Blackburn
With a population of just under 150,000, Blackburn is the largest town in East Lancashire. At the height of the Industrial Revolution it was the biggest weaving town in the world. Today it’s noted for its indoor market, the largest in the North West, Thwaites Brewery and Blackburn Rovers Football Club and its number one fan, MP Jack Straw.
The town is situated north of the West Pennine Moors and is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages, including Accrington, Darwen, Oswaldtwistle, Hoghton and Tockholes.
Latest News
Jun 20, Lancashire and Blackpool Tourism Awards 2008
The winners of the 2008 Lancashire and Blackpool Tourism Awards were announced at a ceremony at Blackburn Rovers Football Club on Wednesday. The awards were handed out by BBC Radio Lancashire presenter Ted Robbins after Ranvir Singh withdrew due to illness.
The winners were:
Bed and Breakfast/Guest Accommodation of the Year – Number One South Beach, Blackpool
Small Hotel of the Year – Shireburn Arms, Ribble Valley
Large Hotel of the Year – Big Blue Hotel, Blackpool
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year – Farmer Teds Farm Park, Ormskirk
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool
Caravan Holiday Park of the Year – Newton Hall Holiday Park – Blackpool
Self-Catering Holiday of the Year – Beech House, Blackpool
Tourism Website of the Year – Ribby Hall Village, Wrea Green
Taste Lancashire 08 Award – Northcote Manor, Langho
Business Tourism Award of the Year – Barton Grange Hotel, Preston
Sustainable Tourism Award – RSPB Leighton Moss Nature Reserve, Carnforth
Best Tourism Experience of the Year – Morecambe Bay Cross Bay Walks
Tourism Event of the Year, Lancashire Food Festival, Accrington
Jun 6, Ribble Valley Inns to manage Clog and Billycock
Ribble Valley Inns, the small dining pub chain founded by Nigel Howarth and Craig Bancroft, have taken over the management of the Clog and Billycock. The Daniel Thwaites’ pub in Pleasington, near Blackburn, becomes the third member of the group, joining the Three Fishes in the Ribble Valley and the Highwayman in Kirkby Lonsdale.
The pub is currently undergoing a £1.3 million refit and is set to open at the end of August.
Jun 5, Hughes takes over at City
Former Manchester United striker Mark Hughes has been appointed as the new manager of Manchester City. He replaces Sven-Goran Eriksson, sacked by City owner Thaksin Shinawatra earlier this week.
Blackburn Rovers have given their former manager their best wishes. Club chairman John Williams said, ‘We have enjoyed a first class, mutually beneficial relationship with Mark. He leaves the club in a strong position with three consecutive top ten finishes and an excellent squad of players. In turn, we have helped Mark to establish himself as one of the most sought after young British managers in the business, having previously had no club management experience. We wish him well. We would have liked him to stay on, but he made it clear he wanted a fresh challenge.’
Former Bolton Wanderers manager ‘Big’ Sam Allardyce is the bookmakers’ favourite to take over at Ewood Park.
May 29, Famous shoe shop closes
Blackburn’s famous shoe shop, Tommy Ball’s, has closed after going into administration with undisclosed debts. The closure comes just 2 months after founder Tommy Ball died aged 83.
The store on Hart Street was the UK’s largest footwear shop.
Apr 3, New Managing Director at Thwaites
Blackburn’s Thwaites Brewery has a new Managing Director. Liverpool-born Peter Morris will return to his native North West from Hampshire, where he is currently Operations Director for Scottish and Newcastle.
Ann Yerburgh, Chairman of Thwaites, said ‘We are delighted to welcome Peter to Thwaites and believe that his experience and reputation within the brewing industry will help us significantly as we confront a challenging marketplace.’
