Room Photos

We took some photos yesterday while it was still a bit grey and now that it is gloriously sunny when we go to take some more, the camera battery has died!  Ah well.  Hopefully you will still be able to see some of our new decor in the rooms.  

This is one of the smaller twins on the first floor back corridor.  Needs more light for the photo unfortunately.

 We are redecorating this single and moving around the bed - still a few bits and pieces to be done!

 These are two of our doubles located on the back corridor of the first floor.

 We are redecorating one of the triples on the first floor, so hopefully it will turn out like the other triple pictured further down! 

 This is one of the singles on the smoking corridor (second floor).

 This is one of the doubles on the smoking floor, recently redecorated and swapped from being a twin room.

 This is one of the larger twins on the smoking corridor (there are two rooms this size) and one slightly smaller.

 This is one half of the redecorated triple room on the second floor (Room 215).  

 And the other half of the room, now with bunk beds instead of a single bed with a pullout bed.

Let us know what you think by leaving a comment.  As soon as we have the other rooms finished we shall post some more photos.  

Updated Website

We've made a few little changes to our website and will be adding some new photos to the gallery this week too.  We were hoping to add them today but as it's a bit grey looking outside the light isn't so great for photos!  Booo!

Unfortunately we've had a few coach trips cancel their bookings this month and in early June too!  It seems the economy is still keeping people at home.  We've introduced some Early Bird discounts on the online booking site as well as Late Availability discounts too but they don't seem to be coming in as much as we'd like.  It's very sad especially when the weather for the most part has been pretty decent. 

There are lots of events happening in Blackpool over the summer including Armed Forces Week, the UK Taekwondo Festival, Manchester to Blackpool Cycle Ride and the Car Run to name a few.  If you're planning on particpating then we hope you'll choose to stay with us for a few days. 

Can you believe it is already the third week of May?  The year is just flying by... before you know it, it'll be Christmas!!
EALT

More Updating Projects

have been going on in the last few days.  We started to redecorate and move around some furniture in 3 of our bedrooms.  One of them is now finished (bar the headboard needing re-attached) and the second is underway.  We are also refitting a new shower unit to one of the first floor bedrooms.  We seem to have had nothing but problems with it over the last year and so now we have a quiet week it is getting a new shower tray, having new taps and shower head, the walls are being re-plastered and cladded and fingers crossed the moved pipework will give us no more issues!  There is certainly always something needing to be seen to in a hotel with it's almost constant use.  Hopefully we manage to stay on top of it as best we can without a resident Mr (or Mrs) Fix-It-All!
Our lovely Enderby brass band guests left on Sunday after the competition.  This coming weekend there is the Electric Garden Festival held at the Beat club in the town centre.  We are a featured accommodation on the website so if you have tickets or are planning to get some, we still have some rooms left for the weekend.  If you like Progressive Rock then this is the newest Festival for you.
The Dance Festival starts on 26 May and this is the 86th year it has been held!  At least 60 countries were represented last year and this year is bound to be the same.  Blackpool certainly has a good reputation for Ballroom and Latin dancing as there are 5 Festivals held here throughout the year.  We have previously had a lot of champions stay with us but lately we've had more people involved behind the scenes - dressmakers, hairdressers, stall holders and so on.  
We are getting a lot busier for the Punk Festival held in August.  All our singles are taken so we have only doubles, twins and family rooms left.  There is an extensive list of bands performing between 4-7 August and tickets for the event are still available from the site.  If you book now for the Rebellion event you will qualify for an Early Bird discount on our online booking page, saving you 10%!
We'll post some photos of our updated rooms as soon as we can.  Unfortunately the weather has been a bit miserable the last couple of days so the light isn't so great for photos.
EALT

