We visited the pinkest store in Blackpool and it was everything we thought it could be – Fatima Aziz

Blackpool Promenade is home to novelty and variety and is a place where ‘anything goes’.

For most locals, it’s easy to become numb to the wacky mix of businesses dotted along the iconic waterfront location, but when you step back to take it all in, there’s a lot to be said for the sight. in front of you. Where else would you find a dozen chippies, donut stands and arcades all next to each other?

Depending on where you start on the Promenade, you may run out of shops. If you head toward South Pier and Pleasure Beach, you’ll likely find more hotels, ice cream parlors, and chip shops at that end. Towards North Pier is the tower. Central Pier is where novelty reigns supreme.

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Coral Island, The Golden Mile, Sea Life and Madame Tussauds are the most memorable spots in this particular stretch of the ball. But just a few steps away stands a bright pink building, which is full of novelty items, you might actually miss the vibrant setting in which all these goods call home.

When you see the whimsical gifts, hats and magnets that fill the baskets outside of stores, they all merge into one. But it was when I stood through the shops – walking along the waterfront – that I literally backed away and noticed the whole building was a bright, loud pink hue.

There’s literally no other building like it on prom, which made me wonder how, after walking around the waterfront, had I missed such an obvious, not-so-small store? Naturally, I had to enter.

Like most prom novelty stores, it was jam-packed with Blackpool sweets, magnets, novelty toys and memorabilia. Walking in and out of the cramped walkways I saw rows of miniature ornaments from Blackpool’s towers, magnets with donkeys on them and rows and rows of iconic Blackpool rocks.

I hadn’t entered the store with the intention of buying anything. After all, there are only a limited number of Blackpool magnets I can fit on my fridge. But while walking near the rock, I noticed some very weird flavor options.

There was the Bakewell Pie, Jam Donut, Chocolate Mint, Strawberry Cheesecake, and even alcohol-inspired options like the Jager Bomb. Choosing four flavors to try for myself, I took my book and left ready to see if the flavors matched the names.

First was the cookie dough which I expected to be slightly chocolatey, maybe a little nutty and very sweet. The sweetness was there, that single stick of rock was incredibly sweet but there was also a random hint of licorice that made me think of black currant and licorice hard candies – not at all like cookie dough.

Then I tried the blueberry muffin which was quite sweet and berryy, but without any hint of muffininess – although I wouldn’t quite know how the unique taste of the muffin could be replicated in rock form. The jam donut next caught my eye, and for some reason I was convinced it would taste exactly like jam.

It was wishful thinking because it had nothing like jam, donuts or even sweet. There was a weird aftertaste that almost tasted like spices – not the chilli type, the cinnamon type. As far as rock flavors go, I wouldn’t try this one again. Finally, I decided on the Cream Egg flavor and held high hopes for this one as a huge Cream Egg fan. My hopes were raised when I smelled the distinct smell of Cadbury Cream Egg emanating from the wrapper. One bite and my hopes were dashed.

It had nothing to do with chocolate or anything like Cream Egg, in fact it tasted like mint. Next time you visit Blackpool you can try the other wacky flavors. Novelty reigns supreme when it comes to picking them up. And that’s not a bad thing.

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