stairs. The bar is on the ground floor. No access statement is published.

Booking tips

• Book through the venue's own online booking link for current rates.
• Ask for a room away from the bar if you want an earlier night.
• Weekends sell out fast in the Illuminations season and around Pride.