CATERING king Nick Thompson has quite a vision for the future of Blackpool.

For the Pleasure Beach heir hopes to turn Ocean Boulevard into a street of first-rate restaurants to cater for the many tastes of the town's funseekers.

At 28, Nick is the youngest of entertainment guru Geoffrey Thompson's three children and is in charge of all the food outlets on the Pleasure Beach, from the small doughnut kiosks to wonderful silver service restaurants.

But he told the Citizen of his real dream for funseekers and foodies in Blackpool - to turn Ocean Boulevard into one long chain of eateries.

He said: "Although I was born and bred in Blackpool, I have travelled the world and was inspired by 'restaurant rows' in Singapore and America.

"Following the success of The Sailing Junk, we hope to phase in more restaurants with different themes along the whole of Ocean Boulevard.

"Next would probably be an Indian restaurant and I have plenty ideas for other themes, including a Mongolian barbeque and Japanese."

With such great ideas for the future and successes of the past, it may come as a surprise that Nick had no formal training in catering.

He studied business management in London before the job came up on the Pleasure Beach as the park's catering manager.

Nick explained: "I wasn't forced into working in the family business - it all happened by accident really.

"The vacancy came up and my father suggested I might go for it.

"It's fantastic to work for my father - he's a wonderful boss."

In his own way, Nick is helping to change the face of Blackpool and his dream of a restaurant row is essential to that change.

He said: "Everything used to shut in Blackpool during the winter, but with more restaurants and more parts of the Pleasure Beach open, there is entertainment in town all year round.

"More restaurants are also helping to make the Pleasure Beach a place to stay all day during the summer.

"You can go on the rides during the day, have stylish evening meal in a restaurant, and then go on to see one of the shows."

Not only is Nick expanding the Thompson empire, he is also expanding the family.

For his wife Stacey is expecting their second child any day now.

Nick said: "Every time my bleeper goes off, I get a little stressed - it could be Stacey telling me it's time!"

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.