Amanda Thompson OBE unveils 5 star hotel on Blackpool’s Ocean Boulevard
The Boulevard Hotel enjoys unrivalled views of Blackpool Pleasure Beach and illuminations
Image: The Boulevard Hotel
What comes to mind when you think of Blackpool?
The infamous illuminations? Piping hot paper-wrapped chips on the promenade?
A beautifully styled, £12 million boutique hotel? Perhaps not – until now.
About The Boulevard Hotel
The hotel is the latest addition to the Blackpool Pleasure Beach accommodation offering, which also includes the adjacent award-winning Big Blue Hotel.
Both these properties are part of the Blackpool Pleasure Beach portfolio which has been operated by the Thompson family since the resort’s inception in 1896.
The new Boulevard Hotel comprises 120 stylish rooms, including eight junior suites, two park view suites and eight coastal suites, all with either coastal vistas or direct views of the attractions and rollercoasters – perfect for building our excitement on the day we stayed.
Room decor
We were delighted to find our that all rooms boast bespoke artwork by British artists including Tom Purvis, complemented by materials sourced from renowned British companies, including handmade furniture by Tetrad, Designers Guild fabrics and clad with wall coverings by Andrew Martin.
Room amenities
Each room was decked with a 55″ TV as standard, making it perfect to cosy up under the duvet covers when the weather became quintessentially British during our stay.
And there’ll be no fighting over whose watching what – whilst mum and dad take their place in the main space, siblings can seek shelter in a bunk bed with a mini wall-mounted television each.
Inside the bathroom, we spotted these emerald-hued Mario Luca Giusti acrylic tumblers , much in line with the hotel’s art-deco theme, along with toiletries by C.O Bigelow – the oldest apothecary in America.
Images: The Boulevard Hotel
The Beachside Restaurant: the views
Image: The Boulevard Hotel
This superior accommodation has been complemented by a 90-seat signature restaurant with tasty views of the stunning west coast sunset and the Irish Sea, making it the perfect spot for a bit of respite after a day riding the rollercoasters at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
The Beachside Restaurant: the food
The restaurant uses locally-sourced ingredients to create an array of exquisite dishes from around the globe.
For dinner, we opted for a refined twist on the classic scampi starter, using monkfish instead of langoustines, accompanied by a zingy Japanese-inspired wasabi mayonnaise.
But for those looking for hearty northern grub, the fork-tender braised beef cheek with shallot mash, followed by a sticky toffee apple crumble warmed our cockles after a day at the seaside; especially after riding the drenching Valhalla, recently named the world’s best water ride for the fourth year in succession at the Golden Ticket awards.
The Shoreside Conference Centre
A refreshing change from stuffy seventies-styled basement spaces, the conference centre at The Bouvelard Hotel includes state-of-the-art technology for business travellers, but also couples up as an idyllic coastal wedding setting, with the hotel licensed to carry out civil cermonies, perfect for catering up to 200 guests. The floor to ceiling windows also provide great lighting, and coastal backdrop for those all-essential wedding snaps!
Our verdict:
The Boulevard hotel offers a range of rooms and suites to suit every traveller. Perfect for adrenaline-junkie families, couples craving a seaside staycation and those hosting all types of private and corporate events, the Boulevard Hotel has set the standard for luxury accommodation in Blackpool. If you’re visiting the park, make sure to ride ICON, the nation’s first double launch rollercoaster. Much like the Boulevard Hotel, all bases have been covered to ensure you ride in style, from the oriental style gold signage to the copper gold carriages.
Room pricing
Executive rooms on a bed and breakfast basis start from £119 per night or £169 per night including wristbands for the park, based on two people sharing.
Other room categories include the following and include breakfast, based on two people sharing:
- Family Rooms from £150 per night
- Deluxe Executive Rooms From £149
- Coastal Junior Suites From £249
- Park View Suites From £279
- Coastal Suites From £299
Rooms with wristbands for Blackpool Pleasure Beach and breakfast included, per night, based on two sharing start from:
- Executive Rooms from £169 per night
- Family Rooms from £240 per night
- Deluxe Executive Rooms from £199 per night
- Coastal Junior Suites from £299 per night
- Park View Suites from £329 per night
- Coastal Suites from £349 per night
Reserve a room via booking.com or call 01253 336073.