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Preston: Directions, Beer & Food


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NOTE: This information may be out of date in an ever-changing world.

Preston North End, Sir Tom Finney Way, Deepdale, Preston PR1 6RU.

Away fans are housed in the Bill Shankly Kop behind the goal, with the normal allocation being 3,000 seats, and it is shared with home supporters. The stand is particularly steep, meaning that fans are kept relatively close to the pitch, but beware if you're not good with heights.

Flags can only be draped over empty seats.

Outside the stadium there is the statue of the great Tom Finney, known as 'the splash'.

Disabled facilities:
There are 13 wheelchair spaces reserved for away supporters. They are in the Bill Shankly Stand at pitch level, though they still afford a reasonable view of the action as the perimeter boards are at a decent height. Whilst positions are covered, depending on which way the wind is blowing, you can still get pretty wet!

There are adapted toilets on the concourse. There are stewards who are on hand to look after disabled supporters and most are helpful and friendly and if you are having any problems, give them a shout and they will do their best to assist.
Parking is fairly limited for disabled supporters, especially considering the number of disabled spaces inside the ground. You can book a car parking space with the club for a charge or use the car park opposite the ground which is free to blue badge holders.
There are spaces for 142 visually-impaired supporters in the Bill Shankly Stand with headsets available to reserve for hire from the club. There are spaces for helpers alongside and the ticket office is fitted with a hearing loop.

Ambulant supporters have no specific allocation though there is plenty of pitch level seating available and a ground level access gate to avoid the need to climb the steep steps.

Ticket prices for disabled supporters are the same as for able-bodied supporters, with the helper admitted free of charge.
How to get there:

By Car:
From North, South and East: Exit M6 at junction 31. At the roundabout take the first exit (s/p Preston A59) onto the A59. Go up a steep hill (often a police speed trap on the hill) and follow the road down to a mini-roundabout after 1.0 mile, by the Hesketh Arms, (speed camera by the BP garage on the left). Take the second exit (s/p Ring road, Blackpool A583, Football Ground) right onto the Blackpool Road A5085. There is another speed camera to watch out for. The Police also sometimes set up another mobile speed trap on the forecourt of the fire station on the left. Carry straight on for 1.2 miles, over three sets of lights and just before a fourth set, the ground appears set slightly back on the left. Then filter left before the lights (s/p Town Centre, Football Ground) into Sir Tom Finney Way. The ground is on the left-hand-side.

NOTE: If you want to avoid the pre and post-match traffic, here's a handy tip. Instead of leaving the M6 at Junction 31, carry on to Junction 31a signposted, Preston East and Longridge. (This is a limited junction as you can only leave northbound and join southbound.) Keep in the right hand lane and go across the roundabout signposted Preston East, football ground and museum. Across the next roundabout (Anderton Arms on your right) and then left at the next one. At the next lights, go right onto Watling Street. You will go past the White Hart and a row of shops. At next lights by Fulwood Barracks, keep in the left hand lane. You can either park at Sumners pub, (turn left straight after the lights) or follow the road up to the big junction at Blackpool Road and the ground is on your left and take your chances with on-street parking. Sumners is better as you are the right side of the ground to get away quick after the game, as Blackpool Road gets badly snarled up after games .

From the Train Station:
By Taxi:
It is about 1.6 miles from the station to the stadium. If you catch a taxi from outside the station it will cost approximately £5.

On Foot it takes about 25 minutes:
As you come out of the station, turn left in front of the Fishergate Centre, passing The Railway pub. Turn right at the T-junction. The road forks left and becomes Corporation Street, which you should ignore. Instead walk straight down Fishergate - the main shopping thoroughfare - After 0.75 mile the road becomes Church Street - with the Parish Church on your right-hand-side. Carry on until you reach the junction with the A6. Cross over the road, the prison will be on your right-hand-side and a demolition site (formerly the County Arms public house) on the left. Turn left so the demolition site is now on your right - this is Deepdale Road. The Ground is on the right-hand-side after 0.75 mile.

By Bus:
All buses from the train station go to the bus station. From there, numbers 5, 6 and 19 run along Deepdale Road. The number 19 is the most frequent, running every five minutes or so. It will cost approximately 80p to get to the ground from the bus station but have plenty of change because the bus drivers ask for the exact money. The club has joined with two local bus companies to provide dedicated bus services to Deepdale - Traveline's 'Soccerbus' and Stagecoach's 'Footyrider'.

Parking:
Roads in the close vicinity of the stadium are normally closed (except to residents) about 1 hour before kick-off.
There is currently no official club parking for away supporters. However, Moor Park High School offers parking for £5 per game. Just follow the directions above and at the last set of traffic lights continue straight on for about 200 yards, and you will see the school on the left near Moor Park.

