The Doric is made for the kind of holiday where you can park the car and forget about it. With two heated pools, a jacuzzi, sauna and steam room, a games room, live entertainment every night, plus plenty of fun for the kids at weekends and throughout the school holidays, there's always something going on.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner and the bar are all right here too, with all inclusive options available if you'd rather have everything taken care of before you arrive.
And when you do fancy heading out, we're at the quieter end of the promenade with a tram stop right outside, putting Blackpool Tower, the Illuminations and everything in between just minutes away.
Example room — rooms vary and not all are refurbished
Sleep
Rooms facing the Irish Sea
A hundred and three ensuite rooms — singles, doubles, sea-view rooms and family rooms sleeping up to six — many looking straight out over the Irish Sea. Fall asleep to the sound of the sea; wake to the sweep of the front at first light.
Three ways to take your break — choose when you book, or upgrade once you’re here.
01
Bed & Breakfast
Your room and a proper Blackpool breakfast each morning — then the day is yours.
02
Bed, Breakfast & Evening Meal
Breakfast each morning and your evening meal in the restaurant — no hunting for dinner after a day out.
03
All Inclusive
Breakfast, lunch, a four course dinner and selected drinks at the bar — with half price on anything outside the package. (Outdoor pool bar not included.)
Pool & Leisure
The indoor & outdoor pool
Two heated pools — indoors for all-year lengths, outdoors with sun loungers, a sunbathing patio and poolside bar for the bright days — plus a jacuzzi, sauna and steam room to warm through after a walk on the front. The games room keeps the rainy afternoons covered.
Free when you book direct. Use of our leisure facilities is chargeable on bookings made through Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com or any other travel agent.
Blackpool was built for family holidays, and so is the Doric. Two heated pools — one indoors and warm all year, one outside for the sunny days — plus a jacuzzi, sauna and steam room for the grown-ups, an arcade room for the rainy afternoons, and kids' entertainment every weekend and right through the school holidays.
Indoor & outdoor poolsJacuzzi, sauna & steam roomArcade roomKids' entertainmentRooms sleeping up to sixBeach across the road
Breakfast from 8am to 10am, afternoon tea through the day, and dinner served from 5.30pm to 7pm — generous plates, local suppliers, and a bar that keeps sensible hours and good company. Everything we serve comes with the warmest welcome on the front.
Live entertainment seven nights a week, a full Christmas programme, the Illuminations each autumn and the quiet, bright days of early summer. Whatever the month, the front has its own weather and the Doric has its own programme.
2
Heated pools
103
Ensuite bedrooms
7
Nights of entertainment
Entertainment
Live, seven nights a week
Entertainment isn't an extra at the Doric — it's the point. Every single night of the week there's something on in the ballroom: live acts, cabaret, and a dance floor that never stays empty for long. A packed Christmas programme, and entertainment for the kids every weekend and school holiday.
The Greatest ShowSong & dance spectacular
The Four D'sLive vocal showband
Nightly CabaretA different act every night
Live acts & cabaret every nightDancing till lateBingo every eveningKids' entertainment in the holidays
The Doric has been part of the Blackpool seafront story for generations — through golden ages, wet summers and everything between. In 2023 the reception, lounge and bar were given a top-to-toe refresh, and the front door still opens straight onto the sea air. Part of the Waterside Hotels family of Blackpool seafront hotels.
Reservations
Stay on the front
Book directly for the best available rate — or call reception and speak to a person, the way it should be.
One hundred and three ensuite bedrooms, from singles to family rooms sleeping six — every one a lift ride from the pools, the restaurant and the ballroom. Sea-view rooms are available across most types; just ask when you book.
◎New photography in progressFresh room photographs are on their way. Call 01253 351751 and we'll happily describe the rooms.
Single
1 Guest · One single bed
A neat, comfortable room for one — everything you need for a night or a fortnight, with the sea air just outside.
Our single rooms are made for solo travellers and anyone who simply likes their own space. Compact, comfortable and easy to live in, with everything to hand.
The rest of the hotel is a lift ride away — two heated pools, the games room, the restaurant and the ballroom, all under the same roof.
◎New photography in progressFresh room photographs are on their way. Call 01253 351751 and we'll happily describe the rooms.
Plus all the comforts you need and details you will love
Daily housekeeping
Free on-site parking
Two heated swimming pools
Jacuzzi, sauna & steam room
Games room
Live entertainment every night
Restaurant & bar
Accessible rooms available
During Your Stay
Unwind in the pools & spa
Two heated pools — one indoors and warm all year, one outside with a sunbathing patio and poolside bar — plus a jacuzzi, sauna and steam room to warm through after a walk on the front.
Free when you book direct. Use of our leisure facilities is chargeable on bookings made through Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com or any other travel agent.
Breakfast from 8am to 10am, afternoon tea through the day, and dinner served from 5.30pm to 7pm. The bar keeps sensible hours and good company, with all-inclusive options available.
Entertainment isn't an extra at the Doric — it's the point. Live acts, cabaret and a dance floor that never stays empty for long, seven nights a week, plus kids' entertainment at weekends and school holidays.
Birthdays, anniversaries, hen parties or simply a well-earned treat — add a celebration package and we'll have fizz on ice, the table dressed and a cake waiting. Tell us what you're marking and we'll take care of the rest.
Arrived before your room's ready? Add early check-in for £20 and your room will be waiting from 1pm rather than 3pm, so the holiday starts the moment you park up.
Add late check-out for £20 and keep your room until 12pm rather than 10.30am. One more swim, a proper breakfast and a walk on the front before you set off home.
Upgrade to a sea-view room and get the whole sweep of the front from your window — the sunset over the water at night, the tide and the trams in the morning. Subject to availability, so worth booking early.
◎New photography in progressFresh room photographs are on their way. Call 01253 351751 and we'll happily describe the rooms.
Plus all the comforts you need and details you will love
Daily housekeeping
Free on-site parking
Two heated swimming pools
Jacuzzi, sauna & steam room
Games room
Live entertainment every night
Restaurant & bar
Accessible rooms available
During Your Stay
Unwind in the pools & spa
Two heated pools — one indoors and warm all year, one outside with a sunbathing patio and poolside bar — plus a jacuzzi, sauna and steam room to warm through after a walk on the front.
Free when you book direct. Use of our leisure facilities is chargeable on bookings made through Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com or any other travel agent.
Breakfast from 8am to 10am, afternoon tea through the day, and dinner served from 5.30pm to 7pm. The bar keeps sensible hours and good company, with all-inclusive options available.
Entertainment isn't an extra at the Doric — it's the point. Live acts, cabaret and a dance floor that never stays empty for long, seven nights a week, plus kids' entertainment at weekends and school holidays.
Birthdays, anniversaries, hen parties or simply a well-earned treat — add a celebration package and we'll have fizz on ice, the table dressed and a cake waiting. Tell us what you're marking and we'll take care of the rest.
Arrived before your room's ready? Add early check-in for £20 and your room will be waiting from 1pm rather than 3pm, so the holiday starts the moment you park up.
Add late check-out for £20 and keep your room until 12pm rather than 10.30am. One more swim, a proper breakfast and a walk on the front before you set off home.
Upgrade to a sea-view room and get the whole sweep of the front from your window — the sunset over the water at night, the tide and the trams in the morning. Subject to availability, so worth booking early.
The same room and the same comforts as our doubles, with two separate beds instead of one.
Popular with friends travelling together, family members sharing, and anyone who simply sleeps better with their own duvet. Sea-view twins available on request.
◎New photography in progressFresh room photographs are on their way. Call 01253 351751 and we'll happily describe the rooms.
Plus all the comforts you need and details you will love
Daily housekeeping
Free on-site parking
Two heated swimming pools
Jacuzzi, sauna & steam room
Games room
Live entertainment every night
Restaurant & bar
Accessible rooms available
During Your Stay
Unwind in the pools & spa
Two heated pools — one indoors and warm all year, one outside with a sunbathing patio and poolside bar — plus a jacuzzi, sauna and steam room to warm through after a walk on the front.
Free when you book direct. Use of our leisure facilities is chargeable on bookings made through Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com or any other travel agent.
Breakfast from 8am to 10am, afternoon tea through the day, and dinner served from 5.30pm to 7pm. The bar keeps sensible hours and good company, with all-inclusive options available.
Entertainment isn't an extra at the Doric — it's the point. Live acts, cabaret and a dance floor that never stays empty for long, seven nights a week, plus kids' entertainment at weekends and school holidays.
