Lovely hidden village is just 15 minutes from iconic UK seaside resort

On a bright, dry afternoon in July, the village of Elswick - just a 15-minute drive from Blackpool on the Fylde coast - is quieter than you might expect, but there's a palpable sense of tranquillity.

Only a handful of villagers can be seen wandering around on an early Wednesday afternoon, with bicycles being the predominant sight in the area. While many of these are cyclists taking advantage of the Lancashire Cycleway that runs through the village, some are decorative bikes displayed throughout the village to emphasise its importance and reputation in the sport.

Accompanying these striking structures are vibrant, blooming flowers, all part of 'Elswick in Bloom' as the village gears up for the esteemed Britain in Bloom competition, an RHS Gardening contest that sees towns, cities and villages compete in what could be the most scenic competition. However, despite these undeniable charms of Elswick, it was once renowned for something entirely different.

Bond's ice cream, which was established in 1947, called this village home for over seven decades. It initially supplied ice cream to parlours nationwide and eventually became a shop and cafe that drew crowds of visitors annually.

A trip to Bond's for a delectable ice cream used to be the highlight of a visit to the charming UK village of Fylde, but times have taken a turn. The once thriving family-run ice-cream business ceased manufacturing years ago and in 2022 shuttered its premises permanently, reports Lancs Live.

The site now stands forlorn, soon to be repurposed for residential development, signalling a sharp departure from its heyday as a magnet for tourists and sweet-toothed locals alike. However, this bleak transformation hasn't dimmed the community spirit in Elswick.

Sean Whitehead, stalwart proprietor of the village store for over two decades, remains buoyant about Elswick's allure. In his interview with LancsLive, Sean shared: "It's a lovely village to live in, we've luckily still got two pubs and a village shop. We lost the ice cream but the addition of the village green has been a huge bonus."

"Obviously with Bond's going, there's less of a reason to come to the village because that was a bit of a pull. People through the generations have come back and come back."

"Their grannies might have come here and their mums came there. It's been going for a while though, they stopped making ice cream there about six years ago and then it was sold and they had all these big plans for it and that never happened. I don't actually know who physically owns the land now. I presume they still do and they're developing on it."

Taking a closer look at the essence of Elswick, one discovers a story of transformation. Sean, amongst other dwellers, reveals that this once agricultural haven has blossomed into a commuter's dream - with swift access to the M55 for those who long for tranquillity after a bustling day in the city.

Sean shared his enchantment with the village: "It's a lovely village and it's what attracted us in the first place. We have family who live up in Lytham St Annes and I never even knew this place existed, we just found it on the map."

Another beacon that draws visitors into the heart of Elswick is The Ship at Elswick pub. The current manager, Lee, delved into the past to recount the origin of its nautical name - harking back to its 18th-century role as cattle storage before its maritime connection took hold.

The conversation then steered towards the vital function the pub plays within the community. In a chat with LancsLive, Lee emphasised the draw of their Sunday Roasts, which lures patrons from afar, while firmly asserting that locals are indispensable to the lifeblood of the establishment.

He remarked: "People travel for the Sunday Roasts. Locals are still a massive part of it though, without question. Locals can really support your pub and it's really community orientated. Elswick is big on its Parish Council and big on horses too."