Blackpool is renowned for many things — sticks of rock, illuminations, Strictly Come Dancing at the Tower Ballroom, and beach donkeys, to name a few. Yet, this seaside town also boasts a reputation for its doughnuts, which during the bustling summer months, can be spotted at various stalls and pop-up carts along the seven-mile-long promenade.

Coated in sugar, these doughnuts are hailed as an essential part of the Blackpool seaside experience, despite no one really knowing why or how this tradition began. But it seems no one’s complaining either. Manchester Evening News’ Adam Maidment recently found himself in Blackpool on an unexpectedly sunny midweek morning, there to try out the newly refurbished Launch Pad ride at the Pleasure Beach Resort.

After being catapulted 210ft into the sky and taking in the stunning view of the Lancashire town from atop the ride, Adam decided to have a wander around in search of three of the closest spots to the theme park serving up doughnuts, to see how they stacked up against each other.

Here’s how they compared.

Pleasure Beach Resort

“Located outside the looping Infusion rollercoaster are a row of stalls selling the likes of noodles, pretzels, and ice cream sundaes, and amongst them all was one proudly boasting about its doughnuts”, Adam wrote.

Priced at three for £4.95, five for £6.95 or ten for a tenner, these doughnuts are a throwback to simpler times — freshly prepared right before your eyes, dusted generously with sugar and handed over in a quaint paper bag. For those seeking a twist on the classic, they also offer topped doughnuts adorned with popular treats like Oreo and Biscoff.

Continuing, Adam described waiting for his three doughnuts: “I was able to watch my server place my treats in the well-known machine and make their way across the conveyor belt of oil.”

Served piping hot, Adam said: “Whilst a little thinner than ones I remember having during my childhood, the doughnuts were laced with a satisfying yet overwhelming amount of sugar, which is exactly the right amount you want.

“Tucking into them, I was immediately taken back to my younger years visiting Blackpool with my family and then, moments later, realised why it has been so long since I’ve really had them. Essentially just fried dough, they’re far from healthy. But, equally, can be so, so good.”

Rating: 3/5

Shelly’s Shack

Just a stone’s throw away from the theme park, Adam stumbled upon Shelly’s Shack situated outside one of the shops near the entrance of Pleasure Beach.

In addition to classic doughnuts and topped treats, the stall also boasted an enticing array of ice creams, along with slushies, candyfloss and other sugar-laden delights.

With signs proudly proclaiming ‘watch your doughnuts being made here’, Adam thought he’d hit the jackpot, especially given that you can buy five for £5.

But alas, no. Adam wrote of the ordeal: “Having placed my order, the server handed me a bag of already-prepared doughnuts and I was filled with a sense of sadness.”

“The bag wasn’t hot-to-touch like you’d expect and there was certainly no watching them being made right there and then. But, casting my initial upset aside, perhaps they would be excellent doughnuts worth serving at a mid-temperature. Sadly, not.”

Adam was not impressed, saying: “If the Pleasure Beach doughnuts were too thin, these ones were actually too thick for me. Stodgy and a bit dry, they outstayed their welcome as they clung around the palette and refused to budge.”

Rating: 1/5

Greasy Joe’s

After a bit more wandering down the promenade, Adam chanced upon the ominously named Greasy Joe’s, stationed outside a toy shop. With expectations rather low, Adam didn’t anticipate anything particularly different from Greasy’s, especially given its name.

Approaching the unmanned stall and trying to get a feel for the place, a chap from a nearby rock stall dashed over to take Adam’s order — five doughnuts for £5, please.

“To my delight, the chatty server, who may or may not have been Greasy Joe himself, lined up five doughnuts on the conveyor belt and we were cooking with gas”, said Adam.

This experience couldn’t have been further from the last. Adam wrote: “Sitting down opposite the beach to take in the sunny sights, I tuck into bag three and I’m greeted with a molten-lava bite of fried goodness. Laced again with sugar, they are also quite thick but come with a satisfying crunch that was missing in the first two.

“Despite what his namesake would imply, Greasy Joe’s doughnuts aren’t greasy and have a very generous amount of sugar covering them, with a fluffy dough hidden inside it all.”

If a trip to Blackpool is on your summer agenda, Adam advises that you ensure you carve out some time to saunter down the southern stretch of the Promenade and pop into Greasy Joe’s for his doughnuts.

Rating: 4/5