Birthdays, anniversaries, hen parties or simply a well-earned treat — add a celebration package and we'll have fizz on ice, the table dressed and a cake waiting. Tell us what you're marking and we'll take care of the rest.
Arrived before your room's ready? Add early check-in for £20 and your room will be waiting from 1pm rather than 3pm, so the holiday starts the moment you park up.
Add late check-out for £20 and keep your room until 12pm rather than 10.30am. One more swim, a proper breakfast and a walk on the front before you set off home.
Upgrade to a sea-view room and get the whole sweep of the front from your window — the sunset over the water at night, the tide and the trams in the morning. Subject to availability, so worth booking early.
◎New photography in progressFresh room photographs are on their way. Call 01253 351751 and we'll happily describe the rooms.
Plus all the comforts you need and details you will love
Daily housekeeping
Free on-site parking
Two heated swimming pools
Jacuzzi, sauna & steam room
Games room
Live entertainment every night
Restaurant & bar
Accessible rooms available
During Your Stay
Unwind in the pools & spa
Two heated pools — one indoors and warm all year, one outside with a sunbathing patio and poolside bar — plus a jacuzzi, sauna and steam room to warm through after a walk on the front.
Free when you book direct. Use of our leisure facilities is chargeable on bookings made through Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com or any other travel agent.
Breakfast from 8am to 10am, afternoon tea through the day, and dinner served from 5.30pm to 7pm. The bar keeps sensible hours and good company, with all-inclusive options available.
Entertainment isn't an extra at the Doric — it's the point. Live acts, cabaret and a dance floor that never stays empty for long, seven nights a week, plus kids' entertainment at weekends and school holidays.
Birthdays, anniversaries, hen parties or simply a well-earned treat — add a celebration package and we'll have fizz on ice, the table dressed and a cake waiting. Tell us what you're marking and we'll take care of the rest.
Arrived before your room's ready? Add early check-in for £20 and your room will be waiting from 1pm rather than 3pm, so the holiday starts the moment you park up.
Add late check-out for £20 and keep your room until 12pm rather than 10.30am. One more swim, a proper breakfast and a walk on the front before you set off home.
Upgrade to a sea-view room and get the whole sweep of the front from your window — the sunset over the water at night, the tide and the trams in the morning. Subject to availability, so worth booking early.
◎New photography in progressFresh room photographs are on their way. Call 01253 351751 and we'll happily describe the rooms.
Plus all the comforts you need and details you will love
Daily housekeeping
Free on-site parking
Two heated swimming pools
Jacuzzi, sauna & steam room
Games room
Live entertainment every night
Restaurant & bar
Accessible rooms available
During Your Stay
Unwind in the pools & spa
Two heated pools — one indoors and warm all year, one outside with a sunbathing patio and poolside bar — plus a jacuzzi, sauna and steam room to warm through after a walk on the front.
Free when you book direct. Use of our leisure facilities is chargeable on bookings made through Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com or any other travel agent.
Breakfast from 8am to 10am, afternoon tea through the day, and dinner served from 5.30pm to 7pm. The bar keeps sensible hours and good company, with all-inclusive options available.
Entertainment isn't an extra at the Doric — it's the point. Live acts, cabaret and a dance floor that never stays empty for long, seven nights a week, plus kids' entertainment at weekends and school holidays.
Birthdays, anniversaries, hen parties or simply a well-earned treat — add a celebration package and we'll have fizz on ice, the table dressed and a cake waiting. Tell us what you're marking and we'll take care of the rest.
Arrived before your room's ready? Add early check-in for £20 and your room will be waiting from 1pm rather than 3pm, so the holiday starts the moment you park up.
Add late check-out for £20 and keep your room until 12pm rather than 10.30am. One more swim, a proper breakfast and a walk on the front before you set off home.
Upgrade to a sea-view room and get the whole sweep of the front from your window — the sunset over the water at night, the tide and the trams in the morning. Subject to availability, so worth booking early.
◎New photography in progressFresh room photographs are on their way. Call 01253 351751 and we'll happily describe the rooms.
Plus all the comforts you need and details you will love
Daily housekeeping
Free on-site parking
Two heated swimming pools
Jacuzzi, sauna & steam room
Games room
Live entertainment every night
Restaurant & bar
Accessible rooms available
During Your Stay
Unwind in the pools & spa
Two heated pools — one indoors and warm all year, one outside with a sunbathing patio and poolside bar — plus a jacuzzi, sauna and steam room to warm through after a walk on the front.
Free when you book direct. Use of our leisure facilities is chargeable on bookings made through Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com or any other travel agent.
Breakfast from 8am to 10am, afternoon tea through the day, and dinner served from 5.30pm to 7pm. The bar keeps sensible hours and good company, with all-inclusive options available.
Entertainment isn't an extra at the Doric — it's the point. Live acts, cabaret and a dance floor that never stays empty for long, seven nights a week, plus kids' entertainment at weekends and school holidays.
Birthdays, anniversaries, hen parties or simply a well-earned treat — add a celebration package and we'll have fizz on ice, the table dressed and a cake waiting. Tell us what you're marking and we'll take care of the rest.
Arrived before your room's ready? Add early check-in for £20 and your room will be waiting from 1pm rather than 3pm, so the holiday starts the moment you park up.
Add late check-out for £20 and keep your room until 12pm rather than 10.30am. One more swim, a proper breakfast and a walk on the front before you set off home.
Upgrade to a sea-view room and get the whole sweep of the front from your window — the sunset over the water at night, the tide and the trams in the morning. Subject to availability, so worth booking early.
◎New photography in progressFresh room photographs are on their way. Call 01253 351751 and we'll happily describe the rooms.
Plus all the comforts you need and details you will love
Daily housekeeping
Free on-site parking
Two heated swimming pools
Jacuzzi, sauna & steam room
Games room
Live entertainment every night
Restaurant & bar
Accessible rooms available
During Your Stay
Unwind in the pools & spa
Two heated pools — one indoors and warm all year, one outside with a sunbathing patio and poolside bar — plus a jacuzzi, sauna and steam room to warm through after a walk on the front.
Free when you book direct. Use of our leisure facilities is chargeable on bookings made through Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com or any other travel agent.
Breakfast from 8am to 10am, afternoon tea through the day, and dinner served from 5.30pm to 7pm. The bar keeps sensible hours and good company, with all-inclusive options available.
Entertainment isn't an extra at the Doric — it's the point. Live acts, cabaret and a dance floor that never stays empty for long, seven nights a week, plus kids' entertainment at weekends and school holidays.
Birthdays, anniversaries, hen parties or simply a well-earned treat — add a celebration package and we'll have fizz on ice, the table dressed and a cake waiting. Tell us what you're marking and we'll take care of the rest.
Arrived before your room's ready? Add early check-in for £20 and your room will be waiting from 1pm rather than 3pm, so the holiday starts the moment you park up.
Add late check-out for £20 and keep your room until 12pm rather than 10.30am. One more swim, a proper breakfast and a walk on the front before you set off home.
Upgrade to a sea-view room and get the whole sweep of the front from your window — the sunset over the water at night, the tide and the trams in the morning. Subject to availability, so worth booking early.
◎New photography in progressFresh room photographs are on their way. Call 01253 351751 and we'll happily describe the rooms.
Plus all the comforts you need and details you will love
Daily housekeeping
Free on-site parking
Two heated swimming pools
Jacuzzi, sauna & steam room
Games room
Live entertainment every night
Restaurant & bar
Accessible rooms available
During Your Stay
Unwind in the pools & spa
Two heated pools — one indoors and warm all year, one outside with a sunbathing patio and poolside bar — plus a jacuzzi, sauna and steam room to warm through after a walk on the front.
Free when you book direct. Use of our leisure facilities is chargeable on bookings made through Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com or any other travel agent.
Breakfast from 8am to 10am, afternoon tea through the day, and dinner served from 5.30pm to 7pm. The bar keeps sensible hours and good company, with all-inclusive options available.
Entertainment isn't an extra at the Doric — it's the point. Live acts, cabaret and a dance floor that never stays empty for long, seven nights a week, plus kids' entertainment at weekends and school holidays.
Birthdays, anniversaries, hen parties or simply a well-earned treat — add a celebration package and we'll have fizz on ice, the table dressed and a cake waiting. Tell us what you're marking and we'll take care of the rest.
