WELL never having been to Blackpool, I was really looking forward to it and had heard that it was a place to have lots of fun, but also great when the weather was nice and bitterly cold if the weather was bad.

My friend (who had been to Blackpool before) and I arrived, expecting the weather to be awful as the forecast was not good rain and winds predicted.

It could not have been more wrong, we arrive early afternoon and the sun was shining, sky was blue and no wind, so Blackpool here we come.

Where to stay:


As we arrived it was as though we had just pulled up at a hotel at Disneyland, Paris as the 4-Star, Big Blue Hotel looked amazing and I would say probably the best looking hotel along the Ocean Boulevard.

It was ideally located next door to Blackpool's Pleasure Beach which has the UK’s only Nickelodeon Land , which featured 12 rides, a Nickelodeon shop, game stalls, a new restaurant and home to a whole host of famous Nickelodeon characters, such as SpongeBob Square Pants, Dora the Explora and Nickelodeon Streak to name a few. Also very close by is the Waterpark, which is great for visitors and families with young children. There was also ample free parking at the hotel and we found the staff to be polite, friendly and very helpful. The Big Blue gives a light, airy contemporary feel,decorated in neutral tones and furnished with dark, smooth and sleek lines of wood furnishings.

We stayed in a twin bedroom with views of the sea from our window. The room was furnished very nicely and very clean and tidy and provided everything we needed for a pleasant stay. There was tea/coffee tray, TV with remote and DVD player, work desk area and ironing facilities. The bathroom included a bath with overhead power shower, hot towel rail with towels and shower, soap, shampoo and conditioner.

The cost for this room type: £139 (breakfast included), but always check on their website for room deals.

There is the Blue's Bar & Brasserie which serves fine local cuisine, with an à la carte menu and a great-value children's menu. We did find the portions rather small for the cost and did think that they could maybe be a little more generous in size/quantity. But then have to say the breakfast menu was wonderful and offered an amazing choice which included a full English breakfast, fruit, cereals, cakes,, toast and fruit juices as well as tea, coffee and hot chocolate.

For further information for booking, please contact: 0871 222 4000.

In the evening we were invited to the Hot Ice show, which has created, produced and directed by Amanda Thompson, it was the opening night (6 July to 4 September, 2011).

This was a fast moving, thrilling, spectacular show, with a cast of 28 of the world’s top professional ice skaters that entertained the audience with speed, grace and elegance across the ice, whilst dazzling us with their fabulous array of brightly coloured and spectacular costumes. The music was varied and ranged from Latin American rhythms to camp classical, jungle beats and disco and explosive pyrotechnics. We also saw the dancers doing somersaulting, backflips, twists and very fast turns in time to the music, but I have to say the gymnastic skills of Alexey Kofanov and his amazing bath routine was absolutely breathtaking and really displayed strength and precision of movement to the music.

Hot Ice was recently awarded "Best Show" at the Big E awards in Las Vegas and if you go to see it you will understand why. This is the world's most spectacular ice show which is back at the Arena, Pleasure Beach. It is a show that will suit all ages and one that you will always remember and recommend.

For booking and price information call 0871 222 9090.

We thoroughly enjoyed our experience in Blackpool and would definitely recommend the Big Blue Hotel,Hot Ice Show and Pleasure Beach to friends, family and especially if they have children, as there is just so much to do and see.

How to get there:


M5 North, M6 North West, leave M6 at junction 32, join the M55 Blackpool, A5230, then onto Promenade A584. Distant: 151 miles.

Other places to visit close by:


Sealife Centre, Madame Tussaurds, Sandcastle Water Park, Blackpool Zoo, Blackpool Tower and Casino Blackpool. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from as well as lots of places to shop.