Site Map

The ground is, you guessed, on the north end of Preston. Near the intersection of Blackpool Road and Deepdale Road.

From the motorway it's very easy.

If you get the train then you've got a 1.6 mile walk but use only 2 straight roads.

The railway station has 2 exits. Both lead you onto the main shopping street, Fishergate. Turn right and go straight along here for a mile till you reach the prison. The prison is on the other side of a dual carriageway.

On this walk within the shopping area there are all the usual food outlets. Further up past the big church (minster) on the right are a few pubs although it's a bit worse for wear beyond the church.

If you cross the dual carriageway and reach the prison you will see a pub across the road and this is Deepdale Road. When you are on Deepdale Road you won't find much too eat.

The ground is along Deepdale Road / Sir Tom Finney Way and is about half a mile away.

All buses from the railway station go to the bus station - from there buses nos 5, 6 & 19 run along Deepdale Road.

Or walk to the bus station - turn right along Fishergate and head for Guildhall.

How To Get There And Where To Park :

From South and East: Leave M6 at Junction 31 and follow signs Left for Preston. Go up a steep hill (often a police speed trap on the hill, so stick to 40) and follow the road down to a mini roundabout (Speed camera by the BP garage on the left). At the roundabout turn Right. Go straight on over three sets of lights and just before a fourth set, the ground appears set slightly back on the left. Parking is mainly in the streets surrounding the ground.

From North: Take M6 then M55 to junction 1. Follow signs for Preston A6. After 2 miles turn left at the crossroads into Blackpool Road (A5085). Turn right after .75 miles into Deepdale.

From West: Exit M55 at junction 1. Then as North

Parking:

The club hopes to provide some parking for visiting fans behind the new Bill Shankly Stand. Alternatively, local schools eg in Moor Park Avenue and St Stephens Road (off Deepdale Road) offer safe parking for up to 2.00. Plenty of street parking around ground - although avoid Lowthorpe Road, Hollins Road, Parkside, and St Stephens Road, which are emergency access routes. Cars parked there will be towed away.

Pubs & Food (from Crystal Palace website in 2000):

Preston is bursting with interesting pubs, some of which are historic buildings in their own right.

Preston fans as a whole are a friendly bunch and you will be made welcome in most of the pubs out of the town centre...and the ones in the centre but they might not let you in if there are a lot of you......if you're going to get any hassle at all it will be in the pubs on Church Street although the following which are all virtually next to one another on Church St. should be ok: Wall Street, Yates's and The Old Bull. Church Street is the run down bit before you get to the Prison..if you want to have a rest as you walk down here I would recommend The Bluebell (see below) a quiet pub set back off church street on the right.....

The Deepdale - away fans are always welcome and its only 2 mins from the ground. If your coming by coach just ask the first Prestonian you see where. The Deepdale is about 2 mins from where the coaches drop you though it involves a couple of turns left or right depending on where the coach drops you.

To get to the Deepdale Pub....as you walk down Deepdale road you will pass the bus depot (with a Victorian facade..after the railway bridge) on your left and see the ground further down on your right...and some traffic lights in front of you...turn right at these traffic lights on to St.Georges road..walk straight down this road and you will come to a mini roundabout and the road forks.....the Deepdale is on your Right..

Black Horse,166, Friargate (near market). Open 10.30 am to 11.00 pm on Saturdays. (01772 204855). This Robinson's pub, selling as wide a range of their real ales as you'll see anywhere, is also a listed building. It is quite near the station and well worth a visit. It also serves food at lunchtime.

Flax and Firkin at the Corn Exchange, Lune Street (off Ringway A59). Open 11.00 am to 11.00 pm on Saturdays. (01772 880046). This pub, quite near the station, occupies the oldest part of Preston's public hall and serves real ales. It has a large TV screen showing sporting events, and also has an outside drinking area, a limited amount of parking space and serves food both at lunchtime and in the evening.

Greyfriar, 144 Friargate (at the junction with the Ringway). Open 11.00 am to 11.00 pm on Saturdays. (01772 558542). This Wetherspoon's pub is comfortable, serves real ales and has a non smoking area. Food is served at lunchtimes and in the evening and it is quite near the station.

Mitre Tavern, 90 91 Moor Lane, (A5071/A6 junction). Open 12 noon to 11.00 pm on Saturdays. (01772 251918). This pub is described in CAMRA's Good Beer Guide (GBG) 2000 as a "welcoming pub with a comfortable lounge and a basic vault for pool and darts." It also sells real ales and has parking space. Unfortunately, no food is served on Saturdays.

