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Standing proudly along Blackpool’s North Promenade, the hotel’s grand Victorian façade immediately sets the tone for a historic stay. First opened in 1867, the Imperial has hosted an extraordinary roll call of guests, from Charles Dickens to Winston Churchill, members of the Royal Family and international leaders.

Arrival and check-in:

We arrived by train and as it was a sunny afternoon decided to walk along to the hotel, taking just 15 minutes. For guests preferring to take a taxi, Uber’s are reasonably priced at around £4. By car, the hotel is easily reached via the M55 motorway which leads directly into the town.

As we stepped through the entrance into the hotel’s spacious foyer with its dark wood panelling, chandeliers and historic reception desk it felt like a bygone era in the nicest possible of ways. We received a warm welcome from both Louis and Amanda who checked us in speedily and accompanied us to our guest room on the first floor.

The Room:

The hotel comprises 180 rooms from standard doubles to deluxe sea view rooms and suites. We were excited to discover that we had been booked into the Presidential Suite in which Bill Clinton had stayed during his visit to the 2002 Labour Party conference held in the town.

Our spacious suite comprised a lounge with three floor to ceiling windows overlooking the promenade and sea. There was a comfortable sofa, armchair, television, fridge and tea making facilities. Whilst some of the furniture was a little dated, the carpets, curtains and sofas had been replaced recently.

Moving into the bedroom, this featured a super king size bed with an oversized attractive padded headboard, stylish wallpaper and two large windows overlooking the seafront. Folded neatly on the bed were a pair of luxuriously thick bathrobes and with a spacious, traditionally styled bathroom complete with both a bath and separate shower, we had everything at hand for a comfortable stay.

Dining:

Dinner: We enjoyed dinner on both evenings in the refined Victorian elegance of the hotel’s Palm Court restaurant. With two courses priced at £24.95 and three at £29.95, the restaurant offers excellent value. On the first evening I opted for a starter of chicken liver pâté followed by grilled sea bass whilst on the following evening I enjoyed a poached peach and Parma ham starter with grilled lemon chicken for mains.

The dishes were beautifully plated and of a generous portion size. Wine was available either by the glass or bottle which was also good value for a four star hotel. On duty both evenings were Chris and Madison who were both very friendly, offering an attentive service.

Breakfast: This is served buffet style each morning in the Palm Court restaurant offering a varied selection of fresh fruit, yoghurt, cereals and pastries alongside traditional cooked breakfast fare. Tea and filter coffee were served to the table which was fine but we would have preferred to have been offered a cafetière and tea pot rather than having to request a refill of our cups from the waiting staff when the restaurant was busy.

Afternoon Tea: To conclude our stay, we enjoyed afternoon tea seated at a window table of the Palm Court restaurant. A traditional three tier cake stand was brought to the table alongside dainty pots of soup and hot sausages. Of the many afternoon teas that I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing, this was the first time that one had included soup. As it was mid-winter, I thought that our warming bowls of parsnip and cumin soup was an ideal introduction to the savoury and sweet items to follow.

Pots of tea were served in heritage Imperial Hotel china featuring the hotel’s emblem. Starting on the lower tier of our cake stand we tucked into dainty finger sandwiches comprising ham, cheese and pickle, egg and truffle mayonnaise and turkey breast. These tasted very flavoursome on a mixture of whole grain and white bread. Moving up a tier, we enjoyed home baked scones served with clotted cream and jam followed by the top tier sweet treats of macaroons, cheesecake and choux buns. Service was polite and attentive befitting the sense of occasion and after a refill of our teapot we felt relaxed and ready for our journey home. As with all good afternoon teas, there was more than we could possibly eat, so the remainder was carefully placed in a box for us to enjoy when we got back home. I actually let my husband enjoy the remainder as he had been kind enough to pick me up from the station.

The Facilities:

The Number 10 Bar is one of the Imperial Hotel’s most iconic spaces, named in tribute to 10 Downing Street and the hotel’s long association with political life. Over the decades, it has welcomed an extraordinary list of political figures, from prime ministers to senior cabinet members, many of whom stayed at the hotel during party conferences and official visits to Blackpool. Today, the bar retains a sense of relaxed elegance with its stained glass ceiling rotunda. Drinks and bar meals are available throughout the day and with cosy corners and a raised balcony seating area, it’s a pleasant place to spend an hour or two.

Function Rooms: The Imperial Hotel’s function rooms each have their own distinct character, reflecting the building’s long history. The Churchill Suite is wood-panelled and traditional with photographs of Winston Churchill lining the walls. This gives the room a formal feel that works well for meetings or private dinners.

The Derby Room is brighter and more relaxed, with large windows looking out over the sea, making it a pleasant space for daytime events. Entertainment takes place on winter weekend evenings and more frequently during the summer months in the attractively decorated Louis XVI Room which also enjoys sea views.

The Washington Suite is noted for its ornate Victorian decor, featuring high ceilings offering a blend of classic elegance. The former ballroom was well known for its dance floor. One of its most distinctive features was the glass roof which gave guests the wonderful experience of dancing beneath the stars. Although the glass roof no longer exists, the Washington Suite is one of the town’s premier function and wedding venues.

Other Facilities include several other smaller meeting/function rooms, comfortable lounges, a games room with table tennis and snooker tables, and a children’s cinema room. The hotel has two lifts, parking (daily charge), 24 hour room service and good Wi-Fi coverage throughout the building.

Out and About:

Blackpool has much to offer and with a tram stop just across the road from the Imperial, there’s no need to use the car, as a one day public transport ticket costs £6.  We actually downloaded the BPL Transport App to our phones, reducing the fare to £5.00 with a two together group ticket which decreases in price if more people travel together.

There’s something to attract everyone to Blackpool whatever the time of year whether it’s a leisurely walk along the promenade breathing in the fresh, sea air or a trip up the famous Blackpool Tower for far reaching views.

North Pier is the oldest of Blackpool’s three piers, opening in 1863 and originally aimed at a more affluent audience to the Central and South Piers. Over the years it has hosted well-known performers from Britain’s music hall and comedy circuits. Nowadays its focus is more on amusements but there’s nothing to beat a stroll down the pier to take in the coastal views.

The Winter Gardens and adjoining Opera House opened in the 1870’s and are both at the centre of Blackpool’s entertainment heritage. The Opera House in particular became one of the UK’s largest theatres and has welcomed major names including The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Laurel and Hardy and later performers such as Shirley Bassey and Elton John, most of whom stayed at The Imperial whilst performing on stage in the town. Both venues are still in use today with full programmes of events and shows. More details can be found here.

Overall:

We spent a very pleasant weekend at the historic Imperial Hotel in Blackpool. From the moment we arrived on the Friday afternoon to our departure on the Sunday all the staff we came into contact were very professional ensuring that all guests enjoyed the best experience possible. On chatting to some of them, we learnt that they had worked at the Imperial for many years and it was evident that they took a great pride in the historic building and looking after its guests.

If you enjoy heritage hotels, a stay at The Imperial in Blackpool is well worth considering. This iconic four-star hotel offers a classic Victorian atmosphere combined with reasonably priced room rates, making it excellent value for its category. Ongoing room enhancements are further improving comfort while preserving the building’s historic character, ensuring guests can enjoy both charm and modern touches during their stay.

Details:

We were guests of The Imperial Hotel Blackpool and as always, all views and opinions are entirely my own.

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