Grand Metropole Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grand Metropole Hotel |
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| Former names | Bailey's Hotel Higher Royal Hotel Rossall's Dickson Hotel |
| General information | |
| Town or city | Blackpool, Lancashire |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 53°49′12″N 3°03′22″W / 53.820°N 3.056°W |
| Construction started | 1776 |
| Opened | 14 June 1785 |
| Owner | Britannia Hotels |
| Other information | |
| Number of rooms | 223 |
The Grand Metropole Hotel is a big hotel in Blackpool, England. It's special because it's the only hotel in Blackpool that sits right on the beach! It's also one of the oldest hotels in the area. Building work started way back in 1776, and it officially opened in 1785. Today, Britannia Hotels owns it.
Contents
Hotel History
Early Beginnings
Imagine a hotel that's over 200 years old! The Grand Metropole Hotel started way back in 1776. A farmer named Lawrence Bailey began building it right by the sea in Layton, Blackpool. It was finished in 1785 and opened its doors on June 14th.
When it first opened, the hotel had 34 bedrooms, three dining rooms, and a coffee lounge. At that time, Blackpool was just starting to become a popular place for holidays. Bailey's Hotel was one of only four hotels there.
Changing Names
Over the years, the hotel changed owners and names several times.
- In 1826, Robert Dickson bought it and called it the Higher Royal Hotel.
- In 1852, Robert Rossall took over and renamed it Rossall's Dickson Hotel.
- By 1867, it went back to being called Bailey's Hotel.
- In 1896, JT Murray bought the hotel and gave it the name "Hotel Metropole," which it still uses today.
Blackpool's First Promenade
In 1856, Blackpool built its very first promenade (a walkway along the beach). This walkway stretched from the hotel down to the Houndshill area. It was made of asphalt. In 1870, the promenade was improved with a strong stone sea-wall.
The hotel had a fantastic spot because it was right on the shore side of the promenade. All the other hotels were on the land side. This meant guests at the Metropole had amazing sea views!
Trams and Renovations
When trams arrived in Blackpool in 1885, their tracks were laid right outside the hotel, following the promenade.
The hotel also had many updates over the years:
- In 1873, a new section was added to the east side.
- In 1876, shops were built on the land side of the hotel.
- In 1900, the building had a huge renovation. It became twice as big and got the classic Victorian look it still has today.
Important Meetings
The hotel wasn't just for holidays; it was also a place for important town events. In 1875, the very first meeting of Blackpool's town council took place inside the hotel.
Later Owners
After being sold to Spiers and Pond Limited in 1900, the hotel was used by the government during World War II in 1939. After the war, in 1947, a company called The Metropole Hotel (Blackpool) Limited bought it back.
In 1955, Billy Butlin, famous for his holiday camps, bought the hotel for his Butlins chain. Then, in 1998, Butlins sold their hotels to Grand Hotels, and the name changed to "Grand Metropole Blackpool." Finally, in 2004, Grand Hotels sold the Grand Metropole Hotel to Britannia Hotels, who own it now.
Today's Hotel
As of 2018, the Grand Metropole Hotel has been updated. It has 223 bedrooms, two restaurants, and a café, ready for guests to enjoy their stay by the sea.
Images for kids
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Hotel Metropole in 1911
