A ‘world’s first’ fish and chips-themed hotel is testing out the waters for an opening in Blackpool this summer, and it looks a bit, erm, grim.
Called The Jolly Good Fish and Chip Hotel, the prototype will be popping up on the coastal town this weekend for two nights only across 8 and 9 July – giving visitors a chance to see what a hotel inspired by the seaside classic might look like in the flesh.
Images released by Gala Bingo, which is behind the project, show the frontage of the hotel and – to us, at least – it looks part chip shop canteen, and part estate agents.
Possibly it’s the font, or it might be the bright yellow Gala Bingo sign above its door. There’s definitely some estate agent energy going on outside here, though.
Inside, it’s more like a canteen with a Gala-branded fish and chips counter and rows of tables with yellow and white gingham tablecloths.
ADVERTISEMENT
That said, there are some freebies in it for those who want to go down and see it for themselves.
Across the weekend, the pop-up hotel will be welcoming visitors to enjoy a portion of fish, chips and peas on the house – a dish inspired not just by British tradition, but also the bingo call 33.
ADVERTISEMENT
Guests will be invited to dig into their chippy teas as they play some games of bingo, also for free courtesy of Gala.
Image: Supplied
When it opens this weekend for its two-night run, The Jolly Good Fish and Chip Hotel pop-up will be ‘five in a row’ themed.
From midday until 8pm on both Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 July, visitors to the hotel will be invited to indulge in a free portion of the British staple, inspired by the iconic bingo call 33, fish, chips and peas.
ADVERTISEMENT
Guests will be able to enjoy their fish and chips at the hotel’s dining room and join in on games of bingo held throughout the day, or take them away to enjoy in the sun at the Blackpool Pier or Pleasure Beach nearby.
The Jolly Good Fish & Chip Hotel room will also be open for visitors to snoop around.
The Gala Bingo concierge will be there to meet and greet guests and welcome them into the ‘five in a row’ themed suite.
They can test out the hotel bed, and experience what it would be like to spend a night in the world’s first Fish & Chip Hotel room.
ADVERTISEMENT
When in Blackpool, eh. We just hope that the seafront’s resident scarecrow is in attendance to shoo away the birds.
Featured image – Supplied
Trending
Manchester firefighter surprises partner with proposal during new recruits parade
Danny Jones
We’re a sucker for a wholesome little video as we know you are, which is exactly why we thought of you lot when we came across this video of a newly graduated Manchester firefighter surprising his partner with a heartwarming proposal.
Just the kind of heartwarming that usually sets us off after a long week at work.
The clip shared by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) on Thursday, 25 April, shows Manc fireman James popping the question to his girlfriend sat unassumingly in the audience at a recent passing out ceremony.
Pass out ceremonies are when trainees go from recruits to fully qualified firefighters after completing their intensive operational training. It’s a long-standing tradition in the emergency services where friends and family gather to celebrate their achievements – it’s almost like it’s the perfect opportunity…
Watch as a Manc firefighter turns his passing out ceremony into a surprise proposal.
As you can see, since the graduates are usually the centre of attention, James couldn’t help but size his moment and instead of walking and lining up normally like everyone else, he decided to head straight over to his wife-to-be and get down on one knee.
You already know the rest.
Welling up immediately and barely able to remove her hands from her face, Melissa nods and says yes as the crowd cheers and the pair share a smooch.
Writing on social media, the GMFRS said: “We managed to capture a VERY special moment at our new recruits pass out parade today… Congratulations to James and Melissa!”, adding, “Certainly one way to start your new career”.
If we don’t see all the groomsmen dressed as firefighters on a random viral video sometime soon we’re going to be gutted.
All the best to the happy couple and if you’ve got any more lovely clips like this to send in so we can make ourselves cry (in a good way), you know what to do.
Featured Images — Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service
Trending
The Chestergate pub in Stockport is at it again with some of the most wonderfully Manc scenes you’ll ever see
Danny Jones
The legendary Chestergate pub in Stockport is back with another belter of a video, following on from their viral belly-flashing clip of 2022.
The Mersey Square boozer has painted yet another quintessentially Northern depiction of UK pub culture with the latest Manc scenes they’ve captured around the karaoke machine.
If you’ve never had the pleasure of stumbling into The Chestergate in Stockport town centre, the long-standing boozer currently operated by publican chain Blind Tiger Inns, you’re seriously missing out.
While it might not be the flashiest of pubs, when it comes to entertainment, it always delivers.
Whether it’s stunts like renaming themselves ‘The Southgate’ whenever the Euros or World Cup rolls around, or the locals just genuinely having a whale of a time no matter what day of the week it is, it really sums up the best of pub culture.
The Chestergate went viral for some of the most British footage ever caught on film back in 2022 and the videos saw a huge wave of love and support flooding in for the pub, as well as a healthy amount of chuckles. Safe to say we were chuffed to see them pop back up on our feed again recently.
Karaoke night at The Chestergate literally never disappoints.
Forget ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ or ‘Champagne Supernova’ for karaoke songs – we’ll take a cacophony of inaudible throwback pop music, whilst another bloke and his hype man try and MC over a totally ill-fitting beat any day of the week.
And that’s handy because you’ll find those kinds of shenanigans happening at this place all the time.
It’s simultaneously one of the most no-nonsense and somehow a non-stop shenanigan-filled paradise. They also look after their own and consider their regulars part of the family. Case and point: they threw their very own ‘Dancing Queen’ Molly a big bash for her 86th birthday and it’s such wholesome viewing.
At this point, it’s worth flagging that we have nothing but envy for these folks and anyone who’s just out there having the time of their lives on any random weeknight.
Yes, it produced plenty of laughs for those watching online in recent times but this lot won’t mind one bit – not only is the pub seeing more and more new faces through the door but that’s the whole point of a pub, isn’t it? Going for a pint with your nearest and dearest and having a laugh.
Not only is it very Manchester but it’s Britain at its very best.
We hope to see you at The Chestergate pub in Stockport for a pint or two sometime soon and we’re making a bit of a prat of ourselves, don’t worry, we’re sure they’ll have the cameras ready for you.
Georgina Pellant -
5th July 2023 