Young Farmers

We are in the middle of a very busy Young Farmers weekend.  We always have the same club stay with us who book out the whole hotel.  Mostly they are well behaved but there are always a few (and not even from our resident club) who cause some problems.  Everyone leaves on Monday and then we have a quiet week before we have the Band Competition over the next weekend.
After that the Dance Festival starts until June 6.  We have a group of Japanese guests staying with us as well as people from the Netherlands, USA, Russia and so on.  A very international group.  We still have a few rooms left for the Festival as well as the Band event so please get in touch.
We've changed our prices on the third party online booking sites and have also added numerous Special Offers including breakfast and some with dinner.  Our Festive Breaks have also been added so if you're looking for a Turkey Tinsel or a few days away at Christmas or New Year then check out the deals on offer.  We certainly have a lot going on over the Festive Season and all our guests have a great time.
The weather in Blackpool has been spectacularly good for the last few weeks.  Lots of lovely sunshine and temperatures are mostly over 16 degrees.  The last couple of days though have been a bit miserable and rainy.  Although now the sun is out again and fingers crossed it will stick around again!
Why not book a quick Monday to Friday break on our site to take advantage of the sunshine?  Bed and breakfast for 4 nights for £70 per person - a definite bargain!
EALT

Updates

We have updated the online booking prices through our third party sites and included lots of Special Offers for our Turkey Tinsel breaks as well as our Christmas and New Year Festive stays.  We know it might seem early to be this organised but we have already had some enquiries!  
We have a coach booked in for Christmas with Harry Shaw, so if you're from the Coventry area and surrounding then get in touch with them to include your transport in the package. 
Aberfeldy Motors have been bringing a coach or two to us at New Year for a long time and this year is no exception.  If you live in Scotland then please get in touch with them to make a Hogmanay booking including transport to La Tour.
We have some Early Bird discounts online too if you book more than 60 days in advance (but these don't apply to our Special Offers).  And certain dates have Late Availability discounts too, so check back regularly for a great last minute deal.  There is always a 2 night minimum throughout the year so when searching be sure to check that.
Only two days to the Royal Wedding now and unfortunately our flagpoles have yet to arrive! So much for getting them up and flags waving for Friday morning...
Have a lovely double Bank Holiday!
EALT

Easter

...is here and we have a busy weekend ahead of us.  We have a regular group visting from Scotland and a few individuals too.  Still have about 7 double rooms left if you are looking to get away for the weekend.  Two nights bed and breakfast for £60 per person. 
We also have about 8 twin rooms left for the Royal Wedding Weekend, again £60 each person for 2 nights or stay for 3 nights for £90 each.  Speaking of the Wedding we have organised some flags to be fitted to the front of the hotel.  We are planning on flying them for the rest of the year so have organised some proper flag poles to be fitted.  As soon as they are up and flying we shall take some photos to post here.
The weather this past week to ten days have been glorious.  It is a bit cloudy today but it's still warm enough for shorts.  VERY unlikely weather for April, don't you think?  Let's hope it lasts through the month and on into Summer. 
Happy Easter.
EALT

More Arrivals

Blackpool is hosting the USDAW conference and so we have a few guests here for that.  We also have another coach arriving from Scotland on Monday for the week.  Then next weekend is Easter and we are about 2/3 full.  If you want to take a short break in Blackpool over the holidays then please come stay with us and enjoy our cabaret and, so far, lovely sunny days.
We have been recruiting staff for the season and so have some new faces for those of you who are regular guests.  Considering the economic climate and the so-called high unemployment levels it has been quite difficult finding experienced and personable staff who will fit in with those already here and be capable of lending their hand to any task required.  
Our second floor twin has been finished off into a double.  I'll add some photos as soon as it's current occupiers leave!  The next project is another twin being made into a double but on the first floor.  However we may not start it until after the Royal Wedding as we have another coach here then.
Hoping to see some of you soon.
EALT

