Kiddies Corner and Cleveleys Arena

Today, the sweeping corner of the seafront is known as the Plaza. But for many years it was Kiddies Corner and Cleveleys Arena before that. Generations of holiday makers and local children once enjoyed the stage shows and fairground rides.

Kiddies Corner and Cleveleys Arena

It’s almost 100 years since Cleveleys Arena first opened, later to become Kiddies Corner. Then the original Kiddies Corner was closed because of works to completely rebuild the promenade. A much smaller Children’s Corner operated for a few seasons slightly further along from the original site. Sadly that’s now closed too.

Thank you to members of the Thornton Cleveleys Past (TCP) Facebook group. And Nick Moore’s History of Blackpool and the Fylde Coast for information and photographs for this article.

Cleveleys Arena

In 1929 Cleveleys Arena opened after modernisation of the western end of Victoria Road and the promenade in Cleveleys. The only permanent open-air arena in the Northwest, it hosted many outdoor shows, including the Arena Follies.

Seasonally, different performing troupes would entertain the holiday crowds in this attractive open-air venue. The stage of the arena was set into the sea wall, pretty much where the Plaza performance area is today.

The Follies and Jolly Tars

Shows were very popular – especially during the good weather! The Follies was one such show. Described as ‘The Funny original likeable laughable interesting entertaining show’. With ‘Mirth, Melody & Music!’ Often featuring Charlie Parsons, supported by a talented company of pierrots.

People fondly remember leaning over the wall at the back to watch the show for free! See the legs of kids dangling on the photo above – and the paying audience seated in comfort on the deckchairs.

The Jolly Tars were another family team. This was run by Jack (Bert) Pimblott and his wife Jolly Dolly Barry, a male impersonator. Dolly’s parents, Dad and Mrs. Wood also appeared as did their daughter Gladys and Billy the Tenor. The ‘star’ was Gladys’ husband Tommy McGrah the comedian. He was famous for his catch phrases including ‘Are we all here?’. To which the audience would yell ‘Yes we are!’. Tommy also did a knockabout act with Dad Wood who was well into his eighties by the 1930’s.

The Jolly Tars are remembered in the Victoria Road West Wetherspoons at numbers 154-158. It opened on 28 June 2011 in the former Kwik Save store.

The original Children’s Corner

‘Monte Carlo’ electrically driven rally cars were introduced on 7 April 1961. In 1966 Albert Mason built Children’s Corner opposite his Mason’s Amusements (now the Olympia). He’d taken over the loss making Cleveleys Arena from the council. Also known as Kiddies Corner Fun Park, the Mason family operated it for 42 years until its forced closure in 2004 for the sea wall works. They also owned the Olympia at the promenade corner of Rough Lea Road.

The helter-skelter formed a striking landmark at the seafront. Motorists driving through knew that they’d passed through a popular seaside town.

Building the Current Seawall

From 2004 the much-loved Kiddies Corner irrevocably changed. You can see the old site in the photo below, cleared and awaiting construction work. The little pitched-roof building on the promenade was Terry’s Ice Cream kiosk. The white portacabin above the green door the new site information point for the sea wall works.

In John Watson’s photo of 2007 (below) you can see the balustrades of the old Arena area. The white columns of the above photo are still exposed, prior to being covered. The curve of the highway at North Promenade and the clock shelter roundabout were unchanged during this major construction project.

Take a look at this page about the Cleveleys seawall build of 2007. Including many more photos taken during the works.

Children’s Corner more recently

Following completion of the new promenade and sea wall build at Cleveleys, Children’s Corner moved a little further north. The site is now between the Plaza and the end of Beach Road.

A few different operators tried to make a success of it but found it a struggle. Planning restrictions on the site restrict the use of flashing lights and music. Two things which are quite fundamental to a children’s fairground! Together with the short season and hostile seafront weather, it’s very difficult to generate a profit. The last operator closed at the time of the Covid-19 pandemic and it hasn’t opened again since.

Interestingly, it seems they had the same problems in 1936. According to this local newspaper cutting posted in the TCP group by Nick Watts –

Have you got anything to share about The Arena or Children’s Corner? Leave a comment below, you can also email photos to jane@theRabbitPatch.co.uk