Blackpool Winter Gardens Hotel

More new accommodation will soon be rising from the ground on a prominent site next to Blackpool Winter Gardens. As revised plans for Blackpool Winter Gardens Hotel are now passed, work is expected to start on site ‘soon’.

Approval for the new Blackpool Winter Gardens Hotel

Planning consent had previously been granted for a 160 bedroom hotel on the site. And on 4 June 2024, members of Blackpool Council Planning Committee agreed unanimously with the revised submission which sees the number of rooms increased to 266.

The hotel will occupy the plot of land opposite the Winter Gardens Conference Centre – between Leopold Grove, Adelaide Street and Alfred Street. It’s currently the temporary Adelaide Street surface car park. For some time it provided site compound space during construction of the Conference Centre.

Knowing that the development was on the cards, we went to take a look and record the site –

Enjoyed this video? Why don’t you subscribe to our Visit Fylde Coast YouTube channel – make sure you don’t miss out!

A global hotel operator has been secured to operate the new-build. They’ll offer two brands within the building. Business guests will be able to choose from 108 suites. The remaining 158 rooms will be tailored to holiday makers.

However, the hotel will be mostly aimed at visitors to the Winter Gardens Conference Centre. This will potentially enable the return of political conferences to the town. A lack of secure hotel facilities attached to the Winter Gardens is one of the main reason why Blackpool hasn’t hosted any major party conferences for almost 20 years.

Previous Plans for the Blackpool Winter Gardens Hotel

Four previous sets of plans for hotel accommodation on this site have been considered over the years. All variations on a theme, with different numbers of rooms and including on-site car parking.

Connected to the Winter Gardens with an enclosed footbridge, the hotel occupies the site of what’s currently Adelaide Street car park. So you might be wondering where all those cars are going to park? The last incarnation of a 160 bedroom hotel included a double level car park with 94 spaces for hotel guests. The 2024 version only includes 10 spaces.

However, there is some good news for motorists using the venue. An application is expected later this year for a 600 space multi-storey car park nearby. It will be built on the site of the former Syndicate nightclub.

Making Space for the Blackpool Winter Gardens Hotel

Blackpool Council bought the land opposite Leopold Grove site in the summer of 2017 as part of the long term strategy for the Winter Gardens.

Soon afterwards, in 2018, the derelict buildings were finally demolished. Initially to make space for the works compound but ultimately to become the site for the new Winter Gardens Hotel. The scheme includes closing part of Leopold Grove to traffic and pedestrianisation of it.