Willow Grove

Dust thick on the carpets, a stale smell and grime everywhere made it clear this hotel hadn’t been cleaned in months. The windows and curtains were filthy too. We could hear the hoover when we arrived at the door, which made sense once we saw the state of the place. There was nobody at the hotel, so we went to Cadeby lodge, where we spoke to the woman who’d arranged our booking. We told her our first impression was bad, and she brought us back, saying it had been refurbished. We still weren’t happy and said we wouldn’t stay. When she asked, “why what’s wrong”, we replied, “what’s right with it”. I can’t believe this hotel is trading. Worst hotel ever, avoid it. We’d first booked one night for two guests at the Cadeby lodge on Hornby Road. Then we needed an extra room, which Cadeby lodge couldn’t provide, so the woman said Willow Grove had two rooms for us and rebooked us there, confirming by text. We arrived Saturday 21/07/18.

A glass was thrown from a window at the bus taking an older party home, apparently by a drunk jade. Before that, the managers of willow Grove, Shawn and jade, had been arguing with each other in front of the "hotel" and customers. We’d also been told that jade partied in the bar area until 4am. Our room hadn’t been cleaned, and nobody offered to clean it. Earlier, we’d decided to give the place a chance as it was new and still finding its way. We first fell asleep as soon as we got in, we were so tired, and only found the room’s condition after waking. We’d come to Blackpool with our puppy for some business and had told blackpool hq, who manage or own the hotel, that we’d arrive late because of work. They were fine with that. When we arrived at the blackpool hq office/party house, a man by the door was smoking cannabis. The manager assured us this wasn’t how things were run and said we were at the wrong place, so we went to the new "hotel". I complained about the room and was moved to another, which wasn’t great but was better than the first. It felt like a HOSTEL. I’ll report them to the relevant people because that building should be condemned. Don’t stay there or even go.

The place was falling to bits and so dirty, like no cleaning had been done for ages. Nobody seemed to be staying there or running it. We were just handed a key and left to it, and the breakfast was a joke. Luckily, I wouldn’t eat there. We couldn’t even get one drink. I’d booked the Cadeby lodge, but a woman called to ask if she could move me and the girls to the willow grove. She said it had just been refurbished and was lovely, so I agreed. What a shock. There are lots of nice places in Blackpool for the same price. At 25pppn, I’d shop around. It might have been nice once, but the new owners have killed it. Please don’t stay at this hotel, and don’t get robbed.

We were turned away after a 3.5-hour drive because the hotel had double-booked our two rooms. Two other families in the lobby had been told the same thing. The owner or manager seemed unable to communicate in English and offered no help or solution. After about 20 minutes in the lobby, dining room and bar, I was relieved we couldn't stay: the shared areas were filthy and run-down. The double-glazed windows were broken and made the outside look like pea-soup fog. Carpets were threadbare or covered in old food, the Formica tables were broken and graffitied, and dirty cutlery sat on tea towels. A soiled mattress stood in the lobby, the place smelled of mold and ammonia, and bags of vegetables and potatoes were on the floor by the back door near what I assume was the kitchen. Sleeping on the street would have been cleaner. Based on our visit on Friday 26th October 2018, I suspect the positive reviews may be fake. I can only give this shabby, poorly managed place one star because zero or less isn't an option.