The Thompson family, owners of Blackpool Pleasure Beach, will open The Big Blue Hotel on 13 June, with many rooms overlooking the Pleasure Beach and the Pepsi Max Big One rollercoaster.
Work commenced in October 2002 and handover was in May this year, earlier than originally anticipated. It is the first hotel to be built in the town for over 20 years.
The 4-storey hotel will be run in conjunction with the Best Western group.
Aimed principally at families visiting Pleasure Beach, 72 of the hotel’s 116 bedrooms are large-sized family rooms. These feature two child-sized bunks, each with its own tv and – with the bathroom separating the two areas – a king-sized double bed which can convert to a twin.
Also provided are a third tv, DVD player, high-speed internet access and games consoles.
Many of the rooms overlook two of the Pleasure Beach roller coasters, including Europe’s tallest and fastest, the Pepsi Max Big One. Pleasure Beach head of public relations, Sarah Dornford-May, said many customers have been specifically requesting the rooms with a rollercoaster view.
Other rooms on offer include standard rooms for the budget market; executive rooms with their own lounge areas and luxury suites. The latter are two executive rooms linked together, one being used as a bedroom and the other as a sitting/dining area.
Elsewhere, the hotel has a business and conference centre, fully equipped gym and treatment room and a brasserie-style restaurant with bar.
At reception, children have their own check-in, a half height desk where they can get their own room keys, hire DVDs and computer games and join Captain Blue’s Club.
Design, build and fit out of the £4.5m project was undertaken by Stockport-based Multibuild, a first for the company. Tony Short, company chief executive, said that they had wanted to create the "most exciting and original hotel on the coast". John Mawdsley, formerly chair of Best Western, provided guidance in the design of the structure.
Multibuild have also worked on developments for Scottish & Newcastle, Prima Inns, Macdonald Hotels, Mitchells & Butlers and Wetherspoons. Amongst other projects, they are currently working on a 58-room hotel and restaurant for Fuller, Smith and Turner in Hillingdon. Details: www.bigbluehotel.com
