167
5%
17
Market Overview
167 cafes operate in Blackpool, making it one of the most densely packed food service sectors in the town. Add to that 368 fast food outlets, 118 restaurants, 131 pubs and 43 bars, and you're looking at a food and drink market with over 800 competing businesses serving a population of 140,000. Competition here isn't abstract — it's visible on every high street and seafront strip.
The cafe segment skews heavily towards coffee shops, which account for at least 20 of the 167 counted. Fish and chips, breakfast-focused spots and cake shops each make up a smaller but notable slice, with 17 distinct cuisine types represented across the full cafe set.
What stands out most is the digital gap. Only 9 cafes — roughly 5% — have a website listed in public directories. The rest rely entirely on footfall, word of mouth or third-party platforms like Google Maps and TripAdvisor. Among those with an online presence, major chains dominate: Starbucks appears multiple times alongside Caffè Nero and Asda Café. Independent operators like Cafe Meow and Bailey's Cheese & Charcuterie are in the minority when it comes to having their own site.
This creates a clear opportunity. For an independent cafe willing to invest in even a basic website, the barrier to standing out online in Blackpool is remarkably low. The market is crowded in physical terms, but largely invisible in digital ones.
Top Types in Blackpool
What Customers in Blackpool Care About
Seafront seating and shelter
Blackpool's exposed coastline means customers actively seek cafes with sheltered outdoor space or comfortable indoor seating away from the wind and rain.
A proper breakfast menu
With early-arriving day-trippers and overnight visitors, cafes offering a solid breakfast or brunch draw consistent morning trade that coffee-only spots miss.
Classic seaside cakes and treats
Visitors expect traditional cake counter fare — scones, traybakes and generous slices — as part of the proper Blackpool cafe experience.
Walk-in convenience over bookings
Most cafe visits here are spontaneous, so easy access without needing to reserve matters far more than a slick online booking system.
Something beyond plain coffee
With at least 20 coffee shops in the area, customers are drawn to cafes offering something distinctive — unusual interiors, a quirky theme or a strong food menu.
Cafes operating in Blackpool
A sample of real cafes in this area. Want ratings, reviews, and exactly where you rank against them? Run a free report on your business.
| Business | Type |
|---|---|
| Starbucks | Coffee Shop |
| Maddisons | Cafe |
| The New Penny | Cafe |
| C Fresh | Fish And Chips |
| Caffè Nero | Coffee Shop |
| Promenade Cafe | Cafe |
| The Atrium | Cafe |
| Rhonas Griddle | Cafe |
| Country Hamper | Cafe |
| The Hungry Elephant | Cafe |
| Roses Cafe | Cafe |
| Hole In The Wall | Cafe |
Business listings from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Tips for Cafes Owners in Blackpool
Get a website — you'll beat 95% of the competition
Only 9 out of 167 cafes in Blackpool have a website. Even a simple one-page site with your menu, opening hours and location makes you discoverable to tourists planning their visit, and puts you ahead of the vast majority of local cafes.
Don't try to out-brew Starbucks
Four Starbucks locations and a Caffè Nero already dominate the chain coffee space. Carve out a distinct identity — whether that's local produce, a unique theme or a standout cake counter — rather than competing on coffee alone.
Serve breakfast like your revenue depends on it
Blackpool draws early visitors heading to the seafront and attractions. A well-promoted breakfast or brunch menu captures trade that generic coffee shops miss entirely, especially with 17 cuisine types already competing for attention.
Competition Snapshot
Blackpool's cafe market is physically crowded but digitally quiet. 167 cafes compete alongside 368 fast food outlets and 118 restaurants, so standing out on the ground takes real effort. Coffee shops dominate at 20-plus, making a generic coffee offer the hardest route to differentiation. Meanwhile, only 5% of cafes have a website, meaning most are invisible to anyone searching online before they visit. The chains control the digital space by default. For independents, the path forward is clear: find a niche, build a basic online presence, and you're already ahead of the majority.
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