Arrived before your room's ready? Add early check-in for £20 and your room will be waiting from 1pm rather than 3pm, so the holiday starts the moment you park up.
Add late check-out for £20 and keep your room until 12pm rather than 10.30am. One more swim, a proper breakfast and a walk on the front before you set off home.
Upgrade to a sea-view room and get the whole sweep of the front from your window — the sunset over the water at night, the tide and the trams in the morning. Subject to availability, so worth booking early.
◎New photography in progressFresh room photographs are on their way. Call 01253 351751 and we'll happily describe the rooms.
Plus all the comforts you need and details you will love
Daily housekeeping
Free on-site parking
Two heated swimming pools
Jacuzzi, sauna & steam room
Games room
Live entertainment every night
Restaurant & bar
Accessible rooms available
During Your Stay
Unwind in the pools & spa
Two heated pools — one indoors and warm all year, one outside with a sunbathing patio and poolside bar — plus a jacuzzi, sauna and steam room to warm through after a walk on the front.
Free when you book direct. Use of our leisure facilities is chargeable on bookings made through Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com or any other travel agent.
Breakfast from 8am to 10am, afternoon tea through the day, and dinner served from 5.30pm to 7pm. The bar keeps sensible hours and good company, with all-inclusive options available.
Entertainment isn't an extra at the Doric — it's the point. Live acts, cabaret and a dance floor that never stays empty for long, seven nights a week, plus kids' entertainment at weekends and school holidays.
Birthdays, anniversaries, hen parties or simply a well-earned treat — add a celebration package and we'll have fizz on ice, the table dressed and a cake waiting. Tell us what you're marking and we'll take care of the rest.
Arrived before your room's ready? Add early check-in for £20 and your room will be waiting from 1pm rather than 3pm, so the holiday starts the moment you park up.
Add late check-out for £20 and keep your room until 12pm rather than 10.30am. One more swim, a proper breakfast and a walk on the front before you set off home.
Upgrade to a sea-view room and get the whole sweep of the front from your window — the sunset over the water at night, the tide and the trams in the morning. Subject to availability, so worth booking early.
◎New photography in progressFresh room photographs are on their way. Call 01253 351751 and we'll happily describe the rooms.
Plus all the comforts you need and details you will love
Daily housekeeping
Free on-site parking
Two heated swimming pools
Jacuzzi, sauna & steam room
Games room
Live entertainment every night
Restaurant & bar
Accessible rooms available
During Your Stay
Unwind in the pools & spa
Two heated pools — one indoors and warm all year, one outside with a sunbathing patio and poolside bar — plus a jacuzzi, sauna and steam room to warm through after a walk on the front.
Free when you book direct. Use of our leisure facilities is chargeable on bookings made through Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com or any other travel agent.
Breakfast from 8am to 10am, afternoon tea through the day, and dinner served from 5.30pm to 7pm. The bar keeps sensible hours and good company, with all-inclusive options available.
Entertainment isn't an extra at the Doric — it's the point. Live acts, cabaret and a dance floor that never stays empty for long, seven nights a week, plus kids' entertainment at weekends and school holidays.
Birthdays, anniversaries, hen parties or simply a well-earned treat — add a celebration package and we'll have fizz on ice, the table dressed and a cake waiting. Tell us what you're marking and we'll take care of the rest.
Arrived before your room's ready? Add early check-in for £20 and your room will be waiting from 1pm rather than 3pm, so the holiday starts the moment you park up.
Add late check-out for £20 and keep your room until 12pm rather than 10.30am. One more swim, a proper breakfast and a walk on the front before you set off home.
Upgrade to a sea-view room and get the whole sweep of the front from your window — the sunset over the water at night, the tide and the trams in the morning. Subject to availability, so worth booking early.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner all under one roof — so once you’ve parked the car, you needn’t think about where you’re eating for the rest of the week.
Breakfast8am – 10amContinental buffet & cooked to order
Lunch1pm – 2pmAll-inclusive guests · bistro menu through the day
Dinner5.30pm – 7pmFour courses in the dining room
Serving times shift a little with the season — the current times are posted at reception when you arrive.
Breakfast · 8am – 10am
Breakfast
Help yourself to the continental buffet — cereals, fruit, pastries, yoghurts, juices and as much tea and coffee as you need — then a full cooked breakfast is plated and served to your table, with a different special on the menu each morning.
£14 per adult · £7 per child (included on all our board options)
Through the day
Lunch & the bistro menu
Our bistro menu runs through the day for anyone who fancies something without waiting for dinner — sandwiches, toasties, light plates and the sort of thing you want after a morning on the front.
All-inclusive guests have lunch included, served between 1pm and 2pm. When we’re busy that’s a buffet; on quieter days it’s sandwiches and toasties made to order.
Please note
The inclusive lunch is served 1pm – 2pm on full days only — not on your arrival or departure day — and can’t be ordered from the bistro menu.
Bistro menu
Sandwiches, toasties & paninis, mains, from the sea, pizza and a kids menu — tap to view the full menu.
Dinner · 5.30pm – 7pm
Dinner in the dining room
Four courses, with a choice of three starters, three mains and three desserts — and the menu changes every day, so a week with us never repeats itself. There’s a children’s menu too, and the kitchen will happily work around dietary requirements if you let us know.
£24 per adult · £12 per child (included on dinner, bed & breakfast and all inclusive)
Sample menus
What’s on the menu
Menus change daily and with the season. These are here to give you a flavour — the full menu is on your table when you sit down.
Breakfast
Buffet, cooked breakfast & extras
View menu
Bistro & lunch
Sandwiches, mains, pizza & kids menu
View menu
Dinner
A sample of our daily four-course menu
View menu
All-inclusive drinks
What’s on the inclusive drinks menu
View menu
Children
Little swimmers, menace burgers & more
View menu
Afternoon tea
Afternoon tea in the lounge
Sandwiches, scones and cakes on the stand with a proper pot of tea — or make it afternoon tea with a glass of prosecco. A quiet hour in the lounge with the sea doing its thing outside.
Afternoon tea gift vouchers are available too, for both afternoon tea and afternoon tea with prosecco. Reservations should be made at least 48 hours ahead.
Draught lagers, bitter and cider, a full spirits gantry, wines by the glass or the bottle and a good range of soft drinks, teas and coffees. The bar sits alongside the ballroom, so it’s where the evening starts and where it tends to finish.
Draught beers & ciderWines by the glassSpirits & cocktailsTeas & coffees
All-inclusive guests drink from the inclusive menu, with everything else at half price. The outdoor pool bar sits outside the package.
The all-inclusive drinks menu
Draught
Waterside Lager
Waterside Bitter
Somersby Cider
Wines 120ml
House Red
House Rosé
House White
Spirits 25ml
Bacardi White Rum
Lambs Navy Rum
Smirnoff Vodka
Bells Whisky
Gordons Gin
Courvoisier Brandy
Soft drinks
Draught soft drinks
Cordials
Teas & coffees
Anything off this menu is half price for all-inclusive guests.
How to eat with us
Choose your board
Bed & Breakfast
Your room and breakfast each morning. Lunch and dinner as you fancy them.
Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Breakfast each morning and your four course dinner in the dining room each evening.
All Inclusive
Adds lunch, selected drinks from the inclusive menu, a travel pass and your first game of bingo — with half price on anything outside the package.
Pool & Leisure
Two pools, a jacuzzi, sauna & steam room
All of it included in your stay when you book direct — and kept just for our guests.
Included in your stay
Free use of our leisure facilities when you book direct
Book your room with us — on this website or over the phone — and the pools, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room are yours to use throughout your stay at no extra charge.
Booked through an online travel agent? Use of the leisure facilities is chargeable on bookings made via Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com and other agents. Booking direct is the only way to get them included.
The outdoor pool opens around April and closes around September, weather depending.
Hotel guests only. Our leisure facilities are not open to the public — they’re kept for the people staying with us, which is why they never feel crowded.
Indoors
The indoor pool
Heated all year and just a lift ride from your room, with the jacuzzi bubbling away at the far end and poolside seating for when you’d rather watch than swim. Open 8am to 7pm, every day of your stay.
Free when you book direct. Use of our leisure facilities is chargeable on bookings made through Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com or any other travel agent.
Outdoors
The outdoor pool
A sun patio with loungers, parasols and picnic benches around the water — the sort of afternoon you don’t expect to find a few steps off the promenade. Open 8am to 7pm from around April to September, weather depending.
