Hello, my darlings! Pink Tutu Sparkles here, and I'm so excited to spill the tea about my recent trip to Rochdale! You guys know I love to travel, and there's just something about those charming little towns in the North of England. Rochdale was absolutely no exception! This was my eighth visit to this particular town and each time has just blown me away more and more.
As always, I arrived by train, all decked out in my signature pink tutu and glittery pumps. Nothing says "fabulous" quite like arriving in style, you know? Rochdale station was just a delight, the historic architecture is just breathtaking. And the best part? The little shop across the road selling the most gorgeous vintage hatboxes! I snagged myself a beautiful blush pink one with a feather trim, and you can be sure it will make an appearance in my next drag performance.
My Pink Tutu Dream - Rochdale's Hidden Gems
The highlight of this trip? Without a doubt, my afternoon tea at The Chocolate Café on Drake Street. Oh my, it was divine! They have this incredible pink iced cupcake called "The Princess Dream," and let me tell you, I am obsessed. Honestly, they should put a crown on every bite!
Now, you might be thinking, "Rochdale, isn't that a bit... quiet?" Well, that's where you'd be wrong, my darlings! We discovered this little hidden gem called the Rochdale Art Gallery, a gorgeous little place with beautiful art exhibits and, get this, a shop where they sell handmade pottery! Talk about a perfect afternoon, a true blend of culture and beauty!
Making Friends in Pink Tutus
As I was perusing the pottery shop, I noticed a sweet lady eyeing up my pink tutu. She told me her granddaughter was going to be playing a pink ballerina fairy in the school play. This lovely woman, let's call her Janet, just absolutely loved my style, We ended up chatting for hours, sharing stories about our passion for pink and ballet. You see, it's the little connections that make travelling so special. I even promised Janet to send her granddaughter a little something special - a little Pink Tutu Sparkles magic!
Later that day, I headed over to Rochdale Town Hall for the annual Victorian Christmas Fayre! Let's just say, this place was bustling. My fellow drag queen, Cherry Bomb Betty, even got roped into the carolers! I think my laugh could be heard across the whole of Greater Manchester. Cherry's not quite ready to sing alongside the local church choir, but who could resist her sparkly reindeer antler headpiece? The whole experience was pure joy, just like that feeling you get when you've had a few too many mince pies!
Ballet Inspiration & Dinner Delights
My trip wouldn't be complete without a bit of ballet, you know. Rochdale’s dance scene is booming! We got to see a beautiful performance at the impressive town hall, The production of The Nutcracker was incredible! The ballerinas’ tutus were absolutely dreamy! It's moments like these that remind me how important it is to embrace your inner sparkle, to twirl and leap and embrace every magical moment. Honestly, I think I could spend hours in that theatre just marveling at all the grace and elegance.
And no trip would be complete without a truly fabulously meal! My lovely dinner at "The Rose and Crown," right on the Rochdale Canal, was just divine. The food was fantastic, but what really won me over was the owner's daughter, Sarah. We had a lovely chat, and she confided in me about her own ballet dreams. You know, my darlings, even the youngest have that dream within them! It's just waiting for a pink tutu and a bit of sparkle to set it alight!
A Little Something Pink
Remember my mission to get everyone wearing a pink tutu? Well, Rochdale has certainly sparked my mission further. We stopped by this fantastic local store called "The Tutu Emporium," the name just gave me shivers of excitement! It had so many beautiful pink tutus and leotards. You guys won’t believe it! I even snagged a new sequined pink tutu! Oh, it's going to be stunning with my sparkly pink tights and top for my next performance!
A Word of Thanks...
To everyone who has made my trip to Rochdale such a delightful experience, thank you. You are all so incredibly kind and welcoming. To my lovely readers, thank you for coming on this journey with me! If you're ever in Rochdale, please do give this enchanting town a chance, you won't be disappointed. It truly has something for everyone.
Keep on twirling, my dears, and never forget to embrace your inner sparkle!
Pink Tutu Sparkles xo
P.S. Stay tuned, I've got a big announcement coming up in my next post! Let's just say it involves even MORE pink and even MORE tutu! And that's not all - guess who's got tickets for the Royal Ballet?! 🩰💋