Moorbrook Inn, 370 North Road (junction with A6). Open 12 noon to 11.00 pm on Saturdays. (01772 201127). This pub, which serves Thwaites Bitter, has an outside drinking area.

New Britannia, 6 Heatley Street. Open 11.00 am to 4.00 pm on Saturdays. (01772 253424). This town centre pub which serves lunchtime food and real ales is the current local CAMRA Pub of the Year. It also serves real cider, has an outside drinking area and is quite near the station.

Old Black Bull, 35 Friargate (at the junction with the Ringway). Open 10.30 am to 11.00 pm on Saturdays. (01772 823397). This pub is described in the GBG 2000 as "a large Tudor fronted, town centre pub" with "a games area and a large lounge". It serves food at lunchtime, has a large range of real ales plus real cider, and there is live music on Saturday evenings. It also has an outside drinking area and is quite near the station.

Olde Blue Bell, 114 Church Street. Open 11.00 am to 4.00 pm and 7.00 pm to 11.00 pm on Saturdays. (01772 251280). This pub is described in the GBG 2000 as the "oldest pub in Preston" with "good value food" which, on Saturdays, is served at lunchtime. Samuel Smith's Old Brewery Bitter is the only real ale sold here.

Olde Dog and Partridge, 44 Friargate (off the Ringway). Open 11.00 am to 2.30 pm and 6.00 pm to 11.00 pm on Saturdays. (01772 252217). This town centre pub serves real ales and, according to the GBG 2000, "superb value lunches". It is quite near the station.

There is one other pub which may be worth trying, The George Hotel, 89 Church Street is a Thwaites pub which is listed in the book "Traditional Pubs of Old Lancashire" (published in 1992). I do not know its opening hours or the 'phone number.

The Sumners, just up Tom Finney Way (used to be Deepdale Rd) from the ground. Go towards Sainsburys and away from the Town Centre and it should take five minutes. It's on the right at the junction with Watling Street Rd. It should be full, but friendly. It's a large modern pub bar with quieter sit down area - although both areas get packed on match days. Full menu served 12-7. Large screen TVs, pool, darts, beer garden. Open all day from 11.

The Garrison, 194 Watling Street Road is on the opposite side of the road and should be just as good but I don't think it serves Boddingtons though! It's a more traditional locals pub with food served 12-5. Families welcome, pool, big-screen TV. Open all day

The Legends bar/night club at the back of the Sir Tom Finney stand on match days opens up one large room with eating areas welcoming home and away supporters. Bar snacks served 12-3, 9.30-2am. Families welcome before the game. Open Saturdays 12-3 & 9.30-2am.

The Hesketh Arms - Corner of Blackpool Road and New Hall Lane (on way to ground from M6) 01772 791 972 Large pub - popular on matchdays. Large range of meals served all day. Pool, darts, big-screen TV, car park, . Families welcome. Coaches and large parties must book in advance - open all day.

The Internet football fans guide says that the best pub for away fans is the Toy Soldier, on the Deepdale retail park, off Blackpool Road before Deepdale if you come off the M6 at junction 31.

I have been told that the pubs to avoid are the two by the railway station (one is The Railway - although we stopped in there en route to Blackburn and it seemed fine).

There are plenty of fast food outlets in the St. Georges Shopping Arcade.

The pies in the ground are said to be some of the best around.

Nearest food outlet to the ground is Clares pantry - corner of Deepdale Road and St Stephens Road. Open from 8am - 3pm. Other usual outlets on various routes to the ground.

Other Places Of Interest:

You are only 20 minutes or so by car from Blackpool which is not Britain's premier seaside resort for nothing. So why not make a weekend of it. If you're feeling brave than why not get on the UK's largest and fastest roller coaster, 'The Big One' at the Pleasure Beach. Only one word of caution, look at the other fixtures going on, on the same day in Manchester/Bolton/Preston etc... as your game. Simply because other away supporters attending these games will also be probably be heading to Blackpool after the game as well. So if there is a particular group of supporters from a club who you would rather avoid - then bear it in mind!

I picked up quite a bit of info on Preston and Blackpool - including places to stay in Preston etc - but if anyone wants any further info please e-mail me and Ill do my best!

Thanks to Shaun Ellis, Richard Grice, Jane Jephcote and Paul Tuohy

Please send any up to date information on Birmingham and Fulham to me!

DON'T FORGET we don't have another home game prior to these fixtures -so anyone wanting to organise train travel, coach ticket, collect tickets etc may want to do so at the Burnley game.

See you at Deepdale!!