Free when you book direct. Use of our leisure facilities is chargeable on bookings made through Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com or any other travel agent.
Warm Up
Sauna, steam & a sunny corner
Free when you book direct. Use of our leisure facilities is chargeable on bookings made through Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com or any other travel agent.
Sauna & steam roomWarm through after a walk on the front — both a few steps from the pools.The poolside conservatorySofas, shade and a view over the water — the spot for a quiet hour with a book.
Poolside
The pool bar
On the bright days the bar comes out to the pool, so you can order a cold drink without going back inside or hunting for your shoes. Draught beer, wines and spirits, soft drinks and a freezer full of ice creams for the children — served right where you’re sitting.
Open in the warmer monthsDraught beer & cold drinksIce creamsStraight to the poolside
Please note
The outdoor pool bar is not included in the all-inclusive package — drinks bought at the pool bar are charged separately.
Opening times vary with the weather and the season — ask at reception when you arrive.
Games Room
Arcade machines & pool table
Where the rainy afternoons and the after-dinner hours go. A room full of arcade machines and a pool table — the sort of place the kids disappear to and the grown-ups end up joining in.
Open daily5pm – 10pm
Free when you book direct. Use of our leisure facilities is chargeable on bookings made through Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com or any other travel agent.
Arcade machinesPool tableAll ages welcome
Good to know
Before you dive in
01
Guests only
The pools and leisure facilities are for hotel guests staying with us — we don’t sell memberships or day passes to the public.
02
Free when you book direct
Included in your stay when you book with us. Chargeable on bookings made through online travel agents.
03
Open 8am – 7pm
Both pools are open from 8am to 7pm each day. The outdoor pool runs from around April to September, weather depending.
04
Children welcome
Children are welcome in both pools with a parent or guardian. Please check the poolside notices for swim times and depths.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Everything guests usually ring up to ask — booking, rooms, meals, the pools and getting here. If your question isn't here, call us on 01253 351751.
Booking direct on this website or over the phone gets you free use of our leisure facilities, our price match, your choice of a free bottle of prosecco or a room upgrade (subject to availability), no card pre-authorisation, and the option of our flexible Best Available Rate — cancel up to 24 hours before arrival with your money held as credit for a future stay.
Is it cheaper to book direct than through Booking.com or Expedia?
We price match — if you find the same room and dates cheaper elsewhere, tell us and we'll match it. On top of that, use of the pools, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room is included free when you book direct, and chargeable on bookings made through online travel agents.
Will you take a deposit or pre-authorise my card?
There is no pre-authorisation on your card when you book direct with us. Bookings made via Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com and other online travel agents are pre-authorised at £50 per room per night, capped at £150. There's a full section on how that works further down this page.
Can I cancel or change my booking?
On our Best Available Rate you can cancel up to 24 hours before your arrival date, with what you have paid held as credit towards a future stay. Advance Purchase bookings cannot be cancelled or moved. There's a full section on rates and deposits further down this page.
Can I upgrade my package after I've booked?
Yes. If you've booked bed and breakfast you can add your evening meal, and you can add the all-inclusive upgrade on top of bed, breakfast and evening meal. Ring reception on 01253 351751 before you arrive, or ask at the desk when you check in — it's easiest for the kitchen if we know in advance.
Can I add extras to my stay?
Yes — celebration packages for birthdays and anniversaries, early check-in from 1pm (£20), late check-out until 12pm (£20) and a sea view room upgrade can all be added to your booking. Tell us when you book or call reception and we'll add them on.
Do you take group and coach bookings?
Yes — groups and coach parties are very welcome, and we look after a lot of them. Call us on 01253 351751 and we'll talk through dates, rooms and meal times.
Do you have a promo code box?
Yes. Open the Book Direct panel, choose your dates, and there's a promo code box just below the guest numbers before you search.
Rates, deposits & payment
Most flexible
Best Available Rate
Our standard direct rate. Secure the room with a £40 per person deposit and pay the balance 28 days before you arrive.
£40 per person deposit
Balance due 28 days before arrival
Cancel up to 24 hours before arrival — your money is held as credit towards a future stay
Deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable
Best price
Advance Purchase
A discounted rate for guests who know their plans are fixed. Paid in full when you book.
Discounted room rate
Payment in full at the time of booking
No refunds and no date changes, under any circumstances
We recommend taking your own travel insurance
What deposit do you take when I book direct?
A £40 per person deposit secures your booking on our Best Available Rate. The deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable.
When is the balance due?
The remainder is payable 28 days before you arrive on the Best Available Rate. On the Advance Purchase rate there is no balance — the stay is paid in full when you book.
What's the difference between your two direct rates?
The Best Available Rate is the flexible one: a £40 per person deposit now, the balance 28 days before arrival, and you can cancel up to 24 hours before you're due to arrive. The Advance Purchase rate is cheaper, but it's paid in full at the time of booking and cannot be refunded or moved.
Can I cancel my booking?
On the Best Available Rate you can cancel up to 24 hours before your arrival date. Rather than a refund, the money you have paid is held as credit against a future booking with us. On the Advance Purchase rate there are no cancellations, no refunds and no date changes under any circumstances.
Can I move my dates?
On the Best Available Rate, speak to reception on 01253 351751 as early as you can and we will do our best to help. Advance Purchase bookings cannot be moved to different dates under any circumstances.
Should I take travel insurance?
We'd recommend it, particularly on the Advance Purchase rate. As that rate cannot be refunded or moved for any reason, your own travel insurance is the only way to protect yourself if something unexpected stops you travelling.
How can I pay?
We accept all major credit and debit cards, including American Express.
How do I pay my balance?
We send you a secure payment link before you arrive. It's sent automatically, so if you'd rather check it's genuine before clicking anything, ring us on 01253 351751 and we'll confirm it.
I've had an email from you — is it genuine?
We send an automated payment link for your balance and a pre-arrival check-in email before your stay, so both are expected. If anything looks off to you, don't click it — call reception on 01253 351751 and we'll tell you straight away whether it came from us.
Is the deposit refundable?
No. The £40 per person deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable. If you cancel a Best Available Rate booking within the cancellation window, the money is kept as credit towards a future stay rather than returned.
Card pre-authorisation
What is the pre-authorisation?
It's an incidentals deposit held against your card on bookings made through an online travel agent. We hold £50 per room per night, capped at £150 — so a two-night stay is £100, and anything of three nights or more is £150. Book direct with us and there is no pre-authorisation at all.
Why do you take a pre-authorisation?
It covers incidentals. In the great majority of stays nothing is ever taken — the hold simply falls away when you leave.
When would you keep any of it?
We would only retain it where there has been antisocial behaviour, smoking in the rooms, damage to the room or hotel, or upset caused to other guests. Behave as most of our guests do and you will never hear about it again.
When do I get my pre-authorisation back?
We release the hold on the day you depart, provided there have been no issues. Once released it can take up to five working days for your bank or card provider to clear it from your account — that part is down to them rather than us.
I can't see the money going back into my bank — where is it?
That's normal. A pre-authorisation is not a payment — the money never leaves your account, it is simply held to one side in your available balance. When we cancel the hold, that reserved amount is freed up again. Because nothing was ever taken, you won't see a payment going out or a refund coming in on your statement.
Can I use a different card, or pay by cash?
The pre-authorisation needs to go on a card. If you'd rather avoid it altogether, book direct with us on 01253 351751 or through this website — direct bookings are never pre-authorised.
Arriving & your stay
What time is check-in?
Check-in is from 3pm. Early check-in from 1pm can be added for £20, subject to availability.
What time is check-out?
Check-out is 10.30am. Late check-out until 12pm can be added for £20, subject to availability.
Can I check in early or check out late?
Yes, both can be added for £20 each, subject to availability on the day. Early check-in brings you in from 1pm instead of 3pm; late check-out gives you until 12pm instead of 10.30am. Ask when you book or speak to reception on arrival.
Can I leave my bags before check-in or after check-out?
Yes — reception will look after your luggage so you can make the most of the day either side of your stay.
Is there parking at the hotel?
Yes, and it's free of charge — but space is limited, so it's worth arriving in good time. Please register your car with reception when you park, and leave your keys with us: the car park is double parked, so our team need to be able to move cars around to let other guests out.
Why do you need my car keys?
Purely so we can shuffle cars when someone needs to get out. The car park is tight and double parked, so keys stay at reception and our team move vehicles as needed. If you'd rather not leave them, have a word with reception and we'll find the best spot we can for you.
