Late-night gay bars in Blackpool

Blackpool's quarter is unusual for a seaside town: several gay venues hold licences that run well past 2am, and at weekends you can still be dancing at 4am. Most late venues are on Queen Street and Lord Street, within a few minutes' walk of each other, so it is easy to move on as places close.

Until 4am at weekends

• The Flying Handbag, 44 Queen Street: open until 3am Sunday to Thursday and 4am on Friday and Saturday. It also serves food until 1.30am at weekends, which is rare.
• Kaos, 38–42 Queen Street: open until 4am on Friday and Saturday, with DJs and a dancefloor. Last entry is 2.30am, so don't leave it too late.
• Trades Bar, 51–55 Lord Street: the men-only hotel bar is usually listed as open until 3am every day and is licensed later, until 4am, so busy nights can run on. It is primarily for hotel guests.

Until about 3am

• Garlands, 69–71 Talbot Road: open until 3am Thursday to Saturday and 2am on other nights, with drag from the afternoon.
• Sherlock's, 23 Queen Street: weekend nights run to about 2.30am on Friday and 3.30am on Saturday and Sunday.
• Mardi Gras, 41–43 Lord Street: open late at weekends, typically to about 3am, with DJs and cabaret on Friday and Saturday.

Until about 2am

• Oscars, 5 Dickson Road: the Funny Girls after-show bar runs until about 1am on Wednesday and 2am Thursday to Saturday.
• Man Bar, Growlr Club and Gin & Bear It, 25 Dickson Road: open from 8pm until late on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The men-only Growlr Club upstairs is busiest on Friday and Saturday nights.
• The Duke, 60 Dickson Road: open until 2am Thursday to Saturday and 1am on other nights.

Earlier finishes

Many of the smaller bars close at or before midnight, often because late drinks are restricted to hotel residents:

• Rendezvous: 10pm to 10.30pm.
• McGraths: non-residents leave by midnight.
• Evanescent: closes at 12.30am, with only residents served after midnight.
• Neon Bar and DeLovely: around 11pm.
• Peek-a-Booze: midnight Monday to Thursday, 1am at weekends.

Late food

The Flying Handbag kitchen is the main late option: food until 12.30am on weeknights and 1.30am on Friday and Saturday. Otherwise, plan to eat earlier.

Getting home safely

• Stay close. The quarter is compact, and most gay guesthouses are within ten minutes' walk of Queen Street. Staying nearby means you can walk back in a group rather than queue for a taxi.
• Taxis get busy after midnight at weekends. Use licensed cabs, and pre-book if you are staying out of the centre.
• Trams run along the Promenade until roughly 1am. There is also a stop at Blackpool North.
• Stick together and keep to the lit main streets. The quarter has improved street lighting and extra CCTV, but late nights in any resort town call for the usual care.
• Bring ID. Late venues have door staff and run strict age checks, and last entry times are enforced.

Places mentioned in this guide