Imperial Hotel, Blackpool

History

The hotel was established in 1867. Charles Dickens stayed at the hotel in 1869. In 1904, the hotel was extended with the addition of a large neo-baroque style dining room. In 1912, Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll stayed at the hotel. In the mid 20th century, Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon and The Beatles stayed at the hotel. Queen Elizabeth II stayed at the hotel when visiting Blackpool, as did Charles Dickens as have many other British Prime Ministers. in 1985, Margaret Thatcher celebrated her 60th birthday in the hotel. In 2002, US President Bill Clinton and Prime Minister Tony Blair stayed at the hotel for the Labour party conference.

Owned by Barceló Hotels for many years, it was operated by The Hotel Collection from June 2014 who sold it to the Fragrance Group (Singapore) for £12.8 in 2017.

In 2023 the historic turkish baths of the hotel were extensively restored by volunteers from Blackpool Civic Society.

Conference venue

Granada Television once set up a studio in the hotel to cover party conferences held in the town. It has been used as a conference and party venue for a wide range of organisations.

The George Formby Society currently holds its conventions there four times per year.

Concerts

The Imperial Hotel hosted concerts in its ballroom in the 1970s. Bands that performed at the Imperial Hotel include UFO, Judas Priest and Joy Division.

References

References

1. W. Porter (publisher.). (1871). "Porter's guide to Blackpool, Fleetwood, Lytham, etc., with a directory of Blackpool".
2. Craig, Jon. (2024-05-02). "decades after Bill Clinton's surprise McDonald's visit".
3. (2024-11-14). "IMPERIAL HOTEL, Non Civil Parish".
4. Rigby, Janet. (2023-02-15). "Celebrating Blackpool". Amberley Publishing Limited.
5. Steves, Rick. (4 January 2011). "Rick Steves' Great Britain 2011 with Map". Avalon Travel.
6. (28 September 2010). "Frommer's England 2011". John Wiley & Sons.
7. Lark, Claire. (2022-09-27). "12 brilliant pictures 20 years on".
8. (2002-10-01). "Bill Clinton arrives at the Imperial Hotel, Blackpool, with Britain's Prime Minister, Tony Blair (left) and wife Cherie, join former United States President Bill Clinton at the Imperial Hotel, Blackpool. Clinton is scheduled to address the annual Labour Party Conference, at Blackpool, tomorrow, Wednesday Stock Photo".
9. (2017-01-27). "Imperial hotel in Blackpool to be sold to Singapore company for £12.8m".
10. Lark, Claire. (2023-12-15). "Thick 1950s plaster was painstakingly chipped away to reveal 19th Century 'spa'".
11. (8 November 2003). "Granada Television: The First Generation". Manchester University Press.
12. British Power Farming Club (ENGLAND). (1 January 1980). "Power farming". Agricultural Press.}}
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13. "Imperial Hotel, Blackpool, England Concert Setlists".