Is there Wi-Fi?
Yes, free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.
Do you allow dogs or pets?
Pets are not allowed in the main hotel. We can accommodate them in our annex, but they aren't permitted into the main hotel building or any of the pool areas. Guide dogs are of course welcome throughout. Please tell us when you book so we can put you in the right room.
Can my dog come into the pool area or the restaurant?
No — pets staying in the annex aren't allowed into the pool areas or the main hotel, which includes the restaurant, bar and ballroom. Guide dogs are the exception and are welcome anywhere in the hotel.
Is the hotel accessible?
There's a ramp at the main entrance, lifts to all floors, accessible rooms with walk-in showers and ground floor accessible toilets, and the restaurant, bar, reception and function room are all on the level. That said, the Doric is an old building — the lifts and corridors are on the small side, some rooms have a step or two, and a number of doorways are narrow. Please ring us on 01253 351751 before you book and tell us what you need, and we'll be straight with you about which rooms will and won't suit.
I use a wheelchair or a mobility scooter — will I manage?
Please call us first on 01253 351751. Because of the age of the building the lifts and corridors are narrow, some rooms are reached by a step, and doorways vary in width, so it very much depends on the room and on your equipment. We'd far rather talk it through honestly before you book than have you arrive to something that doesn't work for you.
Rooms
How many rooms are there, and what types?
One hundred and three ensuite bedrooms, from singles, doubles and twins through to the Doric Suite, the Margaret Ann Suite and family rooms sleeping up to six.
Can I get a sea view room?
Sea view rooms are available across most room types. They're popular, so ask for one when you book rather than on arrival.
What's in the room?
Every room is ensuite with a flat screen TV, radio, hairdryer and tea and coffee making facilities.
Do you have family rooms?
Yes — family rooms sleep three, four, five or six people, and there's a Family Suite as well. Have a look at the Sleep pages for the full list.
Children & families
What age is classed as a child?
Anyone aged 15 and over is classed as an adult. Children are 2 to 14, and under 2s stay free of charge.
Do under 2s stay free?
Yes — children under 2 stay free of charge. Let us know when you book so we can make sure the room is set up for you.
Do children stay free?
Kids Stay Free offers run across selected school holiday periods, and under 2s are always free. Call us or check the Offers page for current dates.
Is there entertainment for children?
Children's entertainment runs at weekends and every night through the school holidays. The pools and the games room take care of the rest of the day.
Can children use the pools?
Yes, children are welcome in both pools with a parent or guardian. Please check the poolside notices for swim times and depths.
Food & drink
What meal packages do you offer?
Three: bed and breakfast; bed, breakfast and evening meal; or all inclusive. You choose when you book, and you can add the all-inclusive upgrade on top of bed, breakfast and evening meal. There's a full section on all inclusive further down this page.
What time are meals served?
Breakfast is served from 8am to 10am and dinner from 5.30pm to 7pm. All-inclusive lunch is served from 1pm to 2pm each day. Times can shift a little with the season, so the current times are posted at reception when you arrive.
What's the all-inclusive lunch like?
Served from 1pm to 2pm each day. When we're busy it's usually a buffet lunch; on quieter days it's sandwiches and toasties made to order.
What's breakfast like?
A continental buffet to help yourself to, followed by a full cooked breakfast plated and served to your table, with a different special on the menu each day.
How much is breakfast if I haven't booked it?
Breakfast is £14 per adult and £7 per child.
How much is dinner if I haven't booked it?
Dinner is £24 per adult and £12 per child.
What's on the dinner menu?
A four course dinner with a choice of three starters, three mains and three desserts, and the menu changes daily. There's a children's menu as well.
Can you cater for dietary requirements?
Yes — tell us when you book, or have a word with the restaurant team when you arrive, and the kitchen will look after you. There's a children's menu too.
All inclusive
The all-inclusive drinks menu
Draught
Waterside Lager
Waterside Bitter
Somersby Cider
Wines 120ml
House Red
House Rosé
House White
Spirits 25ml
Bacardi White Rum
Lambs Navy Rum
Smirnoff Vodka
Bells Whisky
Gordons Gin
Courvoisier Brandy
Soft drinks
Draught soft drinks
Cordials
Teas & coffees
Anything off this menu is half price for all-inclusive guests.
What's included in the all-inclusive package?
Cooked and continental breakfast, light lunch on full days, a four course evening meal in the dining room, selected drinks from the all-inclusive menu, a local travel pass and your first game of bingo — all on top of your room.
What's on the all-inclusive drinks menu?
Draught Waterside Lager, Waterside Bitter and Somersby Cider; house red, rosé and white wine; 25ml measures of Bacardi white rum, Lambs navy rum, Smirnoff vodka, Bells whisky, Gordons gin and Courvoisier brandy; and a full range of soft drinks, cordials, teas and coffees.
What if I want something that isn't on the all-inclusive menu?
Anything off the inclusive menu is half price for all-inclusive guests, so you still do well on the drinks that aren't covered. The outdoor pool bar sits outside the package altogether.
What times are the inclusive drinks available?
From 3pm to 10pm on your arrival day, and from 12pm to 10pm on every other day. On your departure day breakfast is included but drinks and travel passes are not.
When is the all-inclusive lunch, and is it every day?
Light lunch is served from 1pm to 2pm on full residential days. It isn't included on your arrival day or your departure day.
How do the all-inclusive drinks work?
You're issued with an all-inclusive card when you arrive, which is swiped each time you order. It's one drink per person at a time, and your glass needs to be finished before you order the next.
How does the travel pass work?
Staying four nights Monday to Friday gets you a three day pass, valid Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Three nights Friday to Monday gets you two one day passes for the Saturday and Sunday. A daily upgrade comes with a one day pass valid that same day. There's no pass on your arrival or departure day.
How does the free bingo work?
One game per person, six books, on the first game of the night.
Can I upgrade to all inclusive after I've arrived?
Yes. If you haven't pre-booked it, you can upgrade from a dinner, bed and breakfast package for £40 per person per day. If you're on room only or bed and breakfast, you'll need to move to dinner, bed and breakfast first.
Can just one of us go all inclusive?
No — everyone in the same room, group or booking reference has to upgrade together.
Pool & leisure
What leisure facilities are there?
A heated indoor pool, an outdoor pool with sun loungers and a patio, a jacuzzi, a sauna and a steam room — plus the games room.
What are the pool opening times?
Both pools are open from 8am to 7pm daily. The outdoor pool runs from around April to September, weather depending.
Is the pool free to use?
Use of the leisure facilities is included in your stay when you book direct with us. It is chargeable on bookings made through online travel agents.
Can non-residents use the pool?
No. Our pools and leisure facilities are for hotel guests only — we don't sell memberships or day passes to the public, which is why they never feel crowded.
What's in the games room, and when is it open?
Arcade machines and a pool table, open daily from 5pm to 10pm.
Entertainment
Is there entertainment every night?
Yes — live entertainment seven nights a week, all year round. A compere hosts the evening, with two acts and two games of bingo.
What time does the entertainment start and finish?
The night starts around 8.30pm and runs through to about 11.30pm.
How does the evening run?
It opens with the first game of bingo, then straight into the first act. There's a second game of bingo after that, then the last act of the night, and our compere rounds the evening off — finishing around 11.30pm.
What sort of acts do you have on?
Our own resident productions like The Greatest Show and The Four D's, plus a rotating line-up of solo singers and cabaret acts — a different act most nights.
Do I need to book a table or a seat for the show?
No booking needed — the entertainment is in the ballroom and open to everyone staying with us. On busy nights it's worth coming down a little early if you want a particular spot.
Days out & getting around
Can you book attractions and shows for us?
Yes — reception can book attractions and shows for you. Have a word at the desk, or call ahead on 01253 351751 and we'll have it arranged before you arrive.
Where exactly is the hotel?
48–52 Queen's Promenade, Blackpool, Lancashire FY2 9RP — on the seafront at the quieter north end of the promenade.
How far is it to Blackpool Tower and the town centre?
There's a tram stop right outside the hotel, which puts Blackpool Tower, the piers and the town centre a few minutes away. You get restful nights at the quiet end of the front and the middle of everything on tap.
Are you on the Illuminations route?
Yes — the hotel sits directly on the Illuminations route, so the Lights run right past the door each autumn.
How do I get in touch?
Call reception on 01253 351751 — there's always someone to speak to.
