ART B&B Blackpool
Ian Jones, Food and Drink Editor
ART B&B, is a brand new hotel along the seafront of Blackpool showcasing the best that Blackpool has to offer with 18 different themed rooms, curated by the UK’s leading artists.
The hotel’s 18 rooms range from King Sea View, Ocean Suites, King Size to Single and Twin rooms. Each room focuses on a different theme and has been designed by a different artist with an individual story to tell.
The Ocean Suites, Willy Little and Now You See It, Now You Don’t, include panoramic windows providing stunning sea views and sunsets overlooking the beach. Encompassing art throughout, they house a unique sleep-in art installation, luxury bedroom with a king-size bed, en-suite bathroom with deluxe rainfall shower and luxurious bath and a separate lounge with its own cocktail bar and a projector with a drop-down movie screen.
Here are details of some of the rooms available to book:
The ‘Willy Little’ suite by artist Mel Brimfield celebrates the career of fictional entertainer Willy Little and his performances at ‘The Ocean Hotel’ – the former name of ART B&B. The suite is adorned with performance posters, showbiz signage and whole walls of text that evoke the spirit of theatrical seaside entertainers (real and imagined).
The ‘Now You See it, Now You Don’t’ suite was created by artist and writer Professor Tim Etchells. His intimate-scale, gallery quality neon sculpture playfully evokes the mystery and delight of another era’s popular entertainment.
Stunning sea views of the North Beach and glorious sunsets
The King Sea View Rooms, Augusto, Carnesky and McClure, include a super comfy king size bed, Smart TV, a sea-view reading area, and original exposed brick walls. The three king sea view rooms are situated directly on the seafront, the spacious rooms have large bay windows with stunning sea views of the North Beach and glorious sunsets.
The magical room ‘Augusto’ was created by artist and magician Augusto Corrieri, and features images and tricks that are hidden behind small velvet curtains. The real magic happens when guests fall asleep and they conjure imagination and creativity in the right side of the brain to help combat the restlessness of ‘the first night effect’.
The room of performers, ‘Carnesky’, was designed by Creative Director Dr. Marisa Carnesky who has adorned the evocative and spacious room with showgirl and show-woman inspired ephemera, including pieces of costume and artefacts that embody the experiences of women performers, past and present, who have graced Blackpool’s legendary stages.
The ‘McClure’ room is a sleep-in installation by artist Mark McClure, which has bold coloured patterns and panels that spread across walls and ceilings. It also has a LED lighting system which can be controlled via a remote control.
The King Size bedrooms, ‘Moon’, ‘Deco Cinema’, ‘Peep Fiction’, ‘Soundscape’, ‘Lumiere Cinema’, ‘The Queer Room’ and ‘Comfortable’ all their have their own unique sleep-in art installation, each by a different artist, a king-size bed, a reading area and a Smart TV as well as dedicated superfast broadband. They have luxurious en-suite bathrooms with a deluxe rainfall shower.
“The Moon Room” has been created for guests by the artist Adrian Pritchard. Inspired by the discovery of planets orbiting other star systems known as ‘exoplanets’, Adrian has twinned these discoveries with his own creations to visualise these new worlds like precious jewels. The largest one is Proxima Centauri B.
A memorable and dreamlike cinematic experience
A memorable and dreamlike cinematic experience, the ‘Deco Cinema’ rooms, draws inspiration from Blackpool’s rich entertainment history, specifically the art deco cinemas of the early 20th century. Guests can relive the sense of occasion and excitement of a trip to the cinema in the comfort of a contemporary bedroom. With the deco-inspired design features and comfortable and high-quality modern projection equipment, settle down for a stay full of cinematic bliss. Guests can soak up the golden age of cinema with decorative vintage pieces from the 1930s and stylish furnishings suitable for the needs of 21st century visitors.
The ‘Peep Fiction Room’ at first glance, is a simple contemporary hotel room with all the comforts guests would expect, but it has been created with a twist by artist Noah Rose. Cunningly hidden around the room (and in other locations around the hotel) are a number of stereoscopic photographic viewers exploring the hidden histories of Blackpool, bringing to light the stories of a number of remarkable and curious figures.
The ‘Soundscape’ room has been designed by choreographer and dancer Louise Ahl, the room includes multiple speakers built into the room, and even into the bed, creating a hypnotic sound installation that focuses on choreographed sound and stories, moving the guest in and out of meditative states.
‘The Lumiere Cinema Room’ is a spacious bedroom that has been created by the artist Lumiere in a contemporary art deco style with a huge cinema screen, HD projector and enhanced sound. It has specially chosen furniture and wallpaper and 1930s style wall lights to help guests spend the night dreaming of being the star in their own movie premiere.
For those who need a rest – rest from work fatigue, life fatigue or chronic pain
The Comfortable Room’, meanwhile, has been designed by the artists Jenny Gaskell and Lisa Mattocks as a ‘place of wonder, a place to dream.’ The room is aimed at those who need a rest – rest from work fatigue, life fatigue or chronic pain.
The twin bedroom room, the ‘Progress’ room, has two extra comfy full-size single beds that can also be joined together to form one king size. It has its own unique sleep-in art installation, superfast dedicated broadband and an en-suite bathroom in a zingy colour with a deluxe rainfall shower and shiny German and Swedish fittings.
The ‘Progress Room’ has been designed by the artist Mark Titchner and is based on unrealised 1935 neon designs for Blackpool illuminations by French lighting company Claudegen. The title reflects civic design and aspiration in Blackpool whose town motto is ‘Progress’.
Spend the night dreaming of searing neon reflected on seafront limousines
It has specially chosen lighting and relaxing green colour to help you spend the night dreaming of searing neon reflected on seafront limousines.
The single room, the ‘Badge Room’, has been designed by artists Catherine Peters and Claire Griffiths and includes an array of glowing badges, slogans and aphorisms that chart the people and places of Blackpool’s collective experiences and alternative tourism.
The bijou single traveller room, whilst compact, still has everything guests need, including a very comfy single bed, dedicated superfast broadband and an en-suite bathroom in zingy colours with its own deluxe rainfall shower.
The June suite staycation package is available to book now by calling ART B&B on 01253 708061. Priced at £129 per night for a three-night stay with the fourth night free.
ART B&B is a destination stay offering high-quality rooms, a stylish café bar and a live performance venue, with social purpose at its heart. As a Community Interest Company, ART B&B aims to reinvest in the community through creativity and art. Choose ART B&B for your Blackpool visit and you’ll be supporting the arts whilst you sleep.
