Family-owned hotels unveil more than £1m refurbishment

Two family-owned hotels on Queens Promenade in Blackpool have unveiled their new look following more than £1m in refurbishment projects.

Brother and sister Nigel Seddon and Liz Brown have completed the work at North Shore’s Elgin and Sheraton Hotels, as part of their pledge to reinvest into the businesses for their guests following a successful period of trading.

The Elgin has undergone a complete transformation of its bar, sun lounge and TV room areas while five bedrooms at The Sheraton have been given makeovers.

A key focus of the Elgin vision was to reposition the stage to the centre of the room, addressing customer feedback of a poor view from certain seats.

While, in the sun lounge areas, revised use of the space has cleverly increased the amount of seating available without resulting in overcrowding.

Liz Brown said: “It’s important to us that guests feel right at home when they stay with us – so it’s imperative that they remain at the heart of every decision that’s made.

“All of the bespoke furniture is chosen with comfort and quality as primary concerns - we’re simply not willing to compromise here. All in all, the refurbishments have been a huge success and I’m delighted to see how everything has come together.”

Nigel said: “The transformation here at the Elgin has been nothing short of spectacular. We take great pride in reinvesting in the hotel each year and particularly enjoy the projects that result in a fantastic before and after for our guests, who really love to see the developments from one stay to the next!

“I have to say a huge thank you to my sister, Liz, who brought her signature flair and eye for detail to our new bar, reception and lounge areas. Together with Sacha Dunnett, our interior designer, they have worked incredibly hard to redesign these spaces to exude luxury – whilst maintaining comfort and functionality for our guests.

“The positive feedback from staff and guests alike really does speak for itself – and it certainly makes these large-scale, time-sensitive, stress-inducing projects all worth it in the end!

“As ever, we will do all that we can to keep raising standards in Blackpool and exceeding guests’ expectations by continuing to enhance our offering. We’re already excited to see what next year will bring!”

Meanwhile, the Sheraton bedrooms adopt three different designs, some of which are the work of Liz herself, inspired by her own artworks which also adorn the walls.

She said: “We stripped the bedrooms right back to their brickwork and changed absolutely every item within it, from the wiring and plumbing to the final decorative cushions and artefacts.

"What we result in is a lovely combination of bedrooms that feel like home, with extravagant decor, comfortable gel-topped beds and bespoke upholstered chairs and beautifully lit marble-look bathrooms.”

The investment marks the latest chapter in the family’s long history as hoteliers, which began nearly 60 years ago when the siblings’ parents Irene and John Seddon took over The Elgin, with the help of John’s mother, Dodo.

In 2015, the Hotel Sheraton was purchased; a milestone moment marking Liz’s long-anticipated official entry into the family business.

Liz and her team are now also celebrating recently winning their latest accolade - second place in The Lancashire Tourism Awards Best Large Hotel category.