The Imperial is a beautiful building with impressive Victorian architecture and a real sense of history. You can tell it must have been a truly grand hotel in its day. Unfortunately, it now feels like it’s in need of significant investment to bring it back to the standard it deserves.
There are clear signs of wear and decline in places. Parts of the hotel look tired and dated, and during our visit the pool area was boarded up, which was disappointing. There were also some quick fixes around the property, including gaffer tape on sections of the carpet, which doesn’t really match the otherwise grand surroundings.
The staff we encountered were friendly and helpful, but it did feel like there weren’t quite enough of them at times. Despite this, the location on the seafront is great and the building itself still has a lot of character and charm.
With the right level of refurbishment and investment, this hotel could easily return to being one of Blackpool’s standout places to stay.