Still not sure?
Reception is the fastest way to a straight answer — and if you'd rather book over the phone, we'll do it there and then.
What's On in Blackpool — A Year at the Doric Hotel
Live entertainment seven nights a week, 365 nights a year — plus every major Blackpool event, from the Illuminations Switch-On and the World Fireworks Championship to Lightpool, the Air Show and the Dance Festival. Scroll through 2026 and 2027 and plan your Blackpool break around what's on.
Coming Up
Next on the calendar
1 Sep
Ride the Lights
4 Sep
Illuminations Switch-On
12 Sep
World Fireworks Championship
21–31 Oct
Lightpool Festival
30–31 Oct
Halloween Parties at the Doric
From 2 Nov
Turkey & Tinsel begins
23–27 Dec
Christmas Break
30 Dec
New Year Celebration
Dates marked Expected follow the usual annual pattern and are not yet confirmed by organisers. At the Doric marks our own events.
01
Winter · January 2026 Been and gone
New Year, New Adventure
Blackpool without the crowds, and the pigeon show filling the Winter Gardens on the third weekend — one of the busiest weekends of the Blackpool winter. Bracing walks on the front, the Lights still on into the new year, and somewhere warm to come back to.
Thu 1 JanNew Year's Day — bank holiday
To Sun 4 JanChristmas by the Sea, Tower Festival Headland
17 – 18 JanBritish Homing World Show of the Year — the pigeon show, Winter Gardens
30 Dec – 2 JanNew Year Celebration at the Doric At the Doric
Every nightLive entertainment, 7 nights a week At the Doric
02
Winter · February 2026 Been and gone
Half Term & Showzam!
The town wakes up for half term. Showzam! fills the Winter Gardens and the promenade with circus and magic, the Tower Circus opens its new season, and Nickelodeon Land throws open the gates.
Sat 14 FebBlackpool Tower Circus — 2026 season opens
14 – 22 FebNickelodeon Land open, Pleasure Beach
Mon 16 – Fri 20 FebFebruary half term (Lancashire framework)
19 – 22 FebShowzam! Festival of Circus & Magic
Half termChildren's entertainment every night At the Doric
Kids Stay Free10% Off Attractions
03
Spring · March 2026 Been and gone
The Season Opens
Spring breathes life back into the town. Pleasure Beach opens for the full season, the Winter Gardens hosts world-class dancesport, and you can feel the year getting going.
Sat 7 MarBlackpool Pleasure Beach — full season opens
Fri 27 MarSchools break for Easter (Lancashire framework)
From 30 MarEaster holidays begin
Every nightLive entertainment At the Doric
04
Spring · April 2026 Been and gone
Easter on the Front
April is when Blackpool properly comes alive. The promenade fills up, the arcades light up, the cafés open their doors — and our outdoor pool opens for the season.
Fri 3 AprGood Friday — bank holiday
Mon 6 AprEaster Monday — bank holiday
30 Mar – 10 AprEaster school holidays
25 – 26 AprBlackpool Festival of Running — marathon Sunday
EasterFree Easter eggs, egg hunts & games for children At the Doric
From AprilOutdoor pool open for the season At the Doric
Kids Stay FreeOutdoor Pool Opens10% Off Attractions
05
Spring · May 2026 Been and gone
Dance Festival Fortnight
Two bank holidays, half term at the end of the month, and the 100th Blackpool Dance Festival filling the Empress Ballroom for a fortnight — the oldest and largest ballroom competition in the world.
Mon 25 – Fri 29 MayMay half term (Lancashire framework)
Half termChildren's entertainment every night At the Doric
06
Summer · June 2026 Been and gone
Pride, Parades & Long Days
Longer days, warmer water in the outdoor pool, and the town in full summer swing. Pride takes over the Tower Festival Headland and Armed Forces Week brings the parade to the seafront.
5 – 7 JunBlackpool Pride Festival — 20th anniversary
22 – 27 JunArmed Forces Week
Sun 28 JunArmed Forces Day parade & Cenotaph service
Every nightLive entertainment At the Doric
All dayBoth pools, poolside bar & sun lounge patio At the Doric
10% Off AttractionsDiscount Tickets
07
Summer · July 2026 Been and gone
Carnival & Championship Darts
Carnival day on the promenade, the World Matchplay darts filling the Empress Ballroom for nine days, and the schools breaking up for summer.
1 – 5 JulLytham Festival — Teddy Swims, Alanis Morissette, Michael Bublé, Pet Shop Boys, Pitbull
Sun 5 JulBlackpool Carnival — parade, North Pier to South Pier
18 – 26 JulBetfred World Matchplay Darts, Winter Gardens
From ~20 JulSummer school holidays begin
SaturdaysPoolside parties At the Doric
Pool PartiesLive MusicCocktails
08
Summer · August 2026 Been and gone
Air Show & Peak Summer
The busiest weeks of the year. The Air Show brings the crowds to the front, Rebellion fills the Winter Gardens, and the children's programme runs every single night.
6 – 9 AugRebellion Festival, Winter Gardens
8 – 9 AugBlackpool Air Show — free, on the Promenade
18 – 22 AugMean Girls, Opera House
29 – 30 AugJane McDonald, Opera House
Mon 31 AugSummer bank holiday
Every nightChildren's entertainment At the Doric
Kids Stay FreePool PartiesGames & Giveaways
09
Autumn · September 2026 Been and gone
The Lights Go On
The biggest month on the Blackpool calendar. Ride the Lights closes the promenade to traffic, the Switch-On concert lands on the Headland, and six miles of Illuminations run right past the door.
Tue 1 SepRide the Lights — traffic-free cycling, 7–10pm
Fri 4 SepIlluminations Switch-On — Paddy McGuinness, Lucy Spraggan, The Feeling, Five
4 – 6 SepThe British Country Music Festival, Winter Gardens
4 Sep – 1 NovBlackpool Illuminations
8 – 19 SepDirty Dancing, Opera House
12 & 26 SepWorld Fireworks Championship, over the beach
Half term under the Illuminations, the Lightpool Festival turning the town centre into a light-art gallery for its tenth year, and our own Halloween parties at the Doric.
6 – 8 OctBritain's Got Talent judge auditions, Opera House
Sat 10 OctWorld Fireworks Championship — final round, 7.30pm
21 – 31 OctLightpool Festival — 10th anniversary, 6–9pm nightly
26 – 30 OctOctober half term (Lancashire)
Fri 30 & Sat 31 OctHalloween Parties at the Doric At the Doric
Sat 31 OctJeff Wayne's War of the Worlds, Opera House
Kids Stay FreeHalloween Parties
11
Autumn · November 2026 Been and gone
Turkey & Tinsel Begins
The Lights bow out on the 1st and Christmas takes over. Turkey & Tinsel breaks start, and the Christmas village returns to the Headland with its free skating rink.
Sun 1 NovLast night of the Illuminations
From Mon 2 NovTurkey & Tinsel breaks begin — midweek, Mon to Fri At the Doric
Sat 14 NovThe Australian Pink Floyd Show, Opera House
19 – 22 NovBritish National Dance Championships, Winter Gardens
Sat 21 NovPeter Kay Live, Opera House
Fri 27 NovBill Bailey, Opera House
30 Nov & 1 DecBob Dylan in Concert, Opera House
Late NovChristmas by the Sea returns — dates to be confirmed TBC
12
Winter · December 2026 Been and gone
A Blackpool Christmas
Quizzes, crackers and carolling through Turkey & Tinsel, a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, and a New Year's Eve party with a Scottish piper to see the year out properly.
To Fri 18 DecTurkey & Tinsel breaks At the Doric
10 – 13 DecScrooge, Opera House
Fri 18 DecChristmas by Candlelight, Empress Ballroom
21 Dec – 2 JanBurlesque, Opera House
23 – 27 DecChristmas Break at the Doric — 4 nights At the Doric
27 – 30 DecTwixmas at the Doric — 3 nights At the Doric
30 Dec – 2 JanNew Year Celebration — 3 nights At the Doric
ChristmasTwixmasNew Year
01
Winter · January 2027 Been and gone
A Quiet Start & the Last of the Lights
The Illuminations see out the season in the first week, Champions of Tomorrow fills the Empress Ballroom with young dancers, and the pigeon show brings thousands to the Winter Gardens on the third weekend.
