37 amazing pictures inside Blackpool’s £3.5m newest hotel ahead of grand opening

A landmark Blackpool seafront building has been transformed into a luxury boutique destination as The Glass Tower prepares to open its doors following a £3.5m year-long refurbishment.

These 37 stunning pictures offer a first look inside Blackpool’s newest hotel ahead of its grand opening on April 11.

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Formerly the Royal Carlton on Central Promenade, the building was acquired by Central Beach Leisure in March 2025 and completely redeveloped from the ground up with no expense spared.

The Glass Tower now boasts 38 stylish rooms and a brand-new restaurant and bar, XI, as its owners aim to create a standout, high-end venue in the heart of the resort.

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Joseph Boniface Architects designed the new hotel, Thompson Contractors - which helped create Gordon Ramsay's Lucky Cat Restaurant in London - worked on the bar and restaurant, and Investworth Homes planned and furnished the hotel bedroom areas.

“The past year has been crazy, but we’re so glad we did it,” said a Director from Central Beach Leisure. “When we first purchased the building, we had the option of opening for the summer season and then close and do it floor by floor over the winter, but we took the decision to close for an entire year, strip it all back to bare brick, and do it properly.

“We’re all pulling together to try and create what we hope will be an iconic venue in Blackpool; we want to create something new and exciting, something you can’t get anywhere else.”