Sherlock's

What it is

Sherlock's is a three-storey LGBTQ+ bar on Queen Street, the main strip running from Dickson Road down to the sea. It has bars on the ground floor and upstairs, and a balcony that looks down over the comings and goings of a Blackpool Saturday night. It feels a little more polished than the traditional pubs nearby, with DJs, guest performers and a party atmosphere that builds through the evening.

It is a weekend venue. Doors usually open on Friday evening and stay open late on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

History in brief

Few buildings in the quarter have had as many lives as 23 Queen Street. In the 1990s it was Faye's Cafe Bar. It then became Roxy's, remembered for its drag cabaret, and later the Whippet Inn, as part of the group that also ran Funny Girls and the Flying Handbag. When that group went into administration in 2018, the building passed to the brewer Thwaites. In 2019 it was bought by business partners Garry Prentice and Cal Eden, who had previously run Eden Bar in Birmingham's gay village.

They announced the Sherlock's name in early 2020, but the pandemic delayed everything. The bar finally opened on 5 November 2021, with cabaret star Danny Beard headlining the opening weekend, a year before Danny went on to win RuPaul's Drag Race UK. In 2025 Sherlock's hosted the after-party for the premiere of Queering Blackpool, a documentary about the town's drag history.

What's on

• Friday: from about 7pm until around 2.30am.
• Saturday and Sunday: from about 6pm until around 3.30am.
• Monday to Thursday: usually closed.

Weekends bring resident DJs and visiting performers, with drag and cabaret guests announced week by week. The building is licensed for much later hours than it normally keeps, so special nights such as Pride weekend and bank holidays can run later.

Drinks

Sherlock's is a drinks-led bar rather than a food venue, with a full spirits and cocktail range.

Who it suits

Sherlock's suits groups who want a lively, good-looking bar with room to move between floors, and anyone after somewhere to dance at the weekend that is a step quieter than a full club. The balcony is a big draw on mild nights.

Entry

Under-18s are not admitted, and staff check ID from anyone who looks under 21, so bring photo ID. Door staff are on duty at busy times.

Accessibility

No accessibility details are published. The bars are spread over several floors in an older building, so expect stairs.

Location and nearby

Sherlock's is in the middle of Queen Street, between Dickson Road and the Promenade. The Flying Handbag and Kaos are a short walk up the hill towards Dickson Road. Buckinghams, Cowboy & Co and Bar 19 are neighbours, and the mainstream Walkabout and Slug & Lettuce are at the seafront end.