Fri 1 JanNew Year's Day — bank holiday
Sun 3 JanLast night of the 2026 Illuminations
8 – 10 JanChampions of Tomorrow, Winter Gardens
16 – 17 JanBritish Homing World Show of the Year — the pigeon show, Winter Gardens
Mon 4 JanLancashire schools return
Every nightLive entertainment At the Doric
Winter BreaksAll Inclusive
02
Winter · February 2027 Been and gone
Magic, Circus & Half Term
The Magic Convention brings the world's finest close-up and stage magicians to town, and Showzam fills the Winter Gardens with circus over half term.
Sat 6 FebBigShot Darts, Olympia
Mon 15 – Fri 19 FebFebruary half term (Lancashire)
Mid FebShowzam! Festival of Circus & Magic Expected
Fri 26 FebWet Wet Wet + Rebecca Ferguson, Opera House
Half termChildren's entertainment every night At the Doric
Kids Stay Free10% Off Attractions
03
Spring · March 2027 Been and gone
Easter Comes Early
Easter lands in March in 2027, so the season starts a fortnight sooner. The Junior Dance Festival takes over the Empress Ballroom from Easter Monday.
9 – 13 MarBlood Brothers, Opera House
Fri 26 MarGood Friday — bank holiday
From Fri 26 MarEaster school holidays begin (Lancashire)
Mon 29 MarEaster Monday — bank holiday
From Mon 29 MarBlackpool Junior Dance Festival, Winter Gardens Expected
31 Mar – 3 AprVictoria Wood's dinnerladies, Opera House
EasterFree Easter eggs, egg hunts & games At the Doric
Kids Stay FreeEaster Fun
04
Spring · April 2027 Been and gone
Marathon Month
The Festival of Running takes over the promenade for a weekend, the Easter holidays run to the 9th, and the outdoor pool opens for the season.
To Fri 9 AprEaster school holidays
Fri 23 AprGabrielle, Opera House
Sat 24 AprFestival of Running — 10k, 5k & 2k
Sun 25 AprBlackpool Marathon & Half Marathon
Thu 29 AprCountry Roads, Opera House
From AprilOutdoor pool open for the season At the Doric
Outdoor Pool OpensKids Stay Free
05
Spring · May 2027 Been and gone
Dance Festival Season
Two bank holidays, the WDSF DanceSport Festival early in the month and the Blackpool Dance Festival closing it — the Empress Ballroom barely gets a rest.
Mon 3 MayEarly May bank holiday
6 – 9 MayWDSF Blackpool DanceSport Festival Expected
11 – 15 MayJesus Christ Superstar, Opera House
17 – 22 MayJersey Boys, Opera House
Late MayBlackpool Dance Festival, Winter Gardens Expected
Mon 31 MaySpring bank holiday & half term begins
Kids Stay FreeBook Early
06
Summer · June 2027 Been and gone
Pride & Long Evenings
Half term runs into the first week, Pride returns to the Tower Festival Headland, and Armed Forces Day brings the parade to the seafront at the end of the month.
Lytham Festival opens the month with Robbie Williams headlining the Saturday, Carnival day fills the promenade, and the World Matchplay darts returns to the Empress Ballroom.
30 Jun – 4 JulLytham Festival — Robbie Williams headlines Saturday 3rd
Early JulBlackpool Carnival Expected
Mid–late JulPDC World Matchplay Darts, Winter Gardens Expected
From Thu 22 JulSummer school holidays begin (Lancashire)
SaturdaysPoolside parties At the Doric
Pool PartiesLive Music
08
Summer · August 2027 Been and gone
Air Show & Peak Season
The busiest weeks of the year — Rebellion at the Winter Gardens, the Air Show over the sea, and the children's programme running every single night.
Early AugRebellion Festival, Winter Gardens Expected
10 – 14 AugGrease The Musical, Opera House
17 Aug – 5 SepMrs Doubtfire, Opera House
AugustBlackpool Air Show — free, on the Promenade Expected
Mon 30 AugSummer bank holiday
Every nightChildren's entertainment At the Doric
Kids Stay FreePool Parties
09
Autumn · September 2027 Been and gone
The Lights Return
Six miles of Illuminations switch on for another season, with Ride the Lights the Tuesday before and the World Fireworks Championship lighting up the beach on Saturday nights.
Early SepRide the Lights — traffic-free cycling Expected
Early SepIlluminations Switch-On, Tower Festival Headland Expected
Sep – JanBlackpool Illuminations season Expected
SaturdaysWorld Fireworks Championship Expected
Wed 1 SepLancashire schools return
Mon – FriMidweek Special — 4 nights At the Doric
IlluminationsMidweek Special
10
Autumn · October 2027 Been and gone
Lightpool & Halloween
Half term under the Illuminations, Lightpool turning the town centre into a light-art gallery, and our own Halloween parties at the Doric.
Early OctWorld Fireworks Championship — final round Expected
Early OctBlackpool Freestyle Championships Expected
Mid OctBlackpool Sequence Dance Festival Expected
Late OctLightpool Festival Expected
25 – 29 OctOctober half term (Lancashire)
End OctHalloween Parties at the Doric At the Doric
Kids Stay FreeHalloween
11
Autumn · November 2027 Been and gone
Turkey & Tinsel Returns
Christmas starts early on the front. Turkey & Tinsel breaks begin, and the Christmas village comes back to the Headland with its free skating rink.
From early NovTurkey & Tinsel breaks begin — midweek At the Doric
Mid–late NovBritish National Dance Championships Expected
From ~19 NovChristmas by the Sea returns Expected
Mon – FriMidweek Special — 4 nights At the Doric
Turkey & TinselMidweek Special
12
Winter · December 2027 Been and gone
Christmas by the Sea
Quizzes, crackers and carolling, a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, and a New Year's Eve party with a piper. Christmas Day falls on a Saturday, so the bank holidays land on the Monday and Tuesday.
Fri 4 DecFuel Injected Magic! 50th Anniversary Concert, Opera House
23 – 27 DecChristmas Break at the Doric At the Doric
27 – 30 DecTwixmas at the Doric At the Doric
30 Dec – 2 JanNew Year Celebration At the Doric
ChristmasTwixmasNew Year
All Year Round
Whatever the month, there's something on
7
Nights of live entertainment
365
Days a year
2
Heated pools
2
Acts & bingo each night
Our compere guides you through two live acts and bingo every evening — vocalists, cabaret and variety, with dancing after. Through the school holidays the children get their own programme every night too: magic shows, puppet shows, family bingo, mini discos, treasure hunts and karaoke.
School holiday dates follow the Lancashire County Council framework — Blackpool schools set their own term dates, so please check with your school before booking.
A hotel on the Illuminations route
The Doric Hotel sits on Queen's Promenade at the quieter north end of Blackpool seafront — directly on the Illuminations route, with a tram stop right outside the door. That makes it a practical base for the events that fill the Blackpool calendar: the Illuminations Switch-On and Ride the Lights at the start of September, the World Fireworks Championship over the beach on Saturday nights through September and October, the Lightpool Festival across October half term, and the Blackpool Air Show in August.
For anyone travelling to the Winter Gardens, we are a short tram ride from the Blackpool Dance Festival, the WDSF DanceSport Festival, the British National Dance Championships, the Blackpool Magic Convention, Showzam!, Rebellion Festival and the PDC World Matchplay darts. Guests running the Blackpool Marathon or the Festival of Running are on the course itself, and Blackpool Pride, Blackpool Carnival and Armed Forces Day all take place a few stops down the promenade.
Through the school holidays — February and October half term, Easter, and the summer break — children's entertainment runs every night and Kids Stay Free offers apply on selected dates. Both heated pools, the jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and games room are included for every guest, and all-inclusive is available if you would rather have food and drink settled before you arrive.
From Turkey & Tinsel in November through to the last night of the year — the front lit up, the ballroom full, and someone else doing the cooking.
Turkey & Tinsel
1 Nov – 23 Dec 2026
Christmas in miniature, midweek Monday to Friday. Sparkling wine reception, Christmas dinner, a gift from Santa, two games of cash bingo and live entertainment every evening.
Call for prices4 nights
Christmas Break
23 – 27 December 2026
Live entertainment morning, noon and night. Full cooked breakfast, buffet lunches, a traditional Christmas lunch, luxury evening dinner, a visit from Santa and full access to the leisure facilities.
£667.50pp4 nights
Twixmas
27 – 30 December 2026
Escape the post-Christmas hustle. Home-cooked meals, complimentary access to the pools and leisure facilities, and nightly entertainment.
