North Ocean Hotel

The North Ocean Hotel is housed in a Victorian building right on the seafront promenade. There's a paved area with limited parking out front and a first-floor terrace with guest seating, so long as the bracing chilly Blackpool sea breeze permits. A corner reception desk greets guests, and the common areas include a masculine Ocean Bar lounge area and an adjacent ground-floor dining room that looks out to the hotel’s car park and the Blackpool promenade. This is a peaceful destination for book worms and people watching, or those in town to enjoy the sea. Kids under age 14 aren't allowed, and there's a strict policy against bachelor and bachelorette parties, making it a popular spot for couples and singles seeking a relaxed hotel with good food and sea views. 

The North Ocean Hotel is located across the road from the Blackpool Beach, on the popular tourist strip of Blackpool’s seafront promenade, surrounded by other hotels. The ever popular Blackpool Pleasure Beach and amusement park is a 14-minute car ride or 18-minute tram journey from the hotel, and features roller coasters and other family-friendly attractions. Blackpool Tower -- known as the Eiffel Tower of Lancashire -- is five minutes away by car, and Houndshill Shopping Center -- with more than 40 shops -- is a six-minute drive. The tram is a popular mode of transport around Blackpool, with the nearest stop located a two-minute stroll from the hotel. Blackpool North, the city’s main train station, is a four-minute drive from the hotel, and Manchester Airport is just over one hour away by car (two hours away by train). 

The hotel’s 27 rooms have a straightforward, modern style that's more functional than fashionable, with blank walls, crisp white linens, and beach cottage-style pinewood furniture. There are six room types to choose from, ranging from the most basic and pokey Single and Small Double Rooms, to higher-end suites with lounge areas and sea views. True to their name, the Single and Small Double Rooms are tiny. Dark cherry- or sandalwood-colored curtains paired with patterned carpet to inject some color into the otherwise simple interiors. Overall, rooms satisfy with simplicity, offering free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs without cable, and electric kettles. Bathrooms are cramped, with compact floor space made to feel larger by simple light and modern interiors; cheaper rooms offer boxy walk-in showers, while higher category rooms feature shower/tub combos. Trams are audible from some sea-facing rooms, but the rumble is not loud enough to cause a nuisance. Certain suites come with balconies that have sea views, though they aren't private, and the ocean is visible from certain other rooms throughout the hotel. Rooms do not have air-conditioning.

The North Ocean Hotel’s biggest draw for many locals and tourists alike is its much-raved-about Stone Grill Restaurant, which serves a modern bistro style menu that’s a cut above traditional pub grub found in the area including its signature meals served on hot stone platters. A free made-to-order breakfast and cold buffet is available daily, with a traditional full English spread including smoked kippers, vegetarian options, lighter cereals, and porridge. There’s also a small outdoor communal guest terrace that’s shared with Superior Double Room balconies. The front desk is manned 24/7 and free Wi-Fi is available in all areas of the hotel. A small guest parking lot is available on-site, with additional public parking located in the nearby Warley Road.