We Are Now Officially Open

every day until after the Illuminations!  It seems to have taken a long time for the season to get started this year but it's finally here and we're all set to go.  We have two coaches in this midweek - Aberfeldy Motors and David Urquhart Travel both from Scotland.  Neither coach is full so if you're in or around Blackpool we still have a few rooms available.
Our regular visitors will know that we offer sandwiches and tea/coffee in the afternoons each day.  We are also starting to offer other yummy treats/snacks too, such as chocolate brownies, flapjacks, scones with jam and cream and so on.  All will be made on the premises so you can be sure they will be delicious.
This weekend is the Grand National.  We have a coach arriving on Friday afternoon who are visiting the track on the Saturday.  We also have a few small groups of people but again there are still a couple of rooms available if you would like to come to Blackpool for a "flutter!"  We have a full programme of cabaret each evening too.
As for our updating projects we have one room being redecorated and changed from a twin to a double right now.  After that we will be slowly working our way through the rooms that need it.  There is another single to tackle and update, another twin changing to a double and a few that could do with some new wallpaper or repainting, just to keep things how we like.
Let us know what you think of our progress so far by leaving a comment.
EALT

More Updating Projects

... are in the works.  We've been redecorating some of the rooms on the smoking corridor and one of the singles is finished.  We're starting work on a twin room that we're making into a double as it is one of the smaller twins being located on the rear corridor.  As you can gather there is always work to do in a hotel!  We'll try to post some photos of the redecorated room but the weather today is very grey so we'll wait for a sunny day to take the pics.  It's been gorgeous weather the last few days so fingers crossed it will come back soon.

The Grand National is in two weekends time and we still have a few rooms available for it.  Then two weeks after that it is Easter!  Can you believe how fast this year has gone by? 

EALT

Online Booking Page

Our new online booking page is up and running!!  Why not check it out to make a reservation with us?  It's really easy to use too and similar to a lot of online shopping carts.  All you have to do is choose the type of room you'd like and click Add to Cart.  The default price shown is for our low season (January to June) and for Room Only.  If you want bed and breakfast or dinner, bed and breakfast then you can choose those in the options drop down box.  You can also choose to stay at a different time of year in the options too.  Once you've chosen your options the price shown will change and then again, you just click Add to Cart. 

Once you've chosen all the rooms and options you require your Cart will update showing you the total for the rooms booked.  Please note that the price shown is for one night's stay only unless you are booking for a stay in the high season (September & October) when it will show the total for the option you've chosen (either Monday to Friday or Friday to Monday or both).  The Cart is held by Paypal and is Verisign Secured. 

You will then click Proceed to Checkout where it will ask you to Login to Paypal (if you have an account) or you can choose the "Don't have an account" link to pay with your credit/debit card or bank account (where available).  If you choose the 'no account' option you will then be asked to enter your details including name, address, post code, telephone and email address.  You will also be asked to choose the type of card you wish to use for payment and be required to complete the details.  Please note that we do not receive your card details at any point.  You then need to click Review Order and Continue.

This will take you to a new page for you to double check that all the information supplied is correct.  The last and most important option you need to complete is the "Add Special Instructions to Merchant" box.  When you click on the link a box appears.  Please put the dates you wish to stay in this box and any special requests you have for your stay.  Perhaps you want a smoking room or need a room near the lift.  Click Save below the box and then click Pay Now at the bottom of the page.  Paypal will confirm your payment (if it is successful) and you will be able to print a receipt if you wish and create a Paypal account with the information you supplied.

We receive an email with your information and we will then send you a confirmation email.  If you have missed any required information we will request it at this stage.  Please note that your booking is not confirmed until you have received an email direct from us (not the Paypal confirmation email).  We will detail any balance due and cofirm whether your special requests are able to be met.

We hope it will be easy for you to use and you can make a booking in just a few short clicks!  Please let us know if you have any problems with it as it is a new service we're providing and we want to avoid any teething problems if we can.

Thanks
EALT

Patio Photos & Other News

So these are the new tiles on the patio area.  As you can see we still have a few smaller jobs to do, like repainting the walls and we're going to fit a new door to the under stairs cupboard.  But with the biggest job done it's now just a case of waiting for the weather to stay dry long enough to get the other bits done.

So what do you think?  Let us know by leaving a comment.  We're going to change the header photo at the top when we have our new flowers planted.

Next weekend there is a fitness convention in town at the Winter Gardens.  We still have a few rooms left for this so please get in touch for a great rate.  We're also adding our own online booking option onto our website.  We'll post more information on here when it's up and running.
EALT

Patio is finished

Hurrah! The patio has been re-tiled.  And it's looking great, we think.  We'll add some photos when it stops raining.  The tilers did a great job and managed to get it done before the week's out, even with the rain starting again.  Thank you fellas. 

