Blackpool hotel branded ‘Filthy Towers’ by customers

The owner of a 30-bedroom hotel has been prosecuted for the second time for having dirty conditions which put the public at risk.

Out of 820 mentions on Trip Advisor, 588 rated the Golden Beach Hotel on South Promenade as “ terrible” with complaints about cleanliness, facilities and safety.

One of the reviewers referred to the premises as ‘Filthy Towers’.

The Golden Beach has just been re-named the Grand Beach but remains in the same ownership.

In 2009, 71-year-old owner Aheed Sultan who lives on the premises was fined £3,700 and ordered to pay £990 costs for having filthy kitchens.

Yesterday he was prosecuted by Blackpool Council and admitted two further offences of failing to comply with food safety laws and was fined a total of £1,245.

Lynda Bennett prosecuting at Blackpool Magistrates Court, said the council remains concerned about the state of the premises which has also been providing meals to guests at its sister hotel The Albany a few yards away.

She told the court rubbish, including old beds, was piled up at the rear of the premises and there was a risk of rats and mice getting inside the hotel.

Kitchen surfaces were also dirty.

Christopher Newton, defending,said the owner admitted that standards had slipped to an unacceptable state but had now improved.

“My client has been in the industry for 30 years and feels shamed about what happened,” he added.

A spokesman for the hotel said:”We are investing in the hotel.”