Close your eyes, and imagine the seaside. Can you hear the gentle wash of the waves on sand? Can you smell the tang of the chippy, feel the salt in the air? Are you holding a stick of local rock which you will inevitably eat half of before tossing it into a cupboard somewhere, and then discovering it once again in several years time?
Rock has been a staple of the British seaside for more than a century, but it’s now threatened with extinction. There are only 30 people left in the entire UK who can actually make the stuff, and they’re almost all in factories in Blackpool. Talk about putting all of your rock in one basket.
Blackpool is one of the most popular seaside towns in the UK, so it has a pretty strong connection to its local rock and their producers. In a letter to local MPs, manufacturers of the sweet treat explained that their industry was in serious trouble, with eight factories having closed down in recent years.
According to them, the ‘rise of cheap Chinese imported imitations’ meant that they were facing a ‘grave and immediate challenge to our industry, jeopardising the livelihoods of our employees and the sustainability of our business.
‘In recent months, inferior products have flooded our market, undercutting domestic producers and eroding consumer confidence in locally-made goods while giving the impression to consumers that they are buying British products.’ They specify that they are referring to ‘products that are made in China but call themselves “Blackpool Rock” or similar’.
The manufacturers want Blackpool rock to be awarded protected status alongside stilton cheese and clotted cream, believing it to be the only way to save their beloved sugary goods.
So next time you’re in Blackpool, grab a stick of home-grown rock and support these local businesses. Just remember to brush your teeth thoroughly after eating.
Get your beach fix
Rock or rockless, there are a loads of drop dead gorgeous beaches in the UK. As the weather starts to warm up, plan a trip to one of Time Out’s picks of the best beaches in the country. If you’d rather go a bit more off the beaten track, we’ve got a list of the most beautiful hidden beaches too.
Did you see that the UK is officially one of the world’s best road trip destinations?
Plus: These are the UK’s top 10 hotels right now, according to TripAdvisor.
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