Second Trip to Lytham St Annes August 2023

Quick Trip to Lytham St Annes

To tie in with my brother’s trip from Boston to Lytham St Annes to visit my mother in her care home we decided to explore the possibility of staying at the Seaside Pitch there https://www.seasidepitch.co.uk, only yards from the home. The Seaside Pitch consists of two motorhome pitches in the front garden of a large house on Clifton Drive. I later found out that the idea of converting the area to the front of the house (previously a care home) into motorhome pitches came about following a road traffic accident that had forced the owner's wife to give up work, and as a way to raise funds whilst the renovation work on the property was underway.

The pitch included an electric hook up, which was metered (and precharged), and there was a drinking water tap available nearby.

The site was easy to find and the entrance was wide enough to allow an easy  passage through. Upon our arrival the owner appeared to assist with manoeuvres onto the pitch he had selected for our visit. The other pitch was occupied by his own van, which he was in the process of converting. Once parked up we took the short stroll into St Annes to Marks and Spencer’s to buy some provisions, and then returned, noting the nearby eateries providing breakfast for the next day, if thought necessary. Once we had settled in our thoughts turned to transport for our evening trip into Lytham to meet up for a family meal.

We reviewed the bus timetables and identified a bus stop only yards away. At the pre-determined time we made our way to the bus stop, where I noticed a package left on the bench. It turned out to be a ‘Free book’, which had been left there by a member of bookcrossing.com, a community that reads and passes on books around the world. The book turned out to be a copy of Dawn French’s autobiography, Dear Fatty, which proved to be a very good read, which I also passed on when I had read it.

The bus dropped us off in Lytham centre, where our company for the evening were waiting outside the restaurant that we had organised for the evening. It transpired that the ‘dog friendly’ restaurant we had chosen was only dog friendly outside, and rain was threatening, so we decided to eat elsewhere. We chose a restaurant we had eaten at before, and one of the company, who needs a gluten free menu, was very happy with the choice. As there were seven of us plus a dog we had to sit outside the restaurant under a heated canopy, with glass partitions separating us from the street. We were weather proof, and the heat from the patio heaters was sufficient to protect us from the late summer evening chill. The food in the restaurant, Ego https://www.egorestaurants.co.uk, provides a very good Mediterranean menu, and I enjoyed a chicken Milanese dish, whilst a good selection was available for everyone.

As we were in a party mood someone suggested that we should enjoy the wine, and the drinkers (there were some non-drinkers there) ordered themselves a bottle each. A convivial time was had by all. After the meal the drinkers decided to retire to the Taps, a nearby pub, where there was a quiz in progress. We were quickly advised to take an outside table (the weather now improved) as we had a dog, and enjoyed a drink or two to while away the rest of the evening. With darkness falling, and time moving on we decided to return to the motorhome, and luckily as we left the pub a taxi drew up to drop off a fare, and was happy to take us to our destination.

The next morning, after a brief snack we concentrated on preparing the motorhome for departure and parking nearby, as we had to leave the pitch by 11.00am and were not due to visit my mother until after that time. The owner of the pitch came out to assist with our departure, and was very amenable. There was no balance to pay on the precharged electricity. Once we had left the site and parked up, we arrived at the care home at the agreed time, shortly before my brother arrived. We then discussed with my mother where she would like to go for lunch. I was astonished when she vehemently objected visiting the pub that my brother and I had selected, stating that it was known for prostitution and debauchery. We then had to rack our minds to find another location both accessible and dog friendly, and the Fairhaven pub https://tinyurl.com/mu3fatb6, very near to where my mother used to live, came to mind. My brother took my mother in his car, and Sue, Finn and I enjoyed a journey in the motorhome.

When we arrived we found out that the pub hadn’t yet opened for the day, and that there was plenty of parking space nearby. We parked up and then sat on the patio outside to let the staff inside know that there were customers waiting, and within minutes were led inside to a table. Initially we were the only customers in but shortly the pub began to fill up. We ordered our food and had a good chat and a meal.

After the meal my mother asked to look at the Motorhome so we escorted her across the road. Given her age and fragility she was unable to climb the step to get in, so examined the interior from the habitation door. She was impressed that Sue could handle such a large vehicle, and was surprised at the facilities there were inside. After that we all took our leave and we headed back to the motorway and a trip back North.