Now all that's left is to put the chairs and table back, our little Buddha that overlooks the space and the planters.  We'll be adding some new hanging baskets and greenery into the space too but that won't happen for a few weeks.  We'll add some photos of it all once it's full and blooming.

We're getting closer to Easter now and the start of the season.  There's lots of exciting developments happening in the town too.  The Tower is having a major facelift and entry fees to the building have been scrapped.  The waxworks are also having an upgrade and are becoming a Madame Tussauds.  There is ongoing work on the Promenade upgrading the sea defences and extending the headlands.  And lots more!!  We hope you will come visit us at La Tour and check out our upgrades as well as enjoy the town.  Call us on 01253 624888 to make your booking.
EALT

The New Front Steps

are finished and looking lovely, we think!  Unfortunately it's not very sunny today so excuse the photos looking a bit dull.  But here they are ...

Similar to the previous tiles but these are non-slip (apparently).  The patio tiles have been removed and the previous layer of bright red paint is coming up today.  Going to be quite dusty I think! This is the patio as it currently looks:

Hoping to have the patio finished by the end of the week - weather permitting.  Let us know what you think by leaving a comment.
EALT

We started our new project on Monday - the replacement of our front step tiles.  The weather held out all day Monday and Tuesday but it started raining a bit today so they've finished early.  The below photo is from Monday - the top level of tiles have come off and we found a couple of old tiles too underneath so they've all come off and it's been taken right back to the cement level.

The photo below shows the new cement being laid to even out any cracks and holes they found.  Has been quite the job not being able to use the front steps and so the mailman and deliveries have all had to find other ways to reach us!  It's been very tempting to go put a handprint in the wet cement!!

                              

The patio area is also being re-tiled so the step tiles have been taken off on Tuesday and the patio area was removed today.

The guys who've been working on it this week are heading to another job tomorrow so we have a new chap for the rest of the week.  They expect the steps to be done by the end of Thursday, weather permitting of course!  Will add more photos as work progresses.

What do you think of the work done so far?  Leave us a comment.

EALT

Spring is Coming

and just to prove it we have planted some lovely flowers in our boxes by the front stairs.  I certainly hope the cold spells don't come back and freeze our little lovelies.  The weather has been very good this past week so our Aberfeldy guests have had a ball.  They leave us tomorrow and it's over a month before their bus heads our way again.  
Our new tiling for the front steps and patio starts on Monday morning; fingers crossed the weather holds out.  We're also doing some reorganising of storage spaces so that the things we need can be found in the right places.  It's amazing the things that "disappear" in this building.  Stock taking is another project for next week too.  
Always lots to do in a place like this.  If you like our posts and photos then please let us know by leaving a comment.  Especially if you've been a guest with us recently or are coming to visit soon.

Thanks for reading.
EALT

More Work

We will be starting our next project next week.  This past winter was very very cold and consequently the tiles on the front steps have started to come loose.  Granted they have been down for over 10 years but until this winter they have fared very well.  So our plan is to re-tile the whole front steps and the patio area too.  You can see on the banner photo at the top what it currently looks like.  We'll add some more photos as the work begins and progress is made.

We've had some lovely comments from our Magicians and our current Aberfeldy Motors clients about the bar and hall area.  Jerry (the coach driver) says it "looks like the hall has been made wider" which isn't the case but the paint and new flooring does make it seem bigger.  Also one guest mentioned that the bar looks bigger and brighter with the raised area now gone.  Everyone is loving it so far and we hope you will soon pay us a visit to check it out for yourself.

Please leave us a comment below with your thoughts or ideas.
EALT

Finished!!

So we've finally got the hotel back to normal!!  Check out the photos below to see the newly refurbished hall, bar and room 308.  

 The hall

 The bar

 More of the bar

 The bottom end of the bar

Room 308

We've also done a bit of recruitment for staff for the coming season.  The first person is a girl called Eva and we have two others starting on Friday.  Once everyone is settled in we may well add some staff photos on here too.

