Outrage as tourists left stranded after hotel slapped with prohibition order on Blackpool Air Show weekend
“An investigation has now been launched”
Dozens of Blackpool tourists were disappointed after they turned up to a Blackpool hotel to find it had been slapped with a prohibition order.
In a video sent to The Gazette by a local resident, who didn’t want to be named, holidaymakers who had booked their stay at the Rose Garden Hotel, formerly Lyndhurst Hotel to see Blackpool Airshow, can be seen queuing outside with their suitcases.
Blackpool fire crews had been called following serious fire safety concerns and issued a prohibition order - a powerful legal document issued by the fire and rescue service when they find a serious and immediate risk to life in a building.
An investigation has now been launched.
According to the video, the hotel also seems to have a banner placed over the name facade at the front - to change the name to the Rose Garden Hotel.
In a further twist, people were finding they had paid for rooms at the hotel that weren’t available due to overbooking.
Our source said: “I’ve seen people turning up at the Lyndhurst countless times.
“There are about ten rooms but they constantly sell more rooms than are available so people turn up to a booked up hotel.
“They think they’ve booked a holiday, find there’s no room for them and end up paying premium price for somewhere else - or go home.
“The video was on Friday but it was the same on Saturday - people turned up to a closed hotel. I spoke to one family who were quoted £400 for an alternative but they couldn’t afford it and had to go home. They said it could be 12 days before a refund is given.
“It’s been under new ownership for about six months but the pictures on the website are nothing like what it is really like.
“I’ve seen reviews and people are served frozen fish fingers for breakfast. The people turned away at the weekend had a lucky escape.”
Lancashire Fire and Rescue can be seen in the video on Friday night attending the scene in Station Road.
We contacted the hotel with no success. We also checked Booking.com but neither the Lyndhurst Hotel or Rose Garden Hotel seem to be listed.
A spokesperson from Lancashire Fires and Rescue Service said: “We attended the premises on Friday and following a number of fire safety concerns, we issued a prohibition notice on the building. An investigation is now ongoing.”