Pictures from my visit to Blackpool in September 2018 now included as a new gallery.

I stayed at the Royal Carlton Hotel on the seafront and was so shocked I had to write this review on TripAdvisor:

Las Vegas it isn’t and the only nuggets you’ll find on the Golden Mile will be McNuggets. But when you ascend your own Blackpool Tower and rise above the ubiquitous tat, rampant obesity and obligatory sportswear you will see a fairytale city full of people having fun. The glitter and sparkly lights are just skin deep, but underneath all that is a city that is reinventing itself and presenting a new model for British coastal holiday towns everywhere.
The renovated seafront, the beautiful trams and the city centre are a welcome sign that somebody, somewhere, is doing something right. Blackpool is big enough for everybody and will always have a special place in my heart as the birthplace of the first commercial Crystal Maze.
The Royal Carlton hotel was disappointing; despite its marvellous location and pretentious name it provided only a basic level of comfort and quality. The bedroom walls were paper thin and the window catch broken and dirty. However, breakfast was good, the staff were friendly and helpful and, at the end of the day, it was actually quite good value. Maybe it should be spelled “The Royle Carlton Hotel”.

The hotel responded:

Dear Carl,
Thank you for your review,
I can only comment on your feedback on the hotel itself although your statement on the resort in general may be more suited to another site – we are sorry the Royal Carlton wasn’t to you expectations on this occasion.
We do urge our guests to please make reception aware immediately of any issues whatsoever so they can be resolved whilst at the hotel, once notified of your dissatisfaction with your room
Another more suitable room may have been offered as a kind resolution – subject to availability at the time. With regards to the window catch, this has since been rectified by our onsite maintenance team
So we do thank you for bringing matters to our attention – and apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Thank you very much for the kind words on our breakfast and service – the Royal Carlton prides itself on delivering superb customer care with excellent food so it really is great to hear you enjoyed the food on offer
And that you found our staff to be extremely helpful and friendly.
It is also great to learn you found your holiday to be very good value for money.
Overall we are pleased you enjoyed your time at the Royal Carlton and hope you will choose us again for a future holiday to the resort.
All the very best,
GUEST RELATIONS