Site acquired towards Blackpool Central leisure scheme including popular joke shop

The axe has been hanging over Drummers House of Jokes since before May 2021, but a council report now confirms the long leasehold is among four on Central Drive which Blackpool Council has acquired.

The shop has sold jokes and costumes to countless visitors and locals for more than 50 years, but the area is due to be redeveloped as part of the next phase of the £300m Blackpool Central leisure investment.

A report says 13-17 (Drummers House of Jokes), along with 19, 21 and 31 Central Drive are currently held on four long leasehold interests from the council which owns the freehold interest in each case.

It adds: “The council have negotiated with agents acting on behalf of the long leaseholder of the four interests to acquire the long leasehold interests and terms have been agreed.”

Vacant possession of the properties is expected to be achieved by October when the site will be handed over to the Blackpool Central developer Nikal Limited.

A multi-storey car park is currently being built on part of Central Car Park, with the next phase of the scheme due to be a heritage quarter and public square on Central Drive.

There is full planning permission for holiday accommodation, restaurants and bars within the heritage quarter, and outline permission for three indoor theme parks, a 200-room hotel plus bars, restaurants and outdoor entertainment space on the main site.

Action has also been taken by the council to help bring forward development of the Flagstaff Gardens site in South Shore.

The council has formally appropriated the land for development as a leisure use.

A number of operators responded after the council advertised for a summer leisure use on the site in 2020, but proposals did not progress due to administrative reasons.

A report says potential operators “would have required a lease of the land for a longer term to make the venture financially viable”.

Approval has now been granted to appropriate the land and reach agreements with operators over a future new leisure use.