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Bubbles

A Canon EOS M6 Mark II — 1/500s ƒ/11 ISO 125 at 28 mm

N 154 B 844 C 12 E Jan 1, 2025 F Jan 14, 2025

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The site of Morecambe's former Leisure Park and Bubbles is set to be transformed into the much-anticipated Eden Project.

Once incredibly popular with holidaymakers from all over the north west, this area of Morecambe Promenade has a rich history.

Opened in 1936 - a time when Britain experienced a golden age of open-air swimming pools - Morecambe's Super Swimming Stadium was built to rival to Blackpool's grand South Shore Swimming Coliseum. The stadium boasted a championship swimming course, water polo area, diving stage, grandstands, promenade, sun terrace and even an artificial beach.

This impressive pool was the longest in Europe and once saw 27,000 bathers in just two days. It was one of the town's main attractions, hosting prestigious swimming and aquatic events throughout the year, including the Miss Great Britain beauty contest.

Unfortunately, the stadium closed its doors in 1975 due to structural defects and was demolished a year later. Part of the structure was used as a Dolphinarium before the entire site was cleared for a leisure park.

Morecambe Leisure Park opened in the summer of 1979, with its main attraction being the heated open-air leisure pool known as Blue Lagoon. The pool was particularly popular for its wave-making machine, and also featured a separate cascade pool and sun-trap terrace.

The Leisure Park in Morecambe, which opened in the holiday town's late 20th century peak, was situated near Marineland, Europe's first Oceanarium, and Morecambe Pleasure Park, home to the largest Ferris wheel in Europe.

Around the same time, the Superdome, a vast live music and entertainment venue, opened next to the leisure park. In its early years, it hosted heats for the Miss Great Britain contest and was the destination for Radio One Roadshow music events.

In the late 1980s, Morecambe Leisure Park expanded with the addition of an indoor pool and was renamed Bubbles. It attracted a new generation of fans with its water slides and cannons.

Following the closure of the Central Pier due to structural concerns, the Superdome became the new venue for the Morecambe Music Festival. In its later years, the Dome (as it had been renamed) hosted big music acts including Blur and the Arctic Monkeys.

However, as Morecambe struggled to attract crowds towards the end of the 20th century, the complex faced financial difficulties. Bubbles closed at the turn of the new century and was demolished in 2001. The Dome survived a few more years, closing in 2008 before being demolished.

Read more: www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/nostalgia/lost-morec...