PROJECT UPDATE: £12m South Shore hotel

What’s happening?

Work is progressing well on the site of a once locally listed pub, to build a £12m hotel to further boost Blackpool’s modern visitor offer.

Council bosses gave the go-ahead in December for the demolition of The Star pub which had also gone under the name of The Apple and Parrot.

How long had it been there?

The original Star Inn that stood on the spot at Ocean Boulevard was knocked down in 1931.

It has been said to be the oldest bar in the town at the time, not the oldest licence, but the oldest original bar - the pub dating back to the 19th Century.

It was used as a dressing station in the First World War and before the Promenade was extended down South Shore, stood close to the dunes.

What sort of Hotel?

Pleasure Beach boss Amanda Thompson announced the ambitious plans for the 120 bedroom hotel with conference facilities in November 2017.

Planning permission was given and work began to demolish the Star and some buildings close to the Pleasure Beach entrance.

They are aiming to make it above four star standard.

It is designed to complement the Big Blue Hotel nearby, which regularly gets VIP visitors such as film director Tim Burton and the dancers and crew from Strictly Come Dancing. Ms Thompson said: “We want to build on the success of The Big Blue Hotel and be able to offer visitors another hotel which exceeds the expectations of both leisure and business visitors.”

When will it open?

The developers are aiming to open the hotel in 2019.

How many jobs?

Amanda Thompson estimated at the time of the announcement that it would create around 70 jobs, 30 of which would be year round.