My Blackpool guesthouse was hit with a prohibition order but will reopen better than ever with Benidorm theme

Blackpool Council slapped the order on the OYO Blarney Stone over a list of serious safety concerns, including bare wires and structural concerns.

The authority put up a notice outside the Alexandra Road property, in South Shore, to ensure the public was aware of the ction.

But William Thomas, boss of the establishment, says there has been a misunderstand in people';s minds about of what the order meant, as the Blarney Stone was shut down,

He says he agrees with the council action and will not be opening until the issues are put right.

He said: “I accept what the council is saying, we have not been open to the public all this time and no one has been at risk.

“I am working with Blackpool Council to make sure everything is fine when we open in the next few weeks.

“They have found some electrical faults and we agree that should be sorted out and the work is bi8ng done.

“It's the same with the ceiling issue in the cellar.

“I m not a bad operator and in fact the hotel will be changing its name when it reopens and will have a fresh start.”

Mr Thmas says the 12-room establishment is to be transformed into a fun establishment themed around the hit TV programme Benidorm, and will be named the Benipool Solano Style Hotel.

An Emergency Prohibition Order (EPO) is a legal action taken by a local housing authority to immediately prohibit the use of a residential property (or part of it) when a category 1 hazard exists and poses an imminent risk of serious harm to the health or safety of the occupants.

The notice cites four areas of concern - electrical hazards, fire safety issues, structural collapse and food safety.

Mr Thomas says he is not the owner of the hotel and believes it is owned by Oyo Rooms, also known as OYO Hotels & Homes, a large Indian multinational hospitality chain that franchises and leases hotels, homes, and other living spaces.

He said: “I believe they are my landlords but i have no day-today involvement with them.”

However, OYO sought to distances themselves from the Blarney Stone amd in an officia statement insisted they did not own it.

A spokesman said: “We would like to clarify that OYO does not own or operate this hotel in the UK.

“ Our role was limited to supporting with revenue management and technology software and that took until 2021.

“Any listings associated with OYO are purely for distribution and pricing support—OYO does not manage the day-to-day operations, employ staff at these premises, or control guest check-ins.

“We wish to clearly state that OYO is not involved in the sale or marketing of any properties that do not meet safety regulations. We take health and safety standards extremely seriously and expect all property owners we support to comply fully with local authority requirements and statutory obligations. “

Blackpool Council says the enforcement order will remain in place until the required work is complete.

It said: “The enforcement notices will not be revoked until the property is made safe. Planning Enforcement Officers will also investigate the use of the property. “