Price varies by occupancy3 nights
New Year Celebration
30 Dec 2026 – 2 Jan 2027
A Scottish piper, live music, dancing and a five-course dinner on New Year's Day. Bacon and sausage sandwiches at half twelve to see you right.
£491pp3 nights
Turkey & Tinsel prices are being confirmed for 2026; Twixmas is priced by room occupancy. All packages subject to availability — call 01253 351751 to book.
Offers & Breaks
Breaks on the front
Every break below is bookable direct with us — which is the only way to get the pools, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room included.
01
Leisure included Chargeable through booking sites.
02
Price match Find it cheaper and we’ll match it.
03
Prosecco or an upgrade Your choice, on the house.
04
No pre-authorisation Nothing held on your card.
05
Flexible cancellation Up to 24 hours before arrival.
Choose your board
Four ways to stay
From room only to all inclusive — pick when you book, or upgrade once you’re here. Room only and bed & breakfast guests move up to dinner, bed & breakfast first, then all inclusive for £40 per person, per day.
Example room
01
Room Only
Just the room — come and go as you please, and add breakfast or dinner at reception if you change your mind.
02
Bed & Breakfast
Your room and a full cooked breakfast each morning, served 8am to 10am.
03
Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Adds a four course dinner in the dining room each evening, 5.30pm to 7pm.
04
All Inclusive
Adds lunch, selected drinks, a local travel pass and your first game of bingo — with half price on anything off the inclusive menu.
Our Breaks
Something for every season
Give reception a ring for current dates and prices — we’ll find the right break for you.
Sept – Nov
Illuminations Breaks
We sit directly on the Illuminations route, so the Lights run right past the door. Walk out after dinner and you’re in them.
Christmas in miniature, midweek Monday to Friday — sparkling wine reception, Christmas dinner, a gift from Santa, cash bingo and live entertainment every evening.
Live entertainment morning, noon and night. Full cooked breakfast, buffet lunches, a traditional Christmas lunch, a luxury evening dinner and a visit from Santa.
Four nights · £667.50 per person · full access to the leisure facilities
A night on the front, a proper breakfast, or afternoon tea with a glass of something. Vouchers can be bought for any amount and posted or emailed — just give us a ring.
Any amount
A voucher for any figure you like
There's no fixed set of values — tell us the amount and we'll make the voucher out for it. Put it towards a full break, a weekend by the sea, dinner in the restaurant or simply leave it to them to decide.
01
Give us a ring on 01253 351751 and tell us the amount and who it's for.
02
Pay over the phone — all major credit and debit cards, including American Express.
03
Posted or emailed — whichever suits. Leaving it late? We'll email it the same day.
Sandwiches, cakes and a pot of tea in the lounge — or make it afternoon tea with a glass of prosecco. A good one for birthdays, thank yous and mothers who say they don't want anything.
Afternoon tea
Afternoon tea & prosecco
Afternoon tea vouchers are for the Doric or Park House. Reservations must be made at least 48 hours before you'd like to come.
Every voucher is valid for twelve months from the date it's bought.
Subject to availability
Vouchers are redeemed against availability, so the earlier you book the dates the better.
One offer at a time
Vouchers can't be used in conjunction with any other offer.
Book by phone
Ring reception on 01253 351751 to buy a voucher or to book with one.
Our Story
A Blackpool classic
A family-run hotel at the quiet end of Queen's Promenade, built around the idea that a proper seaside holiday should have everything you need under one roof.
1890sThe Promenade
1890s · The Promenade
A new promenade heads north
Blackpool Corporation laid out Queen's Promenade at the northern edge of the town in the late 1890s, pushing the seafront up towards Bispham. In 1903 the Corporation commissioned ten cast-iron shelters from the Saracen Foundry in Glasgow for the new stretch — one still stands a few minutes' walk from our front door, and it is Grade II listed.
Through the 1920s and 30s the big hotels went up along it, one after another, facing straight out to the Irish Sea.
Verified — Historic England & Blackpool Corporation records
Postcard from the hotel archive
Then · Two Hotels
The Euston and the Cumberland
Before it was one hotel it was two, standing side by side on the corner of Queen's Promenade and Knowle Avenue — the Euston and the Cumberland.
The addresses still tell the story. The hotel runs from 48 to 52 Queen's Promenade and also holds 4 Knowle Avenue: the signature of separate buildings that were eventually joined into one. The Cumberland's name lives on in the Cumberland Suite.
Dates to confirm from our records
The New Cumberland Hotel — postcard from the hotel archive
Then · One Roof
Two become one
At some point the wall came down and the Euston and the Cumberland became a single hotel with a new name — the Doric. One reception, one kitchen, one long seafront frontage, and the corridors that still give the place its rambling character.
It is why the Doric has the layout it has: more staircases than you would design from scratch, and a hundred and three bedrooms that no two are quite alike.
Date to confirm
The Doric — postcard from the hotel archive
2000 · The Taylor Family
The Taylors take the keys
The Taylor family acquired the Doric in 2000, and it has been a family-run hotel ever since. In March 2007 the family incorporated Waterside Hotels & Leisure Limited, bringing the Doric together with Park House Hotel further down the promenade and Pavilion on the Prom for weddings and events.
It has stayed a family business throughout. Guests at either hotel are welcome to use the facilities at both. The Margaret Ann Suite is named after Margaret Taylor, pictured here.
Company incorporation verified — Companies House
Margaret Taylor — the Margaret Ann Suite is named in her memory
2023 · The Refurbishment
Back to brick, and out again
In early 2023 the hotel closed for five weeks while the entire ground floor was rebuilt — reception, lounge, bar and the communal corridors — a quarter of a million pounds of work. The doors reopened on 10 February 2023.
The bedrooms are being worked through at around four a month across both hotels, so the job carries on quietly in the background.
Verified — VisitBlackpool, Feb 2023
Today · Now
One hundred and three rooms on the front
Two heated pools, a jacuzzi, sauna and steam room, a games room, a restaurant and a bar — and live entertainment seven nights a week, every night of the year.
Still on the quiet end of Queen's Promenade. Still family run. Still built around the idea that a proper seaside holiday shouldn't need a car.
Doric HotelPark House HotelPavilion on the PromWaterside HotelsDoric HotelPark House HotelPavilion on the PromWaterside Hotels
What we stand by
Three things we do not budge on
Everything included
Both pools, the jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and games room come with every stay — no wristbands, no add-ons, no charge at the door.
Entertainment every night
Two live acts and bingo, seven nights a week, all year. Not just in season, not just at weekends.
Book direct, get more
Price match, your choice of a free bottle of prosecco or a room upgrade, no card pre-authorisation, and a flexible rate you can cancel up to 24 hours before arrival when you book with us rather than through an agent.
“Back to the town, face to the Irish Sea — and everything you need in between.”
Pieces of the hotel’s own paper trail — postcards guests sent home from this stretch of the front, the menus they ate from, and the letters that booked their holidays. The multiview card near the top names the New Cumberland Hotel — one of the two hotels, the Euston and the Cumberland, that became today’s Doric.
PostcardQueen’s Promenade in the early 1900sPostcard backPosted over a century agoPostcardNorth Shore, Blackpool — hand-tintedPostcard backSent to New ZealandPostcardThe New Cumberland Hotel, North PromenadePhotographThe building in its Cumberland yearsPostcardThe corner of Queen’s Promenade & Knowle AvenuePostcardThe Doric in colourPostcard back“Having wonderful time… food is beautiful”LetterA booking confirmed by letter, January 1976MenuWine list — Doric Hotels (Blackpool) LtdMenuTuesday dinner at the DoricMenuChristmas dinner, 1987MenuHappy New Year — 1988
Got a Doric, Cumberland or Euston postcard of your own? We’d love to see it — 01253 351751.
Contact
Find us on the front
We’re at the quiet end of the front
Address
Doric Hotel 48–52 Queen’s Promenade Blackpool, Lancashire FY2 9RP
Phone
01253 351751 — there’s always someone to speak to.
The tram stops right outside the door — a few minutes to the Tower and the town centre. Free parking on site; please register your car at reception when you arrive.
Send us a message
Questions about a stay, a booking or anything else — we’ll come back to you as soon as we can. For anything urgent, please call us.
Find us
Part of the Waterside family
The Doric Hotel is owned and run by Waterside Hotels & Leisure Limited, a family business looking after two hotels on the Blackpool seafront.
