Althams bringing 'Blackpool to Bury' to celebrate 150 years

On Saturday, July 27, customers of Althams Travel at The Rock can enjoy a free cone of chips on a first-come, first-served basis, cakes, drinks, games, colouring activities and the chance to win a jar of traditional sweets thanks to a donation from Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shoppe.

The celebrations will take place throughout the week with staff dressing up in Victorian clothing and giving customers the chance to win £150 holiday spending money every day if they book a trip before Saturday.

Bury travel consultant Jane Warren, who organised the fun day, has been working in the travel industry for more than 35 years and at Althams for the past two.

She said: “It's brilliant to be part of a family business and we treat customers as friends. I love travel and can't imagine doing anything else.

“I even had my wedding in Turks and Caicos 25 years ago.”

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The Bury team will be hosting a family fun day on Saturday, July 27 (Image: Newsquest)

Althams was first founded in Burnley by Abraham Altham, a tea merchant who started rewarding his customers by organising holiday trips to Blackpool in 1874.

Three years later, he began to sell these trips through dedicated travel desks in his tea shops.

Over the years, the travel business outgrew the tea business and Althams is now the oldest UK travel agency trading on the high street.

Bury manager Suzanne Roughley has worked in the travel industry for more than 24 years and has been with Althams Travel for the past 11 years.

She said: “We’ve built up some lovely friendship with customers who have been coming to us for a long time and we’re on a first name basis with most of them.”

“We work hard to support our customers and the company really looks after us with things like a four-day working week and closing the shop on Sundays to give teams a good work-life balance.”

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The travel agents recently won the "best large agency North West England and North Wales award" at the Agent Achievement Awards for the 11th consecutive year.

Its flagship store in Burnley recreated the founder’s Blackpool excursion on Tuesday after hosting a competition for customers to win seats on a complimentary coach trip.

More than 50 winners were treated to a day at the seaside with afternoon tea and live music in Blackpool Tower to mark the special occasion.

Travel consultant Kelly Rawson began her career as an overseas representative and has been at the Bury branch for almost three years. 

She said: "It’s not like coming to work, it’s so much more.

“We don’t just book holidays. We build up relationships with our customers who like to come in for a chat and catch up and we really get to know the local community.”