Firsty my partner who for a living visits the best 4* and 5* hotels all over the UK as either the guest of the hotel group or the local tourist board as she brings Russians to the UK to spend some of that money they make from oil. 9/10 times although invited to an area, she actually goes and makes the visit unannounced as a paying customer. Blackpool tourist board invited her to come to Blackpool as they thought her client group would want to come for the new style casinos and entertainment on offer.

She decided on this hotel as it was recommended by the tourist office as the sort of place perfect for the higher end holidaymaker. She was aware it was part of the Britania hotel group which included an awful central Manchester hotel which she has already removed from recommendations for Russian tourist due to the late night hookers knocking on doors and no windows in the rooms. However she gave this other hotel the benefit of the doubt and appraoch with a fresh outlook.

At reception we were ignored for 5 mins althogh we were the only ones checking in as the two staff were doing some important computer work. Our room cost £79 per night B&B and although expensive for Blackppol seemed very good value on paper for a hotel classed as better quality by the touist board. It's now however that the penny started to drop! the hotel doesn't actually have a star rating and the four star treatment we were told it had was an illusion. After walking through long corridors, up two levels in what is best described as a staff lift we arrived at our room. 12 x 8 ft plus bathroom and of course as per the hotel groups theme NO Window in the room. We immediatly went and asked for another room which we were told could not be done. My partner although wanted to stay just as a guest and undercover decided that sleeping in a cell was not going to be her thing, so told the hotel staff who she really was...

As we were there to also sample Blackpool for her clients, we went out and returned late to discover that the new room was next to the air con unit and the continous noise prevented any sleep, so a 2am meeting was called with the duty manager who on arrival at our room first of all said sorry about the mess and the drunk? Yes we were lost to the comment also until he went outside the room with me to show me the drunk in the lobby.

As no other rooms were availible, we had no choice but to move back to the first cell, which at least was quiet. We got some sleep, althogh the bed was lumpy.

On reading this, you may dismiss this review as being to snobby, and I admit we were promised 4 star, but take away what we were expecting. Ask yourself this, with the choice of hotels at all budgets in Blackpool, how much would you pay for a 8ft windowless cell.

Loads of clean, nice hotels in the £20 to £0 per person per night in Blackpool, chose them please and stay clear of this prision.