Imperial Hotel Vlog

Saw Desmond Dekker in a fairly small room off the main corridor around 1980, as we were there for a family meal & hardly anyone had turned up. They asked us if we wanted to go in FOC & I can remember it was quite good, almost a personal performance.
 
I used to be assistant Manager at the Carlton Hotel in the late sixties early seventies, and was very friendly with the then assistants at the Imperial. We used to use the Swimming Pool regularly after they were closed to the guests, which was great, particularly as trunks were optional. Can't beat a bit of skinny dipping.

I remember they had a wonderful grand piano, a Steinway from memory, which was removed to be repaired, allegedly, but turned out to be stolen. a long story, but rather embarrassing for the duty Manager, no names no pack drill as the old saying goes. Whether it was ever recovered, I don't know as I was transferred shortly afterwards to the Grand Hotel In Tynemouth by my company.

When you look at old hotels, it's amazing what they contain, some of the secrets, and what they were like in the past.
 
Was in New Zealand around 10 years ago and stayed in a posh B&B at Lake Wanaka and the lady who owned it travelled to Britain years ago in her gap year and worked as a barmaid at Trader Jacks in the 80’s, about the time we used to go there.
Got pregnant to a Lytham lad who played for Fylde rugby club. Her son became a top rugby player in New Zealand.
I only casually mentioned the Fylde coast to her when I spotted a book called the Lytham lifeboaters (or something similar) on her book shelf, all about the fishermen/shrimpers of Lytham. Small World!
 
I was amazed when it sold for I believe £11.5 million about three years ago. Fantastic property, but probably needed a fortune spending on it.
 
A very historic local building. If you read the Blue Plaque by the main entrance, it has visitors names on it like Dickens and Churchill.
I know it’s privately owned, but if these kind of places need help to refurbish, there should be help available, even if it’s some kind of public shareholding in return?
 
The world famous stayed at the Imperial.
When I was a young scallywag I lost my football at back of the hotel. I went round the front to reception to ask if I could retrieve it and remember seeing people sitting in the foyer looking posh and decided I looked out of place and left.
 
tangerine.com said:
The world famous stayed at the Imperial.
When I was a young scallywag I lost my football at back of the hotel. I went round the front to reception to ask if I could retrieve it and remember seeing people sitting in the foyer looking posh and decided I looked out of place and left.
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Did right mate. You’d have been found years later cleaning the chimneys.
 
As well as the Joy Division gig, also saw Slits and Rich Kids around the same time, and Steel Pulse.
 
I remember bumping into Sam Ellis in Trader's midweek when he was Blackpool manager and he was with Ian Branfoot the Reading manager. Sam was a bit pissed and not making much sense when I bent his ear but seemed to have recovered for the reserve match the next night . Have to add I talked to him before a game at Rochdale once and he was a lovely bloke.
 
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