Blackpool Bites — Bumper Summer Round-Up, May to 14 July 2026
- news
- restaurants
- new openings
- hygiene ratings
- street food
- people
- planning
- ai-written
Hello Blackpool food lovers! We've got a bumper edition for you today — this round-up covers everything that's happened across the local dining scene from early May right through to this week. New openings, a homecoming story with real heart, a young chef earning national recognition, a colossal new street food destination that's now nearly at your door, a handful of planning wins, and a very impressive run of food hygiene ratings. Grab a cuppa, settle in, and let's catch up.
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New Openings
AAA Chinese Restaurant, 59 Whitegate Drive
Whitegate Drive gained a fresh face in May when AAA Chinese Restaurant opened at number 59, taking over the site previously occupied by China Garden.
The kitchen is led by Chef Hui Wu, who brings years of professional experience and a clear culinary vision: authentic, vibrant Chinese food built on traditional techniques, served in a welcoming atmosphere. Early visitors have been pleased with what they've found. If you're a fan of Chinese cuisine and haven't yet made it down to Whitegate Drive, it's well worth putting on your list. You can reach them on 01253 461921.
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Fresco Coffee, 14–16 Waterloo Road
South Shore's café scene got a lovely new addition right at the start of July. Fresco Coffee opened its doors on Saturday 4 July at 14–16 Waterloo Road FY4 1AB, following months of careful planning and renovation.
The result is a calm, welcoming independent café with soft seating, natural tones, and an atmosphere that works just as well for a quiet coffee on your own as it does for catching up with a friend. On offer: speciality coffee, freshly prepared food, and homemade bakes. Both dine-in and takeaway are available. A genuinely warm addition to the neighbourhood.
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A Homecoming: San Marcos Italian Returns to Highfield Road
Here's one of the best stories of the summer — and it comes with nearly two decades of history behind it.
San Marcos Italian Restaurant — one of Blackpool's most celebrated family-run dining names — is opening a third location this summer, on Highfield Road. And not just any location: Highfield Road is where San Marcos first opened its doors 18 years ago, before that original site closed during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
The family making this homecoming happen is Cinzia and George Goldie — Cinzia being the daughter of original founder Lucia Frankitt. "We're very excited," they've said, and honestly, so are we. San Marcos currently operates well-loved restaurants on Topping Street and at Caesars by San Marcos in Cedar Square, so a third — at the address where it all began — feels like a genuinely special milestone for everyone involved.
An exact opening date hasn't been confirmed just yet, but it's coming this summer. One to watch.
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Coming Very Soon: Asia Alley Fusion Buffet, Church Street
Church Street is becoming a proper destination for buffet lovers. Asia Alley Fusion Buffet has confirmed its grand opening date, taking over a corner premises near Blackpool North station and the Blackpool Tower — right alongside Umami World Kitchen, which has been packing them in since it opened last year.
Asia Alley held a well-received soft launch for invited guests back in June, and public opening is now just around the corner. Between the two venues, Church Street is shaping up to be the place to go for all-you-can-eat dining in the town centre.
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The Big One: Southbeach Streetfood, South Shore Promenade
We've been tracking this one for months, and the wait is finally almost over.
Southbeach Streetfood — the hugely ambitious new food destination being built directly opposite the Sandcastle Waterpark on South Shore promenade — is now targeting a July 2026 opening. Director Jamie Willacy has confirmed: "We anticipate opening for the start of summer. The physical preparations needed for the groundwork have taken a little longer than anticipated, but we'll definitely be up and running in time for the summer holidays."
Here's what to expect when the doors open:
- 19 repurposed shipping containers — each housing a different street food trader, fitted out by FBS Engineering of Poulton
- A global menu: Thai, Mexican, Spanish tapas, wood-fired pizza, and plenty more, with vegetarian and gluten-free options throughout
- Seating for up to 400 diners across the site
- A dedicated events and entertainment space with live music, big screens for sporting events, and cookery demonstrations
- A sustainability-first approach: energy-efficient appliances, 100% LED lighting, recyclable packaging, and food-waste-conscious menus
This is genuinely unlike anything Blackpool has had before — and a July opening puts it perfectly in place for the peak summer rush. We'll have a full write-up the moment those gates open.
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Planning & Future Venues
Green Light for Red Bank Road, Bispham
Good news for the north side of town: Blackpool Council's planners have approved a change-of-use for 64–66 Red Bank Road in Bispham, converting what was a former catalogue discount store into a restaurant and ancillary bar. No name or concept has been confirmed publicly yet, but the planning approval clears the way for things to move forward. A welcome addition to the Bispham area — we'll report back as details emerge.
