Hotel Santa Maria

The hotel is right on the promenade, close to a tram stop, and only about five minutes from Blackpool North railway station. It’s handy for Lord Street, Funny Girls and even getting out to Cleveleys, and the sea views are lovely. During Pride, we had a very enjoyable stay. The entrance felt cosy yet spacious, and our room had simple white and grey decor that looked fresh and modern, plus a lovely bathroom. There’s a warm, welcoming feel throughout, though it’s clear renovations are still underway. The new owner only started the project a couple of months ago. The bar is bright and comfortable, as are the guest rooms. I think the place could have real potential as an entertainment venue. A royal red or blue curtain, or maybe long tinsel, behind the stage could give it more of a cabaret lounge feel. There are lots of ways to bring in regular visitors, such as drag bingo, drag brunches, tribute acts, jazz cafe evenings and afternoon tea if the restaurant stays open during the day. If the hotel builds a reputation in the LGBT+ community, it could put on a busy weekly programme and become a popular destination. Given its name and location, promoting regular cabaret and drag shows on TikTok might work especially well. Restaurant service was a little shaky at times, although every staff member we met was friendly, helpful and welcoming. For breakfast, a buffet might take some pressure off the team and make service smoother: the chef could serve hot items from a heated counter while guests queue, with cereals, juices, iced water and other items available to help yourself to. A special mention to the night porter, who was hilarious and great company. The owner was also very friendly and took time to stop and chat with guests, which added a lovely personal touch. Santa Maria is cosy and comfortable, already a real gem on Blackpool’s seafront, and has a bright future if the renovations and entertainment ideas keep developing. We’ll most definitely return. 🌈🏳️‍🌈

The hotel is well placed, with bus and tram stops right outside, and it made for a lovely break. My room was dated, but for the price I had no complaints. The staff were helpful and willing to lend a hand. Breakfast was really good, though I did miss having proper filter coffee. I’ll visit again.

The rooms get three stars from me because they’re in the middle of being done up, but I still had a comfortable night’s sleep. The staff are great, and Declan the owner and Steve can’t do enough for you. The location is great, with the bus and tram stop right outside. This hotel has real potential, and it’ll be good to see what they do with it in future.

The staff, including the owner and receptionist, were polite, but that doesn’t change how misleading the hotel’s advertised condition felt. The seaview is beautiful and the location is clearly a plus. I had a conversation with the owner about the costs of keeping the hotel running and what customers expect. I empathise with the owner, who said they had only acquired the place a few months earlier, but I think the renovation should have been finished before guests were accommodated. I’d been here before, when it was Daish's under a previous owner. I booked without realising this was the same place, now called Hotel Santa Maria. The changed name left me confused at the entrance, and the interior looked nothing like the online pictures. I felt unsettled that night because the stay fell so far short of what I expected. Much of the hotel was cordoned off for renovation, and at check-in the place looked disorderly enough that I wondered if I was in the right building. The price may have been reduced to keep bookings coming in, but the service still didn’t meet the quality I expected. My room was dusty and hadn’t been cleaned; the sheets were rumpled and didn’t look fresh. The only lift is at one end of the building and you have to climb several steps to reach it, which made me question how useful its location is. I needed help with my luggage at the entrance and had to leave it for someone to carry up. It was uncomfortable having to climb stairs to enter the hotel and get to the rooms and lift. The advert listed a lift, wheelchair-accessible parking, a wheelchair-accessible registration desk, restaurant and lounge. Those claims are misleading for people with mobility needs who require reasonable adjustments such as step-free access. Booking through a third-party site didn’t help, since it gave little detailed information to help people decide. If the hotel’s actual condition had been clearly described, I wouldn’t have booked, knowing it was unsuitable for my needs. The advert price didn’t give me the quality of service I expected. I’d like to know whether inspectors regularly check hotel standards and verify the information on official websites and third-party platforms. The hotel should have waited to repair the wear and tear before advertising an image that doesn’t match its current state. Tourists and families should be able to leave with a positive experience, which would encourage them to return and visit nearby attractions. I’m baffled by five-star reviews that don’t seem genuine and could mislead potential customers. A no-refund cancellation policy can leave people out of pocket and stuck in an undesirable hotel when they might have chosen another option. More needs to be done to protect people booking accommodation online, so they get value for money and what they see matches what they receive.