A blue plaque was unveiled at the Belle Vue public house Whitegate Drive, Blackpool on Friday 30th October 2026.
The unveiling was part of an event marking the re-opening of the pub after an extensive refurbishment.
The plaque commemorates the importance of the site which was developed by John Hodgson from farmland in 1860 into a pub, The Albert, Belle Vue pleasure gardens and strawberry garden with bandstand and music hall, lake and cottages using over 7 acres of land. Now the pub remains and Newcastle Avenue stands on the garden. A residents Community Group, Belle Vue Strawberry Gardens, grows fruit and vegetables on a patch of land.
Today’s unveiling of the blue plaque was performed by the Mayor of Blackpool, Councillor Danny Scott accompanied by Mayoress Councillor Michele Scott.
The councillors and community group have also worked with Blackpool Civic Trust to ensure that the status of the pub in the resort’s history should be marked by a Blue Plaque funded by local ward councillors Jane Hugo and Mark Smith.
Elaine Smith, chairman of the Civic Trust, said she hoped it would highlight the historical significance of the site and paid tribute to Belle Vue community members, including Paul and Angela Ogden who founded the community group.
Read more about John Hodgson on Showtown, Blackpool’s Museum of Fun and Entertainment:
Click here to go to the Showtown Website
See photographs on Facebook.