Iconic Blackpool shop set to be repurposed into a hotel

Vacant upper floors at an iconic Blackpool shopping centre could be converted into a hotel after the building was acquired by Nottingham property developer ALB Group.

The Art Deco-style building, located next to Blackpool Tower, was home to Pricebusters for nearly three decades until 2007. Sports Direct recently vacated the building to relocate to the nearby Houndshill Shopping Centre, leaving more vacant units.

The ground floor space continues to be occupied by Poundland and Wetherspoons. 

ALB specialises in breathing new life into disused buildings. It has recently purchased the Sailmakers Shopping Centre in Ipswich, the Ortongate Shopping Centre in Peterborough, and a raft of shops in Nottingham and Derby.

Arran Bailey, managing director of ALB Group, said: “The old Pricebusters building is without a doubt one of the most iconic buildings in Blackpool.

"Unfortunately, as the cost-of-living crisis begins to bite, we are losing so many shops from the Great British high street and we need to do all we can to prevent this from happening.” 

Arran added: "By taking over this unit, we hope that a hotel chain will be encouraged to occupy the top floors. The space has great sea views, it overlooks the promenade. It would be the ideal location for a hotelier. 

“We also feel that a hotel chain or an independent boutique hotel would be brilliant for footfall in the area and well received by other local retailers.”

The building has a rich history.  In 1916 Woolworths bought 53-65 Bank Hey Street, then quickly acquired the rest of the corner site. 

Work began on the store in 1936 and by 1938 it was open and trading. It was the largest and most modern of 2,000 Woolworths around the world. It closed in April 1985, and opened as the Pricebusters indoor market.