Nottingham Developer targets hotel chain for iconic Blackpool building
Added by Love Business East Midlands | 6 February 2024
UPDATED: 6 February 2024
A Nottingham property developer famed for breathing life into disused segments of the UK’s highstreets has acquired one of the most prominent buildings in Blackpool town centre.
ALB Group, which has recently purchased the Sailmakers Shopping Centre in Ipswich, the Ortongate Shopping Centre in Peterborough, and a raft of shops in Nottingham and Derby, has formally announced that it has purchased the Art Deco-style Pricebusters building in Bank Hey Street, Blackpool.
Bosses at Pricebusters shut the indoor retail market on November 5, 2007, after occupying the site next to Blackpool Tower for almost three decades.
Sports Direct recently vacated the building to relocate to the nearby Houndshill Shopping Centre, leaving more vacant units, yet the ground floor space continues to be occupied by Poundland and Wetherspoons.
The building itself has had a rich history. In 1916 Woolworths bought 53-65 Bank Hey Street, then quickly acquired the rest of the corner site.
Work began on the store in 1936 and by 1938 it was open and trading. It was the largest and most modern of 2000 Woolworths around the world. Sadly, it closed in April 1985, and opened as the Pricebusters indoor market.
ALB is now hoping that it can find a hotel chain that is keen to take over the upper floor.
Arran Bailey, managing director of ALB Group, said:
“The old Pricebusters building is without a doubt one of the most iconic buildings in Blackpool.
"Unfortunately, as the cost-of-living crisis begins to bite, we are losing so many shops from the Great British high street and we need to do all we can to prevent this from happening.”
Occupying a prominent trading position in the heart of the town centre, the building runs parallel with the promenade and seafront, close to the junction with Victoria Street. It is also close to Primark and Boots and, of course, adjacent to Blackpool Tower.
Arran added:
"The outstanding views, the prime location and the rich history of the building attracted us to the site.
“By taking over this unit, we hope that a hotel chain will be encouraged to occupy the top floors. The space has great sea views, it overlooks the promenade. It would be the ideal location for a hotelier.
“We also feel that a hotel chain or an independent boutique hotel would be brilliant for footfall in the area and well received by other local retailers.”
For more information on ALB Group, please visit ALB Group
