Metropole owners Britannia issue major security update as Blackpool demands action at former asylum hotel
“We recognise the importance of the building as a valued Blackpool landmark and are engaged in constructive conversation with local stakeholders as we explore our options to re-establish the hotel as a respected community asset.”
The owners of Blackpool’s Metropole Hotel have issued a major update on the building’s security and future after urban explorers went viral with videos showing its abandoned interior.
In the video filmed by the Derelict Detective, the Metropole could be seen in varying states of disrepair, with abandoned plates and tables stacked up and sections of flooring and tiling damaged beyond repair.
The Metropole, which is owned by Britannia Hotels, closed its doors as a traditional hotel in September 2021 when it was taken over by the government to house migrants and asylum seekers. The arrangement was initially meant to last for three months but continued for almost five years until the final asylum seekers left over the summer.
Calls for Britannia Hotels to restore the hotel back to its former glory and reopen fully have been growing loudly in recent weeks, with Blackpool South MP Chris Webb describing the situation as ‘not good enough’.
In light of the recent break-in and mounting reopening pressure, Britannia Hotels has now reiterated their plans to ‘re-establish the hotel as a respected community asset’. A spokesperson told the Gazette: “We are aware of videos circulating online of the Metropole Hotel from urban explorers.
“The building was entered via an access point for colleagues who are conducting assessments of the property. We have reviewed the security arrangements at the site to ensure appropriate measures are in place while these appraisals are ongoing.
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“We recognise the importance of the building as a valued Blackpool landmark and are engaged in constructive conversation with local stakeholders as we explore our options to re-establish the hotel as a respected community asset.”
MP Chris Webb has been vocal about the importance of The Metropole to Blackpool’s tourism industry. In August, he and Anna Turley, the Minister of State for Border Security and Asylum, toured the hotel as part of a pledge to permanently end the use of asylum hotels in Blackpool.
Mrs Turley praised the “gorgeous” hotel and said it could now return to bringing people to the town and adding to the heritage and the history of the area.
Now, the Blackpool South MP has called on Britannia to make good on their promises to restore the Metropole. “I’ve been clear since I became our MP - the Metropole must be properly invested in, fully refurbished and returned to serving Blackpool’s tourism industry,” He said.
“Leaving it standing empty is not good enough. Reports of people gaining access this week raise serious questions about how Britannia is protecting this historic building.
“My message to Britannia is simple. If you’re not prepared to invest properly in the Metropole, sell it to investors who will. Having received millions whilst it was used as an asylum hotel for years, you cannot expect Blackpool to wait indefinitely for investment in its future.
“This hotel occupies one of the finest positions on our seafront. It should be welcoming visitors, supporting local jobs and standing proudly as a jewel in Blackpool’s crown. Britannia must now show they have the ambition and commitment to make that happen, or step aside for someone who does.”
Britannia did not answer the Gazette’s questions about a potential timeline for the hotel’s reopening. Blackpool Council and Visit Blackpool were also approached for comment.