Not so long ago, Blackpool was synonymous with Kiss Me Quick hats and rowdy stag and hen parties. But over the past decade or so, this no-nonsense Victorian seaside resort (whose spectacular annual Illuminations stretch for 8km along the Golden Mile) on Lancashire’s Fylde coast has been enjoying a renaissance.
Hundreds of millions of pounds have been spent on regeneration, whose spoils include an impressive new promenade with “Spanish steps” down to the town’s 11km-long golden sandy beach, a refurbished Tower and a huge £16.25m investment in Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s newest and biggest project, the ICON double launch roller coaster. Added to which, smart hotels, boutique guesthouses and B&Bs have been springing up at a rate of knots, with not a brushed nylon bedsheet in sight. So, put any negative preconceptions aside and come and join the fun.
Best for a modern vibe: Hampton by Hilton Blackpool
Neighbourhood: New South Promenade
Although part of a UK-wide chain, Hampton by Hilton Blackpool, which opened in 2018 as part of a £31m mixed-use regeneration project, has ditched the corporate feel in favour of a more contemporary aesthetic. Located on the new South Promenade, it’s far enough removed from the general hubbub, yet close enough to walk to the Pleasure Beach and Sandcastle Water Park. Many of its 130 modern rooms have a sea view, the bar and fitness centre are open round the clock and a cooked breakfast is included in the room price. If you need to bring your work with you, there’s a fully equipped business centre too.
Rooms from £85
hamptoninn3.hilton.com
Best for uninterrupted sea views: Number One South Beach
Neighbourhood: New South Promenade
It’s a chintz-free zone at this stylish family run hotel at the southern end of South Beach, which offers uninterrupted views of the Irish Sea and Blackpool’s enormous mirrorball. Each of the 14 rooms, some sea facing, is individually designed, with king-sized beds, Egyptian cotton bed linen, Siberian goose down pillows and bathrooms with whirlpool baths and power showers. There’s also an excellent restaurant, a well-stocked bar and free private parking.
Rooms from £144
numberonesouthbeach.com
Best for fitness fans: Village Hotel Blackpool
Neighbourhood: Stanley Park
Located in picturesque Stanley Park (which also houses Blackpool Zoo and Blackpool Park Golf Club) in 256 acres of landscaped grounds, the 174-room Village Hotel has enough going on to keep the whole family entertained, including an indoor and outdoor pool, a spa, sauna and treatment rooms, tennis courts, Technogym, three squash courts and a dance studio. There’s also an 18-hole golf course. After working up a sweat, quench your thirst in the hotel’s own pub, popular with locals as well as guests, or try some authentic Italian cuisine at the Buca di Beppo restaurant.
Rooms from £50
village-hotels.co.uk
Best for thrill-seekers: Big Blue Hotel
Neighbourhood: Ocean Boulevard, Blackpool Pleasure Beach
You’re within touching distance of the Big Dipper and other thrilling fairground rides at this modern 157-room hotel slap bang in the middle of Blackpool Pleasure Beach; it’ll even throw in a free fairground pass. Rooms are spacious, with king-sized beds and coal-effect electric fires in the deluxe category and a separate children’s sleeping area in the family rooms. Four luxury suites feature furniture by the Designers Guild and Tetrad and include separate lounge and bedroom areas. For dinner, choose from steak sandwiches, pizzas and a la carte (everything is made from locally sourced ingredients) at the brasserie and bar.
Rooms from £85
bigbluehotel.com
Best for contemporary luxury: Boulevard Hotel
Neighbourhood: Ocean Boulevard, Blackpool Pleasure Beach
As of July 2019, the Boulevard is the latest addition to Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach amusement park, which opened in 1896. The £12 million property sits next to sister hotel the Big Blue and has 120 luxurious rooms, including 18 suites that come with a sea or funfair view, Tetrad hand-stitched furniture, Designers Guild fabrics and wall coverings by Andrew Martin. There’s an a la carte restaurant with an eclectic wine list, a seafront cocktail bar and a bistro for modern American and Mediterranean cuisine with a twist.
Rooms from £119
boulevardhotel.co.uk
Best for relaxed elegance: The Redstone
Neighbourhood: South Beach
Winner of Channel 4’s Four in a Bed programme, this four-storey, bay-fronted guest house is a world away from the dingy Blackpool lodgings of old. Tucked away off the main promenade in a residential street, it’s a rather more refined affair, with Persian rugs and antique furniture in the guest lounge and a grand piano taking centre stage in the breakfast room. The elegant decor continues in the property’s eight bedrooms and every afternoon guests can help themselves to a selection of home-baked pastries courtesy of owner Ursula Beswick.
Rooms from £90
theredstoneblackpool.co.uk
Best for kicking back at happy hour: Mode St Annes
Neighbourhood: Lytham St Annes
Five miles down the coast from Blackpool in upmarket Lytham St Annes, the Mode hotel (which has a room-only sister property) has 19 smart rooms, eight of which have a balcony and sea view. Each has a smartphone with free unlimited 4G internet, mobile and international calls and a local area guide. A continental buffet breakfast is included in the price (the Toby Carvery opposite also serves a reasonably priced full English) and there’s a cosy lounge and bar with a gin happy hour every evening between 6 and 7pm.
Rooms from £95
modehotel.co.uk
Best for old-fashioned grandeur: The Grand Hotel
Neighbourhood: Lytham St Annes
You might find yourself rubbing shoulders with Samuel L Jackson, Simon Cowell or championship golfer Bernhard Langer at this beautiful Victorian hotel just opposite the Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, all previous guests at The Grand. Built in 1897, the imposing red brick and sandstone building has 54 luxurious rooms, with a further 22 (all come with Nespresso machines) in a more recent annexe. Original features, such as a solid oak central staircase and stained glass windows in the lobby, remain intact and there’s an upper and lower terrace overlooking the promenade and seafront. A continental breakfast is included (it’s £9 for cooked dishes) and the Cafe Grand restaurant serves food all day, from nibbles and small plates, to Goosnargh duck and vegetarian curries and pasta dishes. There’s also a spa with a 17m pool, sauna, jacuzzi and Technogym.
Rooms from £95
the-grand.co.uk
