Ambitious Blackpool street food project sees site taking shape for first time

Plans to create one of Blackpool’s most innovative food destinations are pressing ahead as 19 converted shipping containers were moved on site for the first time.

The ambitious Southbeach Street Food project will give the resort the type of attraction which Blackpool residents would normally have to travel to outside the town to experience.

Now, in just a few weeks, it will be on their doorstep – and provide a key attraction for visitors too, in addition to creating 120 new jobs.

With Blackpool bidding for the City of Culture in 2029, Southbeach Street Food is one of the new amenities which will help broaden the appeal of the town, introducing an element that would not look out of place in Liverpool or Manchester.

The soon-to-open food destination is located opposite the Sandcastle Waterpark on South Shore promenade and will make prominent use of those converted shipping containers, which will provide the backbone of the innovative scheme.

It will include food concessions ranging from Thai and Mexican to Spanish tapas and Italian food, with wood fired pizza.

The site will offer seating for up to 400 diners, and be designed with entertainment space so it can host events and music, with screens to show big sporting occasions and a stage for live entertainment.

It was hoped the attraction would be ready to open in June but the physical preparations needed for the groundwork have taken longer than anticipated and now it looks set to launch in late September.

FBS Engineering of Poulton have now transported the shipping containers onto the site this week.

Andrew Bradford, one of the directors of Southbeach Streetfood UK Limited, showed off the containers on Friday and said this week: “We’ll have Mexican, Italian and a 40ft unit for Asian infusion food, in addition to burgers and hotdogs and also potatoes and fish. We’ve got the option to create some more world food, maybe Argentinian or Brazilian.

“We’ll also have a large vegetarian and vegan food option available, and alcohol-free ranges in the bars.

“There’ll be plenty of seating and two licensed bars, as well as a stage. We want families to come along and enjoy the food and the entertainment. We’re looking for local acts to provide that. There’ll also be a mezzanine level we’re building, to create even more space.”

He said: “We’re employing all the staff ourselves and have pretty much all the key people in place, ready.

“We’ll keep them on a retainer and pay them all year round, even though we’re only going to be open several days a year. They’re going to be working long hours in the summer but pretty much get January and February off.

“They’ll be paid all year round and even get a bonus when they come back in.”

Once up and running the site will be operated on a cashless basis using an app, but Andrew said that for those who might struggle to use the app, there would be friendly staff around who could order for them. Additionally, food could also be ordered at the bar,

Talking about the City of Culture and the big city scope of Southbeach Street Food, Andrew said: “There’s no reason why it can’t be done in Blackpool. This is one of the busiest resorts in Europe, so why not?

“We thought that this was something that was missing in this town. And it will be good quality food – we’re going to provide healthier options.

“We’re not just offering your basic burger, it’s going to be well presented with good ingredients. We want people to come here and say, ‘wow that food was amazing’.

“Our hope is that this will set a precedent for other people to try new things.

“We’re creating up to 120 jobs and it will be a community hub. We want to be loyal to the residents of

Blackpool, with discounts, the chance to enjoy great food and listen to fabulous music.

“The quality of the food is first and foremost – we have an award-winning chef – but it will be competitively priced.”

There are even plans to introduce a Christmas market to the site in the last weeks of the year.

Andrew said: “October and November are really busy times for Blackpool – we’re going to have a Christmas market, so we’re looking forward to putting on something a bit special around Christmas.

“We’ve got a lot of events planned – not just for our visitors, but for the local residents.”