WARNING: Don't be tempted to park up on the grass verges near the stadium, as you are likely to find after the game that you have been given a ticket for it!

Where to drink:

Alcohol is served within the stadium. On the concourse there are TVs by the refreshment serving areas showing the game live and the bars are open during the game.

Sumners is the most popular pub for home fans, found on the corner of Watling Street Road and Deepdale Road. It is very welcoming for both home and away fans, with plenty of room inside and has a beer garden. The pub does charge for parking (£3) but this can be redeemed against a purchase at the bar. Good food is available, including pie, chips, mushy peas and gravy, and children are allowed in. To get there head out of the city centre towards Sainsbury's and it should take five minutes. As you go past Sainsbury's turn right at the lights and it is half-way up the hill.

Across the road is the Royal Garrison, which is a more traditional locals' pub and families are also welcome.

WARNING: The pubs on Meadow Street off Sir Tom Finney Way should be avoided.

There are also three nearby clubs that welcome away fans. First, the Deepdale Labour Club close by (behind the Town End stand). Then there is St Gregory's Catholic Club, which is around a five minute walk away on Blackpool Road. The Club offers reasonably priced drinks, hot pies, plus has SKY television. You can also park at the Club at a cost of £3. Finally, there is the Fulwood Conservative Club, situated around a ten minute walk away from Deepdale, at the junction of Blackpool Road and Garstang Road across from Moor Park. Parking is available at the Club at a cost of £3 per car and non-members are admitted free into the club on match-days.

Whilst there are plenty of places to drink in the city centre, around Friargate with the customary Wetherspoon's, O'Neils and It's a Scream pubs, it's not advised for local derbies, or if wearing colours, as the police have a tendency to move away fans wearing away colours.

 

The Black Horse in Friargate is included in CAMRA’s national inventory of historic pub interiors. It serves a selection of 8 real ales from the Robinsons' Range, together with Budvar, Amstel, Grolsch Blonde and Veltins draught lagers.

If you arrive by train, the Vic and the Station are the most convenient pubs.

On the way to the ground from the M6 you pass the Hesketh Arms, another welcoming pub. A favourite matchday venue but coaches and large parties must book in advance.

Slightly further away, on the A6 if you are arriving from junction 32, is the Withy Tree. An excellent pub with good beer and good food.

Where to eat:
Inside the stadium there is a good range of food and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, all at usual sort of prices or meal deals for £4.50.

There are fast food cabins situated around the perimeter of the ground and a McDonald's and Pizza Hut close by on the Deepdale Retail Park, just off Blackpool Road.

The city has plenty of places to grab something to eat, whether you want to eat on the move or if you fancy sitting down and eating something more substantial.

Attractions:
For full details of all the attractions on offer in the city and suggestions on which clubs are worth a visit, have a look at the Visit Preston website:
http://www.visitpreston.com/

Good to see The Warehouse is still open - the alternative venue where the DJ has been known to play Holiday In Cambodia by Dead Kennedys. :pow:
http://www.visitpres...ils/LTBT-611250

Edited by Diego_Sideburns
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Is there any saving to be made by buying tickets before Saturday?

 

Don't believe so mate. Someone said you have to buy tickets though from the away ticket office rather than just paying on the day? Not too sure. Picked up 4 the other day hopefully we take a few.

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im :censored:e with all this train mallarchy, basically I want to get a train to wigan then a train to preston?

No, the train goes through Wigan but it normally goes through Bolton way. EDIT: I've just had a look and if you're going from Victoria you get off at Wigan Wallgate and walk next door to Wigan North Western for a train to Preston but if you go from Piccadilly they go straight to Preston (that's what the National Rail app is telling me). The trains that go straight there from Piccadilly but through Wigan are every 16 minutes past the hour. Edited by Ryan
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Don't believe so mate. Someone said you have to buy tickets though from the away ticket office rather than just paying on the day? Not too sure. Picked up 4 the other day hopefully we take a few.

Cheers. The ticket office is just opposite the away end turnstile so it's easy. Just wondered if it was worth picking tickets up from BP as I'm off work but may as well just pay on the day.

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No, the train goes through Wigan but it normally goes through Bolton way. EDIT: I've just had a look and if you're going from Victoria you get off at Wigan Wallgate and walk next door to Wigan North Western for a train to Preston but if you go from Piccadilly they go straight to Preston (that's what the National Rail app is telling me). The trains that go straight there from Piccadilly but through Wigan are every 16 minutes past the hour.

Correct. Piccadilly to Preston via Wigan North Western. Straight through, none of this switching trains lark!

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