Our first guests have started to arrive for the Showzam Festival / Magicians Conference.  The rest arrive tomorrow and so we are sure to have a busy weekend as all rooms are taken.  Let's hope they enjoy the new bar.  The only thing we have left to do in there is put back the moveable seats but they are still being re-covered so we should have those in by next week.  We're also considering repainting the tables - what do you think?  Leave us a comment.

EALT

Room 308 is finished!

Hurrah!  The carpet has been laid and so now it is just a case of getting the bed and drawers into the room. As soon as the cleaners have been inside and it is all put together I will post some photos for you readers.  We have our first guest staying in it next Wednesday so I sure hope they like it!  
The bar is coming along nicely.  The wallpapering is pretty much finished, the new seating units have gone in and as soon as the flooring is finished the cushioning will be put on.  It's lovely looking and I hope our guests will enjoy it.  We should be able to get all the bar glasses and drinks etc back behind the bar this weekend so finally I will have some space to move around again in the office.
There was a power cut this morning and so consequently the fire alarm started going not long after!  Quite the palaver.  We're also trying to reorganise some of the back room areas so that the accumulated rubbish from redecorated rooms gets removed and we only keep what we need to.  It's quite the task though sorting through it all and as you can imagine there is 30+ years worth of various things that have found their way into the numerous storage places we have.  
We've also started to repaint the woodwork in the hall so that should be finished also by the weekend.
Check out the photos below of the new seating - let us know what you think!
EALT

Photos of Our Upgrading Projects

The bar starts to come apart

 The raised seating area is coming out

The wallpaper comes off 

 Very little remains of the seating

Looking to the dance floor area

Lots of rubbish to be collected

All the raised seating now gone!

The bar has new wood

The wooden ceiling has been repainted

Another view of the new wood bar

We've removed the hall carpet as it is having new floor, like the bar

We'll add more photos as the work progresses.  We have more guests arriving on 16 February so fingers crossed we'll have everything finished by then!!

Let us know what you think so far...

EALT

Upgrading 308

We have started to strip out all the furniture and decoration from room 308.  This was previously a double but is one of the rooms we are altering to a single.  We have the new layout all sorted out and we're heading out to get the materials and new wallpaper for it today.  It'll match some of the other rooms we've recently redecorated on the 3rd floor (namely 310 and 309) so if you've recently stayed in those rooms you'll know what we're aiming for.  

We're fitting in a new open wardrobe, the sink will stay in the same place but will be in a new worktop and we're also extending it so there is a dressing table space.  All the furniture is going to be a birch colour and decoration is a soft green.

Once we get further into it we'll add some photos of the progress. (EDIT - done, see below)

 The wardrobe and wallpaper are removed

 New plastering for certain sections

 The new sink unit 

 The new wardrobe space

The new decoration is about to be started

Can you believe it is almost the middle of January already? Where does the time go?

EALT (everyone at La Tour!)

Welcome to Our Blog!

Hi there! Welcome to our new blog.  Here we'll try to keep you updated with the news from Blackpool and what is happening specifically at La Tour.  We also want to postany special offers and discounts on our website first so check back regularly to see what's going on!

Our new year guests left us on Jan 4 and we've been getting all the rooms tidied in preparation for updating.  Some rooms are going to be stripped out and completely redecorated and others are just going to get new paintwork, updated soft furnishings and the like.  We've been going around all the rooms to see what needs doing to each and will gradually get it done throughout the early season.

Our biggest project is updating the bar.  It has been in its current design for at least 5 years, the raised seating area has been there for at least 20!  We've decided to get rid of the raised area and make it one level throughout.  The wallpaper and new fabric has been chosen for the seating and now we are just waiting for the builders to come in and start to rip it all out.  We'll post some photos of it as it happens so you can see the progress.

If you have any comments you want to add please do so.  We'd love to hear what you think about the projects and any suggestions (within reason!) you have for our little place.

Warmest New Year Wishes to all

Everyone at La Tour