en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en de en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en fr en en en en en en ru en uk en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en
If you can remember slim little chocolate bars covered in thin purple foil, if you know what the rag and bone man cried out as he came down your street, if you remember what a smooth old penny felt like, then the arcade at the end of Southport Pier will bring back many memories. And if you don’t, then it will be a magical revelation of quirky delights.
For there you will find the The National Museum of Penny Slot Machines. This wonderful Penny Arcade on the North West coast of England, evokes memories of seaside holidays, buckets and spades on the beach, gritty sandwiches, flapping wind breaks and fish and chips after a grand day out.
There are over 100 Penny Slot machines including some real gems; its owner by Clive Baker used to display it on Brighton Pier. Inflation means you now pay £1 for ten old pennies, but money can’t buy the fun and nostalgia that this quirky attraction brings to visitors of all ages.  One of the most popular attractions is the Blackpool Tram Race where you can bet on which of 6 colourful trams will reach the Tower first.  Another favourite is ‘Harry Corbett’s Sooty TV Concert’ where Sooty, Sweep and Sue play ‘The Grand Old Duke of York’ – and all for the price of an old penny.
In this era of hi-tech computer games, you may hanker for the thrill of getting 3 cherries in a row on the slot machines; there are plenty to try your luck on.  One intriguing machine is the fruit gum dispenser, one of the only ones left in the world that still works; the sweets taste just that bit better because they only cost a ‘penny’.  Punch & Judy get a look in, although the show is so quick, blink and you miss it.
There are a number of Edwardian ‘Mutascopes’ – also known as ‘What the Butler Saw’; moving films featuring scantily clad ladies in various stages of undress. The plinth was made higher so children couldn’t reach the viewfinder! Steerable ball games, strength tests, spooky haunted graveyards and fortune tellers all draw enthusiastic gamesters.  Check out the old football game with teams in original hand-knitted woolly jumpers.  There’s a laughing Jolly Jack Sailor to make you smile and brightly painted wooden puppets which perform jerkily charming Tyrolean dances.
Southport Pier was originally a glorious Victorian confection built in 1860 and in its heyday was over 4,000 feet long.  After fires, collisions and gales it was eventually rebuilt and reopened in 2002, now stretching over a kilometre out across the famous Southport Sands into the Irish Sea.
Southport pier – first iron pier in Britain
All along the wooden walkway there a name plaques that local people paid for to help raise funds for the restoration of the pier – see if you can spot Ken Dodd’s.  We had one placed in memory of Dad, who loved the pier and introduced us to the pleasures of the penny arcade many years ago.
You can take a leisurely walk or catch the tram to the end of the pier, where the modern cafe and arcade attract thousands of visitors from all over the world.  For a great escape from the hi-speed modern world of fast connections and electronic gizmos, Southport Pier’s Penny Arcade is just the ticket!
Huffing & puffing up Latterbarrow
'Oh, the places you'll go!' Life's adventure with Dr Seuss
Luscious luxury at Bahia del Duque Resort, Adeje, Tenerife
Barry July 19, 2011 at 12:24 pm
Been there myself and it is a unique chance to participate in a bygone world. Nice view and cuppa tea to be had at Southport Pier too.
Ron Creer July 19, 2011 at 12:53 pm
Ah, my grandchildren had to drag me out of that arcade. I just love spinning and flicking those silver balls!
But what has happened to the Land of the Little People?
Zoë Dawes July 20, 2011 at 4:19 pm
Hmm not sure what the Land of the Little People was Ron! But it’s certainly got lots to enable us to recapture lost youth 🙂 And the view is good Barry – you can see your home in Blackpool on a good day …
Barry McCann July 24, 2012 at 9:31 am
Blackpool North Pier now have one of these, complete with Jolly Jack Tar and the Sooty Show Band! Appropriate as it was on that very pier that Harry Corbett first acquired Sooty.
Zoë Dawes July 26, 2012 at 12:50 pm
Must go and see the Blackpool ones on next visit Barry.
David Brown September 3, 2012 at 7:50 am
We visited yesterday and didn’t see any of the interesting machines shown above. There were mostly fruit machines and penny falls, and the same kind of games you can still see in most arcades. I was very disappointed as it was one of the main reasons for our visit to Southport.
Zoë Dawes September 3, 2012 at 9:10 am
Oh no – I took those photos a few weeks before the article was written and can’t imagine why they would have got rid of them as that is the whole point of having the arcade. (It’s the one at the end of the Pier, not the one in front of the Pier by the carousel.) I will go back and check next time I am there.
sl.tricksplacess.com February 10, 2016 at 6:42 am
Thanks for finally writing about > Southport Pier: a trip down memory lane < Liked it!
Zoe Dawes February 10, 2016 at 2:52 pm
Glad you enjoyed it Delilah 🙂
Puerto Pollensa; flip-flops, pan pipes and the beach
Britain’s Best Travel Blogger: The 1st six months
ABOUT THE QUIRKY TRAVELLER
Hi, I’m Zoë; welcome to my quirky world…
QUIRKY TRAVEL is about seeing the world from a different angle, looking at things from all sides, finding the unusual, the interesting, the fascinating. It’s about quality combined with classiness, it’s about being curious about everything and wanting to know more…
Categories Select Category Accommodation Adventure Africa Asia Australasia Blog trip Blogging Book Business Caribbean Competition Cruise Culture Cumbria England Europe Festival Food & Drink Gardens Guide History Holiday Infographic Interview Literature Luxury Middle East Mind Body Spirit North America Outdoors Personal Photography Podcast Pye Motors QT Review Scandinavia Scotland Shopping Social Media South America Sport Survey Sustainable Tourism Top Tips TQT Object Training and Coaching Transport UK Uncategorized Video Wales Walking World Heritage Site World Travel Blogger Writing