Desi Kitchen, 294 Devonshire Road
We've been following the progress on a former florist's shop at 294 Devonshire Road since April, when a planning application was first lodged to convert it into a restaurant and ancillary bar described in the application as a "Desi kitchen".
The good news: Blackpool Council has now confirmed the change of use is lawful without requiring formal planning permission, granting a Certificate of Lawfulness. The proposed layout includes 5 tables and 18 covers — an intimate, neighbourhood-scale spot. The concept points towards South Asian street food in some form. No opening date yet, but the legal groundwork is done. Watch this space.
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People: Rising Star at Beach House Takes Blackpool to a National Final
One of the best human-interest stories of the summer comes from the kitchen of Beach House Bistro & Bar on the Promenade.
Stanley Brown, a 20-year-old Junior Sous Chef at Beach House — who is also completing his Level 3 Professional Cookery course at Blackpool and The Fylde College — competed in the UK Italian Salumi Contest earlier this year. Back in April, he wowed regional judges at the college with his own creation: a Blackcurrant and Bresaola Risotto, finished with a parmesan and bresaola crisp and whipped ricotta. That won him the regional heat.
In May, Stanley represented the North West in the national final in London — and came away with a top-four finish, competing against chefs from across the UK. The prize for top finishers includes a trip to Milan, where Stanley will spend three days inside a two-Michelin-starred restaurant, learning traditional Italian charcuterie and curing techniques from regional experts.
For a 20-year-old balancing college and a professional kitchen, that's a remarkable achievement. A huge well done from all of us to Stanley and the whole Beach House team. 👏
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Events
Blackpool Restaurant Week 2027 — Save the Dates
Following the success of Blackpool Restaurant Week 2026 — which brought together 28 venues, over 35 individual offers, family dining, pop-ups, and real community spirit in March — organisers have already confirmed it's coming back.
Blackpool Restaurant Week 2027 runs Thursday 11 March to Thursday 18 March 2027. The 2026 edition raised money for The BIG FOOD Project (tackling food poverty) and The Burnt Chef Project (supporting mental health in hospitality), which made it much more than just a week of deals. Venues interested in taking part or sponsoring can get in touch with the BID team at marketing@blackpoolbid.co.uk.
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Hygiene Rating Round-Up
It's been a very busy period for Food Standards Agency inspections across Blackpool, with a brilliant wave of 5-star ratings awarded since late April. Here's the full roll-call of recent high scorers — every one of them earning the top score by demonstrating "very good" standards across food handling, facility cleanliness, and food safety management.
| Venue | Location | Rating | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eleven (The Glass Tower) | Central Promenade | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5) | June 2026 |
| AAA Restaurant | Whitegate Drive | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5) | 11 June 2026 |
| Catch Fish & Chips | Dean Street | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5) | 5 June 2026 |
| Peri Peri Chicken House | Blackpool | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5) | 23 April 2026 |
| Munch Box | Whitegate Drive | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5) | 28 April 2026 |
| La Jianu | Talbot Road | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5) | Spring 2026 |
| Streetlife Trust | Buchanan Street | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5) | Spring 2026 |
| Tiffy's Place | St Chad's Road | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5) | Spring 2026 |
| Planet Kaos | Vicarage Road | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5) | Spring 2026 |
A huge well done to every venue on that list. Maintaining a 5-star rating takes consistent effort — proper temperature controls, meticulous record-keeping, and a genuine commitment to food safety day in and day out. It's worth recognising.
Also worth noting: the Blackpool Gazette has reported that 11 venues across the resort received 0 or 1-star ratings at some point this year. A reminder that ratings vary and it always pays to check before you visit somewhere new. You can look up any venue's current hygiene score at the Food Standards Agency ratings search — it takes about 30 seconds and is well worth doing.
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In Brief: Akash Restaurant Licensing Review
A local story to be aware of: Iqbal Nooree, the owner of Akash Restaurant on Topping Street, was contesting an £80,000 penalty issued by the Home Office over alleged illegal working practices. A licensing review was referred to Blackpool Council's licensing panel for a hearing in early June. We'll report back on the outcome once it's been made public.
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A Note on This Article
This round-up was researched and written by Claude, an AI assistant, on behalf of the Blackpool Grub Guide, covering the period from early May through to 14 July 2026. Stories were sourced from the Blackpool Gazette, Visit Blackpool, Visit Lancashire, Blackpool Tourism BID, and the Food Standards Agency. Always check directly with venues for the very latest on bookings, hours, and menus — things move fast in the summer season!
If you know of a new opening, menu change, or rating update that we've missed, you can submit a suggestion and we'll take a look.
Happy eating, Blackpool! 🍽️
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Sources: Blackpool Gazette · Visit Blackpool · Visit Lancashire · Blackpool Tourism BID · Food Standards Agency · Scores on the Doors