A popular and prominent hotel in Blackpool is rumoured to be demolished after 100 years on the seaside town's central promenade.
The St Chads hotel was popular with tourists up until its sudden closure in 2021. However, rumours now are swirling that the iconic building is set to be demolished, after nearby residents and businesses spotted fences and workmen at the site over the weekend.
The hotel was built in 1893 as part of St Chads Terrace, and was considerably enlarged by the Whittaker family, who bought up adjacent properties on the terrace. The hotel buildings are now owned by Singapore company Fragrance with UK-based RBH Hospitality Management owning the businesses, reports Lancs Live.
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The hotel has been one of Blackpool's most well known venues, along with the Lyndene next door. But in 2021, employees at the Lyndene and St Chads hotels were told that they no longer had jobs and would not be receiving their final furlough or wage packets after both businesses were dissolved.
Since then, the Lyndene reopened in May 2022, after the management of the hotels was bought out by RBH Hospitality Management. But St Chad's has been left empty, and now looks set to be torn down. Except no-one seems to know what's happening.
One local business said that the property is earmarked for demolition. They said: "It's definitely being prepared for demolition, but we don't know when it's happening.
"We know the Lyric Hotel was bought by the same people who own St Chad's, and the people in the flats have been gone at least two years now. It will probably be another hotel, because clearly Blackpool needs more of them."
However another local business says whilst they've noticed the sudden appearance of fences and workmen, they say they have no idea what's happening. They added: "We've not seen any signage or notices up to say that it's getting demolished. We haven't seen any planning permission. There's workmen there, there's fences been put up this week, but we've had no letters or anything that it's coming down."
Other businesses nearby share this sentiment of not knowing. When asked about St Chad's, A Blackpool Council spokesperson said: "The council have not received any planning application in regards to this property."
LancsLive has contacted Fragrance Group for comment, but they did not respond prior to publication.
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