Blackpool's Rainbow Quarter, explained
Blackpool has been a gay holiday favourite for decades, and since 2024 its village has had official backing as the Rainbow Quarter. Where it is The heart of the scene is…
Air Show weekend: making a night of it in the Rainbow Quarter
The Blackpool Air Show filled the skies above the seafront on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 August, and with it came one of the busiest weekends of the summer.
If you came for the planes and stayed for the evening, the Rainbow Quarter is a short walk inland from North Pier. A few ideas:
- Funny Girls, 5 Dickson Road, was still running Hot Girl Summer until 6 September.
- The Flying Handbag, 44 Queen Street, has a sun terrace and food all day.
- Kaos on Queen Street, freshly reopened, stays open until 4am on Fridays and Saturdays.
- Garlands, 69–71 Talbot Road, has free entry and drag every day of the week.
- Lord Street has a run of smaller bars, from Mardi Gras and Trades to Rendezvous and Neon.
Most bars are free to get into in the week, with a small charge at the bigger venues at weekends.
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