The Imperial Hotel Blackpool, Blackpool

...regular basis. Now I am the first to admit that when I visit Blackpool it is more about the place itself than the accommodation and therefore I usually just opt for a very inexpensive B&B but I do on occasions like to treat myself to a luxury break in a hotel and have stayed in the Big Blue hotel that overlooks the Pleasure beach (already reviewed) and also in the Imperial Hotel which is what I am going to tell you a bit about here.

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...to friends who I recommended the hotel to and are recently back from their stay that it is every bit as good now as I told them it was then.

The Imperial hotel is noted as being Blackpool`s most famous and impressive hotel and at first sight you will appreciate why it is rated impressive. Situated on the North Promenade this stunning Victorian hotel which was built in the 1800`s and has since been fully restored sticks out like a sore ... more

Regular readers of my reviews will no doubt already know I am a huge fan of Blackpool and that I travel there on a regular basis. Now I am the first to admit that when I visit Blackpool it is more about the place itself than the accommodation and therefore I usually just opt for a very inexpensive B&B but I do on occasions like to treat myself to a luxury break in a hotel and have stayed in the Big Blue hotel that overlooks the Pleasure beach (already reviewed) and also in the Imperial Hotel which is what I am going to tell you a bit about here.

I stayed in the Imperial in late 2004 so I do apologise if there have been changes that I fail to mention in this review but I am assured after talking to friends who I recommended the hotel to and are recently back from their stay that it is every bit as good now as I told them it was then.

The Imperial hotel is noted as being Blackpool`s most famous and impressive hotel and at first sight you will appreciate why it is rated impressive. Situated on the North Promenade this stunning Victorian hotel which was built in the 1800`s and has since been fully restored sticks out like a sore thumb in it`s somewhat typical English sea side surroundings, it brings a touch of real class to Blackpool and is as beautiful if not more so inside than it is out.

When I visited the hotel as a guest I had already seen it many times in passing and admired its beautiful exterior but here I was booking in and looking forward to all it had to offer which is plenty. Inside this beautiful hotel you are presented with a stunning hallway and reception area where we were handed our key to our room, we were splashing out and really treating ourselves by staying in a suite for the four nights but there are plenty rooms to choose from. The suite we were staying in was breathtaking, on entering the room I just looked at my fiancée who was staring open mouthed at the room before her and we knew we were somewhere higher class than anywhere we had stayed before.

The suite was massive and beautifully furnished with old fashioned burgundy leather seats and a beautiful burgundy leather sofa, there was a built in fireplace set in white stone with a gorgeous and very elegant brass framed mirror over it. The massive windows overlooked the Irish Sea and as the illuminations were on, the view at night was awesome. The bathroom and bedroom of the suite were equally as impressive as the main living quarter's with a king size four poster bed in the bedroom and the exceptionally beautiful bathroom suite.

The cleanliness of the rooms was as impressive as the rooms themselves. I have stayed in many hotels worldwide and no matter how nice or how many stars they carried you could always tell that it had been stayed and slept in by many before you whereas with the Imperial you could honestly believe you are the first to stay in the room.

On leaving our room and checking out what else the hotel had to offer things just got better and better. Inside the beautiful hotel there is stunning eating and drinking areas all of which are fully climate controlled, there is a fitness suite packed out with treadmills and various other exercise equipment, a 13m swimming pool for those early morning dips, a sauna with separate sections for man and women, a beauty suite to keep the ladies happy, a steam room which I personally loved and a solarium for topping up the old tans because let's face it you are not going to go home from Blackpool all bronzed otherwise.

The hotel really did have everything you could wish for and was almost good enough just to keep us indoors for our entire four days and nights but being a huge Blackpool enthusiast I just had to venture out lol! Once we had arrived at the hotel and parked the car in the hotels car park which incidentally is plenty big enough to accommodate the needs of all the guests we decided as we usually do that we would not use the car again for the duration of our stay. The Blackpool transport system is easily good enough to make this possible and with a tram stop right outside the front of our hotel I could travel the way I most enjoy on visits here.

I am fairly sure no matter what you expect from your stay in a hotel the Imperial in Blackpool will eclipse your expectations, it certainly did mine. It is not just the hotel itself that makes the stay so good it is the staff also. I have never met such a friendly bunch of people (ok they are probably well paid to be that way but they do, do it well). The service is second to none also with the option there for you to have your curtains drawn and your bed turned down for you every evening, a selection of toiletries at your disposal and replaced each morning, doors held open for you at every entrance and a person of high authority available at all hours of the day or night I doubt there is anything you could ask for that is not already taken care of.

The manner in which we were treated and spoken to throughout or stay in the Imperial left us feeling very important and extremely impressed with the whole experience. I have since recommended the hotel to a few friends who have all taken my recommendation on board and been very glad they did. I plan to return myself this year and really am excited about it already.

If you have booked for breakfasts, lunches, evening meals or all three or if you just decide to purchase them on occasions during your stay then you can rest assured that the choices of food and the quality of the food matches everything else the hotel has to offer. As well as the food being very good there is always lots of it, I am not the biggest eater and often found myself unable to finish what was put in front of me. If you are on an all inclusive as I was then I would suggest taking it easy with the breakfasts because you really do need to leave room for the large lunch and the massive and very delicious evening meals.

The cost of buying drinks from the bar is slightly more expensive than buying in the pubs but not much, I was paying £2.20 for a pint back n 2004 whereas it was around £2 exactly on the high street. The only thing we found to be very expensive from the bar was their range of cocktails, they were very basic cocktails but the prices were anything but basic. Stcik to sensible drinks and the difference is too minimal to notice.

ROOM OPTIONS

Premium Double x 20

Premium Twin x 3

Sea View Deluxe Double x 12

Standard Double Room x 82

Standard Single Room x 14

Standard Twin Room x 25

Suite x 9

The price obviously varies depending on when you stay but here are some examples.

2 adults and 2 children staying in a premium family room with upgraded toiletries, bathrobes & use of leisure facilities for 4 nights in July 2008 - £620 room only or £720 with breakfast.

For exactly the same family in exactly the same room staying 4 nights in September would cost - £517 room only or £597 with breakfast.

For a couple looking for a weekend break in July 2008 a Sea View Deluxe Double Room with sea views, upgraded toiletries, bathrobes and full use of leisure facilities will set you back a cool £770 including breakfast and dinner.

However the same couple could opt for a Standard double bedroom with wireless internet & refreshment tray for a less expensive £590 with breakfast.

If you are looking for a family fortnight in Blackpool in august then a premium family room will set you back £1842 room only or £2122 with breakfast.

Now as you can see from the prices above the Imperial hotel in Blackpool is not the cheapest place to stay by any stretch of the imagination but if you really want to treat yourself then you can't go far wrong with this place, when it comes to hotels you really do get what you pay for and when you pay for the Imperial you get pure luxury and brilliant service and a holiday you won't forget.

Even as a huge fan of Blackpool I have to admit much of the old place is going to the dogs as far as cleanliness and service is concerned and trailing the pleasure beach with kids or even just walking the golden mile of an evening can really take it out of you. If you are booked in at the Imperial you at least know that after a fun but tiring day you can relax with a drink at the beautiful bar then indulge yourself in a luxury bubble bath before settling down to some late night TV and preparing yourself for the next day's events.

MY RATINGS

Location - 8/10

Service - 10/10

Rooms - 10/10

Cleanliness - 10/10

Facilities - 9/10

Food - 9/10

Value for money - 10/10

Over all - 10/10

I am sure from what you have read that you have figured out that I rate the hotel very highly. I honestly cannot recommend this place highly enough, as I say I am looking to return there this year and I can't wait. I might well update this review after my visit.

FOR FURTHER INFO CONTACT THE HOTEL

North Promenade North
Shore Blackpool
Lancashire FY1 2HB
United Kingdom

Tel: 01253 623971
Fax: 01253 751784

Thanks for reading!

©